The UEFA Champions League returns with the first matches from the Round of 16 to be played this week, so here’s a preview of what to expect from Tuesday’s games.
AC Milan v Tottenham @ San Siro
Group stage Italian giants Milan finished second in Group G to Spanish big-spenders Real Madrid, but had a difficult time of it with Ajax and AJ Auxerre proving plucky. Milan managed an unconvincing record of two wins, two draws and two losses in the group stage. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was good in the group stage with four goals.
Tottenham topped Group A, ahead of AC Milan’s city-rivals Internazionale, with an exciting campaign. For Spurs, winning a group which included the current European champions was a great achievement. Interestingly, they only claimed two points on the road in the group stage (including a 4-3 loss at the San Siro to Inter) and that’s a worry ahead of this clash. Gareth Bale was exceptional in the group stage with four goals and countless marauding runs down the flank.
Form AC Milan currently sit atop Serie A with a three-point advantage from their nearest rivals Napoli and look title favourites. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been their most consistent player in attack with 13 goals, while Antonio Cassano has had a positive impact since his arrival but is cup-tied.
Milan have lost just twice at home all campaign, and are unbeaten in their past 10 matches in all competitions. They’re also in the Coppa Italia semi-finals.
Tottenham are currently sitting in fourth spot in England’s Premier League, with qualification for the Champions League again their goal for this season. Rafael van der Vaart has been outstanding this term contributing plenty in attack, but he’s currently injured.
Spurs, who’ve won their past three matches, don’t have a poor away record in the Premiership but it’s not fantastic by any means with six wins from 13 games.
Team news Milan will be without cup-tied trio Cassano, Mark van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson. Brazilian star Robinho is fresh from two goals on the weekend against Parma and he’ll be a big threat. Milan are also without the injured Andrea Pirlo, captain Massimo Ambrosini and Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Tottenham will miss key pair Bale and van der Vaart due to injuries, but Niko Kranjcar has found some form in recent weeks with a few cracking goals.
Coaches Massimiliano Allegri: “In their last games, Tottenham have done well even in Bale’s absence. They’re an organised, pacy team, formed by technically gifted individuals. It’s a Champions League last-16 encounter; it will be very difficult, also because in total it will last 180 minutes.”
Harry Redknapp: “We have not got the players to come here and shut up shop, we are an attacking team and that is how I like it. Attacking football is what got us here in the first place. We have had a go all through this competition so we will have a right go again at San Siro.”
Sports Pundit prediction; AC Milan 3-1 Tottenham
Valencia v Schalke 04 @ Mestalla
Group stage Spanish outfit Valencia navigated a tricky passage to finish second in Group C, behind Manchester United and ahead of Rangers and Bursaspor. Valencia were good at home against the two weaker teams in the group with two commanding wins, but lost to the Red Devils 1-0 at the Mestalla. Roberto Soldado was superb with five goals for Los Che as they scored 15 goals in six games to cruise through.
Germans Schalke 04 topped Group C, which was no easy task with the group boasting the likes of Olympique Lyon and Benfica. Their defensive record of conceding just three goals was the key to their success with keeper Manuel Neuer impressing. A good away win at Benfica helped too and they’ll be hoping to repeat that Iberian success in Valencia.
Form Valencia have found form recently to storm into third in La Liga, following a run of nine games undefeated, which includes good wins over Espanyol and Atletico Madrid (on the weekend) to claim seven wins in their past eight matches. Joaquin grabbed a double on the weekend, but the form of Juan Mata has been good all season. Valencia have ominously only lost once at home in La Liga this term.
It’s been a difficult campaign for Felix Magath’s men after an awful start which saw them lurking in the drop zone, before getting some decent results together. But Schalke remain in midtable, currently sitting 10th and are hardly convincing domestically. On the road in Germany, they’ve only won three matches from 10, scoring only eight goals in the process which doesn’t bode well. They are in the German DFB Pokal semi-finals.
Team news Valencia will wait on the availability of Juan Mata who is battling an ankle injury, while Vicente Rodriguez should be ready after returning from injury on the weekend. Keeper Cesar Sanchez hasn’t played much lately due to calf and knee problems but he should play.
Schalke’s only concerns are Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Christoph Moritz who both did not travel due to injury. Meanwhile, ex-Real Madrid star Raul will be excited by his first game on Spanish soil since his summer move to Gelsenkirchen.
Coaches Unai Emery: “The favourites for the Champions League are Real Madrid and Barcelona – after that there isn’t much difference and Schalke 04 and Valencia are dead level. We believe in our qualities but respect our opponents’ too.”
Felix Magath: “We are hoping to get a goal to give ourselves a better chance in the second leg. The team are improving because they’re getting to know each other and the way we work. In the Champions League we’ve been doing better because we’ve had many new, experienced players who needed time to get used to the Bundesliga.”
Sports Pundit prediction; Valencia 1-0 Schalke 04