Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, left, is challenged by Barcelona’s Yaya Toure during the UEFA Champions League final soccer match between Manchester United and Barcelona in Rome, Wednesday May 27, 2009. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
It’s been 111 days since Manchester United turned up in Rome only to find that Barcelona had decided they liked the ball so much that they weren’t willing to give it back.
The melodies from symphonies written about Barcelona, by the likes of Craig Foster and myself, have long since been replaced by the cacophony of speculation.
Europe’s monolithic club competition, the UEFA Champions League, returns tomorrow morning.
There’ll be 125 games and a lot of blood, sweat and profit form global television money, until 32 teams are whittled down to the one champion.
This season certainly promises to be one of the most enticing since UEFA re-branded the tournament the ‘Champions League’ while removing as many actual domestic champions from it as possible.
There are certainly a lot of interesting questions awaiting answers.
No team has managed to successfully defend their Champions League title, so can Barcelona buck the trend?
Their dominance last year would imply they can, but history rarely lies and the competition from right around the continent will be fierce.
Which brings me on nicely to the next big question: How will the Galacticos version 2.0 fare?
Florentino Perez, a man that obviously doesn’t agree with the saying that “those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it,” has spent nearly AU$500 million on signings over the summer break.
Can Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema and co meet expectations?
Liverpool humbled Real Madrid at Anfield last year but the loss of Xabi Alonso will hurt. For that matter, all of England’s big four were unable to strengthen during the summer break, so will their recent dominance in Europe finally start to wane?
Down the other end of the scale, how will UEFA President Michel Platini’s reformatting of the Champions League fare? Will sides like Maccabi Haifa and Standard Liege flop?
Or are the doubters simply ignorant folk who’ve never seen Flemish and Isreali football before?
Even more significant is the German Bundesliga’s chance to overtake the Italian Serie A in the UEFA co-efficient rankings.
A successful German attempt to prise third place away from Italy would surely be the biggest shift in continental power since the rise of English dominance earlier this millennium.
The Bundesliga would get an extra Champions League spot and all the financial benefits that includes while further tarnishing Italy’s image as a football power.
If you’re a football lover, and not excited by all that, then I suggest you’ve been spending too much time mellowing out at Den Haag goalkeeper, Gino Coutinho’s house.
Here are my tips. Feel free to share your own.
Winners: Chelsea
Runners-Up: Barcelona
Surprise performers: CSKA Moscow. It’s time an Eastern European side stepped up to the plate and the artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium might just be the difference
Disappointment: it would be Manchester United if it wasn’t for the unfortunate train wreck that is AC Milan
Colin N
Guest
"Winners: Juventus, now the most complete team in Europe." Really? Why, explain?
Simone`
Guest
Davide that it did. But i guess a starting 11 without Diego, Cammanoresi or Chiellini does weaken the side. Really haven't been impressed with Amauri of late, think they rate him too highly at Juventus. Funny that an AC team supposedly 'Built' around Ronaldinho, had thier best game of the season when he was missing. Vincentin, I think the Zurich keeper really helped Real Madrid get those 5 goals this week. Not sure they'll get that service from an opposing number regularly
Vicentin
Guest
Haven't seen the game yet ... but I'd suggest that a team without Diego in the starting lineup will be considerably poorer (not quite so "complete") than one with him in it. That's not to say that Bordeaux aren't a decent team and I rate Gourcuff highly - why Milan why? This is the "group of death"! That Zurich managed to score two goals against Madrid suggests that Real will have to score at least five regularly to get past better teams!
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Simone I'm afraid your tip on Juventus took a bit of a hit tonight. Bordeaux may very well be more evolved and ready for Champions League football then I thought. I felt they were still a season or two away but it was good performance from them tonight. Maybe we're both wrong on AC Milan (though I suspect we're not). Leonardo should leave Ronaldinho out more often maybe.
David V.
Guest
Everton will play teams like BATE Borisov, let's see how Belarus' finest measures up after they gave a fine account of themselves against Juventus.
Art Sapphire
Guest
I agree Robbos. I am amazed no one has resurrected Special1 TV. Here is the end of last season highlights package for everybody to enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AOooeA1ZFA
Robbos
Guest
'Winner: Inter Milan – The demise of Setanta sport has brought Special1 TV to an unfortunate halt'. 'The Special One will now be able to focus all his energies to winning the big cup.' Brillant. I loved the Special1 TV. It was special.
Simone`
Guest
Winners: Juventus, now the most complete team in Europe. Diego better than Kaka and CR9 Runners up: Barcelona. will prolli go back to back or very very close Suprise pick: Wolfsburg, don't underestimate Disapointment: people expect AC to be poor, but Man United will be very poor. Show how senile Fergie is these days.
BrisbaneBhoy
Guest
Pffft, the ECL! We all no it's going to be the same teams come last 4 (2 or 3 EPL + 1 or 2 Spanish sides). Sure the group stages are good, seeing some of the more "smaller club" take on the big boys, but once they are over, I switch off, as it is the same every season. The Europa league, now that is the real European Cup :) Great clubs (some very big/famous), everyone has a real chance at qualifying or the knockout phase, along few quite a few have realistic chances of winning.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Group A: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Bordeaux , Maccabi Haifa Group of Death - Bordeaux might knock one of the big 2 out. Group B: Manchester United, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Wolfsburg Man Utd + 1 other to qualify probably Wolfsburg Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich Real + Marseille to make it difficult for AC Group D: Chelsea, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Apoel FC Chelsea + Porto or Atletico Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debreceni Liverpool + Lyon to go thru but must beware of the Italians Group F: Barcelona, Internazionale, Dynamo Kiev, FC Rubin Kazan Barca and Inter to qualify - Dynamo and Rubin to fight it out for the Europa spot Group G: Sevilla, Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, Unirea Uriziceni Sevilla and Stuttgart to qualify Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Standard Liege Easy draw for the Gunners – Olympiakos always struggle in Europe so Holminho's team has a good chance of coming 2nd. Winner: Inter Milan - The demise of Setanta sport has brought Special1 TV to an unfortunate halt. The Special One will now be able to focus all his energies to winning the big cup. Runners Up: Barcelona Surprise Pick: Olympiakos - I actually think they will fail dismally again. If they don't - then it will be a surprise :) Disappointment: Holman is the only Australian player in this years UCL ( I can't see Holland getting a run). Please put us on the map Brett and score against Arsenal and Olympiakos.
Brian
Guest
Winners: Real Madrid Runners Up: Chelsea Surprise pick: Lyon Disappointment: Liverpool It starts tonight but for the big boys its a cold war until Feb next year
Kazama
Roar Guru
Winners: Chelsea Runners Up: Liverpool Surprise pick: AZ Alkmaar - only because they have Holminho Disappointment: Arsenal
albe
Guest
Winners: I'll go for Arsenal to finally get there though i agree Chelsea are the smarter choice with a better rounded squad. But the Gunners will cruise through to the knockout phase and by then will probably be out of EPL contention. Runners up: Inter Milan surprise pick: Bordeaux... Gourcuff to tear things up in their group and push Juve out to third spot. Lyon also to do well with there new signings, wouldn't be surprised if Ligue1 really shines as Marseille are looking ok too.
Jamin
Guest
Ashame man city(best team in the world) aren't in the comp.based on that real madrid vs barcelona in the final.too tight to call.