Champions League returns this week with mouth watering ties

This week the Champions League returns after a lengthy break. The last 16 of the Champions League sees some really fascinating ties taking place.

Some of Europeans biggest clubs meet each other on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Experienced

Two European heavyweights and former European champions meet as AC Milan host Manchester United at the San Siro. The two sides have made regular appearances in the Champions League final in recent seasons.

In fact United have made appearances in the last two Champions League finals, winning against Chelsea and losing last season’s final to Barcelona.

Both sides have the right experience for a tie like this and it should prove a tightly contested clash. United go into in to the game in more convincing form than their Italian opponents. AC Milan have proved very unconvincing in Serie A.

They have seemed nervous in recent games and United could take advantage of that tension and snatch a crucial away goal or two. Then there is the obvious talking point of former United star David Beckham facing his former club.

Jekyll and Hyde

However AC Milan are like a completely different team in Europe. Their victory at big-spending Real Madrid in the group stage proved they can move up a gear. The Milan players thrive on the big game atmosphere.

Their recent Serie A games have seen the fans in less than animated mood. The fans are nervous due to the notable nerves on the pitch. The atmosphere in this game should be electric and that will give the under-pressure Milan players a much needed boost.

Big Spenders

Two teams who spent big last summer meet at the Municipal De Gerland as French giants Lyon take on Real Madrid. Lyon were able to spend big due to the sale of striker Karim Benzema to Real in the summer. The striker has enjoyed a mixed start at the Bernabeu.

They spent big to try and recapture their Ligue One crown. However despite their spending they currently sit fourth in the Ligue One table, eight points behind last season’s champions Bordeaux.

With their current form being inconsistent the last team they would want to face is a Real Madrid side just starting to hit form. Their European form though has been much more consistent than their domestic form and they will be hoping to claim a surprise win against the Spanish giants.

Real now find themselves just two points behind European champions Barcelona in La Liga. Cristiano Ronaldo returned from a domestic suspension to score two goals in his side’s 3-0 victory over lowly Xerez at Saturday evening. They have quality in abundance and on their day are a match for anybody.

Underachievers

Arsenal and FC Porto are two sides who have underachieved this season, thus far. Perennial Portuguese champions Porto are currently in third place in the Portuguese Liga table. They find themselves nine points behind rivals Benfica, who top the table.

The former European Cup winners breezed through their group with just two defeats to Chelsea in the group stage. They won their other four games and are a solid side in Europe. They have replaced last season’s star striker Lisandro Lopez with Colombian hot shot Falcao and it’s proved a good move.

The striker is in double figures in the league and has three goals in six European appearances this season. His strike-partner Brazilian striker Hulk has also scored three goals in six appearances in the Champions League. The Gunners will have to be alert to avoid a shock defeat to the Portuguese side.

Arsenal have suffered a bad few weeks in the Premier League. The Gunners suffered defeats to title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. However they bounced back from those two defeats with a morale boosting 1-0 victory over Liverpool. That result should take them in to this tie in good heart.

Comeback kings

German giants Bayern Munich had a nightmare start to the season and only clinched their place in the knockout stages with a last group game 4-1 victory at Juventus. Their form in recent months has been in stark contrast to that poor start and they have surged up the league table and are currently second in the Bundesliga table on goal difference.

Struggling

Fiorentina currently sit in midtable in Serie A and their recent form has been poor. They haven’t always got what they deserved in their games of late and haven’t been playing badly. They should also be encouraged by their European form which saw them defeat Premier League Liverpool home and away in the group stage.

More to come

Only half of this round of the Champions League will take place this week with the rest of the round games taking place next week. There are also some really tasty clashes next week. Inter take on Chelsea, Stuttgart host Barcelona, Olympiakos host Bordeaux and Sevilla visit Russian side CSKA Moscow. Next week’s action could be just as exciting but for now I’m quite happy to enjoy what’s on offer this week.