UEFA Champions League Knockout Talking Points
Since the final whistle was blown after match day 6, Fans all over the world having confirmed their club's position and possible opponents for the next round, quickly anticipated the round of 16 Draw, finally the draw was made and some enticing clashes took over the talk among fans, day after days, week after weeks, the day to kick-start this season's Champions League knockout round is finally here as battle for Europe's supremacy resumes.
Some clubs have bolstered their squads with players and notably Manchester United have been rujevenated since the appointment of ole gunner solksjaer. There will be four round of sixteen clashes and we start this series with the talking points from the first two games of the round.
- Manchester United V Paris Saint-Germain
- AS Roma V FC Porto
Ahead of the games let’s have a look at the key talking points from tuesday's clashes. #MUNPSG #ASRFCP.
- The First European Test for Solskjær
So far, Manchester United's Caretaker Manager has exceeded domestic expectations since his appointment as he no faces his European audition as Manchester United manager, and it could not have come any better with Paris Saint Germain struggling with fitness and injuries to key players. Not many would have put Manchester United as favourites going into their clash against PSG when the draw was made. The Red Devils had been treading water in the Premier League, sitting in sixth place as Jose Mourinho’s unique brand of defensive football was testing the patience of players and fans alike.
Flash forward a few months, it's a new dawn as Manchester United are a club transformed under caretaker coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær. The former United striker, notably remembered for his decisive goal in the 1999 Champions League triumph. With United riding a wave of good form, the visit of PSG to Old Trafford represents a run of three tricky games including ties against Chelsea & Liverpool.
- Injury woe for PSG
What seem like a possible massacre when the draw was made have changed atmosphere as United are finding their stride, PSG is facing an injury crisis heading into the Tuesday evening contest in Manchester. The Parisians, who are already without star man Neymar after it was confirmed that the Brazilian would be out for ten weeks following a metatarsal injury in the Coupe de France clash against Strasbourg on the 23rd of January, will also be without right-back Thomas Munier will also be absent due to a concussion. Uruguayan attacker, Edison Cavani will also be absent from the side following the knock sustained in the weekend win over Bordeaux, although it is not officially confirmed if the attacker will totally miss the matchday squad, but you have to feel it's unlikely Cavani will play a part in Manchester.
All emphasis will now fall of Kylian Mbappé to supply the Parisians with goals and hope of progress.
- Roma on a Revenge Mission?
Today's opponent denied the Romans a place in the champions league two seasons ago and although they came back and had a decent run in last season's tournament, the 3 - 0 loss will still be fresh in their memory and this is a perfect opportunity to pay back their fans for the dissapointment in 2016. The Di Francesco led outfit have had a rather inconsistent season that sees the club hovering just outside the Champions League positions with the Italian football volume now turned up, Roma are finding it difficult to contend with the improved squads of juventus, Napoli, Inter, Milan and even Atalanta.
Tempers are still up in the Italian capital with the humiliating 7-1 flogging dished out by Fiorentina's young guns in the Coppa Italia serving as triple pressure on Di Francesco, American owner James Pallotta and some of their players, notably Kolarov, who has been on the receiving end of a brutal treatment from a section of the Roma fans. Roma can only hope for a quick turn in form and harmony if the are to repeat last season's heroics or go a place better this time, a name in desperate need of form is Edin Dzeko who has been Inconsistent this season and with Turkish speedster Cengiz Ünder a real doubt for the first leg, it would be interesting to see just what Di Francesco does to fill that hole.
- Will Porto Cause another Upset?
Portuguese champions, FC Porto face last season's Champions League semi-finalist in a mouth-watering round of 16 encounter that seems balanced on all angles with now favorite tag attached to anyone. In the previous encounter, Porto demolished the Giallorossi 3-0 to eliminate the Romans at the Champion's League playoff stage and keep up their run as the Dragões have not lost a competitive game since early October of last year.
We will be back with talking points from Wednesday's matches as Tottenham lock horns with Dortmund and Ajax face up with reigning champions, Real Madrid.
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