USA Summer '12: Friendlies Will Be Forced Down Your Throat

Since the season is basically over - especially for fans like me backing sub-par teams (Roma, your 2011-12 campaign is dead to me) - here's a running list of hot summer friendlies around the USA I've noticed over the past couple of weeks:

Philadelphia Union vs. Schalke 04
May 9 @ 7:30pm (ET)
PPL Park, Chester, PA

Portland Timbers vs. Valencia
May 23 @ 7pm (PT)
JELD-WEN Field, Portland, OR

Houstan Dynamo vs. Valencia
May 31, 7:30pm (local time?)
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX

Philadelphia Union vs. Aston Villa
July 18 @ 7:30pm (ET)
PPL Park, Chester, PA

Seattle Sounders vs. Chelsea
July 18 @ 9:30pm (ET)
Qwest Field, Seattle, WA

Toronto FC vs. Liverpool
July 21 @ 4pm (ET)
Rogers Centre, Toronto, ONT

Chicago Fire vs. Aston Villa
July 21 @ 7:30pm (CT)
Toyota Park, Chicago, IL 

Chelsea vs. PSG
July 22 @ 7pm (ET)
Yankee Stadium, New York City

AS Roma vs. TBD
July 22 @ TBD
Chicago, IL

Portland Timbers vs. Aston Villa
July 24 @ 7:30pm (PT)
JELD-WEN Field, Portland, OR

LA Galaxy vs. Tottenham
July 24 @ TBD
The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA 

AS Roma vs. Liverpool - The Underachiever's Shield 2012
July 25 @ 6:30pm (ET)
Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Chelsea vs. MLS All-Stars
July 25 @ 8:30pm (ET)
PPL Park, Chester, PA

AS Roma vs. TBD
July 28 @ TBD
New York City

Trophee Des Champions - France's Community Shield
League winner vs. Lyon (cup winner)
July 28 @ 3pm (ET)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

Liverpool vs. Tottenham
July 28 @ 1pm (ET)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

Chelsea vs. AC Milan
July 28 @ 6pm (ET)
Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL

DC United vs. Juventus
July 28 @ TBD
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
*yet to be finalized 

New York Red Bulls vs. Tottenham
July 31 @ TBD
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ 

LA Galaxy vs. Real Madrid
August 2 @ 10:30pm (ET)
The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA 

Juventus vs. Real Madrid
August 5 @ 8pm (local time?)
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
*possible rematch on August 8 @ Yankee Stadium, New York City 

That's all I have for now. I will update this list when I hear further dates have been announced. Please comment below on other games I failed to mention!

Ibrahimovic: I'm Sick Of You

At first, the hard man attitude of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was alluring. A tough guy backing up his tough talk through gritty performances usually is. His prolific scoring record and affinity to win titles - currently nine in a row - speaks volumes about his talents as a footballer, regardless of an inflated ego. However, I'm getting sick of his over-the-top arrogance. As Ibra has gotten old, so has his antics on and off the field. Lets review some history:

Incredible efforts at Ajax garnered the attention of many leading clubs around Europe. Hilarious interviews after matches endeared fans to the tall Swede's tough, yet playful style:

The cool-talking Ibrahimovic was a delight at this point of his career. Seeing a player sensibly spar with a prying journalist is always enthralling.

At Juventus, Ibra rose to stardom. His flicks, tricks and flashy goals drew the attention of the world audience. Moreover, he arrived in a top league and immediately made an impact, scoring 16 goals while leading the Old Lady yet another title. Check out the scope of his dope skills during one of Nike's Joga Bonito clips prior to World Cup 2006:

That had to be Dubble Bubble! Ibra's tenure at Juve was cut short due to the Calciopoli scandals, which lead to his move to Inter.

In the Serie A post-Juve fallout, Inter was evil. They were essentially the Yankees of Calcio, scooping up every serious star in the wake of the scandals, one being Ibra. His dominance continued at Inter, winning three titles and securing Capocannoniere honors - top scorer in Serie A - in his final year.

Ibra silences San Siro boo boys and lets them know to shut up

Towards the end of his tenure at Inter, tempers began to flare. Though goals like these brought fans to their feet, but Ibra's inability to make an impact in games of importance angered fans. On this unsteady ground, Zlatan's hard man from Malmo act made matters much worse. As seen in the picture above, there were several instances where Zlatan threw dissent right back in their faces. No love was lost when the striker flew the coop for Barcelona in exchange for Eto'o.

Barcelona probably could have done without the services of Ibrahimovic. Even after a strong start, it was evident the striker did not fit into Pep Guardiola's system. After the fact, we have learned (through Ibra's biography) about severe problems Ibra had in the locker room. He seemed like the bad kid in school who always acted up in class. To him, Guardiola was not in control, while no one questioned Messi or Xavi. To Barca, he was polluting a good ecosystem. For a person with this sort of ego, I am sure authoritarian problems hit hard. The result: a summer move back to Italy with city rivals AC Milan.

Fortifying his complete lack of care for Inter, Ibra traded over to city rivals AC Milan a year after departing the Nerazzurri. In Italy, this is a serious dis to fans. This move dovetailed into the Swede's current over-the-top arrogance. He was always kind of a jerk, but while in Rossoneri, he has never failed to anger me. His track record:

Constant red cards jeopardized Milan's title winning efforts towards the end of last year.

Fighting to the death with American man-machine Oguchi Onyewu.

An infamous kick on a teammate during training:



Another kick, this time on Antonio Cassano, after winning the Scudetto:


A well placed slap against a Napoli player last month put him in the doghouse.

A temper-tantrum post Champions League progression vs. Arsenal.

And most recently, a spat with a reporter resulted in Ibra asking her "What the F*ck are you looking at??" followed by a headband throw:


What is wrong with this guy? Have years of success made his ego boil over? Maybe it's because he looks like Zorro right now? I used to admire the hard man attitude, but as of late, it just seems excessive.

To conclude this rant, I offer you a hilarious video dissecting Ibrahimovic's attitude via the Barcelona tensions with Pep Guardiola:




Photo/Video Credits:
world-football-report.blogspot.com
blogs.reuters.com
Youtube

You Know Deadline Day Is Disappointing When...

Carlos Tevez doesn't repulse another suitor 

Seriously who would want this guy on their team?

Was anyone else disappointed to not hear about a failed Tevez deal? I was shocked. My dislike of Tevez is so strong, I take pleasure in hearing that a team is interested in him, then instantly repulsed by him moments later.

Sully Muntari matters
No picture needed, since he doesn't actually matter at all. The Inter and whatever English team he was on want-away really isn't that big of a signing. The fact that Inter fans could care less about one of their players going on loan to city rivals Milan is evidence alone. 

Louis Saha is a major signing

Saha in better days...

I like Tottenham, but what kind of move is this? The aging Frenchman is having a torrid year and is not really in good health. The only thing I can see him doing, to quote Soccernet's live commentary, is riding the pine and joining Ledley King in the physio's room. 

David Pizarro is actually in football news
I love Roma and am a huge fan of Pizarro, but never in a million years did I think he would be splashed across football's front pages this morning. He's old. He's always injured. He's hardly played this year. If anything, the news should start with "Why, Man City?" I hope he plays the way I know he can, but I really don't see why this was huge news. 

English teams don't splash Jan. 2011 cash on ridiculous players

Players in cars - universal transfer signifier

Last January was quite the spectacle in modern football. Moves were made at the penultimate moment, big cash was spent, and sh*t just happened and surprised the world. What happened this year England??? Only Gary Cahill. Borrrrrrrring.

Inter act like Inter
First they sell their anchor in the midfield Thiago Motta, effectively shocking the football world. Then they pull a Massimo Moratti loop-de-loop and scoop up Angelo Palombo and Fredy Guarin on loan! What is it with Inter and needing to make transfer for the sake of making transfers? 

You're an Arsenal fan

No description needed.


Anyone else have anything to add?


Photo Credits:
The Dirty Tackle
The Guardian
My Blog

Get Well Soon Antonio Cassano...

...you wild son of a b*tch.

Sad news from the AC Milan camp today regarding Antonio Cassano's mystery illness after the Rossoneri's match with Roma on Saturday.

The player has suffered a stroke and will need heart surgery to correct an existing problem. Though the procedure is said to be relatively safe, it's still scary as hell, especially for such an exuberant man like Cassano. He is slated to miss a few months.

See this article from Football Italia for full details of the dilemma.

Get well soon Antonio.

The Blur of a Brazilian: Pato

Did everyone see the ridiculous fashion in which Pato scored last night a mere 25 seconds into Milan's Champions League clash with Barcelona at Camp Nou? Well if you didn't, you must watch this video:



Truly amazing. Pato made the Barcelona midfield and defense look like school children! Why doesn't he do that all the time?!

I know there are some Pato haters out there who believe he will not live up to his potential, but after seeing a piece of magic like that I would reserve room for hope that he can produce magic like this consistently. Imagine Milan with a healthy, in form Pato? They hardly had him last year and took the title.

Keep your eyes on this young man and the Italian champs, people.

Side note: during this blog post I kept erroneously writing Pato as Patio, which lead me to wonder if Pato would be as awesome on the field if his name was actually Patio. After thinking it through, a Brazilian named Patio would probably just draw laughs, not first team call ups. Alexandre Patio. Haha.

Serie A Season in Review

Hello my friends,

I recently got the opportunity to collaborate with an awesome football site and recap this year's Serie A season. Please check out my season review on the suavely designed site, The Elastico! Many thanks go out to editor(s) for allowing me this great opportunity.

Also follow my friends at The Elastico on Twitter!

Best wishes,
Sensible Soccer

Auguri Milan

It's official: AC Milan have won the Scudetto. With two games left to spare, a scoreless draw with Roma at Olimpico was enough for the Rossoneri to win the Serie A. This marks Milan's 18th title and first since 2004. How it happened:

Excellent transfer windows
I can't remember the last time I saw a team build up their ranks with such precision as Milan did over the summer and winter transfer windows. The unbelievable consideration for the club's needs, both in and out of the starting lineup, was proof of some smart football minds in the back office; VP Adriano Galliani in particular, and head coach Massimiliano Allegri. Saying this team has depth is pretty much an understatement.

Who they got
It started with the loan signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng in August 2010. The high energy midfielder became a staple of the team's up-tempo passing and moving. He immediately made an impact at the beginning of the season and ended up a priceless starter, eventually winning a permanent move which will be signed when this summer transfer window opens.

The next moves made by Galliani were sensational and pulled off a mere 2 days before the window closed. The signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho made Milan immediate Scudetto favorites and rightfully so.

Ibra had a topsy-turvy campaign in which he showed a petulant super-star attitude (not really new for him), acquiring a few red cards and consequent suspensions; but nonetheless the towering Swede notched 14 goals and was a constant threat in attack. He particularly gelled with fellow summer signings Boateng and Robinho. And remarkably, Ibrahimovic has been crowned a champion eight years in a row (3 with Juve, 3 with Inter, 1 with Barca, 1 with Milan). Everything he touches literally turns into silverware.

Now on to Robinho...some of you may recall my feelings on Robinho - I usually call him "the little baby Robinho" for crying his way out of top teams in world football. But as far as this season goes, Robinho was far from the crying toddler we once knew. The talented Brazilian got the job done. He was fantastic all year and acted as the true playmaker we know he can be. I would even venture to say he is the most valuable player in the side. No joke people!

Man love between Milan's top three signings

After seeing the stellar end to the summer in terms of signings, I didn't think Milan would go for fresh faces in January, but again, Galliani and Allegri had grander plans and some money to play with. They took advantage of Antonio Cassano's huge embarrassing fallout with Sampdoria President Riccardo Garrone and acquired him for a mere €5m Euro. Cassano's addition to the side meant added depth and relief for a Milan midfield that saw Andrea Pirlo in the treatment room more often than not throughout the season.

Mark Van Bommel was also a critical mid-season signing for the Rossoneri. He helped fill the hard-man, defensive minded midfield role left by the decline of Gennaro Gattuso and numerous injuries (and general decline) of Massimo Ambrosini. Van Bommel fit really well into Allegri's game plan and pulled many of the strings starting the attack.

The monetary assault Galliani surmised on the transfer markets, paired with Allegri's interpretation of the club's needs, clearly paid dividends. These precise buys gave Allegri the freedom and ability to best create his starting 11 in a way that would match up well with the opposing team all throughout the season. That must have been nice!

Consistency
The true pedigree of a champion is in its ability to consistently get results throughout the season, winning and not losing. Milan did this to the utmost. After week 9, the Rossoneri really didn't look back, losing only twice more until capturing the title on Saturday evening.

The Milan attack was wonderful. If passing and moving is a fabric of the game, then Milan are the sweater that was knitted from this fabric. They seriously passed around their opponents and ran hard. They were pretty much the Serie A's Barcelona. Robinho ran play in the Trequarista position year round, feeding his friends and often reeling towards the sidelines after netting. Ibra scored. As usual. And contributions from player's like Alexandre Pato, who was mainly an off the bench player, were priceless.

One aspect of the Milan squad I'd like to highlight in terms of consistency is the club's defense. All year long, the Milan back-line remained stalwart. The team only gave up 23 goals throughout the season (to date), which is an incredible statistic. Who would have thought we would be saying this after club legend Paolo Maldini hung up his boots in 2009? Again, Galliani pulled off quite the feat in building a defense that would lead to their championship. The signing of Thiago Silva a few years ago was massive. He is Milan's rock. Props must also go to Daniele Bonera, Luca Antonini, Ignazio Abate, and Gianluca Zambrotta for holding it down. And we must not forget Christian Abbiati, who I consider the most underrated keeper in Italy. He is the best active Italian keeper at the moment - hands down - and had a very assured year between the pipes.

Key games
Another indicator of a true champion is how it manages big games. Milan did well. Very well. Their only two real rivals for the title this year were Inter and Napoli and they handled them with ease, going 4-0 against the pair. There were even tense "Scudetto matches," pitting Milan against 2nd place rivals who were in reaching distance, of which they beat Napoli handily a month ago, ending their Scudetto hope, and absolutely smashed Inter 3-0 in a pulsating second Derby della Madonnina, which pretty much ended anything positive from the Nerazzurri camp.

Massimiliano Allegri
At the tender age of 43, Allegri is a champion. His rise to the pinnacle began in the Serie C1 in 2007, taking him to Cagliari the following year, and finally Milan at the beginning of this past summer. Talk about leaps and bounds. His ascendance is an indicator of his smart footballing mind. He may not have the most experience, but he did a damn fine job steering the Rossoneri to the top. His tactical approach to games and knowledge of the capabilities of his squad were truly championship worthy. Well done sir.

Allegri barking out orders or yawning

In conclusion
Inter did not win this year. INTER DID NOT WIN THIS YEAR. In lieu of this information I would say it was a decent year in the Serie A.

Auguri Milan - Camponi D'Italia 2011. Oh and Sempre Forza Roma.

Can Italy Avoid Complete European Failure?

With all Italian teams out of the Europa League, hope rests on AC Milan, Inter Milan, and AS Roma to restore some sense of dignity for Italian sport by remaining in the Champions League. Can Italy avoid complete European failure this year? Possibly. In the long run? No.

Italian teams in Europe: all but down and out

Unfortunately, each remaining Italian squad in the Champions League goes into the vital second leg after losing at home. The likeliness of second leg turnarounds:

Inter Milan are most likely to overturn their 0-1 loss to Bayern Munich. They are on a rich run of form and were undone by Munich after spoiling many good chances to go ahead. Conversely, Munich are playing dreadfully in the Bundesliga. Of late, they were outclassed by the Steve Cherundolo lead Hannover 96 and ousted from the DFB-Pokal Cup, leading to assertions that Dutch Coach Louis van Gaal will be replaced this summer. 

AC Milan have a decent chance of overturning their 0-1 loss to Tottenham. The squad was highly boosted on the weekend after defeating rivals Juventus. Aside from that, it's hard to count out a side with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the starting 11. The Spurs are set to welcome back Gareth Bale from injury, who I am sure hopes to shread whatever right back stands in his way.

AS Roma are least likely to overturn their 2-3 loss to Shakhtar. The Giallorossi will have to win at the Donbass, a ground where Shakhtar is nearly undefeated in Europe. On top of that, a 2-goal win will be Roma's best chance to take the tie. It seems more likely that the Ukrainian powerhouse will waltz into the quarterfinals.

If you thought the present state of Italian representation in Europe was bad, the future does not look very good either. It was made official last week that the Serie A will lose it's 4th Champions League spot to the Bundesliga beginning in the 2012 - 2013 season. It was only a matter of time before this happened, given such poor performance in Europe.

A message to the Serie A: you've failed your fans. 

Reports From Italy...

...should never be trusted.

News broke from Italy yesterday claiming AS Roma defender Philippe Mexes will join AC Milan this summer. Based on prior Italian "reporting," this story, along with a myriad of other rumors emerging from the boot, should be discarded. Reports from the Italian media are more often than not misleading and inaccurate.

As a fan of the Serie A, I have come to learn what a common motto during rumor-fueled reports should be: "I'll believe it when I see it." News sources in Italy tend to magnify and inflate miniscule rumors, often skewing the truth by exploiting half-truths. Obviously, this rings true for most sporting media - speculation is an act we must expect - but the Italian media seems to turn every story that comes along on its head. I've lost count of the times I've seen an official report from an Italian news source turnout to be, in hindsight, the unlikeliest of rumors.

Why the willingness on the part of the Italian media to report any and every rumor? It could be because of a few factors:

The fans in Italy are very demanding. Having spent time in the capital at Olimpico many a Sunday, I can tell you first-hand that Italian fans are among the most passionate and fickle in the world. On any given match-day, the faithful are berating the ownership of the team for poor results or a lack of financial backing. The next they are pridefully tearing up when their captain hustles into the defensive third to make a tackle. Italians are very reactionary by nature, which leads to coarse actions day in and day out.

Though the media is a separate entity from the sport, they are one with their audience. Italian news sources know what fans want to see and know how to fan the flames of profit. Rumors attract readers, readers attract money, and in a football nation as wild about the sport as Italy, topsy-turvy fans are attracted to tasty rumors. Thus, the entertainment ensues...I mean reporting.

Stadio Olimpico - Roma

Coinciding with the above notion, the overall atmosphere around the sport should be held liable for erroneous journalism. In case you have not noticed, the mood surrounding Italian football is extremely negative. Stadiums are in horrible condition and seats rarely fill to capacity. Violence, unrest, and even racism often occur on or around match-day. And typically, the good play of one team is overshadowed by the bad play of the opposition. This overall negativity in the atmosphere of calcio is a media dream. Rumors are exploitable when conditions are depressed. It seems like fans have an easier time feeding on rumors when they are so hungry for any sort of news they might react to - both positive or negative.

Another likely reason for the influx of inflated rumors is the state of the league. The Serie A is definitely on the decline. A league that once fielded legends like Maradona, Roberto Baggio, and Ronaldo is now a rare destination for the sport's biggest stars. Talented youth from around the world are being drawn to top teams in top leagues, like Barcelona in La Liga or Manchester United in the English Premier League. Italy's own youth are being stolen by foreign leagues because of this depreciation.

When a company performs badly, investment in it stops. But when a league falters, the media does not give up. The decline of the Serie A has resulted in news sources grasping for any stories they can find, as opposed to more legitimate stories found in a league on the ups. Thus, diminutive rumors or stories are spotlighted for the sake of spotlighting and publishing a daily paper.

These might seem like gross overtones in relation to a news report about Mexes joing Milan, but in reality, everything surrounding Italian soccer is toned differently from other world leagues. Each aspect - the fans, clubs, owners, and media - all spin a web of mystery. Things often are not as they seem, especially in the media. I urge you to reconsider legitimacy of the source when you hear a report from Italy about your favorite player transferring to Juventus or Inter (the typical rumor-mills). The report is most likely not true.

I'll leave you with an image of someone that I feel, through actions and attitudes, epitomizes the problems surrounding the Italian football community. Coincidentally, this picture makes me cringe every time I see it:

Luciano Moggi - the man behind the Calciopoli Scandal

Please stay tuned for more about the state of the Serie A. And check out today's piece of unbelievable news from the Italian media: Mourinho linked with Roma - Corriere dello Sport.

This Week's Props Go To...

Ronaldo

Arguably the best player of our generation, the famous gap-toothed Brazilian hung up his boots earlier this week. El Fenomeno tearfully withdrew from the game in a press conference on Monday, where he spoke about his illustrious career and unfortunate illness. Sensible Soccer salutes you, Ronaldo, for a glittering career filled with triumph and trophies. 

Jose Mourinho

Undisputedly one of the best managers in the world, Mr. Mourinho celebrates 9 years of being undefeated during home fixtures. This record spans 147 league games with 4 different teams in 4 different leagues. The Special One's last loss at home was on Februray 23, 2002. Wow! 

Ryan Giggs

At age 37, the Welsh Wizard signed a contract extension that keeps him at Old Trafford until the end of next year. Sensible Soccer finds it unbelievable that Giggs can still compete at the highest level at his age. Props to you, Giggsy!

Arsenal

Arsenal deserve all the credit in the world after their hard-fought comeback victory against Barcelona. When push came to shove in the vital Champions League knockout clash, the Gunners shoved hard, shocking the Spanish leaders at the Emirates. I for one, did not foresee this victory. Keep up the good work, lads!

Harry Redknapp

The Tottenham gaffer's tactical approach to the Milan game was nothing short of genius! Unlike the Spurs loose, attacking style in the groups stages, Redknapp had his men strategic in attack - work the flanks and find Peter Crouch's head - and tight in defense. These motives paid dividends, as Tottenham stormed out of Milan with a lead. Check out Zonal Marking's analysis for more tactical information. 

Champions League Round of 16 - Feb. 15th Preview

The excitement is building as we edge closer to the Champions League knockout stages. The quest to reach the final at Wembley begins tomorrow. Poise, class, and a little bit of luck will be needed to see teams through to the next round. Sensible Soccer will preview each match day in a series of installments. And now, a preview of tomorrow's fixtures:

AC Milan vs. Tottenham 

Leg 1 will be played in Milan at San Siro. 

Champions League new-boys Tottenham will take on Serie A leaders AC Milan in what should be a thrilling, two-legged affair. The question is: which teams will we see? Given the pedigree of each side, both teams have been inconsistent with their results this year. Even though Milan are tops, their campaign has been riddled with draws to sub-par teams. The Rossoneri are a much different Serie A leader from Mourinho's dominating Inter side we saw last season. Nevertheless, they are a talented squad in control of a tough league. 

Tottenham have also produced spotty results, often winning a big game then dropping the next. The Spurs lie in 4th place in the cagey Premier League. That said, both teams are coming off a set of thrilling wins over the weekend, so hopefully we will see a well contested match.

Missing Persons: The injury list for this fixture is quite hefty on both sides. It is looking like Tottenham will be without lynchpin midfielders Luka Modric or Rafael Van der Vaart - the latter being more likely to start because somehow he always shows up on the team-sheet come gameday. Even worse, it seems increasingly unlikely that powerful winger Gareth Bale will feature at San Siro, the sight of his scorching Group Stage hat-trick. The Spurs are fortunate to have an in-form replacement, Niko Kranjcar, ready to dress and impress. 

Milan's injury problems run throughout the lineup - at the back, the squad will be without new signing Nicola Leggrotaglie or veteran Gianluca Zambrotta; Rodney Strasser and Ignazio Abate are listed as doubtful for the clash. Luckily, the Rossoneri have been boosted by the return of Alessandro Nesta and Luca Antonini, who will likely start alongside Daniele Bonera and Thiago Silva. In the midfield, Milan will be without role-players Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini.

Some interesting things to note: a few new Milan signings are indeed cup-tied...that's right Milanisti, Cassano, Van Bommel, and Emanuelson will not be featuring in the tournament. Spurs fans will breathe a sigh of relief in knowing that their top winter signing, Steven Pienaar, is eligible.

Key Questions:
1. Who will control the midfield? With both teams likely to field second choice players, I am wondering who has the depth to grab control of the midfield. The team who comes out on top after 90 minutes will be the one with the best cohesion in the middle of the park.

2. How will Milan cope with Tottenham's style of play? Tottenham taught Inter a hard lesson that sent tremors throughout world football during group play. The English style had embarrassed the holders. It will be interesting to see how Milan handles the gruff play of the Spurs.

3. Can Tottenham hold Zlatan at bay? The key to beating Milan is to stifle their hitman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (if you don't believe me, see the match report of Roma's win in Milan right before the holiday break). It looks like Younes Kaboul will miss the trip to San Siro, so that cancels out the big man out-muscling Ibra scenario. The onus will largely fall on veteran William Gallas. Spurs fans: pray for a good Gallas showing.

Prediction: Injuries aside, I still believe this will be one of the more exciting fixtures during the Round of 16, given the talent and dazzling play of both teams. I think we will see a draw at San Siro. For Tottenham to be satisfied, they will need to bag a crucial away goal.

Valencia vs. Schalke 04

Leg 1 will be played in Valencia at the Mestalla.

One year ago, Schalke were top contenders for the Bundesliga crown, giving Bayern Munich a run for their money. It got even better in the summer, when the club made top signings in the form of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul. Then, the new season started and everything went wrong. Shockingly, Schalke sits in 10th place in Bundesliga. A strange turnaround for a side with motivation and top players. Nonetheless, Schalke will take on La Liga side Valencia in one of the weaker clashes in the Round of 16.

The David-less Valencia are holding course in La Liga, maintaining their perennial 3rd place slot after leap-frogging Villareal at the weekend. The Spanish side has not lost in 2011 and are unbeaten in 9-games.

Missing Persons: The good news for Schalke is that the squad is fully fit. The same can not be said for Valencia. Top stars Juan Mata and David Albelda have been out of action for a few weeks and are doubtful for the game. Strangely, these omissions have not hurt Valencia's form, as they are coming off a huge win against Atletico Madrid this past weekend.

Key Questions:
1. Can Huntelaar and Raul do it again? The talented duo accounted for half the side's goals in group play and will need to continue their good Champions League form if they hope to see the quarters. Raul has lined up against Valencia many times in his career and will look to terrorize the back line in his first trip home since joining Schalke.

2. Will Neuer be able to hold off the flood? Manuel Neuer has made a whopping 4-5 saves per game in Bundesliga play, often times standing on his head to get a result for the struggling side. The highly rated shot-stopper will have to remain steadfast against a quick Valencia attack to give Schalke hope.

3. Will Valencia's stars be missed on the grand stage? Sure, the absence of Mata and Albelda in the Valencia lineup against inferior La Liga sides has been manageable, but what about a knockout match versus a team hoping to grasp onto a motivating result? Valencia has a scorer in Roberto Soldado (5 goals in CL play) but might miss their play-maker Mata and holding midfielder Albelda, should they not start.

Prediction: I think Valencia will win the first leg of this tie. The Spanish side are in form and motivated, which you can not say about Schalke. For the Bundesliga side to make a dent in this game, Klaas needs to be in session. Huntelaar or Raul need to notch an away goal to have any hope of celebrating after the return leg in Germany.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's previews of Arsenal vs. Barcelona and AS Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.

Sensible Soccer's Special Saturday December 18th Salute

A special salute goes out to AC Milan's VP Adriano Galliani for giving AS Roma this beautiful man over the summer:

Marco Borriello

Which allowed him to completely get revenge for riding the bench at Milan for 2 seasons when he scored and won the game for his new side (who loves him)!

And another salute has to go out to this man:

Claudio Ranieri

Even though he always looks scared and nervous, Ranieri is a wonderful tactician who brilliantly orchestrated the team's tactics to stall Milan on this day. Bravo Claudio!

That's all from me on this fun-filled Saturday. It's always fun when Roma wins. Arreverderci!