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FC Porto – Perfect, Except for the Goals
There wasn’t any doubt heading out of the Dragao Stadium in Porto who was the better side in the first leg. Porto won only 1-0 with a goal from João Moutinho, but it was one of the more one-sided affairs we’ve seen in the Champions League this season.
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Bayern Munich – Javi Martinez Showing Why He Cost so Much
It was hard to find a single player that didn’t have a good match for Bayern Munich in their 3-1 win at the Emirates, but some would find it fair to say that the presence and display of Javi Martinez at the defensive midfield was one of the biggest keys that allowed Bayern to dominate and win so easily, probably setting up qualification before the second leg.
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Arsenal FC – The Day Arsene Wenger Lost Control, Again
It wasn’t surprising that Arsenal went down as the beaten team in a home match, despite their record at the Emirates stadium in Champions League matches. A team that only has Jack Wilshere to look at for some sort of creativity for most of the match, and a stubborn and somewhat blind to change manager like Arsene Wenger on the sidelines, can’t expect to get very far.
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Champions League – Bayern Munich Have No Problem Beating Arsenal
The first leg between Bayern Munich and Arsenal ended in a 3-1 win for the to-be German champions, who had complete control of the pitch for most of the match, not allowing more than a chance or two for the home side, leaving the stadium with a win that pretty much puts them in the quarterfinals.
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Champions League – Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Predictions
Two clubs that are each arriving in a completely different mood to their knockout stage clash. Arsenal, struggling in the Premier League, with a manager who isn’t handling the pressure all too well, and Bayern Munich, who aren’t just winning every match they play in, but have yet to concede a goal in 2013.
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Champions League – Porto vs Malaga Predictions
Two of the more enjoyable teams to watch this season come together in the knockout stage, one more surprising than the other. Most expected Porto, the Portuguese champions, to make it at least this far in the competitions, but few thought cash-strapped Malaga would do this well on all fronts this season, including the Champions League.
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Manchester United – Nani Makes Himself Useful Again
Sometimes, all it needs is catching a break – a player, like Phil Jones gets injured, and Nani, almost a forgotten man this season in the Manchester United roster, suddenly seizes the chance to become a vital member of a team gunning for the treble.
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Liverpool FC – Luis Suarez Has to Play Next to Daniel Sturridge
If recent weeks haven’t proven it already, the 5-0 demolition of Swansea showed Brendan Rodgers what everybody knows – Liverpool have to play with two forwards, strikers more likely, in the lineup. Fabio Borini is once again injured, so as it should be, it’s pretty much up to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
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Chelsea FC – Juan Mata Makes All the Difference
For about 55 minutes, Juan Mata was denied space and freedom, and Chelsea looked like a team that might lose to a league one side in the FA Cup replay. But then he scored, and floodgates opened for Chelsea, and Mata helped Frank Lampard look better than he really is, and gave Rafa Benitez a few more days of relaxation.
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Real Madrid – Morata & Sergio Ramos Steal Show From Cristiano Ronaldo
With the league being the least important competition at the moment for Real Madrid, it was no surprise to see Morata and Kaka in the starting lineup. A match that could have gone in a very different direction after Sergio Ramos got sent off, but eventually didn’t need anyone to step up, not even Cristiano Ronaldo, to pick up a meaningless win.