ECL – All 4 English Clubs Through to Quarterfinals

It’s my favorite time of the sporting year again.  No not March Madness, although I do like college hoops, but knockout round of the UEFA Champions League.  This week was the second leg of the first stage knockout, going from 16 to 8 teams.  There were some exciting games and some crazy blowouts.  Liverpool showed Real Madrid who is boss with an impressive 4-0 victory at Anfield, 5-0 on aggregate, and  Bayern absolutely destroyed Sporting 7-1, with a 12-1 aggregate victory (12-1!!).  Luckily the Gunners squeaked by Roma in a shootout at the Stadio Olimpico, ArsenalSpot has the highlights.

Tonetto after missing his PK against Arsenal. Image from UEFA.com.

So the final eight are Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Porto, Bayern, Villareal, and Barca.  For the second straight year four of the final eight clubs have come from the English Premier League.  Even Arsenal, who has been struggling in league play, has made their way in.  After watching the other three English clubs play this week, it’s highly likely we’ll have 3 of 4 teams in the semis from England.  It’s clear the English sides are dominating in European competition, why?  Are they truly better football clubs?  Is the intensity of EPL play so high that English sides can better handle the stress of a schedule that includes league, cup, and champions league matches? Although, I should point out that only 3 of the last 10 Championships have been won by English sides (Man U 1999 & 2008, Liverpool 2005).

The real issue is whether one country’s dominance of the Champions League will make the event boring.  No one wants the Champions League knockout rounds to become an FA Cup with a couple of teams from Spain included.  Should fixture draws for the knockout rounds be limited so that finals with only one country represented aren’t possible?

Gunners look strong in Europe

Arsenal got off to a quick 3-1 lead in the first 22 minutes against Fenerbahce in matchday three of the Champions League group stage yesterday.  The first two goals (scored by Adebayor and Walcott) were the result of two excellent through-balls deliverd by Fabregas.  Walcott is definitely maturing into a first-class attacker for the Gunners, and their other young gun, 17 year-old Ramsey, got on the score sheet with a beautiful shot from about 20 yds out in stoppage time to round out a solid 5-2 win.  Here’s a link to some highlights.  Hopefully the Chelsea – Roma game will be as exciting today.