Barcelona cracks not visible at Camp Nou

IT’S Champions League time! Last week, we saw UEFA pluck out probably the most delicious last 16 pairings ever. As an FC Barcelona fan, I am obviously most excited for that match with in-form Man City and of course the other mouth watering tie of Arsenal v Bayern Munich. For anyone wondering what this article is going to be about, it’s basically my predictions.

Firstly the Barca–Man City match. We have Neymar and Aguero, Yaya Toure and Xavi and Iniesta. Throw a Messi who’s beginning to get back to his fitness and you have some fun. Did I forget about Dani Alves and Jordi Alba and Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes?

Well we all know Man City are coming to peak [they are at their peak, it’s frightening if there’s more], and Barcelona, well, apparently cracks are beginning to show. Personally, from being at the Camp Nou 2 weeks ago, I doubt it. People are judging a Barcelona team that’s subsequently weakened by injuries, we don’t have Dani Alves and we don’t have Victor Valdes in goal . . . but they’ll be back. Messi, well we all know what he can do. Yaya Toure, in my opinion, although a good attacker, is lazy in defence. Barcelona are getting more intense under Tata, pushing higher up the field than before. They have learned their mistakes since the Bayern incident and I do believe Barcelona can clinch this game. With Messi in form and Neymar linking well, what’s gonna stop them? However, Barcelona must get their defence going. Prediction: Barca through over the two legs.

Arsenal and Bayern. Well, I’m excited for Ozil’s return. If Giroud and Ramsey and Walcott get going, Bayern might get a shock, but I expect them to have the composure and temper to get victory over the two legs.

Chelsea and Galatasaray. A good homecoming for Didier Drogba but that’s all the good stuff for Galatasaray. They have an ok team, but Jose will not mess about.

Manchester United and Olympiakos. To be honest, it’s kind of funny to see the posts seeing Moyes ‘destroy Man U’, however, I believe they should be happy with this draw. United to go through, depending on their mood.

Dortmund I also expect to go through along with Atletico Madrid, PSG and Real Madrid.

In the end my final predictions for the final 8 are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Man United, Dortmund, Atletico, PSG and Real Madrid.