CHAMPIONS!

Christmas in February!  Champions League knockout stage.  The fixtures are:

Tottenham @ Milan (Today)
Schalke 04 @ Valencia (Today)

Shaktar Donetsk @ Roma (Wednesday)
FC Barcelona @ Arsenal

Spurs-Milan will start in about 15 minutes.  I am firmly plopped on the couch.  Sorry UCL, no Heineken today, Amstel will be doing the job this afternoon.  Today's post, which will come later, takes a look at tomorrow's epic, and I mean EPIC, matchup between Arselona and Barcenal.  Until then, here's what I think about today's games.

Take a look at the Champions League winners in the past few years.  Not only has each team won the European competition, they have also had tremendous domestic form.  That said, Milan has to be the team in this one with Ibra and Robinho ready to lead the charge.  Harry Redknapp's men have been playing well in the EPL but they are lacking experience.

The Royal Blues travel to the Mestalla in Valencia as this match will be billed as the homecoming of the legendary Raul.  The Spanish striker will not receive a particularly warm welcome as he scored against Valencia for Real Madrid in the 2000 UCL final.  The Spanish side are undefeated in La Liga since a 2-0 defeat to Real on December 4.  Schalke's German international keeper Manuel Neuer has 6 clean sheets in his last 8 matches.  He will need to replicate his 2008 performance in order for his team to progress.