Today, the last eight Champions League group stage matches will be played, after which all teams that have reached the round of 16 will be clear.
The most visited football news portal in the country, "Eurofootball.com," interviewed former footballer and current "Viasat Sport Baltic" commentator Nerijus Vasiliauskas, who agreed to share his thoughts with readers about the results and prospects of teams playing in groups E-H.
- Both "Roma" and "Bayer" have a chance to take second place in Group E. Who would you predict to secure the second spot in the best sixteen matches?
- Well, it is probably obvious that "Roma" has the best chance to advance to the next stage, having defeated the "BATE" team, especially since they are playing at home. It is unlikely that "BATE" will resist them.
As for "Bayer," no matter how strong they are, they will face "Barcelona," who might play with a reserve team but in the UEFA Champions League, anything can happen. Money rewards in the Champions League also encourage teams to fight until the end, and this system in European tournaments is not without reason. Some leaders may not make an impression from the start of the match and will run out of steam in the thirtieth minute. However, "Barcelona" is "Barcelona," and the task for "Bayer" is much harder than for the "Roma" team, which just needs to secure a victory against "BATE."
- Considering the situation with injuries and the forms shown by the teams, how do you rate the chances of the "Arsenal" club to win by two goals against "Olympiakos" away?
- "Arsenal" is such an unpredictable team that it is hard to predict anything. They are certainly capable of defeating "Olympiakos" by a two-goal margin when playing away.
Regarding injuries, I think this team should be used to having a constant sickbay since they have had a long list of injured players every year. So I believe the head coach is prepared for these things. "Arsenal" players are very technical, but also vulnerable, which may explain the high injury rate in this team. They are certainly capable of achieving the desired result, but the biggest problem is probably psychological or mental attitude towards the match and how they will implement the game plan.
"Olympiakos" is a team that plays excellently at home, has strong fan support, and plays like they are on clouds. Everyone has a chance to win, and "Arsenal" can win by two or three goals. How things will unfold in the match is a more complicated question.
- In Group G, it is clear that "Maccabi" is withdrawing from European competition. Both "Chelsea" playing at home and "Porto" do not have the right to lose in the mutual matches if they want to ensure their place in the next stage. In your opinion, will the struggling "Chelsea" be the favorites in these matches?
- Speaking of "Chelsea," I would say that they will be the favorites in the matches, despite their poor form in England at the moment, and this word about their game can be said very confidently.
I think that both Kiev's "Dynamo" and "Chelsea" clubs will advance to the next stage because the situation for the Ukrainians is the best as they play against "Maccabi," who have zero points and are playing at home. I don't know how the fact that "Dynamo" will play the match without spectators will affect them, but I think they will show strength at home and have no problems reaching the next stage.
On the other hand, "Chelsea," I think you can clearly call them the favorites. However, the Premier League and the Champions League are completely different tournaments, and each game is approached individually. You can't look at their past few matches and say that the same fate awaits them in the next game; that wouldn't be right regarding "Chelsea." They have a really good squad, and since winning the league title in England last year, they haven't changed much, even improving slightly. The question is when this team will start gaining points. I think they will advance to the next stage with Kiev's "Dynamo" in the Champions League.
- What do you think, can the "Gent" team be able to end the winning streak of "Zenit" in the last round of the Champions League?
- I think they have theoretical chances, but not practical ones. It's strange to see "Zenit" collecting a hundred percent of the points; I certainly wouldn't have believed it if I had been asked about it before the start of the Champions League, but the fact remains. I saw their matches, and they are a very stable team, and that stability is mainly reflected in the club's lineup, which has not changed for many years, so the players have a good understanding of each other, play well together and complement each other on the field. I think they will fight for another victory, especially since the "Zenit" team wants that record, primarily in their history, as they have never before won five matches out of five in the group stage and now have a chance to achieve one more. Who wouldn't want to achieve a hundred percent of the points in the group stage matches? So there is little hope that "Gent" could even fight for a draw in these matches. But, of course, everything is possible - that's football.
Tautvydas Sakalauskas
