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During the middle of last week, football fans had the opportunity to watch several special national football team matches. Next week, the UEFA Champions League returns to the television screens after waking up from winter sleep, with the knockout stage battles.
2013.02.09, Saturday
Italy's "Serie A"
21:45 - Rome's "Lazio" (3rd place) vs. "Napoli" (2nd place)
The results of the last five league matches: "Lazio" - 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses; "Napoli" - 4 wins and 1 draw.
Just recently, the teams had equal points and equal chances to fight for the second, or perhaps the first place, but the recent 2 unexpected losses by Rome's "Lazio" distanced them from the leader Turin's "Juventus" by 9 points, and from the successful "Napoli" by 6 points. On Saturday, "Lazio" will have a great opportunity to improve their position in the league table.
"Napoli", with Edinson Cavani at the forefront, breathes down the neck of "Juventus" and makes this season of Italy's "Serie A" particularly interesting, as for many years, 4-5 teams dominated the championship and other teams couldn't compete for the title.
These matches are worth attention just because in Napoli's team plays the recently much talked about E.Cavani. Journalists and football reviewers speculate where the Uruguayan will play next season and how much the European football giants are willing to pay for him. This buzz is not artificial, as Napoli's forward looks really impressive this season - he already has 18 goals in Serie A, and the season has only just begun.
UEFA Champions League, Round of 16
2013.02.12, Tuesday, 21:45
Glasgow "Celtic" - Turin "Juventus"
In the first Tuesday semi-final clash, the multiple Scottish champion Glasgow "Celtic" will face the multiple Italian champion Turin "Juventus". The favorite of this match is "Juventus", but in Glasgow, any team gets "hot". The home team is loudly supported by fans, and reaching the Champions League quarterfinal is not a common event in the club's history and will give players extra motivation.
"Valencia" - "Paris Saint-Germain"
In the group stage, the Spaniards didn't have the strongest opponents, so the team relatively easily reached the quarterfinals along with Munich's "Bayern". "Valencia" can be confidently called a home team, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic-led "Paris Saint-Germain" will face difficulties in Valencia. Although "Los Che" are only 6th in "La Liga", the team fought equally with "Barcelona" and Madrid's "Real".
PSG lost only to "Porto" in their group and took the first place. The French "Ligue 1" team is also at the top of the table and seems to show the expected results for their club supporters and fans. Reaching the Champions League quarterfinals would be proof that the team is moving in the right direction.
Both teams have equal chances to reach the next stage, and the winner can be determined by an away goal or penalty shootout. Will Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Roberto Soldado determine the team's advancement to the next stage? The guess is up to you.
2013.02.13, Wednesday, 21:45
Donetsk "Shakhtar" - Dortmund "Borussia"
Donetsk "Shakhtar" managed to eliminate not anyone from the competition, but last year's Champions League winner London "Chelsea". For many football fans, this was the biggest surprise of the group stage competition. The game shown by the Ukrainian club impressed not only one football expert and viewer. The team plays extremely calmly and thoughtfully. Brazilian Fernandinho directs the game, and in attack, the opponents' goal is constantly threatened by Luiz Adriano, supported by Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
"Borussia" also doesn't have world-class players, but in their lineup, they found a few gems that have already attracted the attention of other teams - these are Pole Robert Lewandowski, Germans Mario Gotze and Marco Reus. The German club has several players capable of scoring, making the team very dangerous. It is worth noting that one discovery from last season - Japanese Shinji Kagawa - was already purchased by "Manchester United".
This will be a match of equals, characterized by a fast, youthful style of play, and football fans can expect plenty of beautiful goals.
Manchester United" - Madrid "Real"
Without a doubt, the most interesting match of the coming week, worth comparing to the tournament final. Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester, where he spent six years and during that time managed to become the world's best player, winning the Golden Ball.
"Real" has practically buried its hopes of winning the Spanish "La Liga", so all thoughts are focused on the Champions League, and they will give all their efforts.
The winner can be determined by even the smallest mistake, so football fans are looking forward to tense and emotional matches.
