After yesterday's and today's games I came to a few personal conclusions (feel free to disagree)

 * Using the home team advantadge is crucial at this point of the competition.

* But a one goal is still a dangerous result for Fenerbahce and Roma. They will both face strong spanish teams that will play for their crowds. And Sevilla and Real Madrid will need a simple victory by 1 x 0 to move to the next round.

* Schalke has a better change to hold up Porto. The tactical discipline of German football can make the difference

* Liverpool is a little bit more confortable to face Internazionale after scoring twice and not allowing a reaction by the leader of Serie A.

* Real Madrid's inefficiency to create trouble to Roma's defense in the second half proved that Robinho is much more important for the team than Robben right now.

* Vitor Valdes needs to improve his game or soon he'll be getting the boot. How couldn't he save that header in Celtic's second goal?

* Olympique Lyon will have a lot of problems to stop Tevez and Ronaldo in the second leg. Lyon can always count on Bezema and Juninho but if Ronaldo, Tevez and Anderson really play at the top of their games it would be improbable to Man Un to be beaten.

* Experience still goes a long way. Of course I'm talking about AC Milan. They bravely held up a 0 x 0 result against a Arsenal that had at least 2 clear chances to score. Arsenal still has a chance but beating the European (and World) Champions will not be a simple task at all.

* Messi is the pulsating heart of Barcelona now! And Ronaldinho finally woke up! And that's excellent for the spectacle of football!!!

Please add your own points of view!

Kevin Kurani (Schalke 04)

Ernesto Farias (FC Porto)

Raul (Real Madrid)

Mancini (Roma)

Kovacevic (Olimpiacos)

Drogba (Chelsea)

Tevez & Rooney (Manchester United)

Karim Benzema (Lyon)

Materazzi (Iternazionale)

Gerrard (Liverpool)

Kezman (Fenerbahçe)

Dani Alves (sevilla) vs. Alex (Fenerbahçe)

Kaka (AC Milan)

Eduardo (Arsenal)

Barry Robson (Celtic)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

I know 7 teams are missing from the picture (Porto, Olimpiakos, Fenerbahce, Schalke, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United) but I just thought that it was really cool to open my closet and see that I have 9 of the 16 Champions League teams jerseys. Who will take the "Big Ears" trophy this year???

Brazilian style is on for Milan. Kaká, the world footballer of the year received the company of Ronaldo (finally back to the pitch) and the new sentation ALEXANDRE PATO.

The Rossoneri anxiously waited for this day when the 18 year old signing had all his paperwork legalized to play for Milan.

And it worked. The kid combines talent, speed and technique with the energy that is characteristic of young players.

Ronaldo then finally looked like having a good time playing amog his fellow countrymen. 15' on the first half and a good triangle passing line had the touches of Pato, Pirlo and ended up with Ronaldo shooting hard and the ball just made past the goal line. AC Milan 1 x 0 Napoli.

But Napoli wasn't dead. 12 minutes later the team in blue tied on a beautiful play through the right and Sosa finished perfectly.

But with Ronaldo playing well, Pato's enthusiasm, Kaká's finesse and the world class of the other great players on the squad, it was just a matter of time for AC Milan to take the lead again.

Pato's only problem on the game was Napoli's goalkeeper, Iezzo, who denied him twice after a beautiful pass from Ronaldo. But Seedorf was there: Milan 2 x 1 Napoli.

But  here comes Napoli again. Another super-fast counter attack with Lavezzi and the referee calls a penalty inflicted by Kaladze. Domizzi ties the game one more time: AC Milan 2 x 2 Napoli

The second half starts and once again Ronaldo proves why he still one of the most dangerous strikers in the world (when he wants to). 1 minute on the second half and after a perfect cross by Seedorf, Ronaldo finishes with a even more perfect header. AC Milan 3 x 2 Napoli.

Napoli now felt the goal and Milan started contolling the game with shorter passes and you could see Ronaldo and Kaká really having a good time on the pitch. And when brazilians have a good time playing football that's when they're more dangerous.

During the whole game Kaká played more like a secondary role. Humbly leaving the spotlight for the debut of Pato and the return of Ronaldo. But he’s Kaká; the best footballer of the world and once he got two seconds with the ball and 80 centimeters of space to turn he shot a fantastic ball from outside the box and led AC Milan to a  deserved 4 x 2 score at minute 68’.

And completing the party, to make it all a very special day, an unforgettable game, PATO scored on his debut!!! The kid deseved it more than anybody. He's been waiting for this moment since he signed with the Rossoneri. The fans have been waiting too. And the whole San Siro came down with cheer and happiness when the 18 year old kid put his fingers in the shape of a heart and had tears in his eyes, showing how thankful he was for the fans support.

Oh man, oh man... What a game!!!

This match is a landmark for AC Milan this season. It's the World Champions showing that now they are up to fight for the title. And it's also a warning to rivals Internazionale.

 

Can the Brazilian Power Trio - Kaká, Pato, Ronaldo - make AC Milan repeat the sucess of 2007?

Well, I believe they can.

Sunday, 5:45am. It was still dark outside when I got up to watch Internazionale versus AC Milan.

All I hoped was for a great game to keep me awake and to get me even more excited for a great football Sunday.

They didn’t let me down.

First it was very nice to see Internazionale's players line-up in a "tunel" formation to greet AC Milan as they stepped onto the pitch. They all clapped in recognition of Milan's achievement in Japan. A great gesture. 

But Internazionale was eager to beat the World Champions.  

Internazionale dominated the first half but it was Milan who scored first. Inzaghi was fouled at the left side  of the half-circle and Pirlo invited goalkeeper Julio Cesar to watch the ball curves and rest inside the net on the top right corner.

That was Milan’s only shot on the first half that still had some great runs by Kaka, one of each, ended up causing Samuel to get injured. Defenders need a special health insurance when playing against Kaká. He literally “bent” Samuel. The defender was replaced by Materazzi.

And at the 35^th minute justice was made. In a good play on the left side of the pitch, the ball found Julio Cruz in the box to score his 10^th goal for Internazionale this season.

In the second half Milan came back with Emerson, Gillardino and Serginho in the places of Gattuso, Inzaghi and Seedorf.

Serginho for Seedorf was the weirdest sub coach Ancelotti could have made. Ok, Seedorf was not brilliant but the team certainly lost a reference.

And with a very unorganized defense came Internazionale’s second goal. A shot by Cambiasso (the best player of the game in my opinion) that was deflected by Kaladze and could not be saved by Dida.

Man of the Match: Cambiasso

After the second goal it seemed that the Nerazzurri still wanted more. They were putting pressure on AC Milan’s defense and brought in the 20-year old Portuguese player, Pelé.

Milan’s offensive efforts were not working and even though the Rossoneri played a little better towards the end of the match, it was not enough to change the score.

I honestly expected more from AC Milan from a team. They were the world champions but they deposit all their hopes on Kaka’s shoulder. He actually did what he could but many times I felt he was playing by himself.

As for Internazionale, they have a very balanced, organized team, I personally wanted to see more from Ibrahimovic but Julio Cruz and Camibiasso did the job. It’s inter on their way for a second championship in a row.

AC Milan versus Inter will be he frist great battle this sunday.

It's a match that will be interesting more because of the rivalry, the tradition and the number of great players that will bo on the pitch but in fact if you look at the Serie A table you will see that this game matters a lot more the World Champions AC Milan than for their rival neighbors.

Internazionale is leading the Serie A with a reasonably comfortable 7 point difference to the second place (Roma) on the other hand AC Milan has only 18 points in the 11th position.

If AC Milan intends to repeat the sucess of 2007 they'd better start winning games and what would be better than starting against their biggest rivals?

I believe it will be a close game and I really can't wait to see Kaká for AC Milan and Ibrahimovic for Inter to put up a great show!

Any score prediction??? I'd say 2 x 1 for AC Milan - just because the game matters a lot for them.

Here is how the teams might play, according to the Italian Newspaper "Corriere Dello Sport"