Reflections : UCL Match Day 2

Since match day 2 is now complete, let us take a look at several of the teams in the competition including every one of those who are seen as favorites to win it as well as some others which we may like to discuss. The comments here have a little to do with the performances of the teams on match day 1 and 2 but more to do with how we see their overall prospects in the competition. Some of the views expressed are those of this writer while others are opinion gathered by him from reading postings and comments of both pundits and fans world wide.

1. Bayern Munich - With Ribery and Robben on the flanks, this is a team that excites the neutral. To that add the excellent form of Thomas Muller and the unquestionably talented Schweinsteiger and Lahm. Going forward one would rate them high. Unfortunately there are two major problems. Defensively this team convinces no one especially after the sale of Lucio in the summer. And add to that the fact that Robben is unfit more often than fit, it takes away a lot from the overall potential of this team. One can't help but wonder how good a player Robben would be ( right up there with the very best in this writer's opinion ) if he were not so injury prone.

2. Bordeaux - It was a big surprise that Bordeaux managed to pull off a draw against Juventus in an away match. In fact they could have won the match and only Buffon's heroics prevented them from doing so. However in match day 2 they also made their inexperience and lack of confidence at this level quite apparent. So as of now Bordeaux can be rated as a team that will make life difficult for others but is bound to fall short. The big positive that comes out of it is the continuously growing profile of coach Laurent Blanc who is easily one of the most promising young managers today and is almost sure to move to a big club sooner rather than later.

3. Juventus - There's something about UCL and Juventus - they just don't go together. For the club of the size and stature of Juventus, it's impossible to believe that they have won only two European cups. Even in the days of Michel Platini when Juve were unquestionably the number one club in the world, their domestic success was always much more than their European achievements. Yes, they can say that they have been unlucky too often since they have been close so many times but then if they slip so often at the final stage, surely most of the blame is theirs to take. Even in the days of a peerless tactician in the form of Marcello Lippi, Juve reached the final of the UCL four times but won only once. As for the current team, you cannot say for sure that they will reach the knock outs since Group A looks like becoming a very tight battle between three teams. Even if they do reach the knock out rounds, it seems they still lack something to get the better of a top class Spanish or English side.

4. Manchester United - Not many people including this writer rated them as the big favorite to win UCL this season but it's clear that they will be there or thereabouts. Yes, they have lost some key players but the most important point is that after years of trial and error, they have finally discovered just what it takes to succeed on the grandest stage of all.

5. Wolfsburg - An exciting team that's been fortunate to get a group from which they should be able to reach the knock out stages. After that how far they go is hard to say. They could be out of their depth against really strong opposition but are surely capable of a surprise or two.

6. Real Madrid - Possibly the one team that most divides opinion at the moment. Some even see them as the number one favorite for the title. On the other hand some don't even think they will make the semi finals. Their team play is developing and has not yet reached it's zenith. However they are winning so many games mainly on the virtues of outstanding individuals like Kaka and the on fire C.Ronaldo. With Benzema starting to settle in and Alonso continuing from where he left off last season, not many see any reason to question the offensive capabilities of this team. It's the defense which most see as their Achilees heel which could see them get knocked out when push comes to shove.

7. A C Milan - At this point in time in the football world the one thing that you don't want to be is a Milan fan. A club which could have justifiably been called the world's best not too long ago and a team which could easily call themselves the number one team of UCL are in such shambles that it's difficult to see them win even a half way decent match or sometimes even score a goal. Will they reach the knock outs? They don't deserve to but may just make it. A double pummeling from Real Madrid in the next two matches is almost inevitable. If they reach the knock outs, they should be easy pickings for any of the favorites even if they make some decent buys in the winter. Winning the UCL in 2007 with an aging team was a huge achievement but that does not mean that you can play forever with the same players. Add to that the fact that with Rijkaard and Van Basten available, they decided to hire a man who himself says that he is not cut out to be a coach. In the views of this writer, the job of a manager at a top football club is one of the biggest dream jobs in the world and should certainly not go to someone who is not 100% made for it. Whether it was the fact that Berlusconi wanted a puppet or whether Leonardo was the cheapest coach available is anyone's guess.

8. Marseille - If this writer were to choose his biggest disappointment so far, he would surprise everyone by choosing Marseille. They missed a big trick on match day 1 because Milan were there for the taking. All in all one has to question how good a manager Didier Deschamps is. This is the same man who took unfancied Monaco to the UCL final in 2004 but looking at his recent performances not just in UCL but in Ligue 1, Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc may be called a better manager.

9. Chelsea - A lot of people's big favorite to win the competition. They have come close so far and should be able to take the final step now. This author understands that the team has many quality individuals throughout and is strong in almost every position but feels that they lack that extra bit of creative spark and are an aging team. Yes they now have the man who took an aging ( or should we say aged ) team to glory not so long ago but then there is also the jinx. Ancelotti has already won two UCLs. No manager other than Bob Paisley has won the European Cup three times. Even the legendary Sir Alex has so far failed to do that. Suffice it to say that were Ancelotti to do this, he would be acknowledged as one of the greatest football coaches in history but there's many a slip between the cup and the lip.

10. Porto - If there is one team on earth that can survive and do well even after selling off almost all their key performers, then it's Porto who have just developed such a model which is bound to be the envy of the entire world. They just know how to bring in the right replacements for the right price and become competitive once again before the world even has a chance to blink. So as of now they are almost sure to reach the knock outs and be more than a match for anyone who crosses their path after that.

11. Atletico Madrid - If Milan fans need empathy, they need look no further than Atletico fans. It's just so hard to believe that the team that performed beyond themselves at the end of last season to clinch the 4th spot in La Liga now lie in the relegation zone even when all their key players have been retained and the manager is the same. Why this has happened is beyond the scope of this article but at the moment this is a club that is going nowhere.

12. Lyon - There are enough signs to suggest that the old Lyon is back. A great team to watch in full flow and more than a match for absolutely anyone. Perhaps still not strong enough to win the competition but will carry with them the hopes and wishes of most neutrals around the world.

13. Fiorentina - It wouldn't be wrong to say that the far too many times wounded Italian pride has been at least temporarily somewhat restored by the heroics of Fiorentina against Liverpool. Still reaching the next stage is a big battle which they should at least now be able to face with confidence.

14. Liverpool - In some people's eyes, this is the second most consistent team of UCL in recent times after Milan. However this time is it entirely unthinkable that they fail to reach the knock outs? It's too early to write them off but a free flowing Lyon and a confident Fiorentina will make life difficult. If they do make it as expected, they are bound to be competitive. However with the sale of Alonso it's quite clear that the team lacks something vital and is possibly no one's favorite to win the competition at this moment.

15. Barcelona - Without the slightest shred of doubt, the big favorites and the team to beat in the eyes of most pundits and fans. Some in this world are so much in awe of them that they consider them a perfect team with no weaknesses. The more observant however can see a few causes for concern. The wafer thin nature of the squad cannot be ignored as the top players have virtually no replacements who can be expected to play at even 50% of their level in the really big matches. The defense is not all that convincing and to that add the fact that the solidity seems to be missing from Yaya Toure's game unlike last season. And last but not the least, how can we not discuss Ibrahimovic! No player in the world today divides opinion as much as Ibra does not only among fans but even pundits. Some rate him right up there with the very best while some don't consider him world class and usually call him a big match flop. You can say that Ibra will score the difficult goals in the easy matches but will he score the easy goals in the difficult matches? No matter how technically good you are it's unforgivable for a world class player to miss three clear cut scoring chances in a UCL knock out match as Ibra did last season when playing for Inter against ManUtd. Eto'o while not that gifted had the knack of finishing opportunities in a match where chances have been few and far between. This remains Ibra's make or break year and nothing will count more than his performances in the UCL knock out stages.

16. Inter Milan - It wouldn't be wrong to say that at the beginning of this season, there was a false and almost forced sense of optimism at Inter. Yes a world class performer like Eto'o had been bought but that wouldn't do anything to hide the lack of creativity in the team. What's worse is that this involved the sale of Ibrahimovic who could be dubbed the one way ticket which ensured victories for Inter when the rest of the team had done nothing to deserve one. All the focus is on head coach Mourinho - one of the world's best coaches who sometimes gives one the feeling that he is even more hyped than he is good. He can now not have any reason to complain in all fairness even if that's what he prefers to do most of the time. He asked for a defender ( Lucio ), a midfielder ( Motta ), a trequartista ( Sneijder ) and a striker ( Milito ) and got all. Last season Mourinho insisted his squad was not good enough to compete with the very best. This season he was allowed to improve the squad just as he wanted. The fans shouted for Cassano but Mourinho went for Sneijder. The latter is a very competent player but isn't a classic trequartista who can run with the ball at his feet and continuously make his presence felt in the opponent's box. At the moment Inter seem to lack the flair needed and all eyes are on Mourinho to somehow deliver since not doing so must be seen as his personal failure.

17. Sevilla - Just like Lyon this is a team to watch out for. Without possessing any world class star other than perhaps Luis Fabiano, the squad can boast of a high standard of competence in every position on the pitch - something that few big clubs can boast of. All in all one cannot help but admire the way this club is run since with their budget, it's not possible to do better than this.

18. Arsenal - A team whose play continuously mesmerizes the world and can lay claim to being the second most attractive team in the world after Barcelona. Still not many believe that they are capable of going all the way. The reasons are the same that have been stated over and over again - lack of battlers and leaders with the right amount of mental toughness to really ensure a win in the tightest of matches. Yes, they are always said to be very young but surely now that quite a few years have passed, the kids must have grown up. And there's no point using injuries for an excuse. All the teams in the world have to cope with this reality of football and some have definitely managed to do so. If you suffer more than others, then it's time to take a look at your medical facilities etc. and wonder why you suffer more injuries than others.