Barcelona dispatched Roma, Bayern crushed Olympiacos as Europe’s two leading sides fired warnings to the continent in the Champions League.
1) Ruthless Barcelona look ominously good
It’s a tasty pub debate, and one that probably requires a
thorough grounding of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team: has there ever been a
better front three than Barcelona’s current trio?
Lionel Messi, Neymar
and Luis Suarez ran riot as Barcelona cruised to a 6-1 win over Roma –
the perfect consolidation of their Clasico triumph. It wasn’t just that
they netted four of the goals (a tally that would have been five, had
Neymar not shanked a penalty). No, it was their interplay. It was as
though Messi, returning to the starting line-up following an injury
lay-off, had never been absent. It was all summed up by their second
goal, a ruthless scythe through the Roma backline: Messi… Neymar… Messi…
Suarez… Messi… delicate chip… goal. A stunning one-touch move made to
look ridiculously simple.
Not that they should get too ahead of themselves. Real Madrid were in the midst of a 22-match winning run at this stage last season, and we all know how that ended…
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2) Bayern’s attacking armoury is frightening
Pep Guardiola
went all-out attack against Olympiacos, probably tactically, but
possibly just to show off just how strong his squad is. There was no Thiago, Javi Martinez, Xabi Alonso, Mario Gotze or David Alaba
in midfield for the German Champions, with Pep instead playing
essentially a front five to overpower the Greek visitors. It hardly came
as a surprise that Arjen Robben
and Thomas Muller were dangerous from the start, while Douglas Costa’s
frightening speed has added another element to an already daunting
attacking unit.
But it was the performance of Kingsley Coman that really caught
the eye. The Frenchman has pace to burn and tore the visitors apart out
on the left wing in a display that perfectly illustrated the depth in
quality of the squad. Man-for-man Barcelona have probably the best
starting XI in the world right now… but surely nobody has a better squad
than Bayern.
Bayern's Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski (L-R) celebrate after Lewandowski scored a goal - Reuters
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3) Arsenal still have everything to play for
Arsenal usually make life hard for themselves and this season’s
Champions League campaign is a perfect example. Where was the quality in
September when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb,
a team they so easily tore apart on this occasion?
What we do know is that they’ll have to bring this level of
performance to Greece if they are to secure second spot in the group.
Sure, the atmosphere will be intimidating but if the likes of Mesut Ozil
and Alexis
Sanchez can perform to the best of the ability and the defence holds
its nerve, then Arsenal will go close to completing the impossible.
Mesut Ozil celebrates after scoring the first goal for Arsenal - Reuters
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4) Encouraging signs for Chelsea
Had Jose Mourinho
appointed himself groundsman before the match in Haifa, Chelsea could
have stuck seven or eight past the Group G whipping boys. The Portuguese
manager was spotted stamping on the turf during proceedings, aghast at
seeing his side’s fine build-up play disrupted by a bobbly pitch.
It didn’t matter. The Blues outclassed their opponents in a
manner only previously seen by them this season against, well, Maccabi
Tel Aviv in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge. But the signs are
still promising. Chelsea were on the decline the last time they played
the Israeli side, this time they are surely on the rise - even if that's
an inevitable outcome following a dismal slump. The first true test of
any change in fortunes will present itself on Sunday against Tottenham
at White Hart Lane. Win there, and they might yet click into gear...
Chelsea's Oscar reacts after scoring a goal against Maccabi Tel Aviv - Reuters
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5) Zenit good shout for quarter-final spot…
Ignore Zenit St Petersburg’s shaky domestic form – seven points adrift of league pacesetters CSKA Moscow. Ignore their favourable Champions League draw too – Valencia, Lyon and Gent.
For all their failings and fortune, this Zenit side is strong
and fully deserve their 100 per cent record in the Champions League.
Hulk and Artem Dzyuba
may grab the headlines, but it’s Axel Witsel’s tireless work in
midfield that gives them the platform to attack. Zenit stifled the
Valencia midfield with such ease, that they could yet unsettle their
unseeded knockout opponents.
Zenit St. Peterburg's Oleg Shatov celebrates scoring the first goal for Valencia - Reuters
