Champs League: Wednesday Match Analysis and Picks
By LARRY O'CONNOR
In the last seven days we’ve seen European giants Real Madrid and Chelsea fall out of the running for this year’s Champions League title. Will the defending champs be the next to bow out?
Barcelona vs. VfB Stuttgart (+2, 3 over/under)
Cacau, who's reportedly been pining for La Liga and was linked to Sevilla, has the ultimate stage to prove his La Liga worthiness at the Estadio Nou Camp. The Brazilian turned German scored Stuttgart's lone goal in the previous encounter before Zlatan Ibrahimovic rescued a draw for the incumbent Champions League title holders Feb. 23
Since the draw Stuttgart has gone a lackluster 1-1-1 in the Bundesliga coming on the heels of a 2-1 setback to Schalke 04 on Saturday. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is retiring at season's end and midfielder Aleksandr Hleb returns to the Nou Camp after leaving Barca last summer.
Those sources of inspiration will not be enough to overcome Barcelona's home field advantage (12 wins and a draw in 13 league home contests), a critical away-goal and, of course, and firepower that includes French international Thierry Henry, Messi, Bojan Krkik and Pedro.
Barcelona have won three, lost once and drawn in their last five La Liga matches, including a 3-0 whitewash of Valencia Sunday with Messi netting all three goals.
The vexing question for the Barca manager Josep Guardiola could be whether to start Ibrahimovic at center or stick with the Bojan, who works better in tandem with Pedro. Decisions, decisions.
Final score prediction: Barcelona 3, Stuttgart 1
Bordeaux vs. Olympiakos (+2, 2 over/under)
After garnering a 1-0 victory in their last encounter -- not to mention a coveted away goal by defender Michael Ciani -- Bordeaux should hold sway at the Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas Wednesday. However, a tepid Ligue 1 performance of two draws and a loss in their last three matches and a knee injury to defender Marc Planus have put a hitch in the French champs' swagger.
That might give the Greek champions a scintilla of hope, except Olympiakos have their own domestic problems. Zico was fired as manager in January while replacement Bozidar Bandovic has yet to put his stamp on the club.
Olympiakos escaped with a 2-2 draw to bottom-of-table dwellers Gianna on Saturday while losing to Greek Super League mid-table club Iraklis, 1-0, on March 7. League leaders Panathinaikos await this Sunday.
Bordeaux has their captain Alou Diarra, who missed the first encounter, back from a hamstring injury. Ciani's three Champions League goals lead Lauren Blanc's team, which has gone undefeated in seven matches in the competition. Goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso has kept four straight clean sheets going into Wednesday's Group 16 clash, having last surrendered a goal in Bordeaux's 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in Matchday 3 of Group A play.
Former Blackburn Rovers forward Matt Derbyshire will likely start upfront along fellow Premier League refugee Lomana Tresor LuaLua (Portsmouth). The pair accounted for both Olympiakos' goals in Saturday's draw to Gianna.
Final score prediction: Bordeaux 2, Olympiakos 0