What Happened in Manchester? Tips on a Massive Weekend of Football!

Manchester's horror night in Europe has been much talked about and many still can't quite believe it happened.

Ok, Manchester City were playing in the Champions League for the first time and they were in undoubtedly the toughest pool the Champions League has seen since AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Deportivo la Coruna and Lens were drawn in the same pool in 2002/03.

Ok, they got 10 points which would have been enough to see them through to the next round in 6 of the other pools.

Still, with the amount of money they spent on getting experienced and quality players and the fact that they have played in the Europa League for the last few seasons until this one, means they still should have made it to the 2nd round.

Having said that, Napoli are a very good side and have punched above their weight in Europe and they should be praised for getting ahead of their much richer rivals. They played like a team which is what Man City have done a lot better than the last few seasons this year.

Leeds' glory run in the 2000/01 Champions League

Until Manchester City's failure, not counting the qualifying rounds, English sides have made the 2nd round on their debut season in the Champions League since the Premier League was granted at least 3 spots in Europe's premier competition - Chelsea, Leeds, Tottenham & Liverpool all made it through to the 2nd round in their first ever Champions League campaigns and Sir Bobby's Newcastle United just made it through to the 2nd round in the 2002/03 season.

Anyway, Man City have to bounce back quick - they play a revived Chelsea this weekend albeit on Monday night.

While Man City's failure could be put down to "inexperience" in Europe's top competition, Manchester United cannot claim that same excuse.

The fact is Man United are a side that has hit a flat spot - not a decline as they are still very much contenders in the Premier League - since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Nani isn't really a patch on Ronaldo.

At the same time, that midfield has deteriorated somewhat and the inadequacies of Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher have been revealed like a towel ripped off a naked lady with the decline and eventual loss of Paul Scholes.

The problems in midfield were revealed during Manchester City;s 6-1 drubbing at Old Trafford and they were revealed again in Basel and throughout this disappointing Champions League campaign. Not enough creativity and not great defensively.

With Vidic gone for the season too, Man United face a massive task to stay in the hunt for the title - they should be in the Champions League next season although they may be battling an in-form Tottenham side and Chelsea for those top 3 spots.

But given that United don't have much depth at the back too and have two inexperienced keepers, it'll be a bit of a miracle if they won the title especially with Jonny Evans at the back.

Man United have a chance to get their season back on track at home against an average Wolves side.

Meanwhile in La Liga, two sides who are very much on track for future glories face each other in what in my opinion, is the greatest game of football in the world, El Classico - sorry River Plate and Boca Juniors.

Unlike the Premier League sides, Barcelona and Real Madrid raced through the Champions League group stages and sealed qualification ages ago.  

In midweek, they fielded the youth teams in preparation for their first encounter this season.

Last season, Barca and Real met 5 times with Real only winning once when they met for the Copa del Rey. However, Barca took the league title and Champions League in the end.

Yes, Barcelona are playing the best football the world has seen in a long time and have been doing so since Pep Guardiola became gaffer.

But I just wonder with all the talent Real Madrid have as well as the Mourinho factor, Real Madrid will surely break Barcelona's duck eventually.

Now I love Barca and can't stand Real but football does come in cycles and I sense this may be Real's season.

Anyway Real have a chance to make their mark for the season in this game. It won't decide the title but with Real 3 points ahead of Barca, a draw would be quite good psychologically for the capital's team.

And I have a feeling that might happen.

Whatever the result, it'll be a cracker of a game and a feast for football lovers.  





In other games, Liverpool will be hoping to get their first home win in about a month against newly-promoted QPR and the Wellington Phoenix host Perth Glory as they look to continue their climb up the table.