I’ve been doing this for all of the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup, so I don’t see any reason to stop now. I made predictions for both the first knockout stage and the second knockout stage, with varying degrees of success. In the first round, I finished 12-4, only to follow it up with a 4-4 record in the second round. At the current pace, I should go 0-4 this round. Keep that in mind if you’re looking at this and wondering if you should depend on it.
Great set of games on tap for this round, including a matchup of two WCR Top 25 teams as PSV Eindhoven and Fiorentina face each other in quarterfinals. A few of these matchups are complete tossups. Who are we at WCR predicting to advance?
Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) over Zenit St. Petersburg (Rus)
I have been picking against Zenit since the beginning and I’ve been wrong every time. What makes me think this time will be different? I don’t know. Call it law of averages. Call it a lack of respect for the Russian Premier League (which, incidentally, is now being broadcast on ESPN 360). Whatever it is, I’m going with Leverkusen on this one. Aggregate: Bayer Leverkusen 4 Zenit St. Petersburg 1.
Rangers (Sco) over Sporting CP (Por)
This is the toughest prediction that I’ve had to make this season. These are two teams that are relatively evenly matched and experienced. In the WCR rankings, I have Rangers at #32 and Sporting CP at #33. So, do I trust the rankings? Answer: I ALWAYS trust the rankings. But, it will be close. Aggregate: Rangers 2 Sporting CP 2 – Rangers in penalty kicks.
(17) Bayern Munchen (Ger) over Getafe (Esp)
Getafe has been another team that has been surprising me throughout the UEFA Cup. They have played very well against the big clubs of the Spanish Primera Division and they are certainly up to the task against Bayern. That being said, I have to imagine that there is just too much talent in Munich for Getafe to overcome – but it wouldn’t shock me. Aggregate: Bayern Munchen 4 Getafe 2.
(19) PSV Eindhoven (Ned) over (24) Fiorentina (Ita)
This is the first time this season that we have had two ranked teams facing off in a knockout-stage matchup in the UEFA Cup. As with the Rangers/Sporting matchup, this one could go either way and I wouldn’t be surprised by any result. It should come down to who wants it more. Is Fiorentina satisfied in trying to secure a Champions League spot in Serie A? Is it a letdown for PSV to be playing in this round in the UEFA Cup after advancing to this round in the Champions League last year? Who knows? I do. But I’m not telling. I will tell you this, though. Aggregate: PSV Eindhoven 3 Fiorentina 2.
Great set of games on tap for this round, including a matchup of two WCR Top 25 teams as PSV Eindhoven and Fiorentina face each other in quarterfinals. A few of these matchups are complete tossups. Who are we at WCR predicting to advance?
Bayer Leverkusen (Ger) over Zenit St. Petersburg (Rus)
I have been picking against Zenit since the beginning and I’ve been wrong every time. What makes me think this time will be different? I don’t know. Call it law of averages. Call it a lack of respect for the Russian Premier League (which, incidentally, is now being broadcast on ESPN 360). Whatever it is, I’m going with Leverkusen on this one. Aggregate: Bayer Leverkusen 4 Zenit St. Petersburg 1.
Rangers (Sco) over Sporting CP (Por)
This is the toughest prediction that I’ve had to make this season. These are two teams that are relatively evenly matched and experienced. In the WCR rankings, I have Rangers at #32 and Sporting CP at #33. So, do I trust the rankings? Answer: I ALWAYS trust the rankings. But, it will be close. Aggregate: Rangers 2 Sporting CP 2 – Rangers in penalty kicks.
(17) Bayern Munchen (Ger) over Getafe (Esp)
Getafe has been another team that has been surprising me throughout the UEFA Cup. They have played very well against the big clubs of the Spanish Primera Division and they are certainly up to the task against Bayern. That being said, I have to imagine that there is just too much talent in Munich for Getafe to overcome – but it wouldn’t shock me. Aggregate: Bayern Munchen 4 Getafe 2.
(19) PSV Eindhoven (Ned) over (24) Fiorentina (Ita)
This is the first time this season that we have had two ranked teams facing off in a knockout-stage matchup in the UEFA Cup. As with the Rangers/Sporting matchup, this one could go either way and I wouldn’t be surprised by any result. It should come down to who wants it more. Is Fiorentina satisfied in trying to secure a Champions League spot in Serie A? Is it a letdown for PSV to be playing in this round in the UEFA Cup after advancing to this round in the Champions League last year? Who knows? I do. But I’m not telling. I will tell you this, though. Aggregate: PSV Eindhoven 3 Fiorentina 2.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to let me hear about it.
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