Champions League is back with a bang
I WELCOMED back the Champions League with open arms, like an old friend returning from faraway shores, as it promises to help us through the long, dark midweek nights of winter.
Like an ever-so slightly green, stubborn log on the hearth, the elite competition in European football is normally a slow-burner, but this time the group stages began like a kaleidoscope of fireworks dancing in the night sky thanks to one or two clashes of the heavyweights.
You could quench the flames somewhat by saying that, despite a couple of unpredictable results in the opening round of fixtures, the cream will eventually come to the top and you could pick the majority of the teams that will take their place in the last 16 even at this fledgling stage with a high degree of certainty.
However, never mind the begrudgers, as over at Anfield we were treated to some red-hot action as the Liverpool swagger eventually took the sting out of project PSG.
I have to admit when Roberto Firmino netted his dramatic late winner, it was the first time ever that I did a mini fist pump in reaction to a Liverpool goal.
It’s not that I have any sort of deep-rooted dislike for the club, it’s just that, having never supported any Premier League side, it takes a team playing heart-warming, exciting football to get me on the edge of my seat, or even on my feet applauding like some slobbering sea lion.
That’s what Liverpool have become under Jurgen Klopp. They’re a team that, win, lose or draw, when you turn on the television you know you’re going to be entertained.
My willingness for them to win was also helped by the fact that they were up against the soulless entity that is Paris Saint Germain, although mainly it was my penchant for seeing really good, committed football getting its just rewards that had me in the red corner.
Manchester United were like that when Alex Ferguson was at the helm, continuing to give their all until the final whistle. When Arsenal were in their hey-day under Arsene Wenger they were a joy to watch, and even Newcastle, when Kevin Keegan was in charge, brought you on one hell of a rollercoaster ride, where the destination mightn’t have been where they wanted to go, but it was unquestionably fun watching them trying to get there.
Now we have Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Klopp’s Liverpool, who are both intriguing to watch in their own different ways.
Liverpool for their relentless high energy and swashbuckling style, and City for their pretty passing, probing and patient football.
Very little of what’s good about the Premier League champions was on display against Lyon on Wednesday evening though, as they huffed and puffed before going down to a 2-1 defeat to the French visitors, but in all likelihood it’s just a minor blip ahead of cruising into the knockout stages.
Temperatures were certainly rising over in Valencia, where Cristiano Ronaldo was sent before the headmaster for a bit of playground hair-pulling and, typical of the school yard setting, the tears flowed freely, although Juventus still had enough to bully the hosts into submission as they carved out a 2-0 win.
Elsewhere, his old adversary Lionel Messi was again the star pupil, netting a sublime hat-trick, the 48th treble of his glittering career, as Barcelona tore Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to shreds.
As is their wont, in classic true Tottenham style, Spurs managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of what looked a certain victory when conceding two late goals to lose 2-1 away to Inter Milan. Christian Eriksen’s strike appeared to have the Londoners in control, and despite looking comfortable for most of the match they somehow managed to throw it all away.
Their soft centre, mental fragility and inability to kill off a game when they’re on top continues to come back to haunt them, while defending set-pieces adequately seems to be their Achilles heel.
Spurs may have shown what they can do at their best against Real Madrid last term, but it was the Spaniards who had the last laugh, and in midweek they illustrated that even without their talisman Ronaldo they will be a force to be reckoned with again this time when brushing aside last season’s semi-finalists Roma 3-0.
Manchester United overcame Young Boys by the same scoreline on a synthetic pitch, but despite a recent upturn in fortunes for Jose Mourinho’s men I just can’t see them having what it takes to go deep into the competition.
At the business end of the season the usual suspects Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich, along with best English hopes Liverpool and Manchester City, will most likely fight it out for ultimate honours.
It may have only just kicked off but the Champions League is already simmering along nicely, and is sure to erupt like a mouth-watering chocolate fountain on final day in Madrid at the start of June.