Red-hot Roma and injury-plagued Real Madrid face off today in the day's most appealing UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match.
Real Madrid is at home today but may feel like an underdog considering how many top players will be missing. Roma will be looking to take full advantange and keep up the momentum it has built from some quality Serie A results.
The Liverpool-Inter Milan pre-quarterfinal has been rescheduled for next week, but we still have some good action to follow (though I must admit to being disappointed at ESPN for choosing Chelsea-Olympiakos over Real Madrid-Roma for its ESPN2 broadcast.
Here is a preview of the three round of 16 matches scheduled for today:
AS ROMA at REAL MADRID
- On the Air: ESPN DEPORTES, 2:30 p.m.
- First game: Roma won 2-1.
- Key points: Real Madrid should have Robinho available for this match but several other key players will be missing. Sergio Ramos (suspension), Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder could join Arjen Robben on the sidelines. Roma will have Brazilian defender Juan back after he missed the first leg, but Marco Casetti is out with a shoulder injury.
- Outcome: Real Madrid will be severely shorthanded while Roma comes in with some serious momentum. Look for Francesco Totti to lead the Romans to a 1-1 tie and advancement to the quarterfinals.
OLYMPIAKOS at CHELSEA
- On the Air: ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.
- First game: Tied 0-0
- Key points: Didier Drogba is expected to play in today's decider while former Newcastle winger Lomana Lua Lua is out for Olympiakos.
- Outcome: Chelsea is in good form right now, the first leg in Greece notwithstanding. Look for the Blues to nab an early goal and hold on for the 1-0 victory and quarterfinal place.
SCHALKE 04 at FC PORTO
- On the Air: ESPN DEPORTES, 4:45,
- First game: Schalke 04 won 1-0.
- Key points: Schalke comes in struggling, having lost three straight league matches. The Germans will welcome back Kevin Kuranyi while Porto star Ricardo Quaresma is healthy and ready to go.
- Outcome: Schalke's struggles are well-chronicled and Porto's attack is now healthy and capable of thrashing the Germans. Look for a Porto victory, 2-0.
Where will you be watching today's action? More importantly, how do you see today's games playing out? Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Everyone can also see the Real Madrid-As Roma game on Setanta Sports or ESPN360.com
Posted by: Danny | March 05, 2008 at 11:13 AM
WTF?!? ESPN doesn't seem to be showing a match at 5 on classic (which I was hoping was Real - Roma)
The Chelsea match sounds dull as can be... unless Chelsea lose. But not counting on it.
Posted by: eric | March 05, 2008 at 11:17 AM
The AS ROMA v Real Madrid match will be shown on ESPN Classic at 8:00pm CST
Posted by: Gilly73 | March 05, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Yeah, the fact that Roma vs. Madrid isn't on ESPN2 is ridiculous. I know that the market data probably says that there are more English speaking Chelsea fans in the US than any of the other teams, which means more viewers, but that game is more than likely going to be terrible! Plus, us with Time Warner Cable (ugh) don't get ESPN Deportes or Setanta or ESPN360 for that matter. Boo!
Posted by: Nick | March 05, 2008 at 11:37 AM
The Real-Roma match is supposedly being played again on ESPN Classic at 9pm tonight. Hope Madrid wins so I have a reason to watch it!
Posted by: Christine | March 05, 2008 at 12:04 PM
don't sleep on olympiakos. chelsea has all the name recognition....but so did France, Czech Rep., Portugal in Euro 2004. And Greece disposed of all 3. Don't get me wrong, olypiakos is not the greek nat'l team. but there pretty darn close. The greeks will play D. This match will go to extra time.
Posted by: mike | March 05, 2008 at 12:11 PM
The Real-Roma match is supposedly being played again on ESPN Classic at 9pm tonight. Hope Madrid wins so I have a reason to watch it!
Posted by: Christine | March 05, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Y'all should get ESPN Deportes.....three CL matches every matchday.
Posted by: Dominghosa | March 05, 2008 at 12:53 PM
what about liverpool-inter? arent they playing today too?
Posted by: Andrew | March 05, 2008 at 01:09 PM
nevermind, just saw the note. anyone know why they rescheduled this match?
Posted by: Andrew | March 05, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Without fail, ESPN -always- puts the EPL (or other UK league) on if possible. Maybe they should actually look at the matchups once.
Posted by: RK | March 05, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Liverpool v Inter is next week as FIFA laws prohibit the San Siro from hosting back to back games. Thats why the week delay is there
Posted by: doug | March 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Andrew - Liverpool-Inter was pushed back a week so they wouldn't play two games in two days at the San Siro.
Posted by: DME | March 05, 2008 at 01:34 PM
go to livefooty.org to view the games via the internet. It only works with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Every game that is broadcast worldwide can be viewed through this website
Posted by: doug | March 05, 2008 at 01:35 PM
nevermind, just saw the note. anyone know why they rescheduled this match?
Posted by: Andrew | March 05, 2008 at 01:10 PM
They didn't want to have two matches at the San Siro in two days. They were worried about stadium maintenance, and of course, having two sets of rowdy English fans in the same city at the same time.
I hope Roma wins, but you can normally pencil in Madrid at home. 2-1 Madrid, then PKs maybe?
You can count on Chelsea at home as well. Same with Porto.
Posted by: Ted | March 05, 2008 at 01:38 PM
red card pepe! 71st minute. Roma then scores immediately after to make it 1-0. Soon after most think all hope is lost, robinho splits the defense with a pass to raul who buries it to make it 1-1. 6 minutes left. 10 yellows and a red have been given out in this single game.
Posted by: Andrew | March 05, 2008 at 04:26 PM