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UEFA Champions League: Your Running Commentary

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The second pair of UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series kick off today with two thrilling match-ups that will leave folks wondering which match they should watch (assuming you have the option).

In one corner you have Chelsea-Liverpool, the ultimate grudge match and the renewing of a league rivalry that has become just as intense a Champions League rivalry. In the other corner you have Barcelona-Bayern Munich, a clash of high-powered offense in a match-up that should be anything but boring.

Here is today's schedule:

  • 2:45pm– ESPN2/ESPN360.com- Chelsea at Liverpool
  • 2:45pm– Setanta Sports/ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Bayern Munich at FC Barcelona

If you will be watching today's matches, or if you need a place to follow along, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Bayern had too many important injuries to compete. No Klose, Podolski, Lahm, Lucio, Van Buyten, Rensing. Please if all those guys were healthy there would have been a drastic change in the result. Anyone who knows anything about football would agree, and anyone who doesn’t is clueless and should keep to the MLS.

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  2. Villareal need to use JOZY asap

    ________
    The Society to Save Endangered Species was formed by Fred Smilek and two of his colleagues; Charlie Mack & Jonathan Korny. Fred Smilek stays active in raising awareness for this cause. [www.fredjsmilek.com]

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  3. lol Im not Coopers biggest fan either, but EJ is a very undeveloped striker, being fast can only get you so far…why didnt you think fulham didnt work out?his touch isnt there

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  4. That YouTube clip is fantastic! Who knew EJ was that popular? Looks like they really love him. I can’t believe they even started a “USA” chant too!

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  5. Smokeminside, Jozy and Ching was great last week, but last week was against T&T.

    If EJ develops, that makes a much more dangerous attack, and opposing defenses would have a lot more to worry about…it would be easy for a better side to mark Jozy and shut him down if he was paired with Ching. EJ + Jozy would be very potent if the midfield could be counted on to hold the ball up.

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  6. Just saw EJ’s goal on Sky Sports News. He knicked the ball away from the defender,ran towards the goal, and fired past the keeper.

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  7. the Ching Altidore pairing last week looked pretty “viable.” I don’t think a johnson altidore pairing would be as good. Maybe more athletic, but not as effective a combination.

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  8. I think Altidore + EJ is a pairing that deserves a look for the run-up to 2010. Of course both need to develop, but Ching is probably not viable for the World Cup, even though he does his job adequately

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  9. Sean,

    What I am saying, is you cannot compare the athletes, until the latter makes the transatlantic jump. European football is MUCH different than what the MLS has to offer.

    I never said Eddie was better, just you can’t compare.

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  10. Championship football is better than MLS.

    So with you thinking that you think EJ scoring 3 or 4 goals makes him better than Kenny Cooper and his 15+ goals last year?

    Im sorry to say it, but you are clueless.

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  11. Just saw the highlights of the Cardiff game on Sky Sports news and EJ’s goal was nice finish on a breakaway. The ball looked to have deflected off of EJ and not Roger on Derby’s goal (and Sky Sports is reporting that it was EJ), although that is inconsequential considering the scoreline. Good job to EJ.

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  12. So can we safely add GAM to the SA2010 pool yet? :stirring the pot:

    Good day for the yanks. Cardiff loves EJ. I wonder what is going on at the “I saw EJ score” Facebook group.

    LOL @ Bayern. Klinsmann will go out after this season, just in time to take the USA job as Assistant to Bob Bradley.

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  13. Beasley was injured and i think even ended up going to the hospital. He did have a part in setting up the first goal though, even though he had already gotten hurt by then (he came off just after the goal)

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  14. So thats 2 goals and a handful of assists for EJ, I think he has 3-4 assists.

    Its a new EJ! The fans love him over there. A guy on BigSoccer went to a Cardiff game and said EJ was mobbed by fans after the game. He signed very autograph and posed for pictures. He talked to him and said he was a really nice guy.

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  15. “You cannot say Cooper or Findley are better….”

    WOW FAIL.

    So Eddie Johnson is better because he plays for a championship team? You my friend, have been brainwashed.

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  16. Cardiff’s website saying it was Roger Johnson who scored the own goal.

    It sounds like one of the Johnsons got the final touch off a Derby corner.

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  17. Perhaps the dubious goals committee will look at the og. None the less he got another goal. Still waiting for highlights.

    Good day for EJ and Edu.

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  18. EJ scored two! Anyone see the OG? – I’m wondering if it was just an innocuous attempt to block- the report on ESPN reads: “the visitors did get a goal back from a Teale corner, with Johnson credited with the final touch for an own goal.”

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  19. For those of you who don’t know.

    Bayern was without their 2 best central defenders with Luzio and Van Buyten out. Dimicheles has sucked the last 5 games for them. I am not surprise Bayern is struggling without those 2.

    For those Donovan lovers…he did not do anything while he was there…get over it already. He is a good CONCACAF player.

    He should have stayed at Leverkusen and developed like the rest of his U-17 class in Europe did. He would have been a “GREAT” player.

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  20. Go Ej(despite the own goal) Go Mo!

    In a way the Chelsea-Pool match was just like the USA-Holland match. Chelsea had that comeback 2-1 lead and they finished their chances. That one miss from Stuart Holden on the breakaway should have been a cross to Sacha Kljestan for a third goal. Chelsea are different because they knew that they wouldn’t get too many chances so they took the easy route; Malouda crossed it to Drogba for the third goal. Thats the mentality that the U.S. needs.

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  21. Quite likely based on their first games that both Pool and United will go down.

    Barcelona vs Chelsea final would be interesting final. If United make it through, their back line would be cut to shreds like Bayern was against Messi and Co.

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  22. “How does cheering for an American player equal wanting to be a Rangers fan?”

    maybe the “Cmon Rangers” or “Go Rangers” part?

    on and FYI, celtic won 4-0 today against falfirk.

    GO home you huns go home

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  23. Final score- 2-1 Rangers. 2/3 of the goals were scored by former MLS players- Andy Dorman (remember him?) put in the one for St. Mirren. Great game for Edu. Beasley was a nice suprise for the first couple minutes, but the Scottish game is too physical for him. Hope he gets out soon.

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  24. What I was going at with my statement, is that too many people get overly excited about a player because of one game. Kljestan perfect example hat trick vs Sweden. And basically worst player on the field ever since. It is good seeing Eddie finding a little bit of heart. He lost it in the MLS because he was never afraid that he was going to sit the bench. He has had a good wake up call there, and maybe he could continue to grow and maybe be something in time for 2014.

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  25. How different would the Bayern-Barca game if Donovan was playing?

    Posted by: Kevin | April 08, 2009 at 03:44 PM

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    4-4 Landy with a brace

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  26. Spencer…the reason he does not start is because he is behind 3 players that could likely find starting roles in the Prem…everyone is after Ross McCormack and Jay Bothroyd was an Arsenal trainee…Michael Chopra has seen quality minutes with Newcastle and Sunderland is very adept @ playing behind two strikers and running on to wall passes…

    Eddie was thought to never even make the bench for the club again after Christmas but has fought his way into the team and actually afforded himself quite well of late…

    Not saying Eddie is a god but he has worked very hard to get back into contention and considering his head issues…that says more than you may let on.

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  27. Markie, Chelsea would play Barcelona, and Porto would play Arsenal.

    And those who are getting excited about Eddie, calm down a bit. He has a long way to go, he doesn’t even start for them. And scoring the 4th goal really doesn’t mean anything other than the other defense was non existent.

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  28. I really think Eddie is improving as a total player and could yet be of use to us for the USMNT… He seems to understand where to be now on the pitch.

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