This Week in the Knockout Stages...

FC Basel celebrate Valentin Stocker's late goal
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Real Madrid will have their work cut out for them at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Russian side CSKA Moscow were able to hammer in a late goal to tie the match up 1-1 while Napoli outplayed and outscored a struggling Chelsea side at home, defeating them 3-1. The second set of fixtures saw the two underdogs prevail with 1-0 wins. Olympique Marseilles defeated Inter Milan at their home stadium while FC Basel defeated German giants Bayern Munich at St. Jakob Park.

Second Chapter in the Basel Fairytale off to a Good Start

Valentin Stocker put the winning goal
past Manuel Neuer to give Basel a leg
up in the return leg in Munich
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FC Basel were the victors in the much anticipated Bavarian derby as Bayern Munich were unable to hold off a strong Basel side at St. Jakob Park. Substitute Valentin Stocker netted his second goal of the season after being out of action for eight months with a knee injury and then a hamstring injury. The match was truly one to remember and proof that the UEFA Champions League is easily the most exciting league in the world. Both sides showed an impressive amount of pace and skill from each individual player as well as all-around tactical skill as a team. Basel’s defensive transitions were straight from the white board and Bayern worked the ball through the midfield and into the home side’s penalty area with pace and skill. Basel were the victors, but both teams certainly had their chances and played out an intense and entertaining first round of their UEFA Champions League fixture. 

FCB vs FCB: The Bavarian UCL Derby

Bayern Munich trains in St. Jakob-Park
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For those of us who don't speak German, here there is lots of hype surrounding the FC Basel FC Bayern Munich fixture on Wednesday evening. Former youth coach Heiko Vogel is now the leading man at Basel and Basel starlet Xherdan Shaqiri has already secured a move to the German side in the summer. Last season Munich faced off against Basel in the group stage and won both fixtures, the first a 3-0 and the second a 2-1. Both sides are ridden with promising youth but balanced out by older players with Champions League experience. The Battle of Bavaria will certainly be a set Champions League fixtures you won't want to miss.

FA Cup Match Previews- Gonna be a Fun Weekend!

Saturday February 18, 2012

Chelsea vs Birmingham City:

Chelsea will be on the hunt to redeem themselves from a defeat to Everton in the league. Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas is in hot water and is rumored to be under the scrutiny of owner Roman Abramovic. Chelsea’s hopes of Champions League football next season or making any real challenge for the Premier League title are currently being squandered by Tottenham and Arsenal. Chelsea are in 5^th place, level on points with Arsenal and a whole ten points behind Spurs. The title is out of their reach, but all that stands between them and a spot in the quarter finals for the FA Cup is Birmingham City.

This Week in the Knockout Stages...

The underdogs from Cyprus, APOEL put on an impressive defensive show in France while Bayer Leverkusen were unable to hold of reigning champions Barcelona despite a strong first half. Arsenal suffered at the hands of AC Milan at the San Siro and the Russians Zenit St. Petersburg came from behind to snag a win against Benfica.

Ten Reasons to Pay Attention To the Axpo Super League

Switzerland is known for chocolate, watches, cheese, cuckoo clocks and various other things not including soccer. They co-hosted the EUROS in 2008 with Austria and are home to FIFA Headquarters as well as the current FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, but otherwise the nation is relatively quiet on the soccer front, especially when being compared to the soccer giants of England, Spain, Italy and Germany.

Shaqiri to Move to Bayern Munich in the Summer of 2012

FC Basel has just released an official statement confirming the rumors that Swiss wonder-kid Xherdan Shaqiri will be leaving his youth club and moving to the Bundesliga in the summer of 2012, featuring for Bayern Munich on a four year contract. Neither club has chosen to disclose the sum of money that will break Shaqiri of the remainder of his contract at Basel, but rumors have ranged from 14 to 15 million francs. Xherdan's current market value sits at 11 million pounds (12.5 million euros).