Welcome everyone to the new and improved Lewnau Sports Bureau!  It’s been a busy, but exciting few weeks as we’ve updated the website aesthetically and added new content sections, in an effort to provide a more immersive and encompassing footballing experience.  As you scroll down the homepage, you’ll find sections articles, illustrations, stadium info, and more.  I hope you enjoy the new facelift, now, let’s kickoff this week’s article.  

The Champions League is back, and it’s now down to the nitty gritty as just eight teams remain in Europe’s top competition.  This week there are four first leg matches to be played, with the second legs on April 18th and 19th.  I’ll provide you with short, but sweet synopsis on all four fascinating fixtures.  Here we go!

Tuesday’s Slate | April, 11 2017

BVB 09 Dortmund vs AS Monaco FC
Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Deutschland
2:45PM EST    FS2

This match is poised to produce the highest goal tally amongst the four highlighted fixtures as Dortmund and Monaco love to play on the front foot with little regard to what could be happening on the backlines. This could be attributed to outstanding, but young, talent littering both outfits.  For instance, the Black and Yellows regularly play Christian Pulisic, Ousmane Dembele, Emry Mor, and Felix Passlick, all of whom are teenagers.  And as for Les Rouges et Blancs, you’ll see a bevy of under 23’s, such as Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Bernardo Silva, and Benjamin Mendy. Thus, expect to see plenty of explosive play pushing forward, but several defense lapses while tracking back.

LSB Prediction:  While Dortmund’s youngsters will have the backing of “The Yellow Wall”, Monaco’s boys will feel like they ran into a brick wall.  4-2 BVB 09 Dortmund

Juventus FC vs FC Barcelona
Juventus Stadium, Torino, Italia
2:45PM EST    FS1

Tuesday’s main event features The Old Lady seeking revenge from suffering a defeat to La Blaugrana in the 2015 Champions League Final, in Berlin.  The core for Juve, its defensive back line, is still intact and will no doubt give the MSN fits. But, it’s the Zebras front two in Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala against Barca’s backline, lead by Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano, that’ll be the must watch of the evening.  La Azulgrana has had issues galore in defense this season, meanwhile the Bianconeri strikers have been in fine fettle. Thus, whomever gains the edge in this battle, will see its side have the edge on the scoreline entering leg 2.  

LSB Prediction: Juventus have a chip on its shoulder from 2015’s shortcomings and its been documented that Barcelona had been rooting for any of the six other clubs to be drawn against them for these quarterfinals.  However, I expect a hard-nosed workman-like performances from Pique and Mascherano, as they ultimately go on to hold Juve’s Argentine duo to just a single goal.  1-1 Draw (FC Barcelona lead on away goal difference)

Wednesday’s Slate (12 April 2017)

Club Atletico de Madrid vs Leicester City FC
Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Espana
2:45PM EST    FS

On paper this matchup appears to be clearly one sided in favor of Atletico, as La Rojiblancos are facing a mid-table Premier League squad in Leicester.  But, might I remind you that since Carig Shakespeare took over the reigns from Claudio Ranieri, six games ago, the Foxes have been playing like something out of Shakespeare, William that is.  The english club is undefeated during this time and has even eliminated one of La Liga’s top four squads, in Sevilla, along the way.  It’ll be interesting however as both teams greatest qualities are grit, physicality, and defensive stability.  Which unit will win the day?

LSB Prediction: The last time the foxes took the pitch in Spain they lost 2-1 to Sevilla.  The same will happen Wednesday night in Madrid.  Diego Simeone will have the Calderon rocking and his players lead by El Nino, and Antoine Greizmann will have the foxes coming up lame by games end.  3-0 Club Atletico de Madrid

FC Bayern München vs Real Madrid C.F.
Allianz Arena, München, Deutschland
2:45PM EST    FS1

The most hyped and hotly anticipated fixture of the quarterfinals is indeed Bayern vs Real!  Not only does this matchup pit two teams that have a combined 16 European titles, but it also features familiar faces from both sides, which should add to the intrigue.  For Real, current Galactico Tony Kroos first plied his trade for the Bavarians.  Meanwhile for FC Hollywood, current player Xabi Alonso and manager Carlo Ancelotti used to represent Los Blancos, with both men taking part of Los Merengues’ La Decimal Title.  In addition, Bayern also features Spaniards Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez, two players groomed in Catalunya and Basque County respectively.  Thus, they’d like nothing better than to take down Spain’s evil empire.

LSB Prediction:  Los Vikingos are the defending European Champions, but Bayern München appears to be in the best form of any across Europe at the moment.  Lewandowski, Robben, and Ribery all netted this past weekend in Der Klassiker, and I fully expect them to keep that going come Wednesday evening in Bavaria.  2-0 FC Bayern München