Champions League is back....

After a hiatus of 3 months UEFA Champions League makes a comeback this weekend. For many football fans, the Champions League is the true testament to a side's season. Few team who have won recently have gone on the win after winning thier domestic league. Barcelona and Porto are the only teams to do so. Also no side has won this tournament two years in a row after the new format was introduced.

The draw, this year, means that we will be moving on to the quarter finals without 3 of the pre tournament favourites. Only 3 out of Real Madrid, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Arsenal and Milan will progress, thus throwing the competition wide open. This also means teams like Manchester United, Barcelona will fancy thier chances to get one of the easier draw in the next round as well. But as they say there are no easy Champions League matches.

The European Championship also means late night mathces, tactical battles and fights of attrition. All these make it so different from other competitions. Lets have a look at a few selected fixtures:

1. Lyon FC vs Manchester United FC

Going to Lyon in the first leg will by no means be an easy feat for United. Lyon, after a brief stutter at the begining of the season, are bacl on top of the French League. Some starlets have caught the eyes of almost all European clubs. In Karim Benzema and Hatem Ban Arfa, they have the fire power to trouble the so far stingy United defence. Obviously, the Lyon usual suspect Juninho can't be ignored as well. Manchester United will be bouyed by their performance against Arsenal and with Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes and Tevez all probably entering the starting line up, United do have a reason to be confident.

Prediction: 1-2

2. Liverpool vs Inter Milan

A sharp contrast in the season so far for both the teams. Liverpool, after a loss to lowly Barnsley and Inter flying high in the Serie A. However, one just can't look behind Liverpool's Champions League miracles. Their manager seems to adept at handling the tactical pot-boilers that is the Champions League match. Add to that Inter's disappointing performance in recent campaigns, and we have a very even fixture on our hand.

Prediction: 2-1

3. Arsenal vs AC Milan

I wonder how people's prediction for this one may have changed in a week. Arsenal were flying high in the league, seemed un-stoppable until the bulldozer that was Machester united in the FA Cup. However, a full strenght Arsenal will be a different proposition altoghether. Adebayor is in piping hot form and Flamini's return will bolster the midfield which was absent versus United. Milan, like Liverpool, have a knack for this tournament. Thier defenders can grind out results single handedly. However, at the Emirates, Arsenal will be too strong to lose.

Prediction: 1-1

4. AS Roma vs Real Madrid

Madrid just lost 2-1 to Betis this weekend and will be out to make sure their loss doesn't turn into a blip. roma have been patchy at best this season but still find themselves in the second spot in Serie A. I would think that in Rome, Roma's free flowing football will be too hot to handle for the parennially leaking Madrid defence. But Madrid's "You score 2 and we'll score 4" policy will come in handy. Expect an open, attacking game.

Prediction: 2-2

This article has been written by Jabbar. Jabbar is a Manchester United fan.