By Geoff Reid

Bordeaux vs Olympiakos From The Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux (Bordeaux leads 1-0 on agg.)
This tie is still on a knife’s edge and while Bordeaux should be favorites to go through ultimately with their 1-0 lead on aggregate, an away goal in the bag, and playing at home against a side that has just five wins in 13 matches. This however doesn’t mean the French champions will be expecting a cakewalk with Olympiakos having some very dangerous players in the final third. A prize of being in the top eight teams left in Europe is on the line, and Laurent Blanc has called on his squad to recapture the spirit of 2009 which brought them domestic glory in France to see them through, while Bozidar Bandovic believes cohesion mixed in with a little bit of luck can be enough to see the Greek’s through. Continue Reading…

By Geoff Reid

Stuttgart vs Barcelona from the VFB Arena, Stuttgart

This tie will have the defending champions as overwhelming favorites, especially with the difficult season the Stuttgart have had. The Germans changed managers replacing former national team full back Markus Babbel with Swiss boss Christian Gross. Gross, knows all too well he has a tough job on his hands, but understands that if his team can be compact and smart, then they can certainly give the world club champions a run for their money. The goalkeeper, German international Jens Lehmann, was on the losing side of the 2006 final against Barcelona when he minded the net for Arsenal. Also, Belorussian midfielder Aliaksandr Hleb is on loan to Stuttgart from Barcelona, and at this point we’re not sure if the loan agreement will allow him to take part against the Catalans. Continue Reading…

Landon Donovan possible going to France? (Getty Images)

I have a couple items for discussion tonight, all Major League Soccer based. I could have separated each out into their own posts but for lack of time today I was unable to do so.

First up is a little transfer rumor surrounding Landon Donovan.

According to the French soccer website 10sport, Donovan is on the verge of a move to Paris St. Germain  after the current MLS season. Reports suggest that an official announcement is coming shortly. The move would be a full transfer, and not a loan.

You read that correct, a full transfer, meaning he’d be in Europe like he wanted all along.

Donovan would join fellow U.S. national team players Carlos Bocanegra and Charlie Davies in Ligue 1.

From the looks of it this would be a good move for Landon. I think the French league is pretty underrated in terms of quality and in all reality he doesn’t have to go to a big time league like in Spain or England to do well. He just needs to be himself and play anywhere really.

I do worry that he could be a bit gassed by another winter move that by the time the World Cup runs around next summer he will be too tired to be at his best.

Continue Reading…

Editor’s Note: Geoff Reid appears on WVHooligan.com every Monday with his take on the game. He returns today to preview the second leg of Champions League matches this week. As always feel free to leave Geoff your comments below.

FC Bayern Munich (GER) vs FC Barcelona (ESP) at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, FC Barcelona leads 4-0 on aggregate

I think it’s fair to say my prediction for this tie is completely out the window because it’s now anything but tight and the Catalans have a more then comfortable lead. Kilinsmann, who will be out of a job by the summer recently said its important to play for pride. Inside the dressing room he will be reminding his players about the AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna tie earlier this decade at the same stage of the tournament when the Italians beat the northern Spaniards 4-1 at the San Siro only for Deportivo to win the second leg 4-0 at the Riazor and win 5-4 on aggregate. I can’t see that happening again and although I think Bayern will get some goals, it ultimately won’t be enough and Barcelona just simply have too much quality throughout and they proved that at the Camp Nou last week. The Bavarians defense got exposed too often last week and at least that part of my prediction was correct! Continue Reading…

Yeah, its possible. Yesterday we talked about the deal that Major League Soccer and FC Barcelona signed. While it was a commercial agreement between the two sides that will yield friendlies and probably some youth camps or other sorts of things of that nature.

The big talk now is that the La Liga giants are hoping to put their stamp on the US with a potential club.

“If you want to be a global brand, you have to be in the United States,” said FC Barcelona vice chairman Ferran Soriano, the club’s executive responsible for marketing. “We want to have a permanent presence here, and maybe that permanent presence will mean a team here someday.”

The concept is not unprecedented. Jorge Vergara, who owns Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara, founded MLS club CD Chivas USA in Los Angeles in 2005.

While, we know it would be a good thing to have a rich owner backing another expansion club in MLS. I don’t know if another Chivas USA type of club would work in MLS. Some will say that Barcelona has a bigger following than Chivas does but will a BarcaNY or something of that nature work? I have my doubts.

My bet is Barcelona will set up shop with a lower level side first before they even try to get into MLS with an expansion club or taking over a current club.

If they do try an get an expansion bid the best bet for them is either in New York or in Miami. My gut feeling is they would go to Miami if they had the choice but New York would easily make sense due to their strong showings in the area with past friendlies at Giants Stadium.

Still, they are a long way from doing such a thing and honestly I can’t see them doing anything like this until this new five-year deal is up. The reason being, they will probably want to take that time to gage just how good they will be able to do here in the US with a club and to see how strong their image in the US is.

What do you all make of a potential Barca-owned club here in MLS? Good idea or another Chivas USA type of thing?

Major League Soccer has announced today they are entering a multi-year deal with futbol giants FC Barcelona.

The new, five-year partnership between MLS and FCBarcelona – the first-ever European club to establish a long-term agreement with MLS and SUM in the United States – includes the organization of a minimum of six international matches throughout the term. The management of all commercial and sponsorship sales on behalf of the club, as well as marketing and PR in the United States, will be managed by Major League Soccer’s marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing.

“…FCBarcelona and its heralded roster of international superstars including Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, will play games this summer. Details for the tour will be announced in the near future.”

We had all heard of rumors in the past couple of months about a possible summer tour with Barcelona, where they would play in Chicago and in New York. Nothing has officially been announced but word has it the New York game will be August 9th in Giants Stadium.

The saddest and maybe even the most important part of this deal is that there were no player swapping agreements made between the two sides. Damn, no Jozy for Messi? Too bad, but at least Barca is coming over to play for the next couple of years.

While the deal is a pretty good one for Barca fans, I must say its just all about the money for MLS and SUM. I wouldn’t have expected anything different from them though.