My picks for Wednesday:
Liverpool-Porto
Liverpool has enough quality to beat any team on the planet but they've been very inconsistent this season (we never know which Liverpool will show up for this game...will it be Dr Jekyll or will it be Mr Hyde?).
Porto has some good quality as a team and if they can keep a clean sheet in the 1st 30m they can surely pull a good result at Anfield.
Porto coach has also admited that a draw would be a good result (meaning, he'll be playing for the draw and not taking many chances only looking for a counter attack where they can score through Quaresma or Lizandro Lopez).
I see Liverpool as slight favourites but I don't think it will be easy.
My pick: away +1/+1.5AH (Asian Handicap);
Besiktas-Marseille
In order to keep their hopes alive (remote hopes in terms of CL but still some good chances of making it into the UEFA Cup next stage) Besiktas must win tomorrow.
Marseille is getting good results so far this season in the CL but they have not impressed me at all. I expect them to be playing for the draw but it is hard to play in Turkey (Porto players said after their recent game there against Besiktas that they've never seen anything like that in their careers...that's how impressive the athmosphere was).
My pick: home PK;
Rosenborg-Chelsea
Rosenborg is doing well in the CL so far, they're usually dangerous and hard to beat at home and they'll be all pumped up for this game where a win could assure them a spot in the next stage of the CL.
Chelsea is a better team but I don't think it will be easy for them tomorrow.
My pick: home +0.5/+1AH;
Benfica-Milan
For Benfica this is a must win situation, either for them to keep their remote hopes of qualifying to the next stage of the CL alive or to, at least, qualify to the next round of the UEFA Cup.
The "only" difficulty is that their opponent is...Milan, the current CL title holders and a great team with players like Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo among others.
Milan has been very inconsistent this season but they still manage to be top of their group in the CL. Tomorrow they'll miss Inzaghi, but they have more than enough quality replacements in Gilardino and Ronaldo (who just got back to action).
Benfica's coach said they'll have to be smart and that they'll play to win.
I'll be at the stadium right behind his bench making sure he (Camacho) gets it right
.
My pick: home 0/+0.5AH;
Werder Bremen-Real Madrid
Bremen is not very consistent this season and tomorrow they'll be without main keeper Wiese, star playmaker Diego, midfielder Frings and striker Hugo Almeida. Too many important players missing IMO.
Real has all the quality it takes to get a win here and secure 1st place in the group.
My pick: away 0/-0.5AH;
Good luck!
JC