And what about the game tonight then?

Maybe a word or two on my predictions for tonight.

Whereas the Barca-Arsenal 3-1 game yesterday was predictable, things can go in a few different directions tonight.  I think we will know quite well where this is going after 15 minutes of play, but before kick-off it is harder to tell.

Starting with the line-ups, I hope to see Spurs like this: Gomes - Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto (well I will never hope to see him, but he will play so I can't hope for anything else really) - Lennon, Jenas, Modric, Bale - van der Vaart, Defoe. Very much an attacking line up with very fast players. I think Bale may be rested and Crouch may be picked over Defoe as a target, but Harry may want Defoe's speed so not sure there. Also quite likely that Hutton will play instead of Corluka.

And then Milan: Abbiati - Abate, Nesta, Tiago Silva, Jankulovski - Flamini, Boateng, Seedorf - Robinho, Pato, Ibrahimovic. If Boateng is fit, I cannot see Allegri play in any other way, Jankulovski is perhaps the only question mark.

So what will the game look like? Spurs will go about it with speed and force from the first minute, no doubt. If they score an early goal, that's probably curtains. They will use the wings and make sure Nesta is tested deep as well.  Milan will need to show that despite lacking their natural leaders in the midfield, the entire team will play with composure and with an early press. 

Are you willing to do that tonight, Clarence? After all, this is your tournament, right?

That's right. When I said it will probably not take long before we know what kind of game this will be, I am very much talking about Clarence Seedorf.  If he has an on-night, he can make the difference.  The occasions when he does are few and far between, but if there is one game where he will do a Lazarus it is tonight.  And he needs to.  If Milan's midfield (missing Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, van Bommel and Emanuelson) does not come out the may they did against Napoli, Milan will not go through.  Hoping for Ibracadabra only is futile, and Robinho and Pato are absolutely dependent on good delivery from the midfield as their game is based on gettting the ball with speed.  At 9 pm sharp we will be able to tell if they will get it.