This Sunday we have the final of the African Nations Cup, while the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool continues on Saturday. AC Milan face third place Udinese in Serie A before taking on Arsenal in the Champions League which has now reached the knock-out stages. Listen to Damon and Damian discussing their predictions on this week's show

After I wrote a while ago that Manchester City were the clear favourites for the Premier League title this year, my opinion seems to have changed over the past few weeks. Their recent form has seen them playing decent enough but Manchester United have gone that extra mile. Manchester City has lost on far too many occasions this season.

Jose haz a sad. Image via Jasper Juinen/Getty Images Europe; Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe.

Like a lot of you, we've noticed that The Special One's dress sense has gone from GQMF to WTF. Case and point: to sweat out Wednesday night's El Clasico, Jose wore track pants, a hoodie, and a puffer vest.

Two goals from Patrick Herrmann and another from highly rated forward Marco Reus guided Borussia Monchengladbach to a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich, cutting the Bavarians' lead atop the Bundesliga table to a single point.

Bastian Schweinsteiger struck late in the match for Bayern, but that was too little too late for the visitors, who could be joined at the summit by defending champions Borussia Dortmund over the weekend.

With Howard Webb's inconsistencies, Jamie Carragher's likely contract extension, and finally some news about the next stages of the NextGen Series, there's plenty to talk about that probably doesn't need to devolve into wild screeching about why three at the back against Stoke means Kenny Dalglish should be fired.

Liverpool's Under 19′s have been drawn to play Tottenham in the NextGen Series quarter finals. The game will be played on February 1st at White Hart Lane.

They qualified for the knock out stage of the NextGen Series by finishing second to Sporting Lisbon. They've had a mixed tournament so far and were lucky to qualify for the next round after they lost three of there six group games.

It's official, Thierry Henry is back with the Gunners. The 34 year old put pen to paper and signed a 2 month load deal with Arsenal that will see him make a sensational come back to the club that launched him to super stardom.

Even more interesting is the fact that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has included him in his squad that will face AC Milan in the Champions League knock out stages.

While the demotion of Manchester City and Manchester United from the UEFA Champions League to the second-tier Europa League has been very well documented, the Premier League leaders have company when it comes to failure in Europe this season.

The London pairing of Fulham and Tottenham did not even make the final 32 of Europa League and with Championship outfit Birmingham out of contention as well, Stoke is the only other side representing England in the competition.

By Chris Wright

In which Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Pirmin Schwegler is struck on the cranium by a wayward till roll, catapulted from the stands by the St. Pauli fans in the 2. Bundesliga last night, only to hit the deck like he'd just been picked off by Vassili Zaitsev as he made his way through the rafters at the Millerntor.

So the Carlos Tevez transfer saga is starting to get a little boring. Recent reports emerging say that the 27 year old is eager to join Milan despite City being totally against Milan's loan plan.

AC Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani is set to meet City this Thursday in a final meeting that is intended to iron out all the contentious issues.

As Arsenal prepare to take on Man City in a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium, rumours doing the rounds suggest that the club could re-sign legendary striker Thierry Henry on loan in January.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has remain silent on the issue drawing more speculation that Henry could indeed be on his way back to the Emirates.

He won't mind seeing a fit Wilshere

Let's start with the obvious shall we. The Champions League draw takes precedent and rightly so. The biggest tournament in club football today and the 2nd round draw took place without any Manchester clubs in it. For our efforts of finishing top of our group, we were rewarded with a date against AC Milan.

FC Barcelona has been drawn against Bayer Leverkusen for the first knock out round of this season Champions League season. Barca fans could be very pleased having avoided a trip to east or to the other tough opponents. The first leg matches will be played on th 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd of February.

Oh yeah, snow, that's just what we need. It might only be a light dusting but that's all it takes for everything to grind to a standstill. The only person who will be pleased is the Mugsmasher who went out and bought snow tyres for his car. Or his mountain bike. One or the other. He'll be gleeful this morning, let me tell you.

Tottenham Hotspur went to the Tallaght stadium needing a Lyon type turnaround to make it through to the knock-out rounds. From his team selection, including only choosing four subs, it appeared that Harry Redknapp wasn't really counting on the results going Spurs way.

As the game got started it was clear that Shamrock would try hard and run around a lot.

Rewind just 9 days and Chelsea were on the brink of heading out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stages and being out of the running for qualification for next seasons UEFA Champions League as a consequence of being miles away from the top four positions in the English Premier League.

Welcome to the 17th Can They Score Manchester United podcast. If you're listening on a Mobile Device, use this link Episode 18 After our nightmare night in Basel, this week's episode features Christopher, Samuel and I as we dissect United's failure to progress to the knock out stages of the Champions League [.

szólj hozzá: Ajax v Real

This was a cruel match to watch. Cruel because Ajax deserved both goals that were ruled controversially offside. Those goals would have been enough to see them go to the knock out stage along with Real even as Lyon was pounding Dinamo Zagreb in the other group match.

szólj hozzá: Dinamo Zagreb 1-7 Lyon

This year's Champions League group stage already turning conventional wisdom on its head produced an almost too perfect score for Lyon 7-1 against Dinamo Zagreb. The result propelled Lyon into the knock out stage over Ajax who were favoured to proceed with Real Madrid at the top of the group.

By Alan Duffy

Lyon players celebrate qualification for the last 16

It looked like game over for Lyon in this year's Champions League, after the French giants left themselves with an enormous task ahead of the final Group D matchday.

With the completion of the last of Group matches yesterday, we now clearly know the clubs which will go to the next stage of 2011-2012 Champions League Tournament. Bayern Munich, Napoli, Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Benfica, FC Basel, Real Madrid, Lyon, Chelsea bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Marseille, Apoel Nicosia, Zenit St Petersburg, Barcelona and AC Milan are the ones qualified for the knock out stage of 2011-12 Champions League.

So after an exciting first round in the Champions League, there are a few shocks and surprises as the competition takes a 2 month break. Of course the major shocks are the exiting of Man United, Ajax and Valencia.

Joining that clubs that had already qualified to the knock out stages are: Lyon, Basel, CSKA Moscow and Napoli.

szólj hozzá: Villarreal 0-2 Napoli

City managed to rain on Bayern's parade by beating them 2-0 but it was not enough as Napoli turned on the screws against Villareal to run out 2-0 victors. Bayern and Napoli go through to the Champions League knock out stage.

It's no idle conjecture imagining Napoli going far into the CL maybe even to the finals.

szólj hozzá: CL: Basel - ManUtd 2-1 071211

Marco Streller and Alexander Frei combine to put the hurt on Man Utd. To add to the gloom, Utd lose Nemanja Vidic with suspected knee ligament damage which could keep him out for a while. Sir Alex did not get his 100th Champions League win and now takes Utd to the Europa Cup.

Marco Streller and Alexander Frei combine to put the hurt on Man Utd. To add to the gloom, Utd lose Nemanja Vidic with suspected knee ligament damage which could keep him out for a while. Sir Alex did not get his 100th Champions League win and now takes Utd to the Europa Cup. It's akin to Greg Louganis doing a belly flop and coming up purple in embarrassment.

szólj hozzá: Olympiakos Piraeus 3-1 Arsenal

The compendium of horrors first by Lukasz Fabianski and then Vito Mannone, his replacement helped by a healthy dose of god awful defending allowed Olympiakos to romp home 3-1 in their second leg against Arsenal. Unfortunately it was not enough for Greek club as Marseilles came back against Borussia to defeat them 3-2 to secure second spot.

It was an exciting end to Champions League qualification in Group F as Leaders Arsenal slumped to a shock 3-1 away defeat to Olympiakos while Marseille made it through to the last 16 with a 3-2 win over Dortmund.

Arsenal who had already qualified for the knock out stages prior to last night's match, played the match without its stars as Coach Arsene Wenger took the opportunity to test some of his players.

Well that was pretty poor, wasn't it? A performance we can happily stuff down the back of the sofa, and hope no-one notices. Of course, we can (and will) wheel out the line about it being a dead rubber, and say that we'd won the group already, so no worries. But let's be honest, it was pretty rubbish.

Well that was pretty poor, wasn't it? A performance we can happily
stuff down the back of the sofa, and hope no-one notices. Of course,
we can (and will) wheel out the line about it being a dead rubber, and
say that we'd won the group already, so no worries. But let's be
honest, it was pretty rubbish.

By Chris Wright

Stoke will now venture further than they've ever managed in Europe thanks to an 81st-minute Kenwyne Jones goal (and a superb last-minute save from Asmir Begovic for that matter) which saw them equalise against Dynamo Kiev on the night and thus ensure the Potter's qualification for the knock-out phases of this year's Europa League.

By Chris Wright

Stoke will now venture further than they've ever managed in Europe thanks to an 81st-minute Kenwyne Jones goal (and a superb last-minute save from Asmir Begovic for that matter) which saw them equalise against Dynamo Kiev on the night and thus ensure the Potter's qualification for the knock-out phases of this year's Europa League.

I've never been a fan of the League Cup. In a season of 33 league games (28 next season) plus the Singapore Cup I have always felt this is a competition too much on the crowded calendar but I don't call the shots and no one listens to me so who cares?!

With the revamp of the SLeague next season it would be nice if we could also have a revamp of this insignificant little competition.

After wearing the captain's armband during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in last night's thrilling Carling Cup quarterfinal at Old Trafford, Jonny Evans realizes the amount of pressure the team is under.

A spectacular long-range goal from Darren Ambrose was cancelled out by a Federico Macheda penalty, which forced 30 minutes of extra time but the Red Devils still came up short courtesy of Glenn Murray's decisive header.

After losing to Napoli during the week, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has claimed that his side are not quite ready to win the Champions League.

Following the defeat in Italy, even those looking at the best casinos online will tell you that City face an uphill battle to qualify for the knock-out stages.

The draw for UEFA EURO 2012 will take place on December 2nd in Kiev, Ukraine. Ireland are 4th seeds and the draw will determine our entry into one of four groups, A, B, C or D.
Each of the four groups will play matches across two host venues in one of the host countries, either Poland or Ukraine.

What are the odds Arsenal are the only Prem side in the Champions League's last 16? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Midweek results made those who call the Prem the best league in the world look silly – that title surely still belongs to the Human League. Many have argued that Spain's Primera Liga is over-rated because only two clubs can win it, but that makes it twice as good as the Premier League, which only Man City can win.

What are the odds Arsenal are the only Prem side in the Champions League's last 16? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Midweek results made those who call the Prem the best league in the world look silly – that title surely still belongs to the Human League. Many have argued that Spain's Primera Liga is over-rated because only two clubs can win it, but that makes it twice as good as the Premier League, which only Man City can win.

What are the odds Arsenal are the only Prem side in the Champions League's last 16? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Midweek results made those who call the Prem the best league in the world look silly – that title surely still belongs to the Human League. Many have argued that Spain's Primera Liga is over-rated because only two clubs can win it, but that makes it twice as good as the Premier League, which only Man City can win.

What are the odds Arsenal are the only Prem side in the Champions League's last 16? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Midweek results made those who call the Prem the best league in the world look silly – that title surely still belongs to the Human League. Many have argued that Spain's Primera Liga is over-rated because only two clubs can win it, but that makes it twice as good as the Premier League, which only Man City can win.

What are the odds Arsenal are the only Prem side in the Champions League's last 16? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

Midweek results made those who call the Prem the best league in the world look silly – that title surely still belongs to the Human League. Many have argued that Spain's Primera Liga is over-rated because only two clubs can win it, but that makes it twice as good as the Premier League, which only Man City can win.