Group Runners-up II - Real, Celtic, Porto, Lille.

Group Runners-up II - Real, Celtic, Porto, Lille.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Champions' League clubs in the round of 16.

REAL MADRID
Weaknesses
Inconsistent:
Their defeat before Christmas, at home to Recreativo Huelva, ensured that the whispers of a crisis would not be absent over the festive season. For all the talk about their rejuvenation under Fabio Capello (beating Barcelona earlier in the season), they still remain a work in progress, devoid of the imperious consistency that sends shivers down the spines of opponents. Definitely beatable, they seem to fluctuate between dropping easy points without playing well and winning... without playing any better. Fair game for their opponents on any given day.
Aging stars:
Raul is beginning to show the ravages of a decade in the top flight playing for one of the biggest teams in the World. Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Roberto Carlos are all on the wrong side of 30, with the Brazilians especially on their last legs, while Ruud van Nistelrooy is approaching his 4th decade as well. Emerson might be their lynchpin in midfield but he turned 30 this year and David Beckham is 31 and fading fast. Elsewhere, erstwhile first team regulars Ivan Helguera, Guti and Michel Salgado are all past 30.
Slow and ponderous:
Rather than rebuilding around the youthful vigour and pace of Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos, Robinho and Cicinho, Capello opted for the safety first policy of playing two hachetmen in midfield, the destructive Emerson and the equally morbid Mahamadou Diarra. The result is a style that is cynical and unadventurous.
Strengths
One of best defensive midfields in the game:
Emerson and Diarra may not be easy on the eyes and do no favours to romantics who scorn at tackling in all its forms, but they are very, very effective. By deploying them together, often in tandem, Capello has ensured that the spine of his side remains intact. Real, more than any other team this season, can lock opponents down and break down attacks.
One of the best finishing corps in the game:
While Raul still produces the odd goal that retains the touch of class and pedigree that his legacy will maintain, Van Nistelrooy is still the poaching, goal king he always was. Standing just onside, the Dutchman will, more often than not, stick the ball in... and then there's Ronaldo, never shy to poke the odd goal in. While not being terribly entertaining, their finishing puts Real on a level their gameplan would otherwise not be able to sustain. If only this practicality in front of net were to lend itself to Arsene Wenger and Frank Rijkaard, the 2 prettiest teams in Europe may well be favourites to rendevouz once more in the final.
Experienced coach:
Capello has won it all with Milan, and turned Roma around while scooping up the Scudetto in Serie A. The latter, more than anything, suggests he may be the man to lead Real back to the summit of European club football. Behind the glasses is a man keenly in tune with the modern game and not welded to stubborn notions that may seem impractical.


CELTIC
Weaknesses
Inexperience and thin squad:
Despite their progress (including their win over perennial heavyweights Man United), Celtic do not have an entire first team who possess Champions' League calibre. Outside the first XI, the options are limited further. If injuries and and suspension take their toll - they could very well be consoling themselves with the notion of the SPL title and that title alone - very soon.
Lacking continental style of play:
The Champions' League is played at a slower, almost regal pace, notwithstanding the 110 mph starts of many of its entrants over the year. The ability to break down teams with weighted passes and patience while holding firm at the back without over-extending oneself is an art that is learned over time. Celtic's (in)ability to slow down the pace of games will be crucial - the irony being that by doing so, much of their sting will be nullified.
Strengths
Enthusiasm and pace:
Conversely, if Celtic can use their barnstorming style (see their 4-1 demolition of Benfica) to score crucial goals without exposing themselves at the back, they could hold on and secure passage into the later rounds. Additionally while trailing, they could use this asset to their advantage - but beware the counterattack in the knockout rounds of the Champions League - Gordon Strachan will rely on the veterans of Neil Lennon, Bobo Balde and Paul Telfer to keep their heads amid the mayhem. Celtic must tread a very fine line between composed and reckless.
Fitness and physicality:
Lively and fit, their physical squad will pose many problems with their 'up and at em' style. Thomas Gravesen is a bruising backfielder and Shaun Maloney, Gary Caldwell, Lee Naylor and Shunsuke Nakamura are young pups whose up-tempo style could unsettle many of Europe's big guns.


PORTO
Weaknesses
Thin attacking corps:
Helder Postiga is their only experienced out and out attacker - their sole fox in the box if you will. While Bruno Moraes, Adriano and Jorginho performed competently when called on (the former even scoring a goal), Porto will need more experienced goalscorers in the knockout rounds where chances are few and far in between.
Tendency to go wide:
Width may be Porto's greatest strength but also their biggest weakness. While Raul Meireles has done an admirable job holding down the defensive centre he can only do so much. The tendency of the full backs to bomb upfield combined with the disdain of the 2 deployed defensive midfielders to track back into the centre often leaves a worrying hole in the middle of the park and in front of the centre halves. Porto usually start upto four wide men with only one a natural defensive midfielder - Paulo Assuncao. Much will depend on the integration of new Argentinian left back Lucas Mareque.
Strengths
Wingers and attacking midfielders:
First of all they have Ricardo Quaresma, the best young left winger in the world. He tormented and terrorized everyone in the group stage, creating several goals and constantly moving defenders out of position. If you add Lisandro Lopez and Lucho Gonzalez to the mix, both capable of drifting in from the wing and/or playing in the middle, one wonders which other team has such talent hugging the touchline. While Lucho has been a revelation, with his Argentinian call-up more than deserved, Lopez has made a knack of being in the right place at the right time to pick up on loose balls and well placed crosses. Full backs have their work cut out for them.
Settled first XI:
They don't lead the Portugese Campeonato without good reason and gave Arsenal a real run for their money in Group G - their first XI is settled with 10 players picking themselves when fit. This familiarity lends itself to their confident approach and excellent teamwork - qualities tantamount in their hard fought, 2-0 win over CSKA in Moscow in November. Their away win over Benfica proved to all the doubters that this team plays as well away as it does at home.


LILLE
Weaknesses
Lack of experience and depth:
Simply put - too green. They may have built on last season's success of beating Manchester United but they may find the knockout round against the same opposition a bit too much this time around. Enthusiasm and a bruising physical approach can only take you so far (See Celtic), established veteran teams may well withstand the pressure to deliver a potent recoil. Outside their first 8 names on the team sheet the quality drops off significantly.
Lack of proven finisher:
They've been lucky, in that their midfield have chipped in with crucial goals, but their lack of a cultured striker could prove to be their undoing. Kader Keita, Jean Makoun and Daniel Bodmer are hardworking industrious midfielders but the space afforded them by Milan, Anderlecht and AEK Athens may not be similarly available against the likes of Manchester United. Peter Odemwingie may still be a few years off from becoming the next great Camerounian striker despite his competent displays as a lone striker.
Strengths
Physical, hardy and enthusiastic:
Stathis Tavlaridis, Gregory Tafforeau and Nikolas Plestan take no prisoners at the back - getting well up for any high balls and crosses. Keita and Bodmer are tireless, often chasing balls right to the touchline while the rest of the midfield embody what Lille is all about, limited ability, unlimited heart. Ever since their opening game draw with Anderlecht they have been talking up their chances of progressing and after a hard fought away win over Milan - and here they are.
Balanced midfield up for a scrap:
Keita can play in the middle, as a defensive scrapper or on the wing; Bodmer as both an attacking midfielder or a defensive anchor; Nicolas Fauverge as an attacker in the hole or on the wing and Makoun as an all action tackler and passer who can play anywhere in the midfield. This flexibility allows coach Claude Puel to rotate and balance out the fringe players while giving his defence more cover when the going gets tough.