Today begins the Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg with my favorite team Arsenal heading up to Anfield to face Liverpool for the third time in 6 days. The first two matches at the Emirates in North London ended in draws and Arsenal needs at least one away goal tonight to give them a chance to advance. Liverpool will start with that advantage tonight amid turmoil of the forthcoming departure of England striker Peter Crouch and the unknown status of the teams sale to a Dubai based group. Arsenal will have to capitalize on their opportunities because they have been thoroughly outplaying Liverpool the past two matches but have been having trouble finding the back of the net. Cesc Fabregas claims he is staying with Arsenal and that the Gunners can be the best team in Europe-it’s time for him to step up and score some big goals.


In the other quarterfinal taking place tonight, Chelsea is looking up at a 1-2 deficit to my pre tournament sleeper, Fenerbahce of Turkey. Chelsea has everything to lose tonight at Stamford Bridge and the Champions league is likely their only shot at any hardware this season as Manchester United hold a three point lead in the Premiership with only 5 games to go, but anything can happen I suppose. Personally, I hope to see Chelsea dead and buried tonight and Fenerbahce step out onto the European stage to show that there is more good football than in just the major leagues around Europe.

Tomorrow Manchester United should have no problems stamping their passports into the semifinals as they hold a commanding 2-0 lead heading into their second leg versus Roma at Old Trafford. The other semifinal will pit surprising Schalke 04 against quietly scary 2006 champs Barcelona at the Nou Camp where Barca can sneak into the semis as they hold a 1-0 lead with the all important away goal advantage.

As this years quarters mark the first time that four English sides have made it this far, either Arsenal or Liverpool will be out tonight. Manchester United look like a pretty safe bet to make the semis and would certainly be a big favorite to make the finals as they are searching for their first title since their shocking come from behind David Beckham led win in 1999. As much as it pains me to say, Cristiano Ronaldo has certainly been the best player in the world this year and is in as good a form as ever heading into the end stages of the season and into Euro 2008 later this summer. Personally, I would love to see a rematch of 2006 with Arsenal and Barca advancing through but there is a lot of work to be done. I can’t wait until 2:45!

Sharing is caring!