Goal! Weekly Article 3: European Champions League

MARCH ON MOSCOW

Crunch time for Champions League Quarter-Finalists

By Julius Ross

With the business end of the 2007/08 European Champions League rapidly approaching, the eight clubs remaining are preparing for battle to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the competition this week.

Four English teams will compete in the quarter-final stage for the first time in the competition’s history, along with four other clubs; one each from Italy, Spain, Turkey and Germany, with the eventual finalists facing off in Moscow in May.

England’s Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be representing the Union Jack, whilst AS Roma, FC Barcelona, Fenerbahçe SK and FC Schalke 04 will be looking to fly their respective national flags in the hunt for European glory.

The much anticipated first legs of the quarters will take place mid-week, wedged between domestic fixtures, and fans and pundits alike have been licking their lips at the prospect of the impending, mouth-watering clashes.

In arguably the match of the round, Manchester United travel to Italy’s capital to face Roma, where the latter will be determined to erase the memories of last years’ humiliating exit at the hands of the Red Devils.

At the quarter final stage of the Champions League last season, Manchester thrashed Roma 7-1 with a devastating performance at Old Trafford, which saw the Italian team bow out on an incredible 3-8 aggregate score line.

Whilst the Red Devils will be keen on a repeat of their impressive display this year, the ‘Romans’ are adamant that a reoccurrence will not be on the cards, with several Giallorossi players vowing to take revenge on United for last season’s defeat.

Alex Ferguson’s side is unbeaten thus far in this season’s European campaign, but Roma will be full of confidence after signalling the exit of nine-time winner Real Madrid in the Round of 16, with a 4-2 victory.

In a battle of defensive composure versus attacking flair, Roma’s back line will have to nullify the threat posed by the likes of the competition’s top goal scorer, Christiano Ronaldo, as well as the dangerous trio of Nani, Wayne Rooney and Carols Tevez, at the Stadio Olimpico.

Judging by the recent form of Aquilani, De Rossi and Totti in the midfield, Roma should provide much stiffer opposition for United this time round.

In what should be another closely contested quarter-final encounter, Liverpool travel to London to face Arsenal in an all-English affair at the Emirates Stadium.

The match will be the 200th between the sides, but the first in European competition, and as recent results between the sides suggest, it will be a tight tussle.

Both clubs have experienced contrasting domestic league form recently; however, their European performances have been extremely promising.

The two teams faced tough matches in the Round of 16 against Milanese opposition, but Arsenal dispatched of AC Milan 2-0 with a magnificent away victory in Italy and, likewise, Liverpool comfortably conquered Internationale 3-0.

The deciding factor may well be whether the Gunners can contain Liverpool’s partnership of captain Steven Gerrard and prolific goal scorer Fernando Torres, whose combined effort of nine goals have been crucial in seeing them into the quarter finals.

Rafael Benitez’ uncanny ability to navigate his side through the latter stages of the Champions League may also be a telling factor, his expertise and aptitude in finding and exploiting weaknesses in opposition teams on the European stage has guided Liverpool to two finals in three seasons.

The remaining two clashes appear slightly more predictable regarding their outcomes, with Barcelona and Chelsea heading into the first legs as firm favourites in their respective quarter-final matches.

Barcelona’s diminutive Portuguese midfielder Deco is a major doubt for his team’s game in Gelsenkirchen, but the Spanish side should have enough quality to see off the Germans at the Arena AufSchalke.

However, Schalke, Champions League knock-out stage debutants, are unfazed by the Catalan club, and their coach, Mirko Slomka, is thrilled with the progress of his Bundesliga side in the competition.

Although Slomka’s side will miss promising Croatian youngster Ivan Rakitic through an ankle injury, the Germans have enough self-belief to potentially cause an upset of epic proportions.

Similarly, Fenerbahce will welcome Chelsea to Istanbul, undaunted by their task of overcoming the Blues in their first season beyond the group stage.

Fenerbahce’s Serbian striker and ex-Chelsea member, Mateja Kezman believes the Londoners are no longer the potent force they once were under Jose Mourinho and his side is confident that they can provide the Premier League outfit with a stern test on home soil.

Although predicting a winner at this stage of the competition is risky, Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea look the favourites to progress.

But in football, nothing is predictable, and the quarter finals are sure to produce a surprise or upset of some form, with plucky Schalke, determined Fenerbahce, vengeful Roma and tactic-driven Liverpool all thoroughly devoted to reaching Moscow.