History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

CECH: CLEAN SHEETS ARE US

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident that he and his stingy defence can, once again, get the better of Serie A giants Juventus in Turin on April 10 and cruise through to the last eight of the Champions League.

The Czech international has conceded only one goal in the five games that new manager Guus Hiddink has taken charge of. He believes that clean sheets will be the key to winning the trophy that eluded Chelsea so cruelly last May.

“We were all delighted with result in the first leg,” said the 26-year-old of the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. “Although we could have scored a second goal, it was important to keep a clean sheet at home. Overall it was a good result for the second leg.

“Both teams are organised so maybe the one goal is enough. It is always better if you score more and kill the game early – then you can play with more confidence.

“We are expecting a very tough game because Juventus played some good football at Stamford Bridge and will have the home advantage this time. But we’ve been working hard as a defensive unit and I think that could see us through.”

Cech credits Dutchman Hiddink, who lifted the European Cup with PSV in 1988, as the man who has re-focused the team – and, in particular, striker Didier Drogba. “It is always important when you have a new manager to start well and there are a lot of things which have changed since he took over,” he continued. “At the moment it is working well for use but it is still early days.

“Didier’s been great recently. He’s such a strong guy and we can rely on him, put the long ball and he’ll hold it. It is a big boost for the team to have someone who can do that.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Guus Hiddink, Juventus, Petr Cech

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

LAMPARD: CHELSEA EXTRA DETERMINED TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Frank Lampard is hoping lady luck is shining on Chelsea on Wednesday when his team host Italian giants Juventus – and he has expressed the deep desire the Blues have to make amends for last May’s heartache in the Champions League Final when they lost out to Manchester United.

In Moscow Lampard levelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener but his team were defeated 6-5 on penalties when captain John Terry missed his spot kick and Nicolas Anelka had his saved by Edwin van der Sar. And the 30-year-old has admitted that he is hoping for a slice of fortune so his team claim Europe’s biggest prize this year.

“After last year we really want to win the Champions League,” he said ahead of the first leg of the last-16 game at Stamford Bridge – new manager Guus Hiddink’s first at home. “There is obviously something added this year because of the manner we came so close. You can’t help but have that on the back of your mind. There is a just a great determination to go back and win it.

“Whether that is this year or not is very hard to call. In the Champions League there are so many top teams. There are so many moments to get to that final that can go either way. You can win a game on a little bit of luck, or on a small detail.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:20 am | Permalink | Comments

RANIERI DESERVES CREDIT FOR CHELSEA SUCCESS

Claudio Ranieri deserves to be credited with transforming Chelsea from a team of also-rans to champions – that is the view of Frank Lampard and current manager Guus Hiddink,

The Italian was at the Stamford Bridge helm for four years from 2000 before Roman’s Revolution took over in 2003.

And he was sacked for Special One Jose Mourinho after one season under Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich – despite finishing second in the Premier League.

The 57-year-old, who is now in charge of Juventus, Chelsea’s Champions League opponents on Wednesday, bought Lampard from West Ham for £11m in 2001.

And the England midfielder believes that if it wasn’t for Ranieri, who also reached the FA Cup Final with the Blues, he would not be the player he is today.

“I think Claudio should take a lot of credit for Chelsea’s success,” said Lampard. “A lot of things have happened at the club and Claudio is part of that.

“He bought a lot of good players to the team, even before the Abramovich era and without him I would not be here.

“I have the utmost respect for him and think he is a great man as well as a great manager. He opened my eyes in football terms.

“I think Claudio has to take a lot of credit of what he has done for the club in the time he was here (at Chelsea).”

The 30-year-old continued: “He elevated John Terry to captain and now he has developed in to one of the best captains in the world.

“Claudio achieved a lot when he was at Chelsea. He oversaw the transition of Chelsea being a good team who were not challenging for titles to one that was.

“He certainly gets credit for that in-house – I appreciate what he did for me and for the team.

“The fans, who are the most important people at Chelsea, hold him in very high regard because of the way he took the team on.”

Chelsea’s new Dutch manager Hiddink, who won his first game in charge of the Blues at the weekend, also praised Ranieri.

He said ahead of last-16 clash: “He is a gentleman coach and very intelligent.

“He knows how to cope with the press and cope with the pressure in this job and I respect him very much.

“He has several abilities. When he was at Chelsea he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

“I have seen that he is a very good organiser of his teams – they have enormous tactical discipline.

“It is difficult to play against the teams he is managing.”

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri, Frank Lampard, Guus Hiddink, Juventus

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:17 am | Permalink | Comments

QPR SAVED BY BLACKSTOCK'S LATE HEADER

Dexter Blackstock saved Queens Park Rangers’ blushes with an equalising goal only three minutes from time against ten-man Coventry at Loftus Road. The away side thought they had nicked the winning goal when Danny Fox fired in a free-kick against the run of play with 17 minutes remaining, following team-mate Steven Wright's first-half dismissal. But leading scorer Blackstock bravely chased a through ball and rose above the onrushing goalkeeper, Keiren Westwood, to nod home.

QPR had the better of the first half, though while they enjoyed the majority of the possession they found little end product. After seven minutes Icelandic international striker Heidar Helguson, whose loan deal from Bolton Wanderers was made permanent in the week, swiveled and shot in the Coventry area, though his stike was weak and easily gathered by Westwood in the away goal.

Helguson had another chance nine minutes later when the ball dropped to him on the area’s edge, though the 31-year-old was wasteful again and laced his half-volley high over the bar.

Wayne Routledge, the former England Under-21 winger, soon began to show why QPR shelled out £600,000 in the week, as he menaced Coventry down the left flank. He gave right-back Aron Gunarsson a torrid time. When Routledge, who turned 24 on Wednesday, skipped past him after 25 minutes, centre back Wright had to come across and foul him on the edge of the area.

Though QPR failed to make the free-kick count, a booking was dished out, and that should have calmed Wright down. But, nine minutes later, his challenge on Helguson – a studs-first assault that reached Helguson’s stomach – warranted a straight red card from referee Keith Stroud, and should have changed the game’s complexion.

In injury time before the interval QPR, with their tails up, managed their first meaningful shot on Westwood’s goal – left-back Damian Delaney fizzed a shot that the goalkeeper did well to parry.

After the break QPR huffed and puffed but still found Coventry hard to break down, missing the influence of creative midfielder Lee Cook who was sidelined with injury. Ten minutes in to the half Mikele Leigertwood looped over a pass that beat the away side’s offside trap and, with the goal gaping, Blackstock could only scuff his shot wide left.

With Routledge now on the right, QPR tried to change the angle of attack, but the home crowd were getting restless at the lack of real chances. With just over 20 minutes remaining Helguson was profligate once again, when he failed to poke in Deleney’s driven cross.

And those wasted chances cost QPR dearly as, when a frustrated Helguson fouled Michael Misfud after losing possession, he conceded a free-kick 30-yards out, slightly to the right. Danny Fox, the left-back who is a set-piece specialist, stepped up and coolly placed his effort inside the right-hand post of Radek Cerny’s goal.

Helguson, anxious to make amends, proceeded to miss two more gilt-edged opportunities – one which sliced out for a throw in. Luckily his strike partner, Blackstock, was more fortunate, and put his head in bravely in the 87th minute while chasing substitute Emmanuel Ledesma’s hopeful punt. He headed in the leveler and the relief was palpable for the home side. While they took their unbeaten run at home to six games, question marks will remain over their potency up front.

Labels: Champions League, Coventry, Dexter Blackstock, Paulo Sousa, Queens Park Rangers

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:46 pm | Permalink | Comments

DECO: CHELSEA CAN GO ALL THE WAY

Chelsea can go all the way and win the Champions League this season, believes the Blues' star midfielder and two-times winner Deco.

The Portuguese, who arrived in the summer from Barcelona, was a key player when José Mourinho's Porto lifted Europe's biggest prize in 2004 and two years later with the Catalan giants.

And if Chelsea make it though to the final in Rome in May the 31-year-old hopes Chelsea will face one of his former clubs - Barca or Porto - or Mourinho's new team, Inter Milan.

"I would really like to play against Barcelona or Porto in the final of the Champions League," said Brazilian-born Deco.

"These are the two important clubs in my life and it would be a very special day if it were to happen, especially as I am seeking my third Champions League title with a different club.

"Barca are playing really well now and they will be very difficult to beat. Also Mourinho's Inter will be a tough rival in any round. It would be the best thing for me if I were to be reunited with a friend like José.

"This Chelsea team have the quality and class to win the Champions League, however we have to improve in some aspects. There is still plenty of time left for us to improve and the coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, will make sure we are ready."

Labels: Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, Deco, football, Internationalize Milan, Jose Mourinho

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:11 pm | Permalink | Comments

UNITED EDGE OUT CHELSEA IN SUDDEN DEATH PENALTIES

In the first all-English European Cup final in 53 competitions, it was Edwin Van der Sar who was Manchester United's hero against their biggest Premier League rivals, Chelsea. In a pulsating game at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, which ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, penalties were the only way the two teams could be separated.

Fifty years after the Munich air disaster, which killed a number of Sir Matt Busby's young United team, Sir Alex Ferguson's players edged out Chelsea to claim their third European Cup.

United took the lead though their 23-year-old wunderkind Ronaldo, only for Frank Lampard to level the game on the stroke of half time. Ferguson's team had the best of the early exchanges and it was no surprise when the Portuguese winger opening the scoring after 26 minutes.

After a high-tempoed start - only marred by Paul Scholes' rash challenge on Chelsea's Claude Makelele, which ended in both players being booked - Wes Brown crossed from the right flank to Ronaldo, who had shaken free from his marker Michael Essien.

The Ghanaian makeshift right-back was a mere spectator as the United star towered above him and arrowed the ball into the right-hand corner of Petr Cech's goal. It was his 42nd goal of a spectacular season, and - significantly - his first ever against Chelsea.

Ferguson's team could, and should, have made it 2-0 eight minutes later through Carlos Tevez and then Michael Carrick. On the break Wayne Rooney picked out Ronaldo with a sumptuous 60 yard cross-field ball. The winger, with two men on him, knocked the ball in first time, and from six-yards the Argentine's header found the gloves of Cech, who threw himself at the forward.

Carrick hit the rebound straight, and the Czech stopper did well to parry the ball away. Two minutes before the interval, in a half which United dominated, Cech came to the rescue again, rushing out well to cause Tevez to skid his shot agonisingly wide.

In Chelsea's only significant chance of the first 45 minutes, Lampard laced home from inside the box, following up Essien's long shot, which had deflected off Rio Ferdinand's back.

The Blues had the better of a tight second half, and Didier Drogba came closest to breaking the deadlock with 12 minutes remaining. The Ivorian's shot from 35 yards rocketed through the United defence and crashed off Van der Sar's left upright.

Lampard crashed the crossbar in extra time, and the game when to penalties, but not before Drogba had struck Nemanja Vidic and been ejected.

Cech, who had previously never saved a penalty in Chelsea colours, saved Ronaldo's kick, and Blues captain John Terry could have won the game with his spot-kick, when the scores were 4-4. Terry send Van der Sar the wrong way but his strike grazed the right-hand post and bounced wide, leaving the 27-year-old, slumped on the floor, wanting the ground to swallow him up.

The shootout went to sudden death and it was United, who came from behind in 1999 to win the Champions League against Bayern Munich, who ran out winners when Nicolas Anelka had his penalty saved by the tall Dutch stopper.

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:54 pm | Permalink | Comments

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RATINGS

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2)

Edwin Van der Sar (8/10)
At 37, Van der Sar belied his years by pulling off a number of top reaction saves early on, and was the ultimate hero as he kept out Anelka’s sudden death penalty. The Dutchman won the competition 13 years ago with Ajax, and was helpless with Lampard’s goal.

Wes Brown (7/10)
Benched when United lifted the trophy in 1999, Brown proved his worth with a mature showing last night. He defended with steel and marauded well, assisting Ronaldo’s opener with an inviting cross.

Rio Ferdiand (5/10)
The United captain was booked before half time, and two minutes later Essien’s shot rebounded off his back allowing Lampard to strike home. Not the 29-year old’s best performance.

Nemanja Vidic (8/10)
The brave Serbian missed Tuesday’s training but was solid against Drogba – Chelsea’s biggest threat. Dominated in the air but could not do much about Lampard’s goal.

Patrice Evra (6/10)
The 27-year-old French international was largely anonymous before the interval, though he dealt with Joe Cole well, and showed good fitness in extra time.

Paul Scholes (6/10)
The 33-year-old, who missed out against Bayern Munich nine years ago, had a big hand in Ronaldo’s header and a good first half, but was replaced by Giggs after 88 minutes.

Owen Hargreaves (6/10)
The busy £17m signing from Bayern Munich battled well on the right. He harried, crossed and tackled with lung-bursting energy. Had to be especially combative in the second half when Chelsea were on top.

Michael Carrick (6/10)
Former Tottenham playmaker Carrick should have put the game beyond Chelsea, but his drive in the 35th minute was saved well by Cech.

Cristiano Ronaldo (8/10)
The gallingly talented Portuguese finally proved he can perform on the big stage. The 23-year-old’s 42nd goal of a dizzying season was his first against Chelsea. Missed in the shootout.

Carlos Tévez (5/10)
The tireless 24-year-old Argentine fluffed two gilt-edged chances in the first half, both from inside the six-yard box. The first forced a good save but the second was profligate.

Wayne Rooney (6/10)
A bustling, if not frustrated, show from the 22-year-old, fused with moments of class. Laced a pin-point 60 yard cross-field ball to Ronaldo which should have put United 2-0 up, and a cross that Tévez wasted.

Substitutes:

Ryan Giggs
In his 759th game for the Reds he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of appearances for United when he came on for Scholes after 88 minutes and almost scored in extra time.

Nani
On for Rooney, the other Portuguese trickster, failed to adjust to the tempo of the game.

Kuszczak, Anderson, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (7/10)
The 66-year-old Scot was as vocal as usual – both with his own players and with the officials. Made his first change two minutes before the end, after a half under the cosh.

CHELSEA (4-3-3)

Petr Cech (/10)
The Czech Republic No1 was a spectator for Ronaldo’s header. However the 26-year-old pulled off a top-drawer double save minutes later to keep his side in the contest. Saved the Portuguese’s spot kick to put Chelsea in the driving seat.

Michael Essien (6/10)
The Ghanaian, 25, looked out of position at right back against mesmeric winger Ronaldo, who flummoxed him in the first half, though he grew into the game after the interval.

John Terry (7/10)
Having recovered from his dislocated elbow, the Chelsea captain contained Tévez, and could only watch as Ronaldo headed past Cech. Did well to motivate his team at the break, but wanted the ground to eat him up after scuffing his crucial penalty.

Ricardo Carvalho (6/10)
Lacked the anticipation he normally exhibits, and was booked for a violent tackle on his fellow countryman, Ronaldo, in the first half. The 30-year-old grew into the game, however.

Ashley Cole (4/10)
Recovered from ankle injury sustained in training on Tuesday, and – despite early change of boots – he failed to get to grips with the magnitude of the game.

Frank Lampard (7/10)
Oozed inventiveness in the midfield and pulled Chelsea back into the game with a fortunate goal. The 29-year-old also crashed the underside of United’s bar in extra time.

Claude Makelele (6/10)
Harshly booked early on, the French holding midfielder was in the wars all evening. The 35-year-old stymied the contributions of Scholes and Rooney as the game wore on.

Michael Ballack (7/10)
Slow to impose himself on the final, the 31-year-old German captain proved he has a big match temperament with some good shots and clever distribution.

Florent Malouda (4/10)
Largely anonymous for the first 90 minutes, the 27-year-old French winger – a £13.3m signing from Lyon – was substituted for Kalou in extra time.

Didier Drogba (6/10)
Ivorian striker Drogba took nearly 80 minutes to have his first meaningful effort, and rattled the post with it. Kept quiet by the imposing Vidic, much to his frustration, which spilled over when he struck the Serbian and was ejected in extra time.

Joe Cole (5/10)
The diminutive Chelsea No10, one of four West Ham old boys, struggled to stamp his mark on the game. The 26-year-old, used on the right, was handled well by Evra and replaced by Anelka in extra time.

Substitutes:

Salomon Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti
All entered the fray in extra time but had few chances to show their shooting skills. Frenchman Anelka had his spot kick saved to hand United the game.

Cudicini, Shevchenko, Mikel, Alex

Manager: Avram Grant (6/10)
The Israeli looked clueless when Ronaldo nodded his opponents in front and his team looked for direction. But he geed up his troops at the interval and they started asking more questions of United.

Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (6/10)
The Slovakian man in black, who turned 40 last Friday, was quick on his whistle and in dishing out his cards. He might have spoiled the game by booking both Scholes and Makelele after 20 minutes.

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

SUTCLIFFE: 2018 WORLD CUP BID COULD BE JEOPARDISED

Gerald Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport and Tourism, has urged Manchester United and Chelsea supporters attending tomorrow's Champions League final at Moscow to behave themselves.

The Bradford South Labour MP, who took his cabinet position last June, was dismayed at the clashes between Glasgow Rangers' fans and police, as well as Zenit St. Petersburg supporters, after the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last Wednesday.

And he fears that any more violence could mark an indelible stain on England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Sutcliffe, who will be present at the Luzhniki Stadium, said: "We are hoping for a great game, a wonderful occasion and I am looking forward to what should be a fantastic advert for British football. Hopefully tonight will go without any hitches.

"Bad behaviour could very much jeopardise our 2018 bid. The World Cup is a showpiece event and what people don't want is violence attached to it. We want to have a very strong bid for 2018 and we want a maximum unity in the country to make sure that we are successful.

"We believe that we already have the stadia for 2018, but we want more than that. We want to show people that we can create a legacy for football throughout the world."

Sutcliffe, a Manchester United supporter, continued: "But we won't be successful if we have situations like last week in Manchester. The main concern for me about last week was the reports from the Zenit St. Petersburg manager [Dick Advocaat] himself and from Uefa.

"I have been very strong since I have been sports minister to try to have a zero tolerance to racism in sport. I am concerned by some of the comments that have been made. Things were ruined in Manchester last week by a small number of people - it is unacceptable behaviour."

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Gerald Sutcliffe, Glasgow Rangers, Manchester United, Zenit St. Petersburg

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:43 pm | Permalink | Comments

BENITEZ WAS UPSET - ARBELOA

Álvaro Arbeloa has revealed that his Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was livid with both the team and referee Konrad Plautz after the Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.

John Arne Riise's 95th minute own goal gifted Chelsea a vital away goal to take to Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

Arbeloa insisted that had Petr Cech not saved a shot from Fernando Torres, Liverpool would be on the way to the final in Moscow.

The 25-year-old said: "It was a key moment. We would have gone 2-0 up and that blow to Chelsea would have meant that they had it all to do.

"It was disappointing to concede right at the last moment. Up until then the game had gone pretty much to plan. We had attacked and scored.

"Rafa was very upset with us and the referee in the dressing room after the match. I thought the referee did not give us much.

"But we must forget that now. We must think about the week ahead and work very hard."

Labels: Alvaro Arbeloa, Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:50 pm | Permalink | Comments

ALONSO RAGE AT CHELSEA DRAW

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was enraged by Chelsea's equaliser in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield.

He believes the game should have been over and decided well before John Arne Riise's 95th minute own goal.

Alonso said: "The draw is not a good result, nor just. I'm angry because we should have gone up 2-0 before their late goal.

"It is a pain not to have taken away a better result at home and it will be necessary for us to improve for the return match".

Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool, Xabi Alonso

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PROFILES

CELTIC v BARCELONA

CELTIC STAR MAN: Scott McDonald
The 26-year-old Australian striker is in superb form, and has netted 16 goals in 25 games since joining his Celtic - his childhood team - for £700k in the summer from Motherwell.

MANAGER: Gordon Strachan
The Scottish legend won the Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen in 1983, but Europe's top prize has always eluded him. In his second season at Celtic Park the 50-year-old took the team to the last 16 last year where they were knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan in extra time.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Celtic have faced Barca six times in Europe, and won once - though that 1-0 victory three seasons ago in the fourth round of the UEFA Cup. The two most recent meetings, in 2004/5, saw the Hoops lose 3-1 at home and draw 1-1 at the Nou Camp.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
In the 1-0 win at Celtic Park, Alan Thompson's close range goal, coupled by the heroics of rookie goalkeeper David Marshall in the return leg, saw the Hoops advance.

LEAGUE FORM:
Celtic are top of the table with 36 points. They have only lost three games and are the league's top scorers with 45 goals. They have leaked only 16.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Glaswegian club's proudest moment came in 1967 when they won the European Cup with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon. They have qualified for the quarter-finals or better seven times in 10 years. But it has been 28 years since Celtic last managed that feat.

BARCELONA STAR MAN: Lionel Messi
The talented 20-year-old Argentinean has dragged Barca through the league so far this season, and was rightly named runner-up to Brazilian Kaka in the recent World Player of the Year award. Currently injured, the Catalans will want him back before their trip to Celtic Park.

MANAGER: Frank Rijkaard
Despite winning the Champions League in 2006 the former Dutch midfielder failed to defend the trophy last year. He also missed out on La Liga to rivals Real Madrid, and after talk of dressing room unrest the pressure is on.

LEAGUE FORM: Barcelona are second in La Liga, but that is mostly down to the form of Messi. They have a 100 per cent record at home but have lost four on the road.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: They may have won the Spanish championship 18 times but they have only been victorious in Europe's top competition twice: in 1992 and against Arsenal at the Stade de France in 2006.

VERDICT:
Strachan's team face an uphill battle, but if history is anything to go by they will score goals. And with Frank Rijkaard under increasing pressure due Barca's poor league form, anything is possible. The fitness of Leo Messi and Samuel Eto'o will be crucial to the Catalans' cause.


OLYMPIQUE LYON v MANCHESTER UNITED

LYON STAR MAN: Karim Benzema
The 20-year-old Frenchman has wowed Europe with his performances this term and United's defence will have to watch the pacy striker. In the league he has impressed, having netted 12 goals in only 18 games. He has also scored three times in eight games for Les Bleus.

MANAGER: Alain Perrin
The 51-year-old former Portsmouth manager is having much more success in Ligue 1 than he ever did on the south coast. He took over from Gerard Houllier in May and Lyon keep on winning, such is the strength of their squad.

LEAGUE FORM: Lyon have won Ligue 1 for the past six years and are on course for a seventh straight title. They are topping the table with 38 point from 18 games, four points ahead of Nancy.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: This is the French club's ninth appearance in the Champions League, though they have never gone further than the quarter-final. Between 2003/4 and 2005/6 they reached that stage on three consecutive occasions.

MANCHESTER UNITED STAR MAN: Cristiano Ronaldo
The 22-year-old Portuguese wizard will have another chance to prove he can be a match-winner at the top level. Last year he was outclassed by Milan's Kaka in the semi-finals, and the Brazilian edged him as FIFA European Footballer of the Year.

MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson, 61, knows what it takes to win the European Cup, having guided United to the title in 1999. The Scot thinks this current squad is his strongest to date, with the attacking talents of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Nani balanced by the graft of Anderson, Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The only times United have met the French champions - who are on course for their seventh successive French title - was three seasons ago in the group stages and the Reds beat them 2-1 at home and drew 2-2 in Lyon.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The 2-1 victory was Ferguson's 1,000th game in charge of United. But it was Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy who was the star - his header was his 36th Champions League goal in only 37 games.

LEAGUE FORM:
The reigning Premier League champions are only one point behind leaders Arsenal after beating Liverpool last Sunday. They have scored 30 times in 17 games and have the Premier League's best goal difference with +22.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
In the past 12 seasons United have reached at least the last 16 on 10 occasions. The 1968 winners pulled off a superb Treble in 1999, defeating Bayern Munich in injury time in the Euro final. They have qualified for the semi-finals twice since then.

VERDICT:
Barring injuries Ferguson's team should edge out the French hot shots, though a good result in the first leg in Lyon is essential. United's young guns will have to be fully firing if they are to mix it with Europe's big boys.


LIVERPOOL v INTERNAZIONALE

LIVERPOOL STAR MAN: Fernando Torres
The £26.5m record summer-signing has hit 12 goals in his first 20 games at Liverpool, and as 'El Nino' has never played in the Champions League before, he is raring to make up for lost time.

MANAGER: Rafa Benitez
The Spaniard, 47, is a genus in Europe and has masterminded Liverpool's success in the past three seasons - they beat Milan in the 2005 final, reached the last 16 then lost against AC last season in another final.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Liverpool's tie against Inter is a repeat of a classic 1965 semi-final encounter when the Merseysiders won the first leg 3-1 at Anfield, only to lose 3-0 in Milan amid claims of dodgy refereeing.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
After winning the "greatest match I have ever seen", then-manager Bill Shankly was appalled by the performance of referee in the second leg, after a number of dubious decisions saw the Italians through. They scored directly from an indirect free-kick, and the goalkeeper also had the ball kicked into the net from his hands.

LEAGUE FORM:
After losing to rivals Manchester United last weekend Liverpool have moved out of the top four and are 10 points off the pace. In their 16 games they have scored 27 and conceded only 10.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Liverpool have won the European Cup five times - the most any British club has managed - and were the last English team to lift the trophy with their famous victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

INTER STAR MAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The Swede is one of the most naturally talented players in Europe, with his transfers totalling nearly £40m over a career spanning Malmo, Ajax, Juventus and Inter. His unpredictability and superb technique will trouble Jamie Carragher and co.

MANAGER: Roberto Mancini
Former Leicester City striker had a superb playing career with Sampdoria and Lazio before moving into management, where he has won Inter the last two Scudetti (Italian league titles).

LEAGUE FORM: Unbeaten Inter have dropped only two points at home and six away. They are already seven points ahead of second-placed Roma, and have a goal difference of +27 - easily the best in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Inter won the European Cup twice in the mid-60s and - apart from reaching the semi-final in 2002/3 and the quarter-finals in 2004/5 and 2005/6 - Mancini's club have failed to impress.

VERDICT:
If Torres and captain Steven Gerrard are on song anything is possible, though the Italian champions are top of Serie A again, and will be confident they can pile further pressure on Benitez.


ARSENAL v AC MILAN

ARSENAL STAR MAN: Cesc Fabregas
The 20-year-old midfield dynamo has added goals to his repertoire this year. Thierry Henry has not been missed this season thanks to the form of the diminutive Spaniard.

MANAGER: Arsene Wenger
The Frenchman is in his 11th season in charge of Arsenal and is hopeful that his young side can win the trophy that eluded him two years ago when Barcelona defeated them in the final at the Stade de France.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
The north Londoners have never met the reigning European and World champions in the Champions League, though they did play twice in the 1995 Super Cup when they lost 2-0 on aggregate.

MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Fabio Capello managed Milan to victory over two legs in the first Super Cup. Zvonomir Boban and Daniele Massaro scored the crucial goals in the second leg at the San Siro.

LEAGUE FORM:
The Gunners have only lost once in the league and remain top of the table having scored 34 times - the best in the division - and have conceded 14 times.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
Arsenal have never been crowned European champions though they have reached the last 16 in each of the past eight seasons, and came close in the final against Barca in 2006.

MILAN STAR MAN: Kaka

The 25-year-old Brazilain has been on superb form this year. Recently named European and World player of the Year, Kaka scored against Liverpool in the final earlier this year. He also netted against Boca Juniors earlier in the month as Milan were crowned World Club champions.

MANAGER: Carlo Ancelotti
The former Milan midfielder has won the European Cup both as a player and a manager. The 48-year old is also the longest-serving coach in Serie A - he has been with the Rossoneri since 2001 - and one of the most successful in their history.

LEAGUE FORM: Despite being champions of Europe and the World, Milan are struggling domestically. They are yet to win at home in Serie A and sit 11th in the table, 22 points behind their city rivals Inter.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: Milan have won the European Cup seven times: twice in the 60s, twice in the 80s, once in the 90s and in 2002/3 and last year. Since their victory over Juventus on penalties in the 2003 Final, Milan have reached the quarter-finals or better.

VERDICT:
It's a tough one to call. Wenger has moulded his team into a dynamic force and his youngsters could show the age of the AC Milan team. Milan are current World and European champions, however, and - despite their poor Serie A form - will be hard to beat in knockout format as Manchester United found last season.


OLYMPIAKOS v CHELSEA

OLYMPIAKOS STAR MAN: Luciano Galletti
The Argentinean winger scored three goals in Olympiakos' six Champions League group stage ties, and poses a real threat to Ashley Cole with his pace and trickery on the Greek's right-hand side.

MANAGER: Takis Lemonis
The Greek is in his second spell in charge of the charge of the club. He was sacked in 2002 after a poor European campaign despite winning two consecutive Greek titles and, after periods in charge of four other Greek sides, he returned to the club in December last year.

LEAGUE FORM: Olympiakos are second to AEK Athens only on goal difference after 12 rounds of the 16-team Greek Super League. They have won all seven of their home games but have struggled away, picking up only six points from five games.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY: The Greek club have taken part in the last 11 Champions League competitions, though they have only advanced from the group stages on two occasions: they reached the quarter-final in 1998/9 and are in the last 16 this year.

CHELSEA STAR MAN: Didier Drogba
Without the Ivorian the Londoners struggle to score, though a high-profile striker is expected to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window.

MANAGER: Avram Grant
Jose Mourinho's replacement has begun impressively, but whether we will see the histrionics from the Israeli manager in the Champions League that the Portuguese regularly displayed remains to be seen. This campaign will prove whether or not he is up to the job long-term.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: These two have never met in European competition.

LEAGUE FORM:
Chelsea have recovered after the departure of Mourinho and sit in third - six points off Arsenal - having netted 34 goals and leaked 10 - the fewest in the league.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY:
The Blues reached three semi-finals between 2003 and 2007 - but lost on each occasion including two painful defeats to Liverpool over two legs.

VERDICT:
Grant's charges should have enough firepower to shoot down the Greek champions. Though whether they advance further will be down to Grant's management and tactics.

Labels: AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Celtic, Champions League, Chelsea, Internationalize Milan, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester United, Olympiakos

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:59 pm | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport

Champions League Group stages: Game 1 match reports

Sporting Lisbon v Internationalize Milan match report / live scoring

Bayern Munich v Spartak Moscow match report / live scoring

Labels: Bayern Munich, Champions League, football, Internationalize Milan, Spartak Moscow, Sporting Lisbon

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 7:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

Eurosport

Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa match report for Eurosport 22/8/2006. Check HERE to view.


And AEK Athens v Heart, again for Eurosport 23/8/2006. Click HERE to see the report.

Labels: AEK Athens, Champions League, football, Hearts, Liverpool, Maccabi Haifa

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:57 pm | Permalink | Comments