CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND EUROPA LEAGUE DRAWS - Mar 19
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Last eight await quarter-final draw
Champions League drawFriday, 19 March 2010
Channel 61 Football Frenzy : 7.00 pm (Live)
Sir Alex Ferguson might have raised a few quizzical looks at the start of the season when he named the Catalans as the major threat to his own side's hopes of regaining their crown - and ignored Real Madrid completely.
But, not for the first time, Ferguson's opinion has proved to be astute. Real fell at the last 16 again and no-one who saw Barcelona dismantle Stuttgart, with a couple of goals from the brilliant Lionel Messi included in the rout, would face them with any degree of confidence.
Having encountered Barca with much more success at the semi-final stage two seasons ago, United could argue it is someone else's turn to face them.
Not that Arsenal are without previous. Four years ago it appeared the Gunners were about to land the most coveted trophy in club football for the first time, only for Samuel Eto'o and current Chelsea star Juliano Belletti to score in the final 15 minutes to shatter Arsene Wenger's dream.
After Tuesday night's events at Stamford Bridge, Inter Milan will be treated with only slightly less caution. What Jose Mourinho's team lack in flamboyance, they make up for in organisation.
Walter Samuel and Lucio are a formidable central defensive partnership, as Didier
Drogba discovered. Lucio's absence from the first leg of the quarter-final is a huge blow and the fact his three defensive colleagues are all one caution away from a ban is a point of weakness.
Still, the media at least would welcome another visit from Mourinho, beaten by Ferguson's United at the last 16 stage 12 months ago but seemingly far better prepared to end that 45-year wait to lift the European Cup.
An all-English last eight meeting is a possibility too.
Eye on the prize: Arsene Wenger (left) and Sir Alex Ferguson are desperate to get their hands on the coveted Champions League trophy (below)
Wenger has said he wouldn't mind that, despite suffering successive home hammerings at United's hands, including last season's semi-final when Arsenal were blitzed, never recovering from conceding two goals in the opening 11 minutes at the Emirates having trailed by just a single goal from the first leg.
If Barcelona, Inter, and the English club's respective domestic rivals themselves represent the biggest threat, another danger lurks in the scheduling.
Unless they are drawn against each other, one of the title-chasing duo will end up playing their first leg on Wednesday, March 31 with the second the following Tuesday, and a league game in between.
The presence of CSKA Moscow in the last eight therefore creates the potential for a draining return trip to Russia, followed, less than 60 hours later by a game that could be pivotal to the championship.
For Arsenal, who have a chronic record in Russia anyway, the fixture in question is against relegation scrappers Wolves at home, for United, it is against Chelsea. The consequences of this will not be lost on Ferguson.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND EUROPA LEAGUE DRAWS
Quarter-Finals Draw
Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Manchester United
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
(Ties take place on March 30/31 and April 6/7)
Semi-final draw:
Bayern/Manchester Utd v Lyon/Bordeaux
Inter/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona
(Ties take place on April 20/21 and April 27/28)
EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW
Fulham v Wolfsburg
Standard Liege v Hamburg
Valencia v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Liverpool
Semi-final draw:
Valencia/Atletico Madrid v Benfica/Liverpool
Hamburg/Standard Liege v Fulham/Wolfsburg
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I hope United get Bordeaux orCSKA Moscow
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I rather they get Lyon or Bordeaux cos they are very much nearer to England so travel time will be much shorter and more recovery time to face Chelsea on Apr 3...
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Originally posted by zocoss:
I rather they get Lyon or Bordeaux cos they are very much nearer to England so travel time will be much shorter and more recovery time to face Chelsea on Apr 3...
what about arsenal then
. no need to board plane, just travel by coach in a few hours nia -
haha.Arsenal.Amongst the big 4.Arsenal definitely had the worst record against Manutd..still remember..01/02 season?..united thrashed gunners at home 6-1.9 yrs down the road.We are still whacking the gunners for fun.
Barca have proved to be very hard to beat in a Finals.So probably the best way to get rid of them is in quarters or semis thru a double leg tie..when fixture congestion travel fatigue sets in.That was how united got rid of them during the 07/08 season..
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SINGTEL AGAIN.
wtf
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KEY MAN ... Utd top scorer Wayne Rooney
ARSENAL
ARSENE WENGER'S men were humiliated by Manchester United in last season's semi-final but they are in fine form.
STAR MAN Cesc Fabregas
ODDS 6-1
HISTORY runners-up 2006
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS The Gunners came top in Group H and then beat Porto 6-2 on aggregate in the last 16.
BARCELONA
THE reigning champions proved just why everyone wants to avoid them in the draw as Lionel Messi destroyed Stuttgart.
STAR MAN Lionel Messi
ODDS 15-8
HISTORY won 1992, 2006, 2009
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Topped Group F despite not being at their best and then hammered Stuttgart 5-1 on aggregate.
BAYERN MUNICH
IN poor form early this season but have won 14 of their last 17 games.
STAR MAN Arjen Robben
ODDS 10-1
HISTORY won 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS About to go out at the group stage but beat Juventus 4-1. Got past Fiorentina to make last eight.
BORDEAUX
HEADING for back-to-back French titles under Laurent Blanc and have Arsenal target Marouane Chamakh up front.
STAR MAN Yoann Gourcuff
ODDS 16-1
HISTORY semi-finals 1985
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Topped group that included Juventus and Bayern Munich. Saw off Olympiakos home and away.
CSKA MOSCOW
THIS season's surprise package were second behind Manchester United in qualifying. Midfielder Milos Krasic is hot property.
STAR MAN Milos Krasic
ODDS 33-1
HISTORY best is last 16
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Held United to a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford and beat Sevilla 3-2 in the last 16.
INTER MILAN
ITALIAN football may be on the wane but Jose Mourinho's Inter are a genuine threat after defeating Chelsea in the last 16.
STAR MAN Samuel Eto'o
ODDS 4-1
HISTORY won 1964, 1965
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Did not win until their fourth match. Finished second to Barcelona and now look strong.
LYON
FRENCH champions for seven successive seasons until last year and have made a real impact in Europe this term.
STAR MAN Miralem Pjanic
ODDS 14-1
HISTORY q-finals three times
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Edged Liverpool out in the group stages and took the scalp of Real Madrid in last 16.
MAN UTD
ALEX FERGUSON'S men are out to erase the pain of last season's final defeat to Barcelona and Wayne Rooney is bang in form.
STAR MAN Wayne Rooney
ODDS 7-2
HISTORY won 1968, 1999, 2008
ROUTE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS Finished top of a tame Group B and then ripped AC Milan apart 7-2 over two legs.
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2 english teams
2 france teams
1 spanish
1 german
1 russia
1 Italy
So the probabiltiy of english drawing against france is high.
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man u shd get barca. If u can beat the best, u deserve the trophy. For their previous trophy winning campaigns, man u overcame barca en route to the final in 2007. In 1999, they overcame inter and juve. Italian teams at that time were feared.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
man u shd get barca. If u can beat the best, u deserve the trophy. For their previous trophy winning campaigns, man u overcame barca en route to the final in 2007. In 1999, they overcame inter and juve. Italian teams at that time were feared.
in the 2008 final you mean?
because i rmbed the 2007 final is liverpool against ac milan, reds losing 2-1 at athens.
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if all english last 8 draw, sian leh.
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it will be arsenal against barcelona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!
Man utd against bayern!!!!
Lyon against bordeaux....
Intermilan against CSKA
FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!!!
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Man utd easy route to final... if they win bayern then they face lyon/bordeaux...
Arsenal/barca will face cska/inter
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Quarter-Finals Draw.
Lyon v Bordeaux
Bayern Munich v Manchester United
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow
Semi-final draw:
Bayern/Manchester Utd v Lyon/Bordeaux
Inter/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona
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fuck liao lo arsenal.
how to win liddat
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Bayern are the dark horse and with players like Robben, Ribery, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose... They are a side to be reckon with...
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How come Arsenal fans think get Barcelona is finish? Arsenal can beat Barce, don't think they can't...
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ya lo... damn fuck...
knn... pui!!!
but dream match la... dream match...
i wonder how henry will feel... hahahaha and also how fabregas will feel as well....
Nabei...
Xavi vs Fabregas
Messi vs Arshavin
Song vs Yaya toure
Iniesta vs Diaby
Ni na bei!!!! damn angry.... CCB... got so many teams dont draw, draw barcelona... pui!!!!
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if united beat bayern, they will face one of the french side. good chance to united to qualify for finals, where they are drawn as the home team, can wear their home jersey though.
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arsenal can avenge for their 2006 loss what.
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Originally posted by zocoss:
Bayern are the dark horse and with players like Robben, Ribery, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose... They are a side to be reckon with...
yep, not easy... siao man..
inter got the easiest draw?
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
yep, not easy... siao man..
inter got the easiest draw?
yes, but either barcelona or arsenal await them if they progress to the semi finals. esp barcelona is favoured to progress to the semi's.
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OMG!!! 2 Ligue 1 teams 'fight' each other sial.
Yeah!!! Revival of 99/00 UCL finals for Man U and Bayern Munchen
Whatever who is the winner of the clash between 2 Ligue 1 bitter rivals, this will be 1st time to appear in semi-finals.
For me I think this is the possible outcomes for semi-finals:
Arsenal versus Inter Milan
Man U versus Bordeaux
Reasons:
If Arsenal continues to play on what they did against Real Madrid (by defending), there won't pose any problem to knock defending champions Barcelona out of UCL. But 1stly, Arsenal should try to score at least 1 goal in their home soil. Then, they can defend the lead in Nou Camp.
Man U can win at least 2 goals in 1st leg (home soil). At 2nd leg, they can consolidate the lead and get at least a draw at Alliance Arena.
Expect an easy match for Inter Milan against CSKA, as long as they won't lose in 1st-leg.
Bordeaux is trying to prove that they are the current best in Ligue 1 by defending it after denying Lyon 7th concentive title last season.
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liverpool faces barcelona in the second round many years back, but they did beat barcelona then.