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Champions League trophy - Source: Getty Images -
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THURSDAY (NZT) 6:45 kick off
Liverpool v Chelsea
In the game that none want to happen but everyone can't wait to watch, Liverpool take on Chelsea in a clash that can only be described as a well-worn reoccurring nightmare that refuses to go away.
We don't really need to preview this match as these two sides meet for the fifth consecutive time in the European competition and I think it is safe to say that it will be a fixture that most Chelsea fans and players would rather not have after history shows that Liverpool, who have knocked the Londoners out of the semi-finals of the tournament twice, have in the past had the upper hand.
Of course it was Chelsea who had the last laugh last season after a John Arne Riise own goal at Anfield gave Chelsea the advantage at Stamford Bridge where they went on to beat the Reds 3-2 to reach the final (only to turn into a blubbering mess when they were defeated on penalties by Manchester United).
Liverpool have also had their wicked way with Chelsea in the League twice this season, both home and away, and will no doubt hold this psychological advantage over their southern nemesis but European nights are nothing like the Premier League, and there are no other European nights that are quite like the ones experienced at Anfield.
This can work both to Liverpool's advantage and disadvantage.
With the second leg being at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool will have to work hard at Anfield to stop the Blues grabbing the all important away goal and they also have the disadvantage of not having the swaying Kop behind them coming into the final leg - a fact that so often spurs Liverpool on.
And just like Arsenal, Chelsea seem to have got their groove back.
Under the management of Guss Hiddink they are playing strong attacking football and perhaps more importantly have the belief that this year, this time, they can take it all the way.
One problem for Chelsea though may be the loss of Didier Drogba who has been instrumental in Chelsea's previous Champions League clashes and may miss this match due to an ankle problem.
Liverpool meanwhile are on fire, coming back from a touch and go post Christmas period to close the gap on Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table, and are undoubtedly a European footballing force to be reckoned with.
Liverpool demolished Real Madrid in the last sixteen of the competition while Chelsea eked out some close results - but that was before Hiddink.
One interesting thing to watch will be how Benitez and Hiddink approach these games as there is an odd sense of familiarity about these two.
Both Hiddink and Benitez have won the Champions League, both wins coming after a penalty shoot out in the final.
Both men have lost 13 Champions League matches in their coaching careers, they have both worked as head coach of Valencia and the first and only time the two well-respected managers met was when Benitez' La Liga side Extremadure were beat by Hiddink's Real Madrid in 1998.
I fancy Liverpool to once again cruelly snatch away the only major trophy that eludes Chelsea thus-far, but I don't believe it will be easy, as nothing with these two clubs ever is.
I predict a close game at Anfield and a tense blinder at Stamford Bridge that may see Chelsea being thwarted by penalties, again.
Prediction: Liverpool 2, Chelsea 1
Barcelona v Bayern Munich
In arguably the most exciting clash of the quarters two of the Champions League's highest scoring European heavyweights meet on Thursday as tournament favourite (next to Manchester United) Barcelona take on Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.
Both sides have had extraordinary Champions League campaigns as Spanish giants Barca progressed to the quarter-finals of the tournament with a 6-3 (agg) victory over French side Lyon, while Bayern, yet to lose in this season's campaign, sprinted to the quarter-finals with a 12-1 (agg) victory over Sporting Lisbon.
But while Barca are flying at the top of La Liga, Bayern's domestic form couldn't be more different as stumbling displays in the Bundesliga have seen them drop three points off the top of an incredibly close table to fourth place - their latest defeat coming as they were wholloped 5-1 at the weekend by Wolfsburg.
Although Barcelona are favourites in this tie, history looks kindly on Bayern who have won three and drawn one of their previous four games against Barca in Europe.
In team news, the Germans may struggle with the loss of striker Miroslave Klose, midfielder Hamit Altintop and Lucio but could be bolstered by the return of back-line defenders Martin Demichelis, Daniel Van Buyten, and Italian striker Luca Toni.
They also have Frenchman Frank Ribery in the squad who was inspirational in the sides 5-0 thrashing of Sporting.
Barcelona meanwhile will have some fresh legs in Lionel Messi and Daniel Avles who were on the bench in the sides 1-0 win over Real Valladolid at the weekend.
The experienced Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta are expected to start, but Barca will be missing Aliaksandr Hleb and Yaya Youre.
There is a lot riding on this game for Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann who we could see fighting it out with Sven Goran Eriksson for the Chelsea job should he fail to progress in this tournament, and while Bayern will hope to bounce back from their humiliating defeat at the weekend, I can't see such a strong Barcelona side slipping up in this clash - bound to be a great game whatever the outcome!
Prediction: Barcelona 3, Bayern 0
Join us on Thursday morning (NZT) for all the up-to-date action on the UEFA Champions League
