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Torres slaps Terry - Source: Reuters -
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As we get into the final furlong of the quarter-finals of the
Champions League,
tvnz.co.nz's Sarah Williams
previews the action
WEDNESDAY (NZT) 6.45 kick off
Chelsea v Liverpool
First leg: Liverpool 1, Chelsea 3 at Anfield
There is no question that after stunning Liverpool 3-1 in their own
backyard last Thursday (NZT) Chelsea holds all the aces going into
the second and final quarter-final leg of the Champions
League.
This win was above all expectations of either side, with Chelsea's
interim manager Guss Hiddink getting one over Liverpool boss,
Rafael Benitez, the man often hailed as a master tactician of
European football after guiding Liverpool twice to the final of the
tournament.
There is also no doubt that apart from the early Fernando Torres
goal, Liverpool went somewhat missing as Chelsea played them off
the pitch on Thursday. The London side hold a three away-goal
advantage and have one foot in the semi-finals of the tournament
for the third consecutive season while Liverpool, with British odds
of 50-1 to progress, have all the work to do.
But, as laughable as it may seem, with Liverpool in Europe, it
isn't over until the final whistle is blown - you just have to look
at the 'Miracle of Istanbul' for proof of that.
After Liverpool went for a stroll in the spring sunshine with a 4-0
win over Blackburn, expertly kicked off by an early Fernando Torres
goal, Chelsea let slip a 4-0 lead to Bolton and were lucky not to
let their position on the Premier League table slip, showing once
again that the once impregnable Fortress Stamford Bridge is
anything but.
One obvious advantage for Liverpool will be the loss of Chelsea
skipper John Terry who was booked for a fumble with Liverpool goal
keeper Pepe Reina in last weeks clash - with Alex and Carvalho
handed the thankless task of reining in silent assassin Fernando
Torres - while Liverpool can be thankful for the return of Javier
Mascherano whose fire and pace was desperately lacking in their
previous encounter.
Liverpool will also be hopeful that Steven Gerrard, so often the
talisman for the side, has recovered enough from his recent groin
strain to make his presence felt because without him the Anfield
club does lack that special spark.
After Chelsea let their 4-0 lead slip against Bolton at the
weekend, Hiddink likened the lack of concentration from Chelsea in
the second half of the game to an 'alarm clock ringing' for this
Champions League clash and it will remain to be seen whether this
slip-up will knock Chelsea's confidence or make them all the more
determined to win.
What Liverpool, apart from the obvious of scoring three to four
away goals will have to do, is play like they never have before,
with an attacking mentality, no holding back.
The last time they scored three goals away at Stamford Bridge was
in 1989, a year in which a significant event that will forever be
in the hearts of this club, the city and the fans occurred.
Hiddink and Chelsea will be playing for a piece of silverware, for
which if they make it through this clash they will most probably
have to get through an incredible Barcelona side to reach the
final, but as Liverpool play the night before the 20th anniversary
of the Hillsborough tragedy, there is no doubt that Liverpool will
be playing for much more than that.
Prediction: Let's see what the football gods
have in store in this one.
Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Champions League quarter-final first leg: Barca 4, Bayern 0
at the Nou Camp
Just like Liverpool, Bayern Munich go into this final quarter-final
clash on the back foot after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of
Spanish giants Barcelona - their heaviest defeat in the competition
- left them reeling.
In last weeks clash at the Nou Camp a slick and classy Barcelona
proved just why they are being touted as favourites to take
European footballs most coveted prize, the first to do so since
they beat Arsenal to the trophy in 2006.
There is no mistaking that Barcelona are on fire in this tournament
and it was the Champions League top goalscorer, Lionel Messi, who
was instrumental in tearing the Bundesliga sides defence to shreds
and it is he who Bayern will have their eye on to stop.
In their favour, a Bayern side, who were weakened in their first
defeat in the tournament last week, are hoping to have some
defensive strength as Philipp Lahm is expected to be back in the
line-up to soak up the Barcelona pressure.
And while the odds are stacked against them in what is an almost
impossible task, what may bother some is the way that Klinsmann has
so readily resigned himself to defeat, telling reporters:
"We are not going to beat them (Barcelona) by four goals, we are
aware of that. But we will play with pride and character and we
will give our fans a good Champions League game."
Admittedly Sporting Lisbon are not Barcelona, but after a 7-1
dismissal of the Portuguese side in their last home game on the
road to the Champions League quarters, and a 4-0 win over Eintracht
Frankfurt at the weekend Bayern will be buoyed and have definitely
got some fight to take to the Spanish and should not take this
clash lying down.
Although no one may be able to stop Barcelona on what I believe to
be their journey to lift the Champions League trophy for the third
time, I don't believe that Bayern will make it as easy for them as
everyone may think - expect plenty of goals and nail biting moments
in this clash!
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2, Barcelona 3
