Champions League Quarter Finals 2008
April 1, 2008 | Filed Under: Football
Tags: arsenal, barcelona, champions league, chelsea, fenerbahce, liverpool, manchester united, roma, schalke 04
After nine months of Champions League action we’re down to the Quarter-Finals of this great competition. English clubs dominate the competition with half of the remaining teams coming from the Barclays Premier League. Joining clubs from England are representatives from Italy, Spain, Germany and Turkey. Let’s have a look at all four Quarter-Final matches:
Roma v Manchester United
The last Italian Champions League representatives take on Manchester United in the Quarter-Finals desperate to avoid a repeat of last year’s hammering at the hands of the English club. After a fine 2-1 win in the Italian capital Roma went to Old Trafford confident of reaching the semi-finals but they were met with a five-star United performance as they crashed to an embarrassing 7-1 defeat. Now the sides meet again at this stage but after knocking out Spanish league leaders Real Madrid in the last round Luciano Spalletti’s side will be confident of a bold showing against the English champions.
Roma 2.7
Draw 3.0
Man Utd 2.5
Schalke 04 v Barcelona
Barcelona haven’t had the easiest of seasons with Real Madrid dominating La Liga and rumours of Frank Rijkaard departing the club at the end of the season. Despite this they should be good enough to reach the semi-finals as they take on German side Schalke 04. Schalke have never reached this far in Champions League history and are big underdogs to go another round further. Mirko Slomca’s side managed to get past 2004 winners Porto in the Last 16 and will certainly feel no pressure taking on Barcelona.
Schalke 3.5
Draw 3.2
Barcelona 2.0
Arsenal v Liverpool
With half the remaining sides in the Champions League English it was inevitable that two of them would clash at this Quarter-Finals stage and so it turned out that way with Liverpool and Arsenal being drawn together. Either of these sides have featured in the final of this competition in the last three years so this should be a thrilling encounter. While Liverpool have struggled to get in the Premiership picture this season their European record has been as superb as ever. Arsenal, who stunned AC Milan in the previous round, have been challenging for the English title all season but have they gone off the boil?
Arsenal 2.1
Draw 3.0
Liverpool 3.4
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
As well as Schalke, Fenerbahce are also in this stage for the first time and they face a massive task against Avram Grant’s Chelsea side over the two legs. The London side are pressing Manchester United for the English title but this is the competition that owner Roman Abramovich wants to win more than any other. Fenerbahce, who managed to eliminate UEFA Cup holders Sevilla in the last round, will look to their legendary manager Zico to inspire them to another unlikely win.
Fenerbahce 3.8
Draw 3.2
Chelsea 1.9
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