Eight teams, one dream. The race for the UEFA Champions League crown has reached its quarterfinal stage, with the reduced field showing five former and three wannabe champions.
Arsenal FC, Villarreal CF and Olympique Lyonnais comprise the latter section, and it is the English side who are in action first with Tuesday?s first-leg visit of Juventus to London. Arsenal impressed in beating Real Madrid CF in the first knockout round, but must now overcome another team who have seen it all before at this high footballing altitude. Italian champions-elect Juve squeezed past Werder Bremen in the first knockout round and feature former Gunner Patrick Vieira.
SL Benfica, like the Bianconeri, have twice tasted glory in this tournament, yet both occasions were in the black-and-white age of the 1960s. Their hopes of modern-day success were reinforced by the knockout victory over last season?s winners Liverpool FC. Now FC Barcelona, with one continental crown to their name, stand in the way, starting in Lisbon on Tuesday. The human interest in this tie surrounds Ronald Koeman, the Benfica coach who scored the only goal of the 1992 final for Bar?a against UC Sampdoria.
Spain?s other contender, UEFA Champions League debutants Villarreal, continue their challenge away to FC Internazionale Milano on Wednesday. Lyon have been in fine form this season. Their superiority in the French First Division is akin to that of Chelsea in the Premiership, and they have looked pretty hot in the Champions League too. Conversely, AC Milan, their rivals in this Champions League quarter-final first leg clash on Wednesday, have won just one of their four away matches in this competition, losing once and drawing the other two.
Odds To Win 2005 - 2006 UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 5/1
Arsenal 9/1
Benfica 27/1
FC Barcelona 3/2
Inter Milan 13/2
Juventus 3/1
Lyon 13/2
Villarreal 16/1
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Arsenal FC, Villarreal CF and Olympique Lyonnais comprise the latter section, and it is the English side who are in action first with Tuesday?s first-leg visit of Juventus to London. Arsenal impressed in beating Real Madrid CF in the first knockout round, but must now overcome another team who have seen it all before at this high footballing altitude. Italian champions-elect Juve squeezed past Werder Bremen in the first knockout round and feature former Gunner Patrick Vieira.
SL Benfica, like the Bianconeri, have twice tasted glory in this tournament, yet both occasions were in the black-and-white age of the 1960s. Their hopes of modern-day success were reinforced by the knockout victory over last season?s winners Liverpool FC. Now FC Barcelona, with one continental crown to their name, stand in the way, starting in Lisbon on Tuesday. The human interest in this tie surrounds Ronald Koeman, the Benfica coach who scored the only goal of the 1992 final for Bar?a against UC Sampdoria.
Spain?s other contender, UEFA Champions League debutants Villarreal, continue their challenge away to FC Internazionale Milano on Wednesday. Lyon have been in fine form this season. Their superiority in the French First Division is akin to that of Chelsea in the Premiership, and they have looked pretty hot in the Champions League too. Conversely, AC Milan, their rivals in this Champions League quarter-final first leg clash on Wednesday, have won just one of their four away matches in this competition, losing once and drawing the other two.
Odds To Win 2005 - 2006 UEFA Champions League
AC Milan 5/1
Arsenal 9/1
Benfica 27/1
FC Barcelona 3/2
Inter Milan 13/2
Juventus 3/1
Lyon 13/2
Villarreal 16/1
Get your Champions League odds, English Premiership lines and Soccer Futures at Bodog Sportsbook now!
