Champions League

The UEFA Champions League returns this week with sixteen teams left and the knockout round about to begin. Reigning champions, Manchester United plus Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool represent the English contingent and football betting fans will be scrutinising the form of their opponents in their efforts to decide the chances of another final between two Premiership clubs. Last year it went to the wire for Chelsea and Man U when the Blues were defeated on Russian ground in a nail-biting final.

This year United face Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan with Ferguson’s crew severely depleted by injury – partly from Saturday’s Premiership match with Blackburn when Jonny Evans limped off the pitch. Gary Neville and Wes Brown are also out with injuries as is John O’Shea. All this leaves Sir Alex without a strong centre-back structure against Jose’s top-of-the-Serie A side, away at the San Siro on Tuesday. Mourinho’s side, with its restless young strikers, is not without its problems, though, and if United can prevail here and at home, then their renewed confidence will almost certainly take them to the final.

Arsenal meet Roma at the Emirates tomorrow and, although the Gunners snooze at home, this competition is their last opportunity to make hay this season and this fact should wake them up. Also plagued with injuries they will have their work cut-out against a team which is also struggling in their home league. Both these sides are capable of great football when they decide to play and these two matches, overshadowed by the Liverpool and Man U razzmatazz, could prove to be the most enthralling of this round.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are fretting about the absence of Stephen Gerrard, whose hamstring ailment has brought about his absence for the last three weeks. Heading off to the Bernabou without him will hardly boost the confidence of a side already gnashing their teeth about their slipping Premiership title chances. Couple that with the rumours that Benitez might be going to Real this summer and Champions League betting enthusiasts have got to be nervous about the chances that the Reds will pull it off this time. Having said that, Liverpool have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of rabbits for pulling from hats and I wouldn’t’ be surprised to see them go through.

Chelsea have come back to life a bit after getting their legs smacked by Guus Hiddink. In fact, Lampard declares he quakes when the great man enters the room. On Wednesday they host Juventus who are firing on all four right now and are second in Serie A. However, if Guus can get Drogba to stop sulking and earn his weekly king’s ransom and get him in harmony with the moping Anelka, revitalise Ballack and Cech, compensate for the absence of Joe Cole and stop worrying about banishment to Siberia for deserting Russia, then Chelsea might be able to go all the way.