Waiting game for Europe's élite
Thursday, 10 March 2005
The draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of this year's UEFA Champions League take place in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday 18 March, with five current domestic league leaders in the last seven of the world's premier club competition. The holders FC Porto play FC Internazionale Milano next week to decide the eighth team in the draw.
Spanish absence
Juventus FC's dramatic victory against Real Madrid CF ensured that no team from the Spanish Primera División is represented in the last eight, for the first time since the competition's inaugural edition 12 years ago. The other Italian team certain to be in the draw are Serie A leaders AC Milan, European Champion Clubs' Cup winners six times, most recently in 2003.
English duo
English Premiership leaders Chelsea FC are also among the favourites after they beat FC Barcelona 5-4 on aggregate following a thrilling tie at Stamford Bridge. Their coach, José Mourinho, won the competition with Porto last season, as did his players Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho. Midfield player Claude Makelele has also won the trophy before, with Real Madrid CF. Liverpool FC, hoping to add to the four times they have won the European Cup, join Chelsea in the draw.
Previous winners
Other previous winners in contention are German Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München, four times the champions of Europe, and Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, winners in 1988 – when their current coach Guus Hiddink was in charge.
Dark horses
Olympique Lyonnais are also in contention. The French Ligue 1 leaders looked in ominously good form when beating German champions Werder Bremen 7-2 at home, and 10-2 on aggregate, to equal their best showing in this competition - last year, when they narrowly lost to eventual winners Porto.
Anything possible
It is an open draw, so teams from the same country can face each other from now on, raising the prospect of some exciting 'derbies'. The dates for the quarter-final first legs are 5/6 April, with the second legs a week later. The semi-finals are scheduled for 26/27 April and 3/4 May, with the final at the Atatürk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday 25 May.