Champions League Quarterfinal Draw: Three Pieces of Good News

By: Daryl | March 14th, 2008

The balls are out of the pots and there are three pieces of good news from the Champions League quarterfinal draw. First good news: there will be an all-English quarterfinal. This is good news because if Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal had avoided each other, we’d be facing the possibility of an all-English semi-final. Great for English football, but it would make the Champions League look like a joke.

Second bit of good news: the all-English quarter-final is NOT Chelsea vs Liverpool. No one wants to see another 180 minutes of that. Instead it’s Arsenal vs Liverpool, which could actually be quite good.

Third bit of good news (for neutrals at least) is Roma vs Manchester United. After a certain defeat last season which I’m sure Roma fans would prefer I didn’t mention in any detail (let’s juts say Alan Smith scored and leave it at that) Roma are going to get a shot at revenge, and we all get to watch. Should be titanic.

The draw in full:

1. Arsenal vs Liverpool

2. Roma vs Manchester United

3. Schalke vs Barcelona

4. Fenerbahce vs Chelsea

First legs will be played April 1st and 2nd, second legs April 8th and 9th.

Semifinals will be
1 vs 4
3 vs 2

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Category: Champions League

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nigel

To the Italian fans. If you dont start trouble> No one will have to chase you. BE NICE
Weston (@wpazzurri)

YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROMA MANU!!!!!!!!!! YESYESYESYES Revenge is in the air!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
RyanJ

I meant Fenebache's goalie and hi poor goal keeping in line 4
RyanJ

I'm not real happy about the CL draw. I would have prefered my Gunners meeting some other European team rather than an English team, but I do think we can beat them. The Roma and Man U game will be a thriller in my opinion. Roma won't be getting 7 this year, believe me. I think of all the English teams Chelsea has the best chance of getting to the finals. If their goalie continues his "superb" form (a joke), they might be lucky just to get 2 or 3. Barcelona and Schalke will definitly be a great game. Barcelona haven't been performing as good of late, especailly with Messi out. They were destined to make it to the quarter finals meeting Celtic. Oh and then RiKaard is going to lose his job for not winning la Liga and reaching the semis or finals.
NYer

Rinat Dasayev, no less.
ilcapitano

Ohh please, enough with the crowd trouble. Its not our fault the English fans elect to cause problems...If they want to be safe, they can stay home!
Dave's Football Blog

"Should be Titanic?" Does that mean 1,520 fans are going to get killed during the Italian leg?
Matt

Think it should also be mentioned that there seemed to be a lot of crowd trouble last year between Man U and Roma...
Giallorosseattle

Thanks for tastefully framing the Roma-Manyoo rematch. My initial reaction was far more bitter, but I suppose revenge could be awfully sweet.
nobobomo

Against Derby.
areallaticfromthesouth

I was convinced it was gonna be a Chelsea v Liverpool Q/F!!! We will do them in the semi-finals this time. Helps that a potential first leg is at Anfield. And in typical Offside style... a cheap dig at Chelsea's expense!! Where is your story about Frankie boy scoring four goals in midweek?!?!?!?!