Reigning champions Barcelona travel to Liverpool on Tuesday
desperate to save their title defense having lost 2-1 in the home
leg of their last 16 clash two weeks ago.
The 2005 champions shocked the Catalan giants with a
come-from-behind win at the Nou Camp and with their mean defense
they will undoubtedly be favorites to progress to the
quarterfinals.
But Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is taking nothing for
granted and he knows his team face a battle at Anfield to turn
their good work in Spain into a place in the next round.
"Our performance over there has probably sent a message around
Europe," Gerrard said. "People were expecting Barcelona to walk all
over us but we got our game plan and tactics spot on and got a
great result.
"But they showed in the first half hour how good they are and we
know we need to show the same work ethic we showed over there.
They're not going to let their crown go without a battle."
Barcelona were totally dominant in the first half hour of the
first leg and could easily have killed the tie before it reached
the end of its first quarter.
Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho has warned Liverpool against
underestimating his side.
"The danger for Liverpool is if they think they have already
done the hard work by winning in Spain," the Brazilian said.
"We know very well we have to get a result but there is plenty
of life left in us.
"We've been in difficult positions in the past and come out
victorious. We are the defending European champions and we will not
relinquish the trophy without a fight."
In other ties on Tuesday, Chelsea will be looking to finish off
the job at home to Porto having earned a respectable 1-1 draw in
Portugal in the first leg.
They will once again be without captain and talisman John Terry
as he recovers from being knocked out in last month's League Cup
final.
With Manchester United maintaining a nine-point lead at the top
of the Premiership, this competition has taken on added
significance for Chelsea.
"The Champions League is more realistic than the league," said
England full-back Ashley Cole.
"We are nine points behind United and it will be an uphill
struggle from now on, but we are in good stead for the next round
of the Champions League."
Italian league leaders Inter Milan are sweating on the fitness
of their Brazilian forward Adriano ahead of a second leg trip to
Valencia.
Inter are up against it after drawing 2-2 at home and can ill
afford to be without their top marksman.
Adriano pulled his left hamstring in Wednesday's 1-1 Serie A
draw against Udinese, forcing him to miss Saturday's 2-1 victory at
Livorno which saw Inter stretch their lead at the top of the
Italian table to 16 points.
Luis Figo, who is set to play in the hole behind the two
strikers, believes Valencia start as favorites due to their two
away goals.
"They have bags of experience, they're playing at home and have
a small advantage from the first leg," said the Portuguese.
"Valencia are a team that give you little space and are used to
big matches, but all we have to concern ourselves with is getting
through to the next round."
Inter are already without France midfielder Patrick Vieira, who
has a torn right hamstring, while Argentine midfielder Esteban
Cambiasso is struggling to be fit in time.
The final game on Tuesday is Roma's trip to Lyon with the tie
evenly poised following the dire 0-0 bore draw in the first
leg.
Lyon will be without midfielder Jeremy Toulalan while Roma
should welcome back fit-again Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei.
Lyon start as favorites with home advantage but Roma's Brazilian
midfielder Mancini believes his side will rise to the occasion,
something they failed to do in the first leg.
"We can win in Lyon. I am confident about our chances because we
always succeed in getting good results in difficult situations," he
said.
Champions League fixtures
Tuesday (all kick-offs 1945 GMT)
Chelsea v FC Porto (1-1)
Liverpool v Barcelona (2-1)
Lyon v Roma (0-0)
Valencia v Inter Milan (2-2)
Wednesday
AC Milan v Celtic (0-0)
Arsenal v PSV (0-1)
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (2-3)
Man Utd v Lille (1-0)
(China Daily via AFP March 6, 2007)