LONDON: With Barcelona, Real Madrid and Schalke holding emphatic leads, Manchester United and Chelsea are likely to provide all the drama in the Champions League quarterfinals this week. Chelsea heads to Premier League rival United just 1-0 down after the first leg, while Barcelona leads Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1, Real Madrid goes to Tottenham 4-0 up and Schalke has a 5-2 advantage over titleholder Inter Milan. So while three European rivals delve into the history books to seek inspiration before trying to pull off near-unthinkable comebacks, Chelsea sees no reason it can't oust United Tuesday. After all, Chelsea won 2-1 at Old Trafford last April on the way to winning the Premier League. A repeat result would take the London club through to the semifinals on away goals. And a victory is vital, with United on course to snatch the Premier League trophy away from Carlo Ancelotti's side. “Everyone knows we are playing to save our season,” Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun told the British media. “From here, it's most likely we'll finish in the top three or four and be in the Champions League next season – that's almost done. The only thing left is to try to win a trophy and the only trophy we can win is the Champions League. “Everyone knows it's the most important game of the season. I'm sure that if we beat United, we will go to the end and win the trophy.” All the pressure, though, will be on Fernando Torres, who has failed to score since making his Chelsea debut in February. “He is the best striker in the world,” Benayoun said. “For any midfielder, it is easy to play with him and I think he will score a lot of goals.” United has never lost a two-legged Champions League fixture after winning the away match first. And striker Wayne Rooney will be raring to go after starting his two-match domestic suspension Saturday against Fulham for swearing into a TV camera. Manager Alex Ferguson expects the sense of injustice to “spur on” Rooney. “There's the bonus for us of knowing he will be fit and fresh,” Ferguson said. “I want us to make it clear that we can rise above recent problems and that we are a club who can overcome all attempts to knock us off our perch. This is the fighting spirit that makes Manchester United such a great club.” Meanwhile, the stunning run by Premier League rival Tottenham in its debut Champions League campaign is set to end after a 4-0 thumping in Madrid last week. The nine-time European champion is already preparing for a triple showdown with Spanish rival Barcelona. The sides are on course to meet in the Champions League semifinals and both have advanced to the Copa del Ray final on April 20. They also meet in the Spanish league on April 16, although Barcelona currently has an eight-point lead over Madrid. “Madrid can defeat Barcelona, they are not unbeatable,” Real playmaker Kaka said. Shakhtar remains unbeaten at home in the last two years and will look to restore some pride after the Camp Nou rout. “We need to pick ourselves up and show our character,” captain Dario Srna said. Schalke seems to be enjoying a new lease of life since coach Felix Magath's departure last month and will face Man United in the semifinals after winning 5
