2007-2008 Champions League & UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals Draw – LIVEBLOG

With now only 8 teams remaining in each respective tournament, UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon (Switzerland) will host the draws on Friday afternoon for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the 2007/08 UEFA club competitions, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

The UEFA Champions League draw will be made at 13.00CET and conducted by the UEFA General Secretary (David Taylor) and the ambassador for the final in Moscow on May 21^st (Russian goalkeeping legend Rinat Dasaev). The UEFA Cup draw will follow at 14.00CET and will be conducted by Mr Taylor and the ambassador for the May 14^th final in Manchester (1964 European Footballer of the Year Denis Law).

Soccerlens brought to you the draw LIVE as each of the 4 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup matches were drawn. FULL RESULTS after the jump
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2007/08 UEFA Cup
Quarter-Finals
to be played April 3 and 10

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	Leverkusen	vs.	Zenit
	Rangers	vs.	Sporting
	Bayern	vs.	Getafe
	Fiorentina	vs.	PSV

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2007/08 UEFA Cup
Semi-Finals
to be played April 24 and May 1

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14:15: This concludes the UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals draw, and our live coverage on Soccerlens. Thanks for tuning in!

14:13: Semi-finals possible pairings:

Bayern/Getafe vs. Leverkusen/Zenit
Rangers/Sporting vs. Fiorentina/PSV

14:11: Now for the draw of the SEMI-FINALS.

14:10: BAYERN MUNICH vs. GETAFE,
FIORENTINA vs. PSV. This is bound to be a good one, pitting a possible Champions League contender in the Serie A vs. the current Dutch champions.

14:10: LEVERKUSEN vs. ZENIT,
RANGERS vs. SPORTING. An interesting match-up.

14:08: Manchester United legend Denis Law will now proceed with the DRAW!

14:06: Presentation of the city of Manchester, home of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup final.

14:03: A look at the 8 remaining teams in the competition, and their progress to the Quarter-Final stage.

14:00CET: Pre-draw ceremonies for the UEFA Cup will now begin.
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2007/08 UEFA Champions League
Quarter-Finals
to be played April 1/2 and 8/9

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2007/08 UEFA Champions League
Semi-Finals
to be played April 22/23 and 29/30

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13:16: This concludes the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals draw. We’ll be back at 14:00 CET for the UEFA Cup draw.

13:15: Now for the Semi-Finals possible pairings:

Arsenal/Liverpool vs. Fenerbahce/Chelsea
Schalke/Barcelona vs. Roma/Man Utd

13:13: SCHALKE vs. BARCELONA,
FENERBAHCE vs. CHELSEA

“Easy” match-ups for Barça and Chelsea (notice how I put inverted commas around “easy”)

13:11: ARSENAL vs. LIVERPOOL !!!!!! The first match drawn is an EPL derby!!
ROMA vs. MAN UTD !!!!!! Again!!!!!

13:09: The Draw BEGINS!!

13:07: Presentation of Moscow, the city which will be the host of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League FINAL.

13:05CET: Pre-draw ceremonies will soon begin as we wait for the connection with Nyon to be established. Stay tuned.
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UEFA Champions League

The 8 winners of the ties played in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League will contest the Quarter-Finals, with the pairings determined by an open draw – meaning no country protection. The Quarter-Finals are played on a home-and-away basis, with the first legs on Tuesday 1^st and Wednesday April 2^nd and the return matches the following week. The 4 winning teams will, at that stage, know who they will meet in the Semi-Finals (to be played on April 22/23 and 29/30), as the pairings will also be decided during the draw ceremony.

A further draw will also define whether the winner of Semi-Final 1 or the winner of Semi-Final 2 will be considered, for administrative purposes, as the ‘home’ team at the Luzhniki Stadium final. The match in Moscow kicks off at 22.45 local time (20.45CET).
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UEFA Cup

The same procedure will apply for the draw for the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals of the UEFA Cup. The Quarter-Final matches will be played on April 3 and 10, and the Semi-Finals on April 24 and May 1. The City of Manchester Stadium final kicks off at 19.45 local time (20.45CET).
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8 Teams Remain

As far the English teams are concerned, the odds of getting an EPL derby (given the presence of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal) are about 1 in 2. Clubs which other teams will want to avoid above all are Manchester United (especially Roma, given last year’s 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford, probably still an open wound back in Italy) and Liverpool. The Red Devils have been running at full steam ahead lately, both in domestic and European context, and can count on a fearsome striking force lead by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tévez, and Cristiano Ronaldo. As for the Reds, they came out brilliantly from their double header vs. current Serie A champions Inter Milan (winning 3-0 on aggregate), and have been a very strong contender in the UEFA Champions League these past few years (reaching the final twice, and winning it once).

As for Arsenal, well… they’re leading the Premier League, and whoever thought the Gunners’ young age and inexperience would cause their demise was forced to shut his trap following the Milan-Arsenal game. Having reformed brilliantly under Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor (after Thierry Henry’s departure to Barcelona), the technique, speed, and hunger for trophies of Arsène Wenger’s boys may well prove a determining factor in the hunt for the ‘Cup with the Big Ears’. Finally, Chelsea is the team which currently (given their not-so-brilliant moment of form) would offer the least amount of resistance, but we are still talking about a roster of superstars, filled with the likes of Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba. Not exactly your ordinary Sunday league players.

The ‘preferable’ teams (so-to-speak) for everyone would probably be Fenerbahce or Schalke 04. The Istanbul team has arrived for the first time to the Champions League Quarter-Final stage, after eliminating current UEFA Cup champions Sevilla to penalties. Guided by Brazilian legend Zico, Fenerbahce can count on their army of quality South-American recruits and a potentially decisive home factor, inside the 4 walls of Åžükrü SaracoÄŸlu Stadium. As for Schalke 04, their double header against Porto in the Round of 16, was decided in large part thanks to the help of the public and that of keeper Manuel Neuer (capital during the penalty shootout).

As for Barcelona, their technical level is probably the highest of all 8 teams remaining in the competition, but their playing level is not at its best lately. With Rijkaard being openly criticized by the Nou Camp faithful, Ronaldinho and Henry struggling to return to top form, and Lionel Messi out injured for at least a month (he will miss the Quarter-Finals), there’s no telling whether the Catalan giants will kill and destroy or crash and burn. Finally, as the last Serie A team left in the competition, Roma will want to prove once and for all that their footballing style goes beyond being “beautiful” and “attractive”, but can also bring home trophies. Led by their iconic captain Francesco Totti, the Giallorossi have everything to prove in the Quarter-Finals, after eliminating Real Madrid with a 4-2 aggregate score in the Round of 16.
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Head-to-Head meetings in UEFA club competition

Liverpool and Chelsea have met in the semi-finals in two of the last three seasons — and in the 2005/06 group stage — with the Merseyside club edging a tight contest on each occasion and going on to reach the final, lifting the trophy in 2005 but losing to AC Milan in last season’s showpiece. Chelsea are also familiar foes for Barcelona, who they eliminated in the 2004/05 first knockout round only to lose at the same stage a year later before the sides’ meetings in the group stage last season.

Arsenal lost out to Chelsea in the 2003/04 quarter-finals and would be seeking revenge for their defeat in the 2006 final if they were paired with Barcelona again, while Roma may be keen to avoid meeting Manchester United again this season having suffered a 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford in the second leg of their quarter-final tie a year ago. Fenerbahçe and Schalke are in the last eight for the first time but both have already achieved memorable results against their potential last-eight opponents: the Turkish champions became the first visiting side to win at Old Trafford in European competition in the 1996/97 UEFA Champions League group stage, while Schalke beat Arsenal in the 2001/02 first group stage. uefa.com looks at past head-to-head meetings.

Information and table courtesy of uefa.com

Arsenal
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vs. Barcelona
2005/06 UEFA Champions League final — 1-2 (Paris)
1999/00 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 1-1 (a), 2-4 (h)
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vs. Chelsea
2003/04 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 1-1 (a), 1-2 (h)
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vs. Fenerbahçe
1979/80 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup first round — 2-0 (h), 0-0 (a)
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vs. Liverpool
None
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vs. Manchester United
None
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vs. Roma
2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 3-1 (a), 1-1 (h)
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vs. Schalke
2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 3-2 (h), 1-3 (a)
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Barcelona
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vs. Arsenal
2005/06 UEFA Champions League final — 2-1 (Paris)
1999/00 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 1-1 (h), 4-2 (a)
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vs. Chelsea
2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-1 (a), 2-2 (h)
2005/06 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 2-1 (a), 1-1 (h)
2004/05 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 2-1 (h), 2-4 (a)
1999/00 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 1-3 (a), 5-1 (h)
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vs. Fenerbahçe
2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 3-0 (a), 1-0 (h)
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vs. Liverpool
2006/07 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 1-2 (h), 1-0 (a)
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 3-1 (a), 0-0 (h)
2000/01 UEFA Cup semi-finals — 0-0 (h), 0-1 (a)
1975/76 UEFA Cup semi-finals — 0-1 (a), 1-1 (h)
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vs. Manchester United
1998/99 UEFA Champions League group stage — 3-3 (a), 3-3 (h)
1994/95 UEFA Champions League group stage — 2-2 (a), 4-0 (h)
1990/91 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final — 1-2 (Rotterdam)
1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals — 2-0 (h), 0-3 (a)
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vs. Roma
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 1-1 (h), 0-3 (a)
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vs. Schalke
None
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Chelsea
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vs. Arsenal
2003/04 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 1-1 (h), 2-1 (a)
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vs. Barcelona
2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage — 1-0 (h), 2-2 (a)
2005/06 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 1-2 (h), 1-1 (a)
2004/05 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 1-2 (a), 4-2 (h)
1999/00 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 3-1 (h), 1-5 (a)
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vs. Fenerbahçe
None
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vs. Liverpool
2006/07 UEFA Champions League semi-finals — 1-0 (h), 0-1 (1-4 penalties, a)
2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-0 (h), 0-0 (a)
2004/05 UEFA Champions League semi-finals — 0-0 (h), 0-1 (a)
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vs. Manchester United
None
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vs. Roma
None
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vs. Schalke
2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage — 2-0 (h), 0-0 (a)
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Fenerbahçe
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vs. Arsenal
1979/80 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup first round — 0-2 (a), 0-0 (h)
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vs. Barcelona
2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 0-3 (h), 0-1 (a)
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vs. Chelsea
None
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vs. Liverpool
None
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vs. Manchester United
2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage — 2-6 (a), 3-0 (h)
1996/97 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-2 (h), 1-0 (a)
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vs. Roma
None
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vs. Schalke
2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage — 3-3 (h), 0-2 (a)
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Liverpool
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vs. Arsenal
None
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vs. Barcelona
2006/07 UEFA Champions League first knockout round — 2-1 (a), 0-1 (h)
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 1-3 (h), 0-0 (a)
2000/01 UEFA Cup semi-finals — 0-0 (a), 1-0 (h)
1975/76 UEFA Cup semi-finals — 1-0 (h), 1-1 (a)
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vs. Chelsea
2006/07 UEFA Champions League semi-finals — 0-1 (a), 1-0 (4-1 penalties, h)
2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-0 (a), 0-0 (h)
2004/05 UEFA Champions League semi-finals — 0-0 (a), 1-0 (h)
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vs. Fenerbahçe
None
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vs. Manchester United
None
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vs. Roma
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 0-0 (a), 2-0 (h)
2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round — 2-0 (a), 0-1 (h)
1983/84 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final — 1-1 (4-2 penalties, Rome)
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vs. Schalke
None
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Manchester United
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vs. Arsenal
None
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vs. Barcelona
1998/99 UEFA Champions League group stage — 3-3 (h), 3-3 (a)
1994/95 UEFA Champions League group stage — 2-2 (h), 0-4 (a)
1990/91 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final — 2-1 (Rotterdam)
1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals — 0-2 (a), 3-0 (h)
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vs. Chelsea
None
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vs. Fenerbahçe
2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage — 6-2 (h), 3-0 (a)
1996/97 UEFA Champions League group stage — 2-0 (a), 0-1 (h)
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vs. Liverpool
None
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vs. Roma
2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage — 1-0 (h), 1-1 (a)
2006/07 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 1-2 (a), 7-1 (h)
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vs. Schalke
None
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Roma
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vs. Arsenal
2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 1-3 (h), 1-1 (a)
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vs. Barcelona
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 1-1 (a), 3-0 (h)
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vs. Chelsea
None
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vs. Fenerbahçe
None
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vs. Liverpool
2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage — 0-0 (h), 0-2 (a)
2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round — 0-2 (h), 1-0 (a)
1983/84 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final — 1-1 (2-4 penalties, Rome)
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vs. Manchester United
2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-1 (a), 1-1 (h)
2006/07 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals — 2-1 (h), 1-7 (a)
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vs. Schalke
None
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Schalke
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vs. Arsenal
2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage — 2-3 (a), 3-1 (h)
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vs. Barcelona
None
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vs. Chelsea
2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage — 0-2 (a), 0-0 (h)
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vs. Fenerbahçe
2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage — 3-3 (a), 2-0 (h)
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vs. Liverpool
None
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vs. Manchester United
None
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vs. Roma
None

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Marco Pantanella features on the Editing team of Soccerlens and is the Author & Chief Editor of the mCalcio blog.