SOCCER:For the three Premiership clubs it was as much an invitation as a Champions League quarter-final draw that was issued in Athens.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea must all expect to proceed and there is a strong possibility of the first all-English final in the history of the European Cup. Should they advance, Chelsea and Liverpool will, in addition, relive the last-four collision of 2005.
Liverpool take on Arsenal's nemesis, PSV Eindhoven, but Rafael Benitez's team showed this season they are more capable of handling the Dutch team by drawing 0-0 in the Netherlands and winning 2-0 at Anfield in the group phase.
They may well be rivals with Chelsea in the Champions League but they have also operated as quasi-partners in the tournament. The holders Barcelona were softened up by Jose Mourinho's players at the group stage and polished off by Benitez's squad last Tuesday. There will be no fraternity left over, though, should they have to deal with one another.
Manchester United's path to the final could have a far more gentle gradient. They need first to dispose of Roma, who eliminated Lyon this week. While Luciano Spalletti's side counter-attacked smoothly in France, Francecso Totti is the one player of real note.
Roma stand second in Serie A but that reflects the disruption there. It has to be remembered, too, that United's opponents came only fifth in their domestic league last season. They owe their Champions League spot to the punishments imposed on the clubs above them following the match-fixing affair.
Were United to enter the semi-finals, they would face either Milan or Bayern Munich, both of whom are in a period of uncertainty.
Milan barely considered the transfer market last summer, unsure if they would have access to the Champions League after being found guilty in that calciopoli scandal. That has been an even more stinging punishment than the eight-point penalty imposed in Serie A. Celtic proved it in a pair of strong-willed displays against Carlo Ancelotti's team. Not until extra-time in the second leg did Milan hit the single goal of the tie and that from a midfielder, the great Kaka.
There is no instant solution since Ronaldo, bought in January, is ineligible. When it comes to forwards Ancelotti has to make do with Pippo Inzaghi, the ageing poacher, and the unconvincing pair of Alberto Gilardino and Ricardo Oliveira. Milan also have to trust that centrehalf Alessandro Nesta makes a successful comeback from his groin injury. Even then, it will still look as if the side leans far too much on Kaka and Andrea Pirlo.
Bayern sacked Felix Magath and reinstated Ottmar Hitzfeld as manager when it looked as if they might not even qualify for next season's Champions League. After a modest recovery Bayern are now fourth in the Bundesliga, close to the top-three place they require. It might seem a surprise they have just prevailed over Real Madrid but Fabio Capello's side is in even more serious trouble.
Nothing has happened yet to suggest that German clubs can square the circle by maintaining fan-friendly pricing while coping with better resourced adversaries. Should United ultimately take the field in the Champions League semi-final, they may be sorry only that their wealth has not already prised Owen Hargreaves away from Bayern.
Premiership satisfaction over yesterday's draw would have been diluted at Stamford Bridge. Valencia, four points behind the leaders Sevilla, are, after all, in closer pursuit of their league title than Chelsea are of the Premiership. Last week Quique Sanchez Flores' team knocked out Inter. Valencia took a 2-2 draw from Milan and kept the second leg goalless.
It was desperately tight in Spain, where Hernan Crespo might well have scored for Inter, and the tension might explain the punch-up that ensued at the full-time whistle.
As Mourinho knows, the opposition will still not be threadbare and the £16 million Joaquin could claim no more than a seat on the bench for each match with Inter.
Valencia are well-equipped in all areas, from the goalkeeper Santiago Canizares to the centre forward David Villa, who impressed during Spain's victory over England in the Old Trafford friendly.
In view of a resolute Valencia in particular, it is not certain Chelsea and Liverpool will actually meet but it does feel as if the prime menace for each Premiership club in the Champions League will be the presence of a fellow Premiership club in the final.
Guardian Service
