UEFA is starting to get mighty interesting! We saw a couple of upsets last week, with both Chelsea and Sevilla ousted from entering the finals by the underdogs. The lesson: don't be afraid of long odds! When all it takes is one goal, anything can happen. Today we check out the past weeks' matches.
The Matches
We can't look forward today - the quarter finals draw will occur sometime in the next 24 hours. Here's the base results from last weeks matches, though - including a couple of surprises!
The Odds
As far as a bookmaker's estimation of their chances, the remaining teams are fairly evenly matched. Here's the payouts for different teams, after the Group phase has finished:
- Barcelona, Inter Milan and Man U are the top three favourites, with odds ranging from 2.88 to 5.5
- CSKA Movska and Girondins Bordeaux are considered the longest shots, at 34.00 and 19.00 respectively
- Keep your eye on Arsenal and Bayern Munich, at 7.00 and 11.00 respectively.
The Gossip of Champions
The side conversations, the speculation and the general beer-lubricated gossip that goes on amongst soccer players!
- Laurent Blanc, the manager of Bordeaux, realises that his team is considered the 'easy win' in the quarter finals, admitting that there are seven teams that are hoping they draw Les Girondins
- In typical exaggerated soccer-player style, Andres Palop has said he is 'living the worst moment of his career' after missing a shot that cost Sevilla (Tuesday's favourites) the match
- Sky Sports will run live coverage of the draw for the quarter finals on Friday.
The League of Tweeters
With the next matchups not yet finalised, the Twittersphere has been all about the last week's four matches. Here's what they have to say - at least, what those who Tweet in English have to say!
--- MikeyMMA: Think if I was rafa benetiz I'd be concentrating more on qualifying for the champions league than winning the Uefa Cup
--- UCL_Soccer Barca: back on track in Europe after easy win: Real proved that their painful exit from the Champions
--- maljal: So much soccer on today! I have really missed my afternoons of champions league. Thank god for UEFA Europa League.
--- GHoonyToon: HAHAHA, sorry Chelsea fans,but it looks like another Barcelona year in the UEFA Champions League...BARCA BARCA BARCA ALL DAY!!!