No room for error as semis loom into view

The four best teams in Europe will emerge this week when the quarter-finals of the Champions League are completed - no matter what Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United might like to think.

With those giants already eliminated from the competition, Bayern Munich meet Chelsea and Inter meet Milan today while Juventus play Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven meet Olympique Lyon tomorrow in the second legs of four ties which are far from over.

Bayern, seeking to reach the semis for the first time since their fourth European Cup victory in 2001, trail 4-2 to Chelsea after losing in London last week - but Michael Ballack's controversial stoppage time penalty has given them a lifeline.

Chelsea will be without suspended coach Jose Mourinho in their dugout but still start as favourites to reach the semis for the second successive season.

Inter and Milan are back in their shared San Siro stadium with Milan holding a 2-0 first leg advantage - but if Adriano is fit to play after injury, Inter's chances will be considerably helped.

Tomorrow, in a match that might still be marred by crowd trouble, Juventus will attempt to overturn a 2-1 first leg defeat at Liverpool while PSV Eindhoven and Olympique Lyon meet in the Netherlands level at 1-1 after their first leg last week.

As Inter's coach Robert Mancini says, nothing can be taken for granted at this stage of the season as last season's quarter-final between Milan and Deportivo La Coruna proved.

Milan beat the Spanish side 4-1 in the first leg but were then eliminated after a shock 4-0 defeat in Spain.

Inter certainly need to turn things around against their arch-rivals who they have failed to beat in their last nine matches.

That includes an away goals rule defeat to Milan in the semi-finals of the Champions League two years ago. Inter have history as well as last week's loss to overcome.

History will also weigh heavily in Turin when Juventus meet Liverpool after Liverpool's attempt to apologise for the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster in which 39 Juventus fans died, was met by a stony response from some Juve fans.

Liverpool fans have been warned to beware while in Turin - or not to travel there at all - and the authorities are taking no chances with hundreds of extra police and security forces on duty for the day.

The outcome of Liverpool's visit both off and on the pitch is unpredictable with Juventus just needing a 1-0 victory to advance after a solid second-half comeback at Anfield last week.

Juve have already won 1-0 in three of their four home Champions League matches to date this season. The fourth game ended in a 2-0 win over Real Madrid.

PSV's tie with Lyon is also delicately poised with the French side, who have scored a season high of 28 goals in the competition, needing just one more to advance - if they can shut out the Dutch side following their 1-1 first leg draw in France.

With the draw already completed for the semis, the winners of the Chelsea-Bayern clash will play either Liverpool or Juventus in one semi-final, while either Milan or Inter will meet Lyon or PSV in the other semi-final.

Quarter-Finals - 2nd Legs

Semi-finals (April 26/27; May 3/4)
Chelsea or Bayern Munich vs Liverpool or Juventus
Milan or Inter vs Lyon or PSV Eindhoven

Final: May 25, Istanbul.