So who is the CL favourite now??

Inspite of the demolition of Rome, I don't see ManU as the favourites. Not coz they were not brilliant, they were, but coz I saw a fantastic chelsea yesterday.... a team which is finally playing like champions.

In the second half, chelsea were just simply amazing. There still seems like some tension between Lamps-Ballack and Sheva-Drogba, they just don't play well together, but yesterday I saw that friction actually helping chelsea as these players were trying to out do each other.

I am quite sure that if Mourinho replaces Lampard with a winger (Robben), Chelsea will be very very difficult to beat.

They are going to miss Eissen in the first semifinal tho. He was so good yesterday.

Sorry Liverpool, Milan, bayern.... I see a Chelsea - ManU final. I am actually looking forward to it, even tho I would prefer to see an Italian team reach the final.

I'm going to say Chelsea as well, I don't think we will beat them again TBH

Chelsea are favourites IMO.

Utd will have to concentrate hard on the league and FA cup and don't have the squad depth that Chelsea do.

We could get down to the last four games of the season and have two Chelsea V Man Utd cup finals + their crucial game agaisnt each other to come...

Make or break stuff.

Liverpool also have a great chance - IMO the team that wins the Chelsea V Pool tie will win the whole thing

Yeah, I'd give Chelsea the slight lead on the rest of the teams. After that it's even.

Can I vote in this poll later on tonight?

I think people are overlooking the Milan tie though, both of those teams could well win it as well

The bookies odds

Manchester Utd 15/8
Chelsea 2/1
Liverpool 11/4
Bayern Munich 7/1
Milan 12/1
PSV 200/1

I would agree with them.

@ bluenine

I wouldn't say the players were trying to 'out do' each other. For once, I think the players forgot about their egos and helped each other. Drogba, Sheva have been guilty of being selfish in the past, and maybe they were a bit guilty of this last night in the 1st half. But in the 2nd half, we saw very few 'optimistic efforts' and more team efforts.

Still, I think 15 wins and 3 draws in the last 18 games suggests they all can play together.

Milan have great experience... most of their players and ancellotti havemore experience at this stage than anyone else, and that is a big plus. Even tho bayern are slight favourites to advance tonight, Milan have a better chance of going all the way. Also, both these teams have issues to resolve at home. And neither has a quality depth in their squad.

That said, if Sheva was still at Milan, I would have put them as favourites even in this situation.

I wonder if Garcia will be back for the Chelsea game at Anfield

L.r.d wrote:The bookies odds

Manchester Utd 15/8
Chelsea 2/1
Liverpool 11/4
Bayern Munich 7/1
Milan 12/1
PSV 200/1

I would agree with them.

Bookies change their odds all the time, depending on the latest results. This time last week, Liverpool was the favourite, with Chelsea 2nd and United 3rd.

S4P2 wrote:

L.r.d wrote:The bookies odds

Manchester Utd 15/8
Chelsea 2/1
Liverpool 11/4
Bayern Munich 7/1
Milan 12/1
PSV 200/1

I would agree with them.

Bookies change their odds all the time, depending on the latest results. This time last week, Liverpool was the favourite, with Chelsea 2nd and United 3rd.

Yeah,. but that was when Liverpool were through, and man utd and chelsea both looked like they could be going out.
Now that all 3 are through you get odds that give a better reflection.

Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Kimbo wrote:Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Harder than Liverpool? Highly debateable

Yeah, they seem to have channeled that friction to perform better. But there was friction. I saw Sheva crossing quite a few times just slightly longer than what Drogba would have wanted... and I saw Drogba ignoring Sheva's runs a few times. Maybe I am only seeing what I am trying to see, but the friction is obviously there - see Sheva's reaction after the goal!!

And Lampard is just stiuffling Ballack, not deliberatly (like in the case of the strikers), its just the formation is not as deadly with both Lamps and Ballack in it. IMHO, Ballack is more quality, and more likely to perform in europe. Perhaps Mourinho should only play Lampard in EPL, not in the CL...its very similar to the Gerrard-Lamsps situation for england... just that in this case, the DM is not being sacrified, its the winger. What do you think??

S4P2 wrote:@ bluenine

I wouldn't say the players were trying to 'out do' each other. For once, I think the players forgot about their egos and helped each other. Drogba, Sheva have been guilty of being selfish in the past, and maybe they were a bit guilty of this last night in the 1st half. But in the 2nd half, we saw very few 'optimistic efforts' and more team efforts.

Still, I think 15 wins and 3 draws in the last 18 games suggests they all can play together.

Luis wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Harder than Liverpool? Highly debateable

I'm sure they'd rather play Liverpool at Anfield than Valencia at the mestalla.

lrd, bookies are also largely influenced by the amount of bets on each team... thats why you will see them making english teams with the lowest odds... hell, england were right up there with Italy and Brazil before the world cup

L.r.d wrote:

S4P2 wrote:

L.r.d wrote:The bookies odds

Manchester Utd 15/8
Chelsea 2/1
Liverpool 11/4
Bayern Munich 7/1
Milan 12/1
PSV 200/1

I would agree with them.

Bookies change their odds all the time, depending on the latest results. This time last week, Liverpool was the favourite, with Chelsea 2nd and United 3rd.

Yeah,. but that was when Liverpool were through, and man utd and chelsea both looked like they could be going out.
Now that all 3 are through you get odds that give a better reflection.

Kimbo wrote:

Luis wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Harder than Liverpool? Highly debateable

I'm sure they'd rather play Liverpool at Anfield than Valencia at the mestalla.

Really doubt that, Anfield must surely be one of the most feared places to visit in the whole of Europe?

I agree... Valencia are a very difficult team to beat at the mestalla.... what chelsea achieved yesterday was remarkable.

Kimbo wrote:

Luis wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Harder than Liverpool? Highly debateable

I'm sure they'd rather play Liverpool at Anfield than Valencia at the mestalla.

there is no favourite

all 5 could easily win the CL this year

Luis wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

Luis wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Chelsea for me, i've backed them from the start and i think they've already had their hardest tie(Valencia).

Harder than Liverpool? Highly debateable

I'm sure they'd rather play Liverpool at Anfield than Valencia at the mestalla.

Really doubt that, Anfield must surely be one of the most feared places to visit in the whole of Europe?

I think i'm right in saying that an English team has never won at the Mestalla.

Valencia is a very hard place to go as well, but the atmosphere at Anfield can not be beaten on European nights, remember the Chelsea game 2 seasons ago? it was unbelieveable

Luis wrote:Valencia is a very hard place to go as well, but the atmosphere at Anfield can not be beaten on European nights, remember the Chelsea game 2 seasons ago? it was unbelieveable

All stadiums have great atmosphere's on the night of a big european game, Anfield isn't alone in that. The Mestalla was rocking last night.

First team since Leeds back in 1967 to win there, some achievement.

I'm with Kimbo on this - though Chelsea made it tough by not winning at home.

To go to the mestella and win is an incredible result

I understand that, I just think with Benitez as manager and with Chelsea being so hated at Anfield it is just an impossible place to visit, I'm sure the Chelsea players must feel sick coming to Anfield after the heart break of 2 seasons ago

Who has the home leg first for both ties?

I know what you're saying Luis, but we've won twice in our last 5 visits to Anfield (admittedly both in the Prem).

For what it's worth, I think Liverpool will be a very tough opponent. Will they be easier than Valencia? Nope. Will they be more difficult to beat than Valencia? Again, no. Liverpool are a different type of opposition to Valencia, so you cannot compare the 2.

Tweedle wrote:Who has the home leg first for both ties?

Chelsea, United I think.

We'd be at home first leg and away second leg.

Not sure about the other semi-final.