Milan, Barca, Bayern out to break English hearts

A week of misery lies in store for English football if Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have their way in this week's Champions League first knockout round.

The high hopes of Manchester United, big-spending Chelsea and champions Arsenal were all dented by first-leg defeats a fortnight ago, leaving only Liverpool to take a 3-1 lead to Germany's Bayer Leverkusen.

Milan's defence kept United striker Wayne Rooney and substitute Ruud van Nistelrooy firmly under wraps in a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, while Barcelona ran out 2-1 winners over 10-man Chelsea at the Nou Camp.

Arsenal lost 3-1 to Bayern at the Olympic Stadium, their faint hopes left clinging to a late away goal after a poor defensive performance against the Bundesliga leaders.

Seven quarter-final spots hang in the balance today and tomorrow, with one seemingly reserved for Olympique Lyon after their 3-0 away win over Werder Bremen.

Real Madrid's pursuit of a 10th European crown continues at the Delle Alpi stadium in Turin, where the Spaniards' 1-0 first-leg lead faces a demanding test from Juventus.

Last season's runners-up Monaco are in the same boat as Juventus, trailing 1-0 after their game at PSV Eindhoven and needing to turn the tie around at the Stade Louis II.

Inter's second leg against holders Porto will be played on March 15 because the San Siro stadium they share with Milan is being used by their neighbours today.

Carlo Ancelotti's side were impressive at Old Trafford and Argentine striker Hernan Crespo, on loan from Premier League leaders Chelsea, rounded off a great night for the visitors by scoring after a bad fumble by United goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

Milan's defence, superbly led by skipper Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, was rock solid and their attack could be strengthened by the return from injury of European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi.

Six years after a famous United semi-final victory at Juventus paved the way to their 1999 Champions League title, Rooney and Van Nistelrooy know what is expected of them.

Chelsea, whose Russian owner Roman Abramovich has lavished £220 million on players since July 2003, would settle for a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge and a place in the last eight on away goals.

Striker Didier Drogba misses out after being red-carded in Barcelona, while Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho should provide a challenge for the tightest defence in English soccer.

Arsenal's suspect defence will almost certainly have to keep a clean sheet if they are to stand a chance of using the same rule to qualify with a 2-0 win at Highbury.

Leverkusen must pull off the same feat at the BayArena if they are to go through, with an already difficult task being made harder by the return from suspension of Liverpool's inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.

In Turin, striker David Trezeguet should be back for Juve and could feature in a three-man attack with Alessandro Del Piero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Live on TV, 8.45 p.m.: (Today) Chelsea vs Barcelona (Rete 4); Milan vs Man. Utd (Ch. 22). (Tomorrow) Juventus vs Real Madrid (Italia 1); Arsenal vs B. Munich (TVM).

Champions League - First KO round - 2nd legs

Quarter-finals:
First legs - April 5-6.
Second legs - April 12-13.

Semi-finals:
First legs - April 26-27.
Second legs - May 3-4.

Final: May 25, Istanbul.