Arsenal with high hopes of completing the job at Highbury - March 2, 2006

Last month, Arsenal became the first English side to win at the mythical Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Now, they are confident of continuing the good work at home next Wednesday to move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

In Madrid, the Londoners had to do without the services of eight injured players but Thierry Henry scored a superb goal to lead the Gunners to a 1-0 win.

Despite the erratic performances at home in the league and cup competitions, Arsenal went on with their impressive results on the continent, where they are still undefeated this season.

They have won six matches and drew one with a total score aggregate of 11-2. Arsenal have not suffered a goal in their last five Champions League matches. Henry has now scored a total of 40 goals in this competition from 73 matches.

Before Arsenal's feat, the nine attempts by other English sides to beat Real Madrid at the latter's own stadium were:

1956-57 (European Cup semi-final)
vs Manchester United 1-3

1967-68 (European Cup semi-final)
vs Manchester United 3-3

1970-71 (Cup Winners' Cup QF)
vs Cardiff 0-2

1973-74 (UEFA Cup first round)
vs Ipswich Town 0-0

1975-76 (European Cup 2nd round)
vs Derby County 1-5

1984-85 (UEFA Cup semi-final)
vs Tottenham Hotspur 0-0

1999-00 (Champions League QF)
vs Manchester United 0-0

2000-01 (Champions League group)
vs Leeds United 2-3

2002-03 (Champions League QF)
vs Manchester United 1-3

On the only two occasions Real Madrid encountered English clubs on neutral grounds they finished on the losing end.

In 1970-71, in Athens, Chelsea toppled Real 2-1 after a replay at the same venue in the final of the Cup Winners' Cup.

In the final of the 1980-81 European Cup, Liverpool defeated the Madrilenos 1-0 in Paris.

Last week, 10-man Chelsea were beaten 2-1 in front of their own fans in the much-awaited clash against Barcelona. On Tuesday, they have to overturn that deficit to reach the last eight.

The dismissal of Asier del Horno, that looked too harsh, put Chelsea under pressure in the second period.

At the Nou Camp, the Spaniards will be seeking revenge for last year's upset when Chelsea saw them off at this same phase of the competition 5-4 on aggregate.

The Blues' netting at Stamford Bridge was their 200th in European competition while Barca's double sent them on the 300-mark in the European Cup history.

Chelsea's defeat at home came after a significant run of 14 matches without a loss in the tournament. Their last home upset was against Turkey's Besiktas, 0-2 in October 2003.

33rd season

Next Wednesday, Liverpool, who have been finding it so hard to score lately, will have to put two past Benfica and concede none to qualify following the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon.

Before this setback, the Reds had also been undefeated in Europe in the Champions League since the start of the group phase. So far, there was only one occasion when Liverpool managed to acquire a result of 2-0 or more - against Anderlecht 3-0 at Anfield.

Liverpool, the holders, are competing in their fourth Champions League and 33rd European competition. Rafael Benitez believes that his side can eliminate the Portuguese giants and reach the quarter-finals.

One omen against Liverpool is that since the start of the Champions League, in 1992-93, no side has ever succeeded in retaining the title.

In the previous three occasions Liverpool encountered Benfica in the competition they qualified thus:

1977-78 (quarter-final):
Away 2-1, Home 4-1

1983-84 (quarter-final):
Home 1-0, Away 4-1

1984-85 (second round):
Home 3-1, Away 0-1

On all three occasions, Liverpool went on to reach the final.

Gers at El Madrigal

Rangers will visit Villarreal on Tuesday in the second leg following the 2-2 draw at Ibrox.

The Glasgow side must not be as generous in their approach as they were in the first leg to stand any chance of causing an upset at the El Madrigal.

Both sides have made their debut in the knock-out phase of the Champions League.

After the result at home, Rangers stretched their unbeaten home run in European competition to five matches.

Rangers, who are competing in the seventh campaign in the Champions League, became the first Scottish side to make the knock-out phase of the tournament.

The Gers' away negative record against Spanish sides reads:

1962-63 (Cup Winners' Cup 1st round)
vs Seville 0-2

1963-64 (European Cup prel.)
vs Real Madrid 0-6

1966-67 (Cup Winners' Cup QF)
vs Real Zaragoza 0-2

1968-69 (Fairs Cup quarter-final)
vs Athletic Bilbao 0-2

1979-80 (Cup Winners' Cup 2nd round)
vs Valencia 1-1

1985-86 (UEFA Cup 1st round)
vs Osasuna 0-2

1999-00 (Champions League group)
vs Valencia 0-2

Rangers will be without striker Dado Prso for the second leg. The Croat was suspended after another yellow card against Villarreal.