Arsenal, Lyon, Villarreal scent semi-final prize

Arsenal, Olympique Lyon and Villarreal try to venture into the unknown this week when the second legs of the Champions League quarter-finals take place.

To reach the last four of Europe's elite club competition for the first time, however, they will have to oust three Italian clubs dripping with European pedigree.

Arsenal are best placed, having earned a surprise 2-0 first-leg lead over Serie A leaders Juventus at Highbury last week.

Arsene Wenger's team have recovered their old verve in recent times, exemplified by their 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday.

"We don't concede, we score goals," under-stated the Frenchman. "The team is continuing to develop well."

In Turin tomorrow he will look to striker Thierry Henry to hurt Juventus on the break. Arsenal will be anxious to discover if injuries to midfielder Cesc Fabregas and ebullient full-back Emmanuel Eboue will prevent them playing.

Juventus need an early goal to unsettle Arsenal's relatively inexperienced team but will not be helped by the suspensions of Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina, both sent off at Highbury, and ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira.

Lyon failed to pierce the defence of six-times winners Milan in their goalless first leg in France but will have taken heart from the Italian side's embarrassing 1-0 defeat by strugglers Lecce on Saturday.

Tiago Mendes, scorer of the runaway French league leaders' winner against Troyes on Saturday, is suspended for today's match at the San Siro and they will look to returning midfielder Juninho and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet for inspiration.

Milan conceded their title bid was over after the Lecce loss but at least they were able to rest striker Andriy Shevchenko and Brazilian Kaka.

Villarreal must overturn a 2-1 deficit in Spain when Inter visit for what is likely to be a cagey return leg if they are to clinch a tie against Arsenal or Juve in the last four.

The Spanish side specialise in narrow victories and with an away goal in the bag 1-0 would be enough against Inter, who need to quell Villarreal's Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme and Uruguay striker Diego Forlan.

Inter have winger Luis Figo back in the squad after recovering from a muscle strain.

Favourites Barcelona start at 0-0 in the Nou Camp tomorrow against Portugal's Benfica.

Frank Rijkaard's gifted team were frustrated by a 10-man Real Madrid in a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp on Saturday and a repeat of that result against Benfica would see Ronaldinho and company eliminated.

Barca midfielder Thiago Motta is definitely out with a groin injury.

The Portuguese, who have Nuno Gomes out of the reckoning with knee trouble, won 2-0 at last season's winners Liverpool in the previous round and are promising a battle.

"We'll have to be warriors," said French winger Laurent Robert.

The winners face Milan or Lyon in the semi-finals.

Statistics of today's matches...

¤ Milan have won 11 and drawn one of their last 12 Champions League home games, scoring 31 goals and conceding just seven.

¤ Milan, playing their 100th Champions League game, are unbeaten against French clubs at the San Siro and have won eight of 10 games.

¤ Lyon are unbeaten in their last six Champions League away games, winning four of them.

¤ Lyon have won on three of their last four visits to Italy, including two victories at the San Siro over Inter.

¤ Villarreal have lost only one of 17 European home games and have kept 13 clean sheets.

¤ Villarreal's defeat to Inter in the first leg in Milan was their first in the Champions League and only their fifth in 35 European games.

¤ Inter have lost only one of their last 10 European games away from their San Siro stadium.

¤ Inter hammered Valencia 5-1 on their last trip to Spain in last season's Champions League group stage.

Disciplinary situation

Villarreal vs Inter
Suspended: None.

Misses next match if booked: Villarreal - Gonzalo, Viera, Marcos Senna, Juan Pablo Sorin. Inter - Julio Cruz, David Pizarro.

Milan vs Lyon
Suspended: Tiago Mendes (Lyon).

Misses next match if booked: Lyon - Mahamadou Diarra

Juventus vs Arsenal
Suspended: Mauro Camoranesi, Patrick Vieira, Jonathan Zebina (all Juventus).

Misses next match if booked: Juventus - Robert Kovac, Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet. Arsenal - Kolo Toure, Jose Antonio Reyes.

Barcelona vs Benfica
Suspended: Nuno Assis (Benfica).

Misses next match if booked: Barcelona - Deco, Rafael Marquez, Oleguer, Mark van Bommel. Benfica - Beto.

The Quarter-finals