A league of their own

If this week's second legs are anything like the first ones we are in for another feast of top-class Champions League action.

There was excitement, drama, surprises and goals aplenty in the first batch of matches and it seems this season that Europe's premier competition is actually living up to its own hype.

Too often in the past, at the quarter-final stage, games got a little bit dull and cagey with each team wary of making that error which could cost them the chance to progress.

But all eight teams seemed to collectively throw caution to the wind and cooked up a quite staggering 14 goals between them.

Not everyone will be happy with that haul though. Liverpool fans have been left rocking as their quite magnificent run of form came shuddering to a halt at Anfield.

And Bayern fans will be filing this week under the heading 'one to forget' as Klinsman's team were left chasing particularly talented shadows.

However, while Barcelona were sublime, the performance of the round has to go to Chelsea. Guus Hiddink took over a team at an emotional low and I questioned what the point was in replacing Scolari now instead of letting him see out the season.

Well, I was wrong. Very wrong. In just a few short weeks the Dutch manager has transformed the way they play, given them back their energy and, above all, created a new hunger and desire in his ageing squad.

After a shaky start they ended up playing Liverpool off the park, no mean feat considering the way the Reds had demolished Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa in recent weeks.

It is now all but certain, barring two comebacks of gargantuan proportions, that one of the semis will see Barcelona lining up against Chelsea and that has 'cracker' written all over it.

The other semi, though, is nowhere near as clear-cut. At Old Trafford, Manchester United continued their recent impression of a football jelly by wobbling their way through the match against Porto.

Their defence, so proud and strong during that record-breaking goalless run, now looks about as steady as Oliver Reed after 15 pints and a bottle of scotch.

Their 2-2 draw means they have a mountain to climb in this week's second leg, though I feel they have the resources to do it. In attacking terms, it will be hard for Porto to stop them scoring.

The question is whether or not their defence is up to the task of keeping a clean sheet.

Finally, we have the Arsenal vs Villareal match which was probably the most evenly balanced of all the ties so far. With the away goal in the bag, Wenger will no doubt fancy his chances.

But it really depends which Arsenal turn up on Wednesday - the one that looks like it is turning into a team of genuine purpose or the one that looks like they miss chances on purpose.

As a confirmed neutral in this competition, I just want more of the same this week. Excitement, goals and thrills galore. That's not too much to ask, is it? Is it?

The driving rain

It's only a couple of weeks into the new season but Formula 1 has done more in the last month to revamp its dull image than it did in the previous decade.

Even before the season started we had controversy, first over the way the title is decided and then over the 'defusers' used by some teams. The row over the latter is still pending and could yet see the results of the first two races overturned.

We have also seen new kids Brawn GP come flying out of the blocks, with Jenson Button winning two from two so far and leaving the rest trailing in his wake.

And in the case of the super-wet Malaysian Grand Prix, they were quite literally trailing in his 'wake' before the whole thing was called off for fear one of the drivers may crash. Or drown.

In their defence, there is no way the organisers could have seen that coming. I mean, it's not like it was monsoon season or anything. Oh, hang on a second...

If all that wasn't enough to keep you on the edge of your podium, now we have McLarengate to deal with. For reasons known only to them, the English team decided it might not be a bad idea to lie to stewards to get Lewis Hamilton moved up the standings at the Australian Grand Prix.

The hearing over that particular case is not set until the end of this month but, to be honest, it doesn't look particularly encouraging for either the team or the world champion. There is plenty of radio evidence to back up claims that they cheated, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them banned for several races.

Then again, considering the indifferent way they have started the season, that might actually be a blessing in disguise. It will give them time to regroup and work on the car so it stops performing like a Tata Nano.

All in all, I have to say, Formula One has shot up in my personal estimation. It had reached the stage where I was indifferent about the races. I would watch them if they happened to be on, but wouldn't go out of my way to catch them.

Now, though, I can't wait for the next one. Bring on China.

Scott free

There is nothing wrong with being an optimist. As supporters of lesser football teams like myself will testify, the belief that good things are round the corner is often all that keeps us going.

However, there comes a point when an eternal optimist stops looking bright and positive and starts to look a little bit daft.

West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson reached that point this week.

In an interview, he said he was still fighting hard to be part of the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

"Mr Capello is going to be looking for 'keepers he can trust if we get to South Africa so I've got to try and make sure I do a good job here at West Brom. If I do that, it's good for Albion - and hopefully it will give me a chance to get into the squad," he said.

Fine and wise words, you may think. However, what he seems to be failing to take into consideration is the fact that West Brom are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, haven't won a game for three months and have already conceded 57 goals.

And Carson - who will now almost certainly be playing Championship football in the season leading up to the World Cup - has to take his fair share of blame for that.

Even if the lad had been playing out of his skin - which he hasn't - his England ambitions won't be helped by the fact that his most famous moment wearing the three lions was when he handed Croatia a goal in that crucial match at Wembley.

At 23, there is still plenty of time for Carson to play his way back into contention for the national team. But, personally, I think there is more chance of Peter Shilton making next summer's squad than young Scott.

Your say

If you ask a fan of any club I am sure they can come up with numerous examples of how their team has been cheated by poor refereeing decisions, inconsistencies and alleged examples of favouritism.

Liverpool fans, however, seem to think it only happens to them. Not only that, but they seem to believe the world is conspiring to give Manchester United the title. Don't believe me? Then read on.

"After watching the Man United vs Aston Villa game, no one can blame Benitez for his outburst back in January. The home side got what they needed to obtain full points; throw-ins (which accidentally led to the second goal), offside decisions, five minutes injury time and Villa were not given a penalty (let's say it was 70/30). What if the player was a Man United one? What would the FA do? Nothing obviously.

"Last year, Mascherano was suspended for three games for complaining to the referee at Old Trafford, while this season, Rooney was suspended for only one game for throwing the ball back to the referee and hitting the corner flag. We (England supporters) used to make a fuss about the Serie A. From now on, I'm going to shut my mouth!" James Bartolo, Birżebbugia

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com