Chelsea and Barça fire warning shots

If the other UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists can take any positives from Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona's blistering performances on Wednesday, it is that should both sides reach the semi-finals, one will then be knocked out.

Killer instinct
The winners of their quarter-finals have been drawn to meet in the last four and on the evidence of the first legs, Chelsea and Barcelona will be looking to next week's second legs with every expectation of making the semi-finals. Both possess an alarming killer instinct. Barça were four goals to the good against FC Bayern München before half-time and had seemingly put the tie beyond the German champions by the 43rd minute when Thierry Henry rolled in their fourth. According to Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, the London club could "smell" victory against Liverpool FC at Anfield and went for the kill. "If you feel the opponent can be hurt in some part of their team, it would be stupid not to go for it," he said. "If a team smells that, they go for it."

Surprise
Given the commanding manner of Chelsea's 3-1 win, that scent quickly became the sweet smell of success. Of course, neither tie is over and Liverpool defender Álvaro Arbeloa was right to point to the 2005 UEFA Champions League final – when Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down at the break to beat AC Milan on penalties – for motivation. It would take just such a stunning turnaround for Bayern and Liverpool to stop the Barça and Chelsea juggernauts now. If Chelsea turned heads on Wednesday, they were following the example set by FC Porto the night before as the Portuguese champions tore at holders Manchester United FC.

Porto impress 
Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira said he was "honoured" by his team's performance as they battled back to claim a 2-2 draw in the last minute, but given the number of times they carved open United's defence it was the home side who should ultimately have been thankful for the draw. Porto, not United, sit in the box seat going into the return match. Should Porto progress, there is a good chance they will face group-stage opponents Arsenal FC again in the semi-finals. Emmanuel Adebayor's spectacular leveller at El Madrigal against Villarreal CF has given Arsène Wenger's men the advantage, but with the Yellow Submarine still seeking revenge for their defeat by the Gunners in the 2006 semi-finals this could be the tightest of the second legs. "I've got faith we can do it and faith is the very last thing you lose," striker Guille Franco said. "I think this team totally believes it can achieve a semi-final place."