Quartet gun for glory
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Article summary
Four teams battle it out in tonight's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for a place in the last four.
Article body
Key losses
Liverpool travel to the Delle Alpi to face a Juventus side desperate to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit. However, Fabio Capello's attacking options have been hit with French forward David Trezeguet succumbing to an ankle injury, joining Jonathan Zebina, Ciro Ferrara, Olivier Kapo and Alessio Tacchinardi on the sidelines.
Duo return
Yet their opponents have injury concerns of their own with inspirational captain Steven Gerrard missing, along with Dietmar Hamann and Harry Kewell. However, Xabi Alonso and Djibril Cissé are included in the squad for the first time since recovering from long-term injuries as Rafael Benitez's team seek a vital away goal.
Improvement required
Both sides will need to better their weekend results if they are to earn a semi-final against Chelsea FC, with Liverpool losing 1-0 at Manchester City FC and the joint Serie A leaders having to come from behind three times to draw at ACF Fiorentina.
Goal kings
In the night's other tie, Lyon have to score at least once following last Tuesday's 1-1 home draw with PSV. Finding the net is something that has come easy to Paul Le Guen's team, who have plundered 28 goals in nine European games, making them the competition's top scorers this season.
Sides poised
Lyon also top Ligue 1 by 14 points, despite being held by FC Nantes Atlantique on Saturday. However, PSV will not be short on confidence either following their elimination of another French opponent, AS Monaco FC, in the last round.
Treble chase
Guus Hiddink's side are chasing honours on three fronts. Having extended their Eredivisie advantage on Saturday by defeating FC Den Bosch and made the last four of the Dutch Cup, they now focus on the European Champion Clubs' Cup which they lifted back in 1988. The winner this evening will meet AC Milan in the last four.