Rambling Recap

A rambling recap of the past week...

First, in Champions League play, we now know our eight quaterfinalists, with the pairings to be determined this Friday, and no one should be unaware of the fact that 50% of the participants are from the English Premier League. Yes, the "big four" made history in Europe, making England the first country to have four quarterfinal representatives in European Cup history. And while Chelsea and Manchester United reached the last eight smoothly and in line with projections, Liverpool and Arsenal faced daunting opponents from the city of Milan, two Italian giants with 2nd legs looming in the same daunting San Siro. Arsenal won in spectacular fashion against AC Milan, by way of a magical strike from Cesc Fabregas in the dying embers of the 2nd half of the 2nd leg at Milan. Liverpool were more fortunate in their triumph over Inter, benefiting from definitely dubious double-yellow send-offs to Inter players in BOTH games. With suspect bookings going against them in both affairs, Inter never had a chance against Liverpool, and one has to wonder what the results would have been had the two teams been allowed to face each other at equal strength for the whole of the tie.

EPL sides each have a 40% chance of facing a familiar domestic partner in the next round, which could really spark a fever of interest among fans of the most popular league in the world.

And the Champions League was certainly not the only cup competition generating headlines in England in the past week, as the FA Cup saw a weekend of historic upsets produce a semifinals with all of ONE top flight team poised among THREE championship sides. Portsmouth will face high scoring West Brom, and FA Cup miracle darlings Barnsley will go against Welsh side (and FA controversy-embroiled) Cardiff. Portsmouth arrived in the semifinals by beating Man U at Old Trafford, in a game that left grumpy Alex Ferguson chastising the referees and demanding investigations by the FA. Barnsley continued their dream run by beating Chelsea at home just one round after shocking Liverpool at Anfield. West Brom can't stop scroing goals at the moment, and Cardiff are being told that even an FA Cup triumph would not be enough to see them compete in Europe next season, due to FA technicalities and incongruencies between England and Wales. Nevertheless, a non-Premier League team will compete in the FA Cup final, possibly against a fellow lower leaguer. Amazing stuff.