Wednesday's Quarter-final first leg preview

The battleground is set for the kings of Europe as the Quarter Finals of Champions League start on Tuesday . On Wednesday 2 fabulous matches are to be played English arch rivals Liverpool takes on Chelsea and free scoring Bayern aginst spanish giants Barcelona


Liverpool v Chelsea - Match of the day


Chelsea are hopeful striker Didier Drogba will be fit to face Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

The Ivorian missed Saturday's 2-0 win at Newcastle with an ankle injury but completed a training session on Monday.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard came through a training session on Tuesday to allay fears over his fitness.

Meanwhile, Pepe Reina is set to become the first Liverpool goalkeeper to play 50 games in the European Cup.

Defender Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool's good record against Chelsea in this season has given the side confidence going into the first leg.

"We've got a great record against Chelsea this season and if we play the way we have done against them in the two league matches then we know we can go through," said the Reds star, following their 1-0 and 2-0 wins over the Blues this season.

"The fact we did the double against them might give us that extra confidence.

"I'm sure if they'd beaten us twice we'd have gone into it with a bit more trepidation, but the fact we won twice will give us a bit of a boost."

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda, who scored against Newcastle at the weekend, says Chelsea have improved since they last played the Reds.

"This year we didn't find a solution when we played against them," he said.

"It is never easy to play against them but something has changed since the two games we played and we have to show it, we have an opportunity."


Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves were restricted to substitute appearances at the weekend in order to rest for the tie against Bayern Munich.

Veteran defender Carles Puyol made his comeback from injury against Valladolid on Saturday and should start for Barca.

Bayern defenders Lucio (groin) and Daniel van Buyten will miss the match, while Miroslav Klose (ankle) is out.

Defender Martin Demichelis is fit and available, while French midfielder Franck Ribery should also feature.

Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann told BBC Sport he was aware Barcelona were a "huge obstacle" that stoff between his side and a place in the last four.

"We need a good result in Barcelona but then we will take them back to the Allianz Arena where there will be 70,000," he said.

"We want to see what level we are at but we go into the matches with a have a lot of confidence.

"This is a huge obstacle to winning the Champions League, but anything is possible."

The German side have won three and drawn one of their four games against Barcelona in Europe and have come out victorious on both of their previous visits to Spain.The two sides go into the game in contrasting form, Barcelona recorded a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid after a strike from Samuel Eto'o, while Bayern went down 5-1 to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola believes it is a bad to play Bayern.

"League form has nothing to do with the Champions League, but in my opinion it is the worst possible result for us," Guardiola said.

"Bayern have won the European Cup four times and have won their domestic league many times, and it is now sure they will arrive with even greater motivation."