Champions League Semi-Finals: Prepare for the Spectacular

Now things are getting interesting. We’ve reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and no one is there by chance. Not only is it throwing up two fantastic matchups — Barcelona vs. Chelsea and Arsenal vs. Manchester United — but once again, it seems to be an accurate gauge of the balance of power in the European game. And undoubtedly, the English Premier League is a hegemon on the continent.

UEFA’s president Michel Platini has time and time again expressed his dismay at seeing rich English clubs dominate their European cousins, though he hardly has reason to be upset this time around. Certainly, Arsenal, Chelsea and United are all among the wealthiest clubs in the world, but they also happen to be some of the silkiest, classiest footballing teams in the world. These aren’t the bruising, long-ball sides that used to be England’s specialty. These are soccer teams beating continental squads at their own beautiful game.

Chelsea and Barcelona should be nothing short of thrilling after both sides came through their respective quarter-final matchups with goals by the bucketful. And personally, I’m extremely eager to see how John Terry and Co. handle the likes of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Thierry Henry who ran roughshod over Bayern Munich’s back line. A word of advice for Mssrs. Terry and Carvalho: watch those diagonal runs and whatever you do, just don’t let Messi have the ball. If you do, you may not see it again.

Engaging as that tie may be, though, I have to admit that I will be watching Arsenal vs. Manchester United a little more closely. There are shades of the epic two-match 1999 F.A. Cup semi-final creeping in here as two sides playing some of their best soccer of the season prepare to slug it out with entire campaigns at stake.

United has been absolutely ruthless of late and the Gunners’ makeshift defense could become a sacrificial lamb. Also encouraging for the Reds is the fact that Arsenal will be without Andrey Arshavin, who scored four at Anfield on Tuesday, because he is ineligible for the Champions League. Still, Arsenal has been known to raise its game for the big occasions and they don’t come much bigger than this.

The first legs are on the 28th and 29th of April and will be televised in the United States on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com.