Following the quarter-final ties, Manchester United will play Barcelona and Liverpool will meet Chelsea in the semi finals of the Champions League.

Three English and one Spanish side complete the semi final line up for this seasons Champions League. Manchester United will play Barcelona and Chelsea and Liverpool meet for the third time in four seasons.

Liverpool 4 – 2 Arsenal (aggregate 5 - 3)

An outstanding tie played in front of a passionate Anfield crowd saw Liverpool beat Arsenal to reach the semi final for the third time in four years.

With the sides level after the first leg at Highbury, Arsenal started the game very brightly. With the lethargy of recent performances absent they deservedly took the lead in the 13th minute through Abou Diaby, who drove past Pepe Reina at his near post following a pass from Alexander Hleb.

The Gunners continued to dominate as Liverpool could not come to terms with Arsenal’s movement, Steven Gerrard unable to impose himself from a wide left position.

All changed after half an hour, Liverpool centre back Sami Hypia heading home a corner after losing marker Phillipe Sendersos to take the teams in level at half time.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez partnered Peter Crouch with Fernando Torres, and was rewarded with twenty minutes left when the England striker flicked on for Torres to turn and strike into the top corner in front of the Kop.

Emmanuel Adebayor missed an excellent chance to equalise, failing to guide an Emmanuel Eboue cross into the bottom corner.

Six minutes remained when Arsenal substitute Theo Walcott set off on a magical run from just outside his own box, beating six Liverpool players, to cross for Adebayor to slide past Reina to draw the sides level at 2 -2.

It seemed that Arsenal’s second away goal would prove decisive but within ninety seconds, Gerrard thrashed home a penalty after Ryan Babel had been clipped by Kolo Toure.

Babel made it 4-2 when he broke away in the final minute to bring an extraordinary nights football to a close.

Chelsea 2 – 0 Fenerbache (aggregate 3 – 2)

Chelsea reached the semi finals thanks to goals from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard.

2-1 down from the first leg, Ballack’s 4th minute header calmed the nerves at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea were unable to dominate their Turkish visitors and knew a single strike from the away team could see them out of the competition.

Losing goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini to a hamstring strain, replaced by Hilario, Chelsea became increasingly anxious and were only secure when Lampard turned in a Michael Essien cross with three minutes remaining.

Manchester United 1 – 0 Roma (aggregate 3 – 0)

Manchester United eased through their second leg with a single goal victory at Old Trafford. A two goal advantage from the tie in Rome left United manager Alex Ferguson confident enough to leave Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney out of the starting line up.

With Owen Hargreaves outstanding in midfield, United dominated for long periods but Roma had a great chance to unnerve their hosts in the 29th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Wes Brown was penalised for a foul but Danielle de Rossi could only blast the ball high into to Stretford End.

The Italian’s kept pressing but United were never in danger of relinquishing the tie and Carlos Tevez headed home a Hargreaves cross with twenty minutes remaining to seal a comfortable victory.

Barcelona 1 – 0 Schalke (aggregate 2 – 0)

A Yaya Toure goal just before half time was enough to give an unconvincing Barcelona team a place in the last four.

German side Schalke, a goal down from the first leg, gave a spirited account of themselves and it was not until the second half that Barcelona were able play with any freedom.

Apart from the result, perhaps the most significant incident was a booking for captain Carles Puyol, ruling him out of the first leg of the semi final against Manchester United.

Manchester United have been installed as favourites for the competition and a victory over Barcelona would ensure an all English final in Moscow on May 21st.

Semi Final Dates

23 April 2008 – First Legs

Barcelona v Manchester United

Liverpool v Chelsea

30 April 2008 – Second Legs

Manchester United v Barcelona

Chelsea v Liverpool

Related Article

For semi final results see Champions League 2008 Semi Finals