Gunners, Reds in test of mettle

PARIS – European champions Liverpool and fellow Premiership giants Arsenal face a test of their mettle as they battle tonight for a place in the last eight of the Champions League.

Both sides have the advantage of playing the second legs of their last 16 ties at home, but Liverpool have a 1-0 deficit to overturn against Benfica while Arsenal start with a 1-0 advantage over Real Madrid after a memorable win in the Spanish capital last month. Six matches and an entire month might have slipped past since Liverpool last scored twice in a match, but manager Rafael Benitez is convinced that his side’s fortunes in front of goal will turn.”If we need to score two, or maybe even three, then why not? We will score.With strikers, it is a question of luck.We are creating chances for them and they are creating their own,” Benitez said.Benitez will recall Luis Garcia to his squad having rested the Spanish midfielder, arguably Liverpool’s most consistent match-winner in European competition, at the weekend.Benfica, who knocked out Manchester United in the group stage, have been bolstered by a pick-up in their form of late and the return from injury of Italy international striker Fabrizio Miccoli.Arsenal will look to keep their disappointing season alive by beating Real Madrid and effectively put an end to the Spanish giants’ hopes of silverware.The Gunners hold a 1-0 advantage over Real from the first clash thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Thierry Henry.Manager Arsene Wenger told AFP: “This match is an enormous one for us.We got the perfect boost with the 4-0 victory over Fulham (on Saturday) but there is a danger that the players will think we have already won the tie.”I think that we are as strong as Liverpool were last season and I am confident we will be at the Stade de France (the venue for the final) on May 26.”It is still a long way away but we have a lot of energy left in us especially as we are no longer involved in the FA Cup to which we have devoted a lot of attention in the past few years.”From Real’s point of view the match also represents a do or die moment for their season as they are 10 points behind leaders Barcelona in the title race and out of the Spanish Cup.Four-time French champions Lyon walked away with a precious 1-0 away win against PSV two weeks ago despite the ending the match with 10 men.Lyon coach Gerard Houllier described the match as a battle, and predicts the same fare at the Gerland stadium.As well as hoping to make the quarter-finals for the third successive time Lyon also have a score to settle against the on-form Dutch champions, who eliminated them on penalties last year.Since their reverse a fortnight ago Guus Hiddink’s men have continued unabated towards defending their domestic league crown, and also came away with a big win at the weekend in a 4-1 defeat of Heerenveen.In the fourth of tonight’s matches, AC Milan – who lost on penalties to Liverpool in last season’s final after leading 3-0 at half-time – host Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium with the score from the first leg tied.”At 1-1 the game is still open, but at the San Siro we should be able to play the kind of game we want,” AC Milan’s Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said.”In my opinion, we are stronger because, unlike them, we know how to adapt to different situations very quickly.”Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, who will return to the starting line-up after missing the first leg with a thigh strain, insisted Bayern could go all the way in the competition – if they get past Milan.-Nampa-AFPSix matches and an entire month might have slipped past since Liverpool last scored twice in a match, but manager Rafael Benitez is convinced that his side’s fortunes in front of goal will turn.”If we need to score two, or maybe even three, then why not? We will score.With strikers, it is a question of luck.We are creating chances for them and they are creating their own,” Benitez said.Benitez will recall Luis Garcia to his squad having rested the Spanish midfielder, arguably Liverpool’s most consistent match-winner in European competition, at the weekend.Benfica, who knocked out Manchester United in the group stage, have been bolstered by a pick-up in their form of late and the return from injury of Italy international striker Fabrizio Miccoli.Arsenal will look to keep their disappointing season alive by beating Real Madrid and effectively put an end to the Spanish giants’ hopes of silverware.The Gunners hold a 1-0 advantage over Real from the first clash thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Thierry Henry.Manager Arsene Wenger told AFP: “This match is an enormous one for us.We got the perfect boost with the 4-0 victory over Fulham (on Saturday) but there is a danger that the players will think we have already won the tie.”I think that we are as strong as Liverpool were last season and I am confident we will be at the Stade de France (the venue for the final) on May 26.”It is still a long way away but we have a lot of energy left in us especially as we are no longer involved in the FA Cup to which we have devoted a lot of attention in the past few years.”From Real’s point of view the match also represents a do or die moment for their season as they are 10 points behind leaders Barcelona in the title race and out of the Spanish Cup.Four-time French champions Lyon walked away with a precious 1-0 away win against PSV two weeks ago despite the ending the match with 10 men.Lyon coach Gerard Houllier described the match as a battle, and predicts the same fare at the Gerland stadium.As well as hoping to make the quarter-finals for the third successive time Lyon also have a score to settle against the on-form Dutch champions, who eliminated them on penalties last year.Since their reverse a fortnight ago Guus Hiddink’s men have continued unabated towards defending their domestic league crown, and also came away with a big win at the weekend in a 4-1 defeat of Heerenveen.In the fourth of tonight’s matches, AC Milan – who lost on penalties to Liverpool in last season’s final after leading 3-0 at half-time – host Bayern Munich at the San Siro stadium with the score from the first leg tied.”At 1-1 the game is still open, but at the San Siro we should be able to play the kind of game we want,” AC Milan’s Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said.”In my opinion, we are stronger because, unlike them, we know how to adapt to different situations very quickly.”Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, who will return to the starting line-up after missing the first leg with a thigh strain, insisted Bayern could go all the way in the competition – if they get past Milan.-Nampa-AFP