After admitting that his side have not been at the height of their powers this season, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti described Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against FC Bayern München as the "perfect chance" to salvage their campaign.



'Huge incentive'
Although the Italian giants have found it difficult to keep up with Serie A's frontrunners this term, according to Ancelotti the visit of the German title-holders to San Siro is a huge window of opportunity. "This season has been really hard going with lots of ups and downs," said the 47-year-old. "We haven't played as well as we can for numerous reasons. We've had problems but now we have reached the last eight of the Champions League, we have the perfect chance to put matters right. It's a huge incentive."

Good results
Both Milan and Bayern enjoyed creditable weekend results. The former came from behind to draw 1-1 at second-placed AS Roma thanks to Alberto Gilardino's second-half effort, while the latter won 2-0 at home to Bundesliga leaders FC Schalke 04. The Rossoneri, sixth in Serie A, started poorly at the Stadio Olimpico and Ancelotti knows his team can ill afford such sluggishness against Bayern, particularly in light of Roy Makaay's habit of lightning strikes. The Dutch forward scored the fastest goal in UEFA Champions League history against Real Madrid CF in the last round, and was at it again on Saturday, breaking the deadlock after just three minutes before Hasan Salihamidžić made the match safe. "We must start better than we did in Rome," said Ancelotti. "We must show better athleticism, aggression and desire – and with Makaay around let's hope we win the kick-off."

Italian optimism
There is cause for Italian optimism, however, given that Milan have a near full complement of players available, including Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Filippo Inzaghi, while Bayern will be missing goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and midfielder Mark van Bommel, both suspended. The hosts have also won 15 of their last 18 UEFA Champions League home games and, crucially, have a 100 per cent record against Bayern, whom they defeated 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate) at the last-16 stage last term.

Sweet memories
"We have great memories of last year," reflected Ancelotti. "We played excellently at home and hope to do so again. Kahn is the symbol of their side and Van Bommel is also a first-team regular, so their absence could weigh against them." This is not a theory shared by his opposite number. "We've known for a while that we'd be without those two but we have great replacements," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. "Michael Rensing has played well in goal for us, while on Saturday I rested Owen Hargreaves and Andreas Ottl was superb against Schalke.

'Intense encounter'
"This season both teams have had good and bad times domestically, and this competition is an opportunity for both of us to show what we're made of," he continued. "I'm expecting a very intense encounter, and he who holds his nerve and plays better on the night will succeed." Bayern can take heart from improving domestic form – they are within six points of the Bundesliga summit – as well as their most recent result at San Siro, a 2-0 home victory over Serie A champions-elect FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 2.

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Their injury list is lengthening, their lead at the top of the Eredivisie is shortening, and on Tuesday they play their most important match of the season to date. But as the spring sun shone down, PSV Eindhoven appeared relaxed.



'Surprises'
The sight of goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes enjoying a kickaround with his two-year-old son as training wound down suggested they are enjoying the moment. Few expected PSV to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League; coach Ronald Koeman insisted they could yet go further as he prepared for the first leg against Liverpool FC. "Liverpool will have to be on their game to beat us, even though we have problems with injuries," he said. "To win games at this level you need a fit team, but in this competition over two matches there are surprises. Arsenal [FC] know that and Liverpool will know that too. You always have chances in these sorts of matches."

Affelay doubt
Fortune, though, has not favoured PSV. Injuries to inspirational centre-back Alex and striker Arouna Koné were compounded when playmaker Ibrahim Affelay strained a hamstring in Saturday's 1-1 draw at NAC Breda. Koeman, who is expected to ask Manuel Da Costa to deputise for Alex, revealed Affelay will need a scan to determine his fitness, yet otherwise gave little away.

English successes
"With the situation as it is, the last thing we want to do is put all our cards on the table," Koeman said, before dismissing as "coincidence" the successes he has enjoyed as a coach, this season against Arsenal, and last when his SL Benfica team eliminated both Liverpool and Manchester United FC from this competition. "Liverpool are in form and I expect a match like we had in the group stage against them. It's going to be very tough, but if it's 0-0 or 1-0 we will be happy."

Rising expectations
While PSV are without a win since ousting Arsenal, Liverpool's confidence has grown subsequent to beating holders FC Barcelona in the previous round. The 2005 UEFA Champions League winners defeated Arsenal 4-1 on Saturday and will hope to improve on the goalless draw here in September. Manager Rafael Benítez, though, was doing his best to dampen rising expectations.

'Confidence'
"I think we have a better team than the one that won the Champions League, but you never know," said the Spaniard. "It's normal when you get to this stage that people talk about the final but you must go one step at a time and in this case, PSV will be a very difficult team to play against. The problem could be that we have more confidence so we have to be careful and put the players under pressure. Start winning and then we can talk."

Maschereno in
Benítez is without the suspended Mohamed Sissoko but has the luxury of giving Argentinian anchorman Javier Mascherano his first UEFA Champions League start. Striker Peter Crouch scored in the 2-0 victory against PSV at Anfield in November and after hitting a hat-trick against Arsenal, will hope to keep his place, although Dutchman Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy are pushing for recalls.


Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Álvaro Arbeloa, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, Steve Finnan; Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, John Arne Riise; Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy.

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Im waiting bro

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1/2 Final
Manchester United 3:2 Milan
C. Ronaldo 5'___________Kaka 22' 37'
Rooney 59' 90'

Milan 3:0 Manchester United
Kaka 11'
Seedorf 30'
Gillardino 78'
Chelsea 1:0 Liverpool
J. Cole 29'
Liverpool 1:0(4:1 pen.) Chelsea
Agger 22'

Final, Athens
AC Milan (23 V, 8.45 PM) Liverpool

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