Paris finalists have it all to do

UEFA Champions League holders FC Barcelona and last season's Paris runners-up Arsenal FC both need to overturn deficits when the first knockout round concludes on Matchday 8.

Barcelona behind
Barcelona took the lead in their opening game against Liverpool FC through Deco but goals from Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise gave the five-time European champions a 2-1 away victory and a great chance of progress in the return. The Spanish title-holders have not recovered from losing a home first leg to win a European tie since the 1965/66 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, when they were defeated 1-0 by Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou before a 4-2 away success. They will go through if they repeat their 3-1 triumph on their last trip to Anfield in the 2000/01 second group stage.

Level pegging
In Tuesday's other matches, two more erstwhile kings of Europe are on the road having been held at home. FC Porto, victors in 2003/04, are level at 1-1 as they visit old coach José Mourinho's Chelsea FC, while FC Internazionale Milano travel to Valencia CF with the score at 2-2. Valencia's fellow former finalists AS Roma make the trip to Olympique Lyonnais, aiming for a fourth straight last-eight appearance, with the tie goalless.

Arsenal trail
On Wednesday, six clubs who have ruled the continent see action, and one of those, PSV Eindhoven, lead 1-0 as they go to Arsenal. In contrast, Arsenal's Premiership rivals Manchester United FC are ahead by the same margin prior to their home meeting with LOSC Lille Métropole. United have never lost a European tie after a first-leg away win.

Bayern home
The remaining fixtures pair teams with 20 European Champion Clubs' Cups between them. Nine of those belong to Real Madrid CF who, following a thrilling home encounter with four-time champions FC Bayern München, are 3-2 in front, although Mark van Bommel's late strike in the Spanish capital has ensured the rematch should be finely balanced.

Goalless encounter
Celtic FC and AC Milan, on the other hand, finished scoreless on Matchday 7. Milan have home advantage for the sequel, and may care to remember that the last time these sides met in a knockout European Cup tie, in the 1968/69 quarter-finals, the first game ended 0-0 before the return was won 1-0 by the visitors. On that occasion, it was Milan that triumphed after being held at home.