Soccer
PREVIEW: Chelsea hold the edge as Barca seek away goal to sink United
By DPA
Apr 28, 2008, 14:16 GMT

London - Both of this week's Champions League semi-final second-leg ties are finely poised with all four teams still harbouring strong hopes of making it to the final in Moscow later this month.

Barcelona may have played out a disappointing scoreless draw with Manchester United at the Camp Nou last week but travel to Old Trafford for Tuesday's return leg knowing an away goal will leave Sir Alex Ferguson's side needing to score twice to progress.

On Wednesday, Chelsea will start their game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge as slight favourites thanks to the 1-1 draw secured at Anfield.

Avram Grant's team have also been buoyed by the 2-1 defeat of United at the weekend that kept Chelsea's English Premier League title hopes very much alive.

'We are possibly just four games away from two big prizes and we have put ourselves in this situation,' said Michael Ballack, scorer of both goals.

'This is where we want to be. We like this situation. I think we look fresh and better than all other teams, even in the Champions League now.'

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard returned to training on Sunday and is likely to return for Wednesday's match after missing the win over United at the weekend following the death of his mother.

Sir Alex Ferguson rested Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez against Chelsea and also started with newly-crowned Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench.

But the Scot has promised a more ambitious approach from his United side at home to Barcelona than was shown in the Catalan capital a week ago.

Ferguson told the media that 'the game now starts at Old Trafford - it's the decider.'

'At home, with the atmosphere, we'll be quite different to the first game.'

Ferguson is confident that star striker Wayne Rooney will be fit after being substituted in the defeat to Chelsea.

'Rooney had a bang on the hip,' Ferguson said on Sunday.

'It is very, very painful but hopefully he will be all right for Tuesday. Wayne's a team player who sacrifices himself all the time.'

The veteran Scottish manager is also hopeful that defender Nemanja Vidic is fit, after taking a heavy blow to the head on Saturday from Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Embattled Barca coach Frank Rijkaard also rested several first- teamers on Saturday away to Deportivo Coruna - and was rewarded with a 2-0 defeat.

Defender Rafa Marquez is suspended for Tuesday's showdown, though that is hardly bad news given the way the Mexican has been playing all season.

The good news is that captain Carles Puyol is back after missing the first leg through suspension.

Midfielder Yaya Toure is again having problems with his back but will make the trip, unlike the keen-to-get-away Ronaldinho.

Rijkaard is likely to try to take the initiative with a forward line of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry.