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Champions League & UEFA Cup Betting: Draw sees Liverpool v Arsenal clash

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If you missed the lunchtime Champions League and UEFA Cup draws, here are the ties that the balls came up with and how they have affected the betting

The outside chance of all four English teams avoiding each other in the quarter-finals of the Champions league didn't materialize as Arsenal got pitted against five-time winners Liverpool in today's lunchtime draw. Last year's beaten finalists Liverpool are fourth in the betting at [8.6] and will be relying on their European pedigree, the inspirational performances of Steven Gerrard and goalscoring form of Fernando Torres to knock out Premiership rivals and 2006 finalists Arsenal. The Gunners, who put in one of the very best performances of this year's Champions League in humbling last year's winners AC Milan 2-0 in the San Ciro are available at [7.0] to win the competition, which by default makes them the favourites to progress over Benitez' side.

The winners of this tie will meet either Chelsea or Fenerbahce ([65.0]) in the semis after the Turkish giants drew a Chelsea side who disappointed in the Carling Cup final but who have been on fire in the Premiership of late and equally convincing in disposing of Olympiacos in the last 16 of the Champions League. Chelsea are now joint second-favourites with Manchester United at [4.8] to win the competition and will try to reach a Champions League final for the first time, having been knocked out by Liverpool in the semis on penalties last year and by Arsenal in 2004 at the same stage.

Barcelona remain the favourites to win Europe's premier club competition at [4.2] after drawing Schalke, who knocked out Porto. They may well have to do it without the help of Argentine starlet Lionel Messi who is likely to miss both legs through injury and whose two goals away to Celtic in a 3-2 win helped set up their passage to the quarter-finals. Messi is tied with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo on goals with 6 and trades at [7.8] to finish as topscorer with Ronaldo just a [2.62] chance.

Ronaldo will need to be at his best if his side are to overcome Roma and meet the winners of Barcelona and Schalke in the semis. Roma ([15.0]) put in two extremely professional if not mesmerizing displays in eliminating star-studded Real Madrid with 2-1 and 2-0 wins over last year's La Liga winners and will be keen to make amends for last year's encounter at Old Trafford where they were on the wrong end of a 7-1 scoreline.

Whoever goes on to win it, it's likely to be an English team. At least that's what the Winning Nation market says where an English team trades at [1.43].

The first leg of quarter Final matches will be played on 22/23 of April with the return legs on the 29/30 April.

Champions League Quarter-Final Draw:

Arsenal v Liverpool
Roma v Manchester United
Schalke v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea

In UEFA's slightly less glamorous sister competition, the UEFA Cup, Glasgow Rangers will have to knock out 2005 finalists Sporting Lisbon if they are to have any hopes of delivering a British win. Rangers are now priced up at odds of [12.0] to take home the UEFA Cup with the Portuguese giants trading at [13.0].

Conquerors of Everton and Spurs in the last round - Fiorentina and PSV - clash in a mouth-watering tie which the Italians are favourites to win. Adrian Mutu's team are [6.8] to go on and win it whilst the Dutch outfit trade at [8.6]. The winners of this tie will face the winners of the Sporting Lisbon/Rangers showdown.

Favourites Bayern Munich, trading at [2.82], drew Getafe's name out of the hat and Luca Toni and co will have their work cut out against a solid side who had little trouble in disposing of Benfica in the last round. Getafe trade at [11.5] for UEFA Cup glory.

It could turn out to be an all-German semi-final if Bayern Munich to progress. They will play the winner of Bayer Leverkusen v Zenit St Petersburg match-up. Michael Ballack's former club Bayer Leverkusen certainly won't be relishing a second leg match away to Zenit St Petersburg. The German team are rated as [12.5] shots to lift the trophy, Zenit are available on Betfair at [19.5].

The first legs will be played on the 3rd April, the second legs on the 10th.

UEFA Cup quarter -final draw:

Bayer Leverkusen v FC Zenit St Petersburg
Rangers v Sporting Lisbon
Bayern Munich v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV

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