Europe in the spotlight

BBC Sport and website users run the rule over Champions League quarter-finals.

The quarter-finals:
Arsenal v Juventus
Lyon v AC Milan
Inter Milan v Villarreal
Benfica v Barcelona

Arsenal v Juventus
Tuesday 28 March & Wednesday 5 April

Form: Arsenal are struggling at home but going well in Europe, while for Juve it is a bit of a role reversal. The Italians are runnning away with Serie A but squeaked through the last round of the Champions League with a lucky win over Werder Bremen.

Champions League record this season:
Arsenal: P8 W6 D2 L0 F11 A2

Last match: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid (agg 1-0)

Juventus: P8 W6 D0 L2 F16 A9

Last match: Juventus 2-1 W Bremen (agg 4-4)

Odds: Arsenal - 11/1; Juventus - 7/2.

Strengths: In a young side, Gunners skipper Thierry Henry will have to be at his talismanic best. The Frenchman is returning to a former side, but all the pre-match focus will be on a man making a return in the opposite direction, Patrick Vieira. His midfield partnership with Emerson clicked from the off and another of Henry's old mates, David Trezeguet, will be a potent attacking presence in partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Weaknesses: The rivals are from opposite ends of the experience spectrum which could play in to Juve's hands. But then again, Arsenal could outrun their exalted opponents. The Italians have an ageing defence and will be without Pavel Nedved for the first leg.

Your verdict:
Juventus will go through, the fact that the first game is at Highbury may have an important effect because if Juventus get an away goal they will build from there back in Italy.
Ben James, England

Patrick Vieira left Highbury in search of Champions League glory. I can bet he'll wish he had stayed on because the Gunners' firing power will blaze past Juve and with the seemingly favourable route to the final, he will be watching as Henry leads Arsenal to glory.
Erick Obed, Lusaka, Zambia.

Lyon v AC Milan
Wednesday 29 March & Tuesday 4 April

Form: Gerard Houllier's Lyon have the French title seemingly in the bag so all eyes are on the Champions League final on home soil in Paris. AC Milan are 10 points behind Juve in Serie A so this is their only chance of silverware. No quarter asked or given.

Champions League record this season:
Lyon: P8 W7 D1 L0 F18 A4

Last match: Lyon 4-0 PSV (agg 5-0)

AC Milan: P8 W4 D3 L1 F17 A8

Last match: AC Milan 4-1 B Munich (agg 5-2)

Odds: Lyon - 7/1; AC Milan - 6/1.

Strengths: Lyon have enjoyed a wonderful season despite selling Michael Essien to Chelsea in August. High on confidence and full of goals with Brazilian playmaker Juninho Pernambucano pulling the strings. For AC Milan it is Kaka and Andrea Pirlo who orchestrate the midfield with Andriy Shevchenko on hand to find the net, while at the other end they have a suffocating defence.

Weaknesses: Despite dominating their domestic league for five years Lyon repeatedly fail in Europe and will be without Juninho for the first leg. The Rossoneri may have a stronger European pedigree but they also have a worrying trend of capitulating in the competition, last year against Liverpool and the season before to Deportivo La Coruna.

Your verdict:
I fancy Lyon to go through against Milan. I'm not so sure AC can cope with the pace and technical ability of the French outfit.
Harry Procter, Newcastle

The team I feel most sorry for is Lyon. They play a great standard of football, yet they will have to beat AC Milan and probably Barcelona just to get to the final.
Mark Dowd, UK

Inter Milan v Villarreal
Wednesday 29 March & Tuesday 4 April

Form: Boasting an expensively-assembled squad, Inter Milan should have too much for Villarreal despite only edging past Ajax. But the Spaniards, who are a long way off the pace in La Liga, have enjoyed their first Champions League outing and reputations count for little. Just ask Manchester United.

Champions League record this season:
Inter Milan: P10 W6 D3 L1 F15 A7

Last match: Inter Milan 1-0 Ajax (agg 3-2)

Villarreal: P10 W4 D6 L0 F10 A6

Last match: Villarreal 1-1 Rangers (agg 3-3)

Odds: Inter Milan - 7/1; Villarreal - 14/1.

Strengths: Juan Roman Riquelme runs the show for Villarreal, the Argentine maestro sitting at the hub of a free-flowing passing game in front of an organised defence. That rearguard will have to be tight if Inter striker Adriano starts running rampant, fed by the supreme passing talents of Juan Sebastian Veron and Alvaro Recoba.

Weaknesses: Diego Forlan led the Villarreal line well last season, but goals have been hard to come by in the Champions League this term, with only three in the group stage. Inter flatter to deceive in Europe and remain inconsistent despite the millions spent and manager Roberto Mancini's future at the club is far from certain.

Your verdict:
Inter Milan will not fancy going to Spain, but they should still have enough to qualify for the semis.
Adam Bateman, UK

Inter will lose to Villareal - the surprise package of the tournament (every tournament has to have one).
Manveer, England

Benfica v Barcelona
Tuesday 28 March & Wednesday 5 April

Form: Barcelona have been in imperious form all season and will come up against the conquerers of holders Liverpool. Benfica have exceeded all expectations and picked up Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho as a fan in the process - he will be cheering with even more gusto from his sofa following the draw.

Champions League record this season:
Benfica: P8 W4 D2 L2 F8 A5

Last match: Liverpool 0-2 Benfica (agg 0-3)

Barcelona: P8 W6 D2 L0 F19 A4

Last match: Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea (agg 3-2)

Odds: Benfica - 28/1; Barcelona - 6/4 favourites.

Strengths: Benfica are a good defensive unit with some eye-catching performers further up the field in Geovanni, Fabrizio Miccoli and Simao Sabrosa - a combination that has helped see off both Manchester United and Liverpool. But Barcelona and Ronaldinho are a different proposition entirely and they will have to be on their mettle.

Weaknesses: The Portuguese can look pedestrian at times and Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto'o could run rings around their Iberian neighbours. But Barca are not unbeatable and can switch off in defence. They will be without injured Argentine Lionel Messi for both legs.

Your verdict:
Benfica can upset the applecart by knocking out Barcelona because of the underdog factor.
Edward Watts,United Kingdom

Barcelona are simply the best football club in Europe. They have shown that defending is not the only way to win cups and playing quality football is the most important thing. They will go all the way.
Hedi, United Kingdom

Odds supplied by William Hill (10 March 2006)