CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WATCH…    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WATCH..
THE last time England hosted a UEFA Champions League final, we got an all-Italian affair. That was at Old Trafford in 2003 when AC Milan overcame Juventus on penalties after a goalless draw.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WATCH...

The chances of that happening again at Wembley Stadium this year look pretty slim after AC Milan’s home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur FC during a first week of last-16 action that raised English hopes of seeing at least one Premier League team in the 28 May final.

Not a single English club reached the semi-finals last season – the first such occurrence since 2003 – but after Tottenham downed the Serie A leaders 1-0 and Arsenal fought back to beat Spain’s champions FC Barcelona 2-1 in their first leg in London, confidence is rising of a strong showing from Premier League representatives.

It is Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC’s turn next to display their credentials. They visit FC København and Olympique de Marseille for their respective first-leg contests on 22 and 23 February. Both sides are expected to progress to the last eight but can they harbour realistic ambitions of going all the way?

No club from London has lifted the European crown though none has come closer than Chelsea, who were just one John Terry penalty miss away from the prize in their eventual shoot-out loss to Manchester United in the first all-English final in 2008.

Since topping Group F before Christmas, Chelsea have added Fernando Torres to their attack, signing the Spanish international for a British-record  57.5m fee. Their domestic form has been less convincing of late, however, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men falling off the pace in the Premier League, but if Torres can find his feet and form, Chelsea’s prospects will gain a significant boost.

Unfortunately for Ancelotti, David Luiz, January’s other big-money arrival at Stamford Bridge, is ineligible for Chelsea’s trip on Tuesday to a København team who may be new to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds but made life difficult for Barcelona in a 1-1 draw at the Parken Stadion, while winning their other two home matches in the group.

While Chelsea are still seeking that elusive first continental crown, Manchester United won theirs beneath the famous Twin Towers of the old Wembley in 1968 – the first of two English triumphs in five finals there, with Liverpool FC following suit in 1978. For all the talk of a London club getting there, it would be foolhardy to bet against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men appearing under the giant arch at the new Wembley on 28 May.

United, who topped Group C, have been busy establishing a lead at the top of the Premier League. They will travel to Marseille on Wednesday bidding to continue their superb defensive record in the competition, having conceded only one goal in the group stage.

Meanwhile, the recent return to scoring form of Wayne Rooney offers hope they will be a more potent attacking force in the campaign’s concluding months.

Marseille will be no pushovers – they have won four straight games in the competition – yet should United secure a tenth victory in 11 UEFA Champions League away matches at the Stade Vélodrome, Wembley will loom that little bit larger on the horizon.