MAX CRANSTON
Sports Writer

The final eight teams of the Champions League have been paired up and the quater-final matches are set in stone.

The prestigious UEFA Champions League (or European Cup) is one of the greatest competitions in the soccer world, featuring the best teams from across Europe. The reigning champs, Internazionale Milano are still in the mix, along with the most successful club in Champions League history, Real Madrid. Madrid already boasts nine league championships.

With only eight teams remaining, it is time for the quarter-finals. The match-ups are set to take place April 5 to 6 and April 12 to 13.

Matches are played twice, with each team playing once at home. The combined score of the two matches are added together, providing a total goal tally and a winner. In the case of a tie, the team which scores more “away” goals will win. If all else fails, it comes down to a penalty shoot-out.

The quarter-finals this year include teams from England (Tottenham Hotspur FC, Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC), Spain (Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona), Italy (FC Internazionale Milano), Germany (FC Schalke), and the Ukraine (FC Shakhtar Donetsk).

Real Madrid plays Tottenham, which groups together a perennial threat and nine-time champion Real Madrid with relative underdog Tottenham. Chelsea FC will play Manchester United, which will feature two of the English teams left in the tournament, and undoubtably two of the strongest English sides this year. Man. United denied Chelsea their first Champions League title three years ago and the current English Premier League defending champions will be looking for redemption against the Old Trafford gang.

FC Barcelona plays FC Shakhtar; the Spanish heavyweights will look to improve upon their three Euro Cups (1992, 2006, 2009) against the Ukrainian quarter-finals newcomers.

Barcelona has been tearing up the Spanish Liga, posting 25 wins through 29 games this season. Shakhtar are the reigning champions of the Ukrainian Premier League. Shakhtar features some brilliant Ukrainian and Brazilian players, but faces a juggernaut Spanish side which holds some key players from the 2010 World Cup winning Spain squad.

Inter Milan plays Schalke, reigning European champs Inter will attempt to oust the second German team in a row after beating FC Bayern München to progress, while Schalke is led by all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, Raul. Inter’s Wesley Sneijder, who is always a threat. He holds a common connection with Schalke players Raul and Metzelder who all played for Real Madrid once upon a time.

There are many storylines playing out, which is typical for European soccer; as English heavyweights duke it out and both Spanish squads hope to meet each other in the semi-finals.

There are only two games for each team to earn much-needed goals in an attempt to progress. Inter’s previous match against Bayern, the Italian side lost their home game but prevailed with a 3-2 win in Munich. Never count a team out until the final whistle.

The Champions League games continue into May with the semi-finals. The final will be held May 28 in Wembley Stadium. The final is one of the most-watched sporting events world-wide, drawing over 100 million viewers.

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