Last updated at 19:49, Thursday, 05 April 2012

Benfica might have Jesus for a manager, but it was Roberto Di Matteo turning Lucozade into wine as Chelsea eased into the last four of the Champions League.

It’s a huge achievement for the club stuttering domestically, and shows the renewed optimism since Andre Villas-Boas was booted out.

Chelsea v Barcelona has a Rumble in the (urban) Jungle feel to it.

For the older members of the Stamford Bridge dressing room, revenge for 2009 is motivation enough.

Andrés Iniesta’s injury-time strike ended the dream then, leading Didier Drogba to go loco on camera, and referee Tom Henning Ovrebo had to be smuggled out of England under police protection.

There is clearly only one winner though, and an El Clasico final is a mouthwatering prospect.

In Lionel Messi, Barcelona have the best player ever to grace a sporting arena.

Smashing records for fun, Messi’s most incredible statistic is possibly that he’s yet to register a single strike against Chelsea.

Unfortunately for John Terry and co, this has been a record-breaking year, and Messi already has 58 goals in 49 games, including 14 in the Champions League.

If he scores against the Blues he’ll end a six-game barren run and set a new European record of 15 strikes in a single competition.

I expect Real Madrid to head back to Munich for the final. They are just too good for Bayern, despite the form of Arjen Robben, who has 11 goals in his last eight outings.

KAREN Brady is trusted by moneybags Lord Sugar to help find the rags-to-riches Labour peer a new business partner.

He does realise she employed Avram Grant at West Ham? And look how that turned out.

THREE points must be secured by Workington Reds this bumper bank holiday weekend.

Colwyn Bay have a terrible record recently and could be punished if the new boys kick into action.

Jordan Connerto is lively, but Mark Beck impressed me most against Solihull.

His presence is imposing, and his first touch and link-up play could be season saving.

Droylsden is a tough place to go, and Beck’s aerial ability could be key to picking up at least a draw.

First published at 19:23, Thursday, 05 April 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk