United's Treble dreams shattered as Milan set up grudge match in Athens

Shell-shocked. Thats the feeling of Manchester United players, fans and probably most football supporters across the world. After conceding 2 away goals in their 3-2 victory at Old Trafford, their progression to the final in Athens was never a certainty. Yet we bet nobody thought United were going to crash out like this.

AC Milan downed Ferguson's side 3-0 in a rain-soaked San Siro, with goals from Kaka, Seedorf and Gilardinho. Kaka again proved to everyone that it is he, not Ronaldo, who should be currently classed as the best player in the world. Milan put in arguably one of the best performances by a European side this season, yet United in fairness simply didn't turn up.

Too many big name players, Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, failed to make a real impact when it really mattered, leaving the experience of players like Seedorf, Nesta and 'midfield general' Gattuso to shine through. Gambling on the fitness of Vidic was a move that simply didn't pay off, and lacking match fitness, it was he who was at fault for Milan's second goal.

United now will be hoping the possible return of Saha and Ferdinand at the weekend can spur them on to a victory against local arch rivals Man City, which would take them to the brink of their 9th Premiership title.

Milan on the other hand seem to have hit peak form at just the right time, and will now face Liverpool in what will be a re-run of 2005's Champions League Final. After crushing United, Carlo Ancelotti's side will be looking to exact revenge on Liverpool, who came back from 3-0 down to beat Milan on penalties on that amazing night in Istanbul. It may just be that thirst for vengeance that will see Milan lift the trophy for an incredible 7th time, come May 23rd.

Watch Match Highlights:

Champions League Review: Liverpool 1 - 0 Chelsea (Liverpool win 4-1 on pens)

Liverpool booked their place in their second Champions League final in three years, after taking the tie into extra-time, and winning 4-1 on penalties, Dirk Kuyt with the winning kick.

The game itself was a rather boring affair, with neither side seemingly willing to throw caution to the wind and go for it. Agger's first-half strike from a cleverly worked free-kick set up a tense, but ultimately weary 90 mins, as both teams failed to make any clear cut chances, leaving it 1-1 before extra-time.

Chelsea were intent on hoofing long balls up to Drogba, which proved fruitless all night. Mourinho's side made nothing of the majority of their possession, and it was Liverpool, through the counter attacks, who had the majority of real chances, with Kuyt hitting the bar with a header, and controversially having a goal ruled out in extra-time after a marginal offside decision.

These games where the results often ends with a draw or a win by the odd goal seem synonymous of matches between these two sides, like a game of chess that just goes on far too long. Penalties was the only way of deciding such a fixture over the two legs, and it was the two Chelsea substitutes, Robben and Geremi, presumabely brought on for their penalty taking ability, that fluffed them.

That's not to take anything away from Reina, who again proved that he may be the number one spot-kick stopper in the world, and his Liverpool teammates, who all cooley slotted away their respective penalties. The team that as Mourinho puts it ' is only playing for the Champions League' is still playing, leaving Mourinho's Chelsea side licking their wounds, after seemingly blowing the title race and their European aspiration all in one week.

Lets hope tonight's game in Milan, is a much more exciting game.

Watch Match Highlights:

PSV clinch Eredivisie title on goal difference

They don't come much closer than this. Sunday saw the final day in the Dutch Eredivisie league, and resulted in one of the most astonishing and tight finishes to a championship TTIAO has ever seen.

AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and PSV entered Sunday level on 72 points each at the top of the table. AZ had a superior goal difference and needed just three points against the 'average' Excelsior to walk away as champions. However, AZ bottled under the pressure, losing 3-2 and getting a man sent off in the process.

With AZ's shock defeat, the door for was left open for defending champions PSV and Ajax to pip AZ at the finishing post. Ajax won 2-0 at Willem II to put the pressure on PSV. That left PSV needing to beat Vitesse Arnhem by four clear goals to win the title. Which they duly did, notching a 5-1 win! Both PSV and Ajax finished the season on 75 points but PSV won the title with a superior goal difference: +50 to Ajax's +49.

Koeman really is proving to be a top quality manager, and his PSV sides recent success in securing the title will do no harm in boosting his management credentials, and attracting interest from some of Europe's major clubs.

All hail Great Britons – Champions League Review

As the dust settled on the Champions League qualifying stage last week, it seemed British football had the world at it’s feet. For the first time in history, all British teams have managed to qualify for the knockout last 16 stage – an achievement that of course is fantastic for British football.

On Wednesday night, Arsenal and Manchester United joined Celtic, Liverpool and Chelsea in the last 16 to complete a clean sweep for the British sides. Furthermore the three Premiership representatives all finished top of their respective groups, ensuring, in theory at least, a more favourable draw in the knockout stages.

The Champions League is regarded as the pinnacle of continental club football, and is a competition that in recent years has eluded Britain, with only Manchester United and Liverpool being crowned champions in the last 20 years.

I along with many other fans feel that with British teams making up more than a quarter of the teams left in the competition, the time has come for Britain to succeed once more.

Chelsea, although playing catch up domestically, have looked dominant in Europe topping Group A. Two baron years of the European success which Abramovich so passionately craves has laid claim to the fact that this competition is Mourinho’s main focus.

This determination can be seen through Chelsea taking four points of the possible six from the two games against reigning champions Barcelona. With the multi-million pound squad at Jose’s disposal, including the summer additions of Ballack and the under-performing Shevchenko, 2007 could Stamford Bridge welcoming home Europe’ most illustrious prize.

Manchester United have flown out the block, topping the Premier League, and winning the first three of their Group F games comfortably. United managed to put to bed last year’s Lisbon demons with a comfortable 3-1 win in their final game, and finally booked their place in the last 16 as group winners.

Many see Ferguson’s men as one of the favourites for this year’s competition, and with whiz kids Ronaldo and Rooney setting the football world alight, this could be the year that United’s young, maturing team comes of age, and go some way to living up to the success of 1999.

SPL leaders Celtic made history in making the last 16, with second place in Group F. Strachan’s men will be amongst the least favourites to progress further in the competition, yet it will be interesting to see some of Europe’s elite try and battle it out at the fortress that has become Park Head.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both floundered in the Premier League, displaying lacklustre form both home and away. However in Europe, both clubs have managed to top their respective groups, possibly a result of their poor domestic form.

Last year’s finalists Arsenal have a much depleted team from that which took them to the final in Paris last season. Their final ‘game’ against Porto was possibly the dullest moment of the season so far. Many questioned a possible carve-up between the two teams, and despite strong denials from Wenger, the 0-0 suspiciously saw both teams qualify from Group G. However, in Captain Thierry Henry, they have a player that should inspire the young talents of Fabregas and Van Persie to unleash the ‘total football’ of last season’s campaign and with the luck of the draw, Arsenal may find themselves there or there abouts come May.

Liverpool seek to emulate 2005’s heroics, and again succeed in the competition against the odds. The five time champions will still be one of the most feared teams in the competition, and the Merseyside outfit outlined their intent through qualifying as Group C winners with one game to spare. Captain marvel Steven Gerrard will need to discover more of the hunger and fight shown on nights such as the one in Istanbul, if Liverpool are to progress further in the competition. One thing for certain is that if Liverpool are firing on all cylinders, nobody will relish the opportunity to face Benitez’s side.

The draw for the first knockout round is due to be made on Friday 15th December at 12.00pm. Once the draw has been made, I am sure we will have a much clearer idea on the chances of Britain’s Elite, and whether we will really see a British team lifting the trophy in Athens next summer.