Soccer: Barca, Arsenal in pole position

LONDON - Barcelona and Arsenal need only avoid defeat this week for the two sides to meet in next month's Champions League final in Paris.

Both clubs have a 1-0 lead from last week's semifinal first-leg matches, with favourites Barcelona having home advantage against AC Milan, while Arsenal travel to Villarreal.

Barcelona, closing in on a second consecutive Spanish league title, have probably the world's best attack, led by Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, ably supported by Ludovic Giuly, who scored the only goal for Barca at the San Siro last week.

They will also be refreshed and raring to go on Thursday after Monday's Primera Liga game against Sevilla was rained off.

The Catalans will be only too well aware, though, of the possible backlash from a Milan side desperate to make up for last season's infamous final defeat by Liverpool, having started the second half in Istanbul with a 3-0 lead.

Milan's Brazilian defender Cafu said his team would take heart from having come from behind and coped with a rash of injuries to beat Messina 3-1 in Serie A on Sunday.

"It wasn't easy to win after being a goal down and having to make three substitutions in the first half," he said.

"Once again we proved we are a great team.

"It's a win that will give our confidence a lift and put us in the right frame of mind to face Barcelona."

Cafu was one of four players who picked up injuries on Sunday, along with Brazilian playmaker Kaka, Italy defender Alessandro Nesta and midfielder Massimo Ambrosini.

All are expected to travel and Cafu said: "I feel good. I'll be ready when the game comes."

Milan were already without striker Filippo Inzaghi, who has been struggling to recover from a virus which kept him out of the first-leg defeat at the San Siro.

Villarreal will have the crowd at the compact El Madrigal behind them tomorrow but face a real challenge to beat an Arsenal side who have kept a record nine consecutive clean sheets in the competition. With only one victory in their last eight Primera Liga games, Villarreal's chances of making a potentially all-Spanish final will hinge on rediscovering their route to goal.

Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme turned in a subdued performance at Highbury and will have to shoulder much of the attacking burden.

The need to score could yet prove the Spaniards' undoing as Arsenal have a reputation for their speed on the break, led by captain and talismanic striker Thierry Henry.

- REUTERS