Arsenal Has Rough Weekend

AC Milan, Real Madrid and FC Porto appear to be cruising to the semifinals of the Champions League.

For Arsenal, it’s not such an easy ride.

Defending champion Milan takes a 4-1 lead to Deportivo La Coruna, nine-time champion Madrid is 4-2 up against Monaco and Porto goes to Lyon 2-0 ahead.

As for Arsenal, it is tied 1-1 with Chelsea and, with home advantage, should reach its first semifinal. But Coach Arsene Wenger’s team had a bad weekend.

Aiming to become the first team in 118 years to win the England’s FA Cup three years in a row, it lost, 1-0, to rival Manchester United in the semifinals. That meant an end to thoughts of winning the treble, or the domestic league and cup and the Champions League.

Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira said the team still has a good frame of mind.

“We’re big lads and really strong players, so I’m not really worried whether we will be strong [today],” the French midfielder said.

“Psychologically and physically, we will be ready for the game as we know how important it is for us. We just have to perform on the day.”

Real Madrid-Monaco also play their second-leg game today. The other two games are Wednesday.

Madrid will be without midfielder David Beckham, who is suspended, but defender Roberto Carlos will return after sitting out for the same reason.

Copa Libertadores

Mexican teams Santos Laguna and Club America continue to make a positive impression in the Copa Libertadores tournament and both are on the verge of advancing to the round of 16.

America leads Group 1 with 10 points and needs only a tie at home on Thursday against The Strongest of Bolivia to clinch first place.

Santos Laguna is 3-0-2 after five games and leads Group 3 with 11 points, one ahead of Brazilian champion Cruzeiro. Santos Laguna plays its deciding game in South America’s most prestigious club tournament next week and can ensure first place with a victory over winless Concepcion of Chile.

MLS Notes

Ratings for Freddy Adu’s debut in Major League Soccer were up 64% from last year’s MLS telecast on ABC.

Saturday’s season opener involving D.C. United and San Jose drew a 1.8 overnight rating, up from last year’s 1.1 for the league’s opener on ABC.

MetroStar midfielder Amado Guevara was called up by the Honduras national team to play in a friendly against Panama on Wednesday at Le Ceiba, Honduras. The MetroStars do not play this weekend after opening the season with a 3-1 road victory over Columbus.

Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones, who sat out the team’s 3-2 victory over New England last weekend, is listed as probable for Saturday’s home match against D.C. United. Jones has battled illness and a right quadriceps tendon strain recently.

Quick Passes

Mexico Olympic Coach Ricardo Lavolpe said Rafael Marquez, a defender with FC Barcelona in Spain, will be one of the three overage players chosen to fortify the under-23 roster for the Athens Olympics.... Former Brazil international Rivelino quit as technical director of Brazilian club Corinthians, the Sao Paulo team said on its website. Rivelino, who helped Brazil win the 1970 World Cup, said he was leaving because of the team’s financial troubles.... Bastia coach Gerard Gili was fired after he publicly insulted the team’s president, Francois Nicolai, French newspaper L’Equipe reported. Bastia is the team that U.S. national team defender Greg Vanney plays for.... Tottenham of the Premier League is said to be targeting Tunisia’s French Coach Roger Lemerre after Giovanni Trapattoni said he’d prefer to stay with the Italian national team, the London Daily Express said.

-- Compiled by Jim Barrero