Money Train.

Everybody ready to climb aboard the money train again?

I could be really cynical and go on about how money and TV have ruined football but when the Champions League knock out stages come around, I love what money has done to football.

Over the next two days all the best teams in Europe, and Liverpool, will play each other. For armchair fans this is the best two weeks of the year.

The group stage can be a bit crap with some very one sided matches early on and then some very dull ones at the end when the team is already qualified.

The quarter finals can get very tight and a little dull so this is the best round.

All the ties are worth watching and even those where you are pretty sure of the result there is interest. We all assume Barca will beat Celtic but with such a good home record Celtic could take a lead to the Camp Nou.

United will surely be too strong for Lyon but transfer target Karim Benzema will want to impress Fergie.

Olympiacos face Chelsea who continue to go for 4 trophies. The will surely cruise through and I would almost like to see them win the damn thing just to piss off Jose. Almost.

Arsenal vs AC Milan is too close to call but I will go for Arsenal. Just. Maldini this weekend played his 1000th game for Milan. Yep, 1000 games for one club, at the top of European football for 20 years. Jesus, would hate to see his European career end as Arsenal bang 4 past them at the San Siro. Ah well lifes not fair Paolo, you have won enough.

Liverpool vs Inter looks nailed on for Inter but I stopped betting against Liverpool in Europe after almost ending last season living in a cardboard box and promising my first born to Paddy Power. Should be Inter but......

The non UK based ties are Roma vs Real. Real for that one but expect lots of great football and I would love Totti to win the Champions League for Roma. He never will though.

Fenerbache vs Sevilla puts a side managed by Zico up against the most exciting team in Spain. They have scored more than Barca in La Liga, but conceded the same amount as Murcia who are 19th. Could be win for the Turks.

Only Schalke vs Porto is hard to drum up any interest in but expect Porto to come through.

Some teams seasons will be ended in the next few weeks and the repercussions, both in finance and in job safety, are huge.

Managers like Benitez and Ancelotti are relying on this year Champions League for salvation while others like Grant and Schuster could galvanise a growing reputation.

If I was Teddy Holland I would be waiting by the phone.