With Manchester United already in the final, we will find out today whether the defending UEFA Champions League titleholders will face FC Barcelona in a dream final, or face Chelsea in a rematch of last year's final.

Chelsea and Barcelona square off today at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their semifinal series.

So, is this just a little something to generate a vibe around the club, or are the Red Bulls serious here?

Reports from Spain and stateside claim that the Red Bulls have thrown their name into the ring of fire that is the Rafa Marquez negotiations. For weeks, Marquez and Barcelona have been unable to secure a contract, though word has it they will be signed away by Monday.

The news that Mr. Will Chang has bought out Mr. Victor MacFarlane is, of course, being analyzed for any implication of stadium politics. That's healthy, and I can understand some people's optimism along those lines, but while a simplified stadium approach from Mr. Chang may make it easier, it may also make things more difficult.

Courtesy of our friends at parter ESPN:
"ESPN networks will provide comprehensive studio news and information coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match featuring the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team vs. Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 12, from Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The "game around the game" coverage will be highlighted by a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special on ESPN, Aug.

The BBC Radio was filled with tears for 24 hours, yesterday. Seldom so many grown up men cried so much. Ex players, internationals, Newcastle supporters... they couldn't keep it dry. And who didn't love the guy? Sir Bobby Robson... BBC anchor and ex England player Gary Lineker said Robson was by

The SPL returns today. I know this momentous moment in the nation's cultural and sporting life is being celebrated. Up and down the country flags are being raised as an entire population quivers with anticipation of finding out, in about 10 months, which one of two evil empires will win the league.Anyway.

One point. That's all we need tonight to secure the 2009 Voyageurs Cup, and to bring home our club's first ever trophy. This day could end up being the most significant in our club's history at the end of the day.
Will we be able to rise to the standard and make it happen? Last year we failed, and it sucked.

Does Rafa have any more cash to splash?

Aquilani only signed a new four-year deal with Roma worth £70,000 a week in May, following interest from Arsenal a few months earlier, but he has been enticed away by a five-year deal that will increase his weekly wage to £85,000.

FC Barcelona and Mexico defender Rafael Marquez has a torn muscle in his left calf and will be out for about 15 days, meaning the anchor of Mexico's defense is likely to miss the huge World Cup qualifier against the U.S. next week.

Marquez suffered the injury during light training on Wednesday before Barcelona's exhibition match with the Seattle Sounders.

Football Weekly is the Guardian's superb Football podcast. It is released every Monday, in an edition that reviews the weekend's fixtures, plus a bonus edition every Thursday (Football Weekly Extra) which previews them.

The anchor is James Richardson, of Football Italia and recently deceased Setanta fame, and he is joined by various combinations of Guardian football correspondents, most often Barry Glendenning, Sean Ingle, Sid Lowe, and other peripatetic guests.

If Villarreal continues their poor run of form, El Madrigal will look similar to this on match nights.

After another underwhelming performance in a 0-2 loss to Real Madrid at El Madrigal on Wednesday evening, Villarreal currently sits in 18th place with only two points from four La Liga matches.

Defender Danny Califf has completed a move from Danish SAS-Ligaen club FC FC Midtjylland to Philadelphia Union. "There will be competition for every spot on the pitch" manager Peter Nowak said. "But with a seasoned veteran like Danny Califf, we're adding a player who will help us set the bar ever higher.

The slower - than - a - tortoise start to the season is not all attributable to the lack of reinforcements; many of the teams most dependable players have yet to arrive for 2009 (figuratively speaking of course).

Starting from the top, team Captain Juan Pablo Angel is a touch off this season.

Real Madrid have tabled an offer of £20million for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
President Florentino Perez is determined to press ahead with his move for the Spain playmaker and sees him as the perfect anchor to a new-look midfield that could yet contain Chelsea target Kaka.
Perez said: ‘As a fan, I would say that Xabi is a great player.

Back in November, our season was going from one bad result to another, before taking a nightmare turn when William Gallas uttered the public criticisms that led to his removal as captain of the football club. Back then, it seemed inconceivable that he would still be at the Emirates come the end of this summer.

Charlotte Eagles veterans Dustin Swinehart and Ben Johnson have announced they will retire at the end of the 2009 season.

Dustin Swinehart has been the cornerstone of the Eagles offense for the past twelve seasons. As the Eagles' all-time leading scorer on the field and an integral part of the Charlotte Eagles' organization off the field, he will truly be missed.

"It's not job done, it's job to do"

Arsene Wenger on tonight's game against Celtic in the Champions League qualifying round. Given the 2-0 lead, the start to the season we've made and the fact we're playing at home many think tonight is just a formality.

Now, I would be quite confident indeed that we can go through tonight, nevertheless I think we ought to be a little cautious.

I've been on a train today.
Nice to have a day out of the relentless tasks at the office and a bit of time for reflection.
I took the opportunity to read a book I was recently given called "Personal Brand Essence".
Whilst there wasn't anything essentially new in the text, it was thought provoking.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hailed the World Player of the Year nominations received by silky striker Fernando Torres and talismanic attacker Steven Gerrard; indicating that it bodes well for the club that two of their influential stars have won external commendation.
The Spanish gaffer also noted the increased form of Argentine battler Javier Mascherano insisting that he believes the midfield anchor is returning to his best form.

Well we don't get too many chances to highlight the league's best defenders here at the STO, but this week it was announced that Chad Marshall of the Columbus Crew was named MLS 2009 Defender of the Year. It was a great regular season for Marshall and the Crew and like all winners of the award being on a strong team is part of the criteria.

Danny Califf helped anchor Midtjylland to their first win of 2009 while Jamil Fearrington made his debut for BK Frem in their dramatic victory.

The SPL returns today. I know this momentous moment in the nation's cultural and sporting life is being celebrated. Up and down the country flags are being raised as an entire population quivers with anticipation of finding out, in about 10 months, which one of two evil empires will win the league.Anyway.

Celtic 0-2 Arsenal

Let's get something straight here: Arsenal's goals may have been a tad fortunate last night (a 'backer' from Gallas and an own goal from Gary Scoredwell), but Arsenal earned their luck and more than merited the first English success at Parkhead since 1983.

__________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com

There aren't many players in MLS more versatile than Geoff Cameron, and this year, there were no defenders who were better.

When Houston's defense reached a critical moment of transition, Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear turned to Cameron to help anchor the back-line early in the season and all Cameron did was respond with dominant form few could have expected from the 2008 Rookie of the Year candidate.

__________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com

There aren't many players in MLS more versatile than Geoff Cameron, and this year, there were no defenders who were better.

When Houston's defense reached a critical moment of transition, Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear turned to Cameron to help anchor the back-line early in the season and all Cameron did was respond with dominant form few could have expected from the 2008 Rookie of the Year candidate.

The Sound Of Football is delighted to present to you Football Disaster Movie: An Onion Bag Christmas Podcast.
Burt "Two Phones" Anderson is a top transfer newshound for Sky Sports. On the night before Christmas he discovers that his only reliable source of insider information (the mysterious crackpot scientist Dr Julius Limbani) has dried up and is predicting the end of the World.

Almost certainly a shoo-in for England's best player during the 2006 World Cup, Owen Hargreaves was named Man of the Match in the quarter final against Portugal and ended up being England's only successful penalty taker. He had a great future ahead of him as the anchor of England's midfield. All that seems a long time ago as injury has taken its toll over the past fifteen months.