Soccer:One of the most fascinating ties of the first knockout round of the Champions League is between Manchester United and Inter. It was in this competition and this ground that Inter manager José Mourinho first made his name in England, sprinting down the touchline when his Porto team knocked Fergie's boys out of the Champions League in 2004.
Marathon Travel (www.marathon- travel.ie, 01-4755010) is offering packages to the second leg, at Old Trafford, on Wednesday, March 11th, including tickets and one (€299) or two (€379) nights’ accommodation.
Abbey Travel (www.abbeytravel.ie, 01-8047100) has a one-night ticket and hotel package for €259.
Sportstours (www.sportstours.ie, 01-4572311) is offering a day-trip package for €399 plus taxes per person, including return flights and transfers, match ticket and match programme.
Mourinho’s former club Chelsea play a resurgent Juventus, now managed by fellow former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri. Given how unconvincing the Blues have appeared under Luis Felipe Scolari, don’t be surprised if plenty of the home fans wish Ranieri were back in the home dugout when the Italian giants visit on Wednesday, February 25th.
Sportstours has an attractive package to that match for €389 per person, including return flights, a night’s four-star BB and, of course, a match ticket.
In the other Anglo-Italian match-up, Arsenal play Roma. Both teams have struggled to find their best form in recent months. The first leg, on Tuesday, February 24th, is at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Sportstours is offering a package for €389 per person, including all the same features as the Chelsea package.
In the final English Champions League match of the round, two of the giants of the tournament, Liverpool and Real Madrid, go head to head. Real visit Anfield on Tuesday, March 10th.
Marathon Travel has packages for €399, for a night’s accommodation, or €469, for two nights. Flights not included.