Even when they keep a bunch of their best on the bench and fall behind by two goals you can never write off Manchester United in Europe.
    That is Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy: he has convinced his team that they cannot be beaten in Europe.
     It was not all that long ago -- maybe a decade -- when Europe nights were not all that much fun for English teams. Sir Alex has changed all that, not only making United into the most-feared opponent but also lifting the rest of his EPL partners in the Champions League.
    Didn't you know that as soon as Paul Scholes' header beat Igor Akinfeev that United would get all the way back against CSKA Moscow Tuesday night? The Russians certainly played like a team fearing the worst. Yes, Akinfeev had no luck on the own goal that produced the 3-3 final scoreline, but if that hadn't been the one that got United into the last 16 there would have been another.
    Similarly, when Didier Drogba is on the field there's no way to deny Chelsea.
Having missed the first half of the group stage because of last year's semifinal petulance (mind you, he was correct to protest the lack of calls in favor of his team in that infamous Barcelona semifinal triumph), the EPL's most dangerous striker killed off Atletico Madrid's upset hopes with two late goals. Yes, Atletico salvaged something -- maybe a Europa League place -- with their own tying goal, but Drogba and Chelsea march on, perhaps to a date in the final.
    Best win of the night was Bordeaux's in Munich. My goodness, how the one-time Bundesliga power has slipped.
    Juventus got the job done in Israel and Wolfsburg had a dominant night in Turkey. FC Porto joins Chelsea out of Group D, rendering the final two rounds of that section moot.
    Group C is the one which is still wide open after a 1-1 draw in Milan kept both the home team and Real Madrid tied for the top. Marseille is right there, of course, after puncturing the Zurich myth, 6-1 in the Stade Velodrome. This is the section worth following down the home stretch.

    Three huge games today as the fourth round the Champions League group stage concludes.
    There's none bigger than the early kickoff contest in Kazan, when Rubin will attempt to repeat its stunning win over defending champion Barcelona in the 12:30 p.m. Eastern appetizer.
    Then attention will turn to France and Ukraine where two of Europe's famous sides, Liverpool and Inter Milan, face the music.
    Who would have thought that both Barcelona and Inter Milan might be worried about landing in the Europa League?
    Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev have been all that those two Euro giants can handle in the first half of Group F's round robin. If both Eastern European teams win today they would be 1-2 in the section with two matches remaining.
    Rubin's win in Barcelona was totally unexpected two weeks ago. That night they got off to a fast start, defended stoutly and did not cave when the defending Euro champs scored early in the second half. Barca sometimes looks like a Spanish Arsenal -- lots of pretty football, not quite all the necessary steel. That formula won't get the job done tonight in Kazan.
    Dynamo Kiev can create serious problems for Inter Milan with a home win this evening. Three draws on the trot are all that Jose Mourinho's team has to show so far and even one of football's most "results are what matter" managers must be concerned about how this group is unfolding.

    Over in France it's Rafa Benitez and Liverpool on the spot in Lyon. Benitez gambled on Steven Gerrard's fitness two weeks ago in the first meeting, saw his captain limp off in 20-plus minutes and we all know what happened next. Now the embattled Benitez is facing further criticism over playing Fernando Torres too much and maybe too soon in another injury-return.
    Lyon starts with a perfect nine points tonight and can qualify out of Group E with a result. Should that happen, especially if Fiorentina defeats Debrecen in Italy, Liverpool could be left staring directly into the Europa League.

    Sevilla and Arsenal can both wrap up their campaigns with home wins tonight. In Group G, where Sevilla is perfect, the more interesting question is whether Unirea can repeat its demolition of Rangers and advance toward the knockout stage.
    Group H can actually finish tonight. If Arsenal and Olympiakos both win that would qualify both teams and leave AZ and Standard to fight for third and the Europa League.

TODAY ON TV:

Today's lineup (Kicks are at 14:45 Eastern Standard, expect in Kazan)
Group E
Lyon vs. Liverpool, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Espanol, DTV 467; Fiorentina vs. Debrecen, DTV 465
Group F
Rubin Kazan vs. Barcelona, Fox Soccer Channel, 12:30 Eastern; Dynamo Kiev vs. Inter Milan, DTV 462
Group G
Sevilla vs. VfB Stuttgart, DTV 463; Unirea vs. Rangers, DTV 464
Group H
Standard Liege vs. Olympiakos, DTV 466; Arsenal vs. AZ Alkmaar, Setanta


AND:
U17WC: USA v Italy and Colombia v Argentina at 0948 ESPN360. Followed up by Germany v Switzerland and UAE v Turkey at 1248.