There is an evolution to being a soccer fan.  The first step is the World Cup and National Team play.  I think many of you are there, but you think the next step is watching the MLS.  No, no, no, that's the LAST step.  I'm not even there.

The next step is watching the UEFA Champions League, which matches the greatest clubs in Europe (greatest players in the world) in a year long tournament that features the highest quality football soccer.  

We are right in the middle of the Champions League, so I have prepared a viewer's guide to help you catch up and then eventually catch on.  

Format

32 teams qualify for the group stage of the tournament based on finishing at or near the top of their domestic league.  (The English league gets 4 qualifiers because it's so strong, the Greek league gets two.)

The 32 teams are drawn into 8 groups of 4 and they play each other home and road over the course of the Fall.  The top 2 teams from each group advance.

The remaining 16 teams are drawn into a single elimination tournament, but it is played over two legs.  Each matchup is a home-and-home and the winner is determined by the aggregate score of the two games.  In the event of a tie, the team that scored more goals on the road is the winner. 

The Champions League Final is like the Super Bowl.  It's played at a predetermined neutral site and it's just one game for all the glory.

"When are we?"

The UCL is down to the round of 16 and the second and final leg of each matchup is scheduled for this week, so it's just starting to heat up.

1st Leg Scores and 2nd Leg Schedule

Playing Second Leg on Tuesday, March 10th 

Chelsea (1) vs. Juventus (0) - ESPN or ESPN Classic

Real Madrid (0) vs. Liverpool (1) - ESPN or ESPN Classic

Villareal (1) vs. Panathinaikos (1)

Sporting Lisbon (0) vs. Bayern Munich (5)

Playing Second Leg on Wednesday, March 11th

Inter Milan (0) vs. Manchester United (0) - ESPN

Arsenal (1) vs. Roma (0) - ESPN Classic

Lyon (1) vs. Barcelona (1)

Atletico Madrid (2) vs. Porto (2) 

Teams

Manchester United - Over the last calendar year, they are the undisputed best team in the world.  They won the Champions League last Spring after winning their second straight English Premier League (EPL) title.  They have the Player of the Year in Christiano Ronaldo and a host of other characters that are capable of magical football.  Sir Alex Ferguson (he's a knight like Lancelot) is the most accomplished manager in the tournament. 

Chelsea - The Blues were a penalty kick away from being the UCL holders, but their skipper (captain) John Terry is English and English players never fare well in shootouts.  He missed wide right and moments later Chelsea's dreams were crushed.  Since then, they have been team turmoil.  They are working on their 4th manager in two years and currently sit in a distant tie for second in the EPL.

Liverpool - The Champions League specialists are in the midst of their most consistent season in a decade.  They won this tournament in 2005, but they have struggled in league play for most of the decade.  They feature a large Spanish contingent, including striker Fernando Torres, thanks to their manager Rafa Benitez, but their leader is English midfielder Steven Gerrard.  

Arsenal - The Gunners are famous for beautiful football, but they have lost their finishing touch in recent years.  They are currently mired in 5th place in th EPL and they won't get a UCL boost from new Russian signing Andrei Arshavin because he is cup tied (he played for his old club Zenit St. Petersburg during the group stage and they were eliminated, so he's not eligible).  

Inter Milan - The Italian League, Serie A, is right behind the EPL in depth and quality.  Inter have dominated their domestic competition and temporarily stepped out from behind AC Milan's shadow.  They are managed by Jose Mourinho, the self-proclaimed "Chosen One," who won the UCL with Porto in 2004.

Juventus - The Italian giants were relegated (sent down to the minors) last year after a cheating scandal was exposed.  They are rich in tradition, but they're not back at the elite level quite yet.

Roma - An underrated squad from Italy, but they are still searching for a real breakthrough season.  Manchester United thrashed them 7-1 in a quarterfinal two years ago.

Barcelona - The Spanish League features two real contenders, Barca and Real Madrid.  Barcelona is a perennial favorite for this crown and they have been in dominant form this season.  They are led by Argentine Lionel Messi, who has been the best player in the world this season.  

Real Madrid - The Galacticos always look better on paper than on the pitch.  A crucial injury to Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy has hamstrung their chances this year.

Atletico Madrid - The second team from Spain's capital city has surprised this season.  They are struggling in league play, but they look primed to make the UCL quarterfinals.

Villareal - The "Yellow Submarine" has become a consistent UCL performer.  They are led by New Jersey bred striker Giuseppi Rossi, who claims Italy as his home country and national team (sucks to be the U.S.).

Bayern Munich - The German machine were on the wrong end of the most famous UCL Final in 1999 when Manchester United scored two injury time goals to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win.  They have struggled in recent years, but they hammered Sporting Lisbon in the first leg.

Porto - As I mentioned, they were surprise winners in 2004.  They have not really threatened since.

Sporting Lisbon - No need to worry about them, they will be gone this week.  

Lyon - They win the French league every year and they usually make it out of the UCL group stage.  Then, they hit their ceiling.

Panathinaikos - The Greek champs are not a contender, but don't mock Greek soccer as their national team won the EuroCup in 2004. 

Players

Lionel Messi, Barcelona - He can dribble through an entire defense like he's a video game character.  

Christiano Ronaldo, Manchester United - He has enough tricks to make David Copperfield jealous.

Fernando Torres, Liverpool - He has the talent to be the best goal-scorer in the world.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Inter Milan - The towering Swede's motivation has been questioned at times, but never his ability.

Frank Lampard, Chelsea - How can somebody always be in the right place at the right time?  

Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich - He has a face that would scare children (sorry!), but a game that scares defenders.

Francesco Totti, Roma - He's capable of doing anything, including spitting in his opponents face.

Prediction

I like Barcelona over Liverpool in the Final.