Too bad that Inter Milan's local derby 3-0 loss to AC Milan has reduced to some extent the glamour surrounding their Champions’ league match quarter final first leg match against Schalke on Tuesday.

But make no  mistake,  the defending champions might have reserved their energy for Europe and don't be surprised if E’too and Co pull up another sensational win like they did against Bayern Munich to reach this stage. Watch for thrills.

In the other match on Tuesday, under pressure Coach Jose Mourinho with his remarkable undefeated home record shattered will find Tottenham Hotspurs very unwelcome guests .Harry Redknapp may not have the most charming face in football but he has a lot of tricks up his sleeves and will definitely give Mourinho's Real Madrid who may be without their injured talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, a lot to worry about.

These two great fixtures should serve as a wonderful prelude to Wednesday's pairings involving club of the moment Barcelona and Shaktar Donetsk on one hand and the mother of all fixtures featuring Manchester United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the other hand.

The old rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester may be there all right but in terms of actual prize fighting currently Chelsea and United are the sides to be reckoned with.The historic cup final in Moscow between the two sides three seasons ago that United won on penalties, is still fresh in the minds of both clubs.

Since that defeat on a cold Moscow night, Chelsea have progressed steadily and are currently both the league and FA Cup holders. The blues are   out of the FA Cup and the Premiership is seemingly beyond their reach, so Chelsea boss Ancellotti has little choice but to bank his hopes on the Champions’ league.

This is the motivation for them to fight like mad but Alex Ferguson definitely has other ideas. Its really a battle of equals but if current form is any guide United should have a slight edge.

The upcoming league match between the two sides will give fans a unique chance to see the two great clubs battle for honours three times within a short period.  What a bonanza!

Back home in Ghana, there is a similar clash between veteran Africa campaigners Kumasi Asante Kotoko and defending league champions. Aduana Stars who won the league title on their first attempt last season. It is the third round of the FA Cup that is following a 3-0 win by Kotoko over Aduana in a recent league match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Aduana had earlier in the season beaten Kotoko 2-0 at Dormaa.  This third fixture therefore has a lot at stake and the Baba Yara Stadium should be filled to capacity.

There is a marvelously fresh wind of enthusiasm blowing in Ghana football since the Black Stars recent impressive show against England at Wembley despite the loud political arguments in the media and influx of refugees from neighboring Ivory Coast.

Football fever is all over the place and I can see a jubilant crowd trooping out of the stadium after the Kotoko-Aduana match to watch on TV the European Champions league matches that will follow in the evening.

Football is a real bug. I won’t miss any of the matches lined up at both home and abroad. It is quite a healthy pastime.  I wonder how life would be without football. No wonder Sepp Blatter is finding it difficult to leave scene.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.