Porto 0 – 0 Atlético

Club Atlético de Madrid were made to pay for their cavalier defending in the first leg as FC Porto progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2003/04.

Porto on top
Ultimately Lisandro’s two away goals in the 2-2 draw at the Vicente Calderón a fortnight ago proved the difference between the sides, but it could have been much, much more. The hosts dominated from the off, Bruno Alves being denied by the woodwork early on; he would not be the last. For all their intent the Spanish visitors never really looked like stealing the initiative and it was they who ended the match on the back foot, only a combination of keeper Leo Franco’s brilliance and Porto’s profligacy ensuring a goalless draw on the night.

Attacking vim
Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira said on the eve of the game that he believed attack would be the best form of defence at the Estádio do Dragão, and if that adage is true then they were watertight in the opening stages. Within two minutes of kick-off, Rolando had headed a Lucho free-kick narrowly wide and it proved a sign of things to come. Lisandro threatened following Hulk’s fine cross-field pass, his effort being deflected wide, before a long-range Raul Meireles shot looped up off a defender and into the grateful arms of Franco.

Porto Prove Too Strong For Atlético … read more »

Chelsea FC are through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the third year running after overcoming Juventus 3-2 on aggregate following an exciting 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.

Essien mark
Vincenzo Iaquinta wiped out Didier Drogba’s first-leg goal after 19 minutes, yet Juventus were left needing to score two more after Michael Essien – making his first start after six months out with a cruciate ligament injury – struck in first-half added time. Although Alessandro Del Piero’s second-half penalty gave the Bianconeri hope, Claudio Ranieri’s men first lost Giorgio Chiellini to a red card on 70 minutes and then the tie as Drogba equalised seven minutes from time.

Nedvěd blow
With Juventus having to overturn a first-leg deficit and Ranieri limited in his midfield options due to myriad injury problems, the former Chelsea boss used a 4-3-3 formation for the first time this season. The hosts began well, David Trezeguet heading Cristian Molinaro’s cross over in the first minute, but were soon cursing their luck as Pavel Nedvěd, who had started strongly, was replaced on 13 minutes by Hasan Salihamidžić. Iaquinta was also lively, dropping deep to supplement the midfield and combining well with his two strike partners. This was no better exemplified than by his magnificent opening goal, as the forward deftly flicked a long ball to Trezeguet, raced on to the Frenchman’s perfect angled pass and applied a sublime clipped finish.

Chelsea Edge Out Juve To Reach Last Eight … read more »

Ariel Ibagaza scored one and set up a decisive second for substitute Joseba Llorente as Villarreal CF earned a hard-fought victory against Panathinaikos FC in Athens to secure a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Crucial strike
Manuel Pellegrini’s side reached the last four on their competition debut in 2005/06 and remain on course to emulate that despite going into tonight with a minor disadvantage having conceded an away goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw. Ibagaza ensured that would not prove telling when he broke the deadlock with a venomous strike soon after half-time and, though Vangelis Mantzios swiftly equalised, Llorente rounded off an Ibagaza-led counterattack with 20 minutes left to seal Villarreal’s place in next Friday’s draw.

Early passion
Panathinaikos coach Henk ten Cate had insisted passion and desire would be needed in abundance and there was plenty of both on display in the opening exchanges. Mantzios, back in the side for the first time since straining a knee ligament in the sides’ encounter a fortnight ago, showed glimpses of skill with a couple of neat twists and turns as the hosts dominated without ever really penetrating the visitors’ back line. Instead it was Villarreal who registered the first shot on target through Nihat Kahveci, but the Turkish striker’s reflex effort was easily gathered by Mario Galinović.

Clinical Villarreal Put Paid To Panathinaikos … read more »

FC Bayern München sent out a stark warning to their potential UEFA Champions League quarter-final rivals by completing the record margin of victory and aggregate scoreline in a post-group stage knockout tie in sweeping aside Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Record win
Two Lukas Podolski strikes and a Bastian Schweinsteiger effort were supplemented by an Anderson Polga own goal as João Moutinho gave Sporting scant half-time consolation with a superb strike. After the interval Mark van Bommel, a Miroslav Klose penalty and a maiden goal from youngster Thomas Müller ensured Jürgen Klinsmann’s side, who were without injured stars Franck Ribéry and Luca Toni, provided a couple of new entries for the competition record books.

Early strike
Bayern started with the confidence borne of their first-leg triumph and, if their self-belief needed any more reinforcement, Podolski provided it within seven minutes. The German international, who may not have been playing had Toni been fit, had already produced one dangerous cross before he nonchalantly struck a left-foot shot that dipped wickedly over Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patrício.

Record-breaking Bayern Stroll Past Sporting … read more »

Liverpool          4 – 0                Real Madrid
Torres 16,

Gerrard 28(pen), 47,

Dossena 88

A commanding performance took Liverpool FC through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the third season in a row as two goals by Steven Gerrard and one each from Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena overwhelmed Real Madrid CF at Anfield.

Bright start
The result, Los Merengues’ biggest margin of defeat in this competition, was nothing more than Liverpool deserved as they took hold of the game from the outset. Torres opened the scoring just past the quarter-hour and Gerrard doubled the lead from the penalty spot before half-time. Gerrard scored his second and Liverpool’s third early in the second period and substitute Dossena added a late fourth, leaving Madrid to reflect on yet another campaign ending in the first knockout round. They have been eliminated at this stage in each of the last five seasons, though few exits have been more painful.

Casillas excels
A lightning-quick move almost unlocked the visiting defence as early as the fourth minute, Gerrard’s stunning burst of pace setting up Torres for a clever back-heel that created space for a side-footed shot which Iker Casillas’s right foot deflected to safety. From the resulting corner Javier Mascherano tried his luck with a dipping volley and once again the Madrid goalkeeper produced a tremendous stop to tip it on to the crossbar and over.

Lethal Liverpool Too Much For Madrid … read more »