Another enthralling encounter between these teams left Chelsea FC celebrating a fifth UEFA Champions League semi-final appearance in the last six seasons. But what a fright Liverpool FC gave them after they first established a 2-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes and then scored twice again late on.

Goals galore
The 3-1 first-leg deficit was a formidable barrier for the Anfield club to overcome but they set about it with gusto and Fábio Aurélio’s free-kick and Xabi Alonso’s penalty had the scores level. However, Chelsea roared back with second-half goals from Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard. Lucas, with a deflected shot, and a Dirk Kuyt header left the home supporters fearing the worst but Lampard scored again with a minute remaining to ensure Chelsea a semi-final meeting with FC Barcelona.

Gerrard out
With Steven Gerrard ruled out with a groin injury, Liverpool’s task looked even more onerous. While their desire was all too apparent, the early passing lacked sufficient sharpness, even if they created a good chance in the 13th minute that Fernando Torres would normally have put away. It was skilfully created by Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun but having sidestepped Alex’s challenge, Torres was unable to keep his shot down.

Chelsea Withstand Stunning Liverpool Surge … read more »

Jürgen Klinsmann got his wish as FC Bayern München departed the competition with heads held high, even if Seydou Keita denied them victory on the night as FC Barcelona eased through to the semi-finals with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate triumph.

Subdued visitors
After their 4-0 first-leg defeat in Catalonia, Bayern were determined to restore pride, and appeared on course for a morale-boosting win when Franck Ribéry put them in front early in the second half. However, though deprived of coach Josep Guardiola, who was serving a one-match touchline ban, a subdued Barça sprang to life to conjure an equaliser through Seydou Keita to reach the last four for the third time in four years.

Toni chance
Klinsmann had promised his team would be on the front foot from the opening minute, and Bayern were true to their coach’s word as they showed more enterprise in the first five minutes than in all 90 of their loss last Wednesday. The German titleholders should even have raised hopes of an improbable comeback with an early goal, only for Luca Toni to miscue his header from José Ernesto Sosa’s pinpoint delivery. While the Argentinian, a surprise inclusion in place of Bastian Schweinsteiger, provided menace on the right, a penetrating Ribéry run down the left forced a corner from which Zé Roberto was given a clear sight of goal, but the Brazilian scuffed his effort.

Bayern Save Face as Barcelona Keep Apace … read more »

An enthralling first-half display put FC Barcelona within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four seasons as FC Bayern München were brushed aside at the Camp Nou.

Outstanding display
Two first-half goals from Lionel Messi plus one each from Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry ripped through the resistance of a Bayern side who had themselves scored a record 12 times against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the previous round, comprehensively ending the German club’s 100 per cent competitive record against Barça here. Ten years on from their final defeat by Manchester United FC there was more misery in Barcelona for Bayern, for whom Hans Jörg Butt made only his second start of the season in goal in place of Michael Rensing. The decision to opt for experience was to no avail as the Liga leaders imposed themselves at will with all three strikers in dazzling form.

Early breakthrough
Barça were into their stride from the first whistle and, even before Messi’s ninth-minute opener, a lovely interchange of passes between Daniel Alves, Xavi Hernández and Henry allowed the latter to round Butt. Martín Demichelis cleared off the line but the respite was brief for a Bayern defence already deprived of Lucio and Daniel Van Buyten and with a calf injury restricting Philipp Lahm to a place on the bench. Within moments Andrés Iniesta dribbled past Hamit Altıntop and Eto’o held off Breno before setting Messi free to slide past Butt.

Barça Brilliance Turns Tables on Bayern … read more »

Two headers by Branislav Ivanović and a clinical finish by Didier Drogba brought Chelsea FC to the verge of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals as they ended their barren run of European visits to Liverpool FC.

Goal flurry
Chelsea had only a John Arne Riise own goal to show for the previous four recent UEFA Champions League trips to Anfield but Serbian defender Ivanović, who had never previously scored for Chelsea, found the net from two corners either side of the break, while Drogba neatly tucked the third in from four metres out. Liverpool now have an enormous job on their hands at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday if they are to stay in the competition, despite forging an early lead through Fernando Torres.

Torres strikes
Dirk Kuyt set the move rolling for that sixth-minute goal with a superb back-heel out to the right wing, where Álvaro Arbeloa crossed for Torres to calmly side-foot the ball into the corner of the net from close to the penalty spot. Moments later, Drogba had a glorious chance to equalise when he found himself through on Pepe Reina after being released by Salomon Kalou at the Kop end, but the Spanish goalkeeper – making his 100th appearance in UEFA club competition – blocked the Ivorian striker’s shot, which was straight at his body.

Unlikely Hero Ivanović Heads Chelsea Charge … read more »

Emmanuel Adebayor’s brilliant overhead effort cancelled out an equally spectacular strike from Marcos Senna to put Arsenal FC in a strong position in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Villarreal CF.

Stunning strikes
The Spanish side, keen to erase the memories of their semi-final defeat against these opponents three years ago, started at quickfire pace and took the lead ten minutes in, Senna unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 metres. Arsenal lost goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and William Gallas to injury before the first half was over, but for the third time in as many meetings the Yellow Submarine could not quite impose themselves on the Gunners, Adebayor’s instinctive effort midway through the second period giving the visitors a priceless away goal to take into next week’s return in north London.

Fine opener
Villarreal were quickly into their stride and soon claimed a goal which would have been fit to win the tournament itself, Giuseppe Rossi drawing sufficient attention to give his captain time and space to collect his short pass. Senna had not scored for more than five months but his aim was unerring, a lethal right-root shot finding the top corner of the net. Almunia was blameless then but his evening was to deteriorate further as, having damaged his right ankle in an early challenge with Rossi, he limped off after 28 minutes to be replaced by Łukasz Fabiański for only his second appearance in the competition.

Adebayor Acrobatics Give Arsenal The Edge … read more »