Aggregate: 6 – 3
Barcelona         5 – 2         Lyon
Henry 25, 27,                        Makoun 44, Juninho 48
Messi 40, Eto’o 43,
Keita 90+ 5

Four goals in 18 first-half minutes and a superb individual display from Thierry Henry helped FC Barcelona into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Olympique Lyonnais despite a defiant performance from the French champions.

Decisive spell
Henry, who had worked with Lyon coach Claude Puel at AS Monaco FC, put the home team in front in the 25th minute and added another composed finish two minutes later as the visitors were punished for lapses in concentration. After Lionel Messi made it 3-0, Henry set up Samuel Eto’o to thump in a fourth, although Lyon – beaten in the first knockout round for the third year in a row – refused to concede defeat, Jean II Makoun and Juninho Pernambucano restoring respectability to the scoreline with strikes either side of half-time. The latter was sent off in stoppage time, however, and appropriately Barcelona had the last word as substitute Seydou Keita scored a fifth in added time.

Lyon undone
The opening goals had carried plenty of warning but the roars which greeted them signified both joy and relief because Puel’s side had played with enthusiasm to keep Barça at bay. After the creativity of Andrés Iniesta had given Xavi Hernández and Eto’o glimpses of Hugo Lloris’s goal, once again it was Henry – author of the vital headed equaliser in the first leg – who unlocked the away defence. The opener bore the creative hallmark of Rafael Márquez. Lyon, having been encamped in their penalty area for several minutes, suddenly lost their defensive shape and surged forward. Márquez won a loose ball and instantly angled a clever chipped pass over Cris and Jean-Alain Boumsong for Henry to streak through and slide past the exposed Lloris. Two minutes later Xavi spotted the Frenchman alone and in line with the Lyon back four; speed of thought and pass left Henry to supply another assured finish. Suddenly Barça’s path to the quarter-finals looked clear.

First-half Flurry Seals Barça Passage … read more »

Aggregate: 1 – 1 Arsenal (7 – 6) win on penalties Arsenal
Roma    1 – 0     Arsenal
Juan 9

Arsenal FC are through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after an epic penalty shoot-out win at AS Roma.

Shoot-out
It took only nine minutes for Roma defender Juan to level the aggregate scores, yet almost two hours later – despite numerous chances at either end – there was still nothing to choose between the sides as first extra time and then spot-kicks ensued. Both goalkeepers made saves in the shoot-out, from Mirko Vučinić and Eduardo da Silva respectively, before Max Tonetto’s decisive miss. Tonetto blazed Roma’s eighth effort over as the Giallorossi’s dream of playing the final at their home stadium, as they had done in 1984, died.

Juan strikes
Arsenal, who had come to attack, made the more assured opening, but the first few minutes turned out to be all about Juan. First the Brazilian, back from a thigh injury, came to David Pizarro’s rescue after Robin van Persie had pounced on a back-pass. The centre-back then briefly limped off with the majority of the 65,000 tifosi fearing the worst, yet was soon back with a bang as Francesco Totti’s left-wing cross found its way through the legs of William Gallas and Rodrigo Taddei for Juan to control before calmly side-footing past Manuel Almunia.

Arsenal Advance After Epic Rome Shoot-out … read more »

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 »