Stylish Barcelona take United's crown

FC Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United FC

FC Barcelona were crowned European champions for a third time – and the second in four seasons – as a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United FC in Rome.

Holders toppled
United, bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy in the UEFA Champions League era, began an open contest at breakneck speed as Cristiano Ronaldo threatened three times. After ten minutes, however, Eto'o put the Spanish champions ahead and they never looked back. Xavi Hernández struck a post early in the second period and, though the clinching second goal did not arrive until the 70th minute – via, unusually, the head of Messi – Josep Guardiola's side were worthy winners. The 38-year-old becomes the sixth man to lift the European Champion Clubs' Cup as player and coach; United are the sixth club to lose the final as holders.

Relentless Ronaldo
Fourteen of the players who started the game had featured in a UEFA Champions League final before, yet initially it seemed United's experience would prove more telling. Ronaldo made his presence felt by unleashing a dipping free-kick that Víctor Valdés could only parry; former United defender Gerard Piqué's last-ditch tackle prevented Ji-Sung Park from converting the rebound. Ronaldo then had Valdés scrambling across goal twice in as many minutes with shots from distance. If an early breakthrough looked imminent, disastrously for United it arrived when Barcelona struck with their first real attack.

Eto'o brilliance
Fit-again Andrés Iniesta was the orchestrator, finding Eto'o inside the area, but there was still plenty for the striker to do with Nemanja Vidić in close attendance. One swift turn inside the centre-back later, Eto'o was free to prod a shot inside Edwin van der Sar's near post. United's vocal supporters were stunned into silence and their team mirrored that reaction, with Barcelona enjoying the better of the half thereafter. Perhaps not surprisingly against the competition's best defence, however, clear chances were at a premium. Long-range efforts from Messi and Xavi, and a low Messi cross fumbled by Van der Sar, were the best Barça could muster.

United reprieves
Sir Alex Ferguson had said beforehand that his best team-talks "usually come to me about three in the morning" and the Scot sorely needed inspiration in his half-time instructions, opting to introduce Carlos Tévez for Anderson. This did little to stem the tide. Thierry Henry tricked his way past Rio Ferdinand only to shoot weakly against Van der Sar before Xavi curled a free-kick beyond the keeper, the post coming to United's rescue. Then Wayne Rooney's right-wing centre bounced over Park's lunge as the holders began to edge their way back into proceedings, disrupting Barcelona's rhythm though creating little of their own.

Messi decisive
Twenty minutes from time, that hard work was undone. Xavi was allowed to advance down the right; with time and space, the midfielder measured a pinpoint cross for Messi, enjoying similar freedom, and the UEFA Champions League's top scorer produced a fabulous header for his ninth goal of this campaign. Valdés promptly denied Ronaldo to preserve the two-goal cushion, yet the better openings continued to come at the other end – Van der Sar frustrating Carles Puyol twice and Iniesta. Sir Alex therefore missed out on joining Bob Paisley as the only manager to lift three European Cups. Instead, Guardiola's superbly inventive Barça became the first Spanish side to win league, cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season.

(From Website : )

Grief and disbelief as Chelsea bow out

by Trevor Haylett from London

Nothing will ever match Moscow 2008 for sheer disappointment for Chelsea FC's players but Andrés Iniesta's added-time equaliser for FC Barcelona, which consigned them to another defeat in a UEFA Champions League semi-final, runs it pretty close.

Bitter end
Twelve months after they lost the final to Manchester United FC in an agonising penalty shoot-out, Chelsea's hopes of making amends by winning this season's competition came to a bitter end just when it looked as if Michael Essien's stunning ninth-minute volley would carry the day against Barcelona. "We have been knocked out of a semi-final and we are obviously going to be down, especially considering the circumstances in which it happened," said Frank Lampard.

Still believing
"We were disappointed we could not take our other chances and in the end we have been kicked in the teeth," he added. "It's a big disappointment but we have to be big and stand up to be counted. We have to be professional and we have to believe we can still get to another Champions League final and win it. There would be no point carrying on otherwise."

No luck
After their fourth semi-final defeat in this competition in six seasons, Michael Ballack believes the fates have turned against Chelsea. "Last year was a big, big disappointment when it came down to one penalty and now we have been beaten by a goal in the 93rd or 94th minute," he said. "It is just unbelievable. Normally you can't say that the wrong team has gone through to the final but we had the better chances and that's why we deserved to have won. We know Barcelona are a great team and they can play great football but we were the better team."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=827570.html)

'It's a dream to see what he can do'

Manchester United FC defender John O'Shea hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the "world's best" after the Portuguese forward's two goals helped the holders sweep aside the challenge of Arsenal FC to book their place in the UEFA Champions League final.

'Just a dream'
United were 3-1 winners on the night – securing a 4-1 aggregate success – as they built on the eighth-minute lead given them by Park Ji-Sung with two spectacular efforts from Cristiano Ronaldo, the first just three minutes after Park's goal. O'Shea, scorer of the only goal of the first leg, said: "Ronaldo stepped up to the plate and showed everyone why he is the world's best player. It's just a dream to see what he can do.

'Tactics worked a treat'
"It was an amazing feeling because we played so well," the Irish international defender added. "We knew the players we have for the counterattack were going to do it for us and in the first half in particular the tactics worked a treat – it was an amazing goal from Ronaldo to really kill the game off." After Park had profited from a Kieran Gibbs slip to open the scoring, Ronaldo struck a stunning second as he beat Almunia with the speed and swerve of his incredible free-kick from 40 metres. Ronaldo defended Arsenal's goalkeeper for his failure to reach the strike, saying: "The shot was quite difficult to save because the ball moved a little bit. It was a good goal."

Superlatives
There were as many superlatives as smiles as United's players reflected on a famous victory, the first by a visiting team to Arsenal FC in the competition since Chelsea FC eliminated the Gunners in the 2003/04 quarter-finals at Highbury. And one that leaves them within touching distance of a fourth European Champion Clubs' Cup. Substitute Ryan Giggs praised the "brilliant" all-round team performance underlined by the lightning-quick counterattacking move between Ronaldo, Park and Wayne Rooney that the Portuguese concluded with United's third goal just after the hour. "The passing and the movement was brilliant all night and that third goal just topped off a great performance," said the 35-year-old, a veteran of United's first European conquest under Sir Alex Ferguson ten years ago.

'Goals change games'
Giggs added that the early goal – Park's first in the UEFA Champions League – was pivotal. "It put the pressure right back on Arsenal knowing they would have to score three goals," he said. United took full advantage of the spaces Arsenal left behind as they pushed forward and could have had more than three goals, Ronaldo and Rooney both forcing Almunia into smart saves more than once. Indeed, they ended the night with twice as many shots on target as their opponents (ten to five) from 44 per cent of the possession. Forward Rooney added: "Goals change games and I think that was the case tonight. Once we scored, Arsenal knew they needed three, and then to score again just knocked the wind out of Arsenal's sails. There was some great play and to do that against a very good Arsenal side was brilliant."

Sour note
The only sour note was the late sending-off of Darren Fletcher who will now miss the final on 30 May against FC Barcelona or Chelsea FC. Fletcher was shown the red card by referee Roberto Rosetti for bringing down Cesc Fàbregas for Arsenal's late penalty, converted by Robin van Persie, and midfielder Michael Carrick said of his colleague: "He has been unbelievable this season and to lose out like that is just so hard to take."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=827158.html )

Ronaldo magic seals United progress

Cristiano Ronaldo fired Manchester United FC into the last four of the UEFA Champions League as his breathtaking early goal broke the resistance of his compatriots from FC Porto.

World-class effort
United's Portuguese forward may have had a mixed season but his world-class talent has never been in doubt and he underlined it here with the 35-metre strike that secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side who – in the process – became the first English team to win at Porto. History has never been an impediment to Sir Alex Ferguson, who has rewritten the record books in over two decades at Old Trafford, and his quintuple-chasing team can now look forward to a semi-final against Arsenal FC with renewed heart having rediscovered their defensive solidity here with a first clean sheet in six matches.

Stunner
Just as Porto shot out of the starting blocks at Old Trafford so United seized the early initiative here. There seemed no danger when Ronaldo collected a short pass from Anderson – a surprise starter but effective against his old team. However, the United No7 looked up and, before Aly Cissokho could get close, let fly from 35 metres, sending the ball on a trajectory into the top right corner of Helton's goal.

Lucho blow
The Estádio do Dragão, so vibrant before kick-off, was briefly silenced although it was the home side who took longer to respond, the attacking fluency Porto had displayed in Manchester largely absent as United enjoyed the lion's share of possession. Bruno Alves threatened twice from set-pieces, first with a long-range strike then a header from Raul Meireles's ball into the box, but with Rio Ferdinand back to bolster United's defence, in open play the home team got no closer than Lisandro's speculative turn and volley at Edwin van der Sar. And things took a definite turn for the worse for the hosts on the half-hour with playmaker Lucho departing the action on a stretcher with an apparent knee injury, winger Mariano taking his place.

United threat
If Porto were unfortunate to lose Lucho, they could consider themselves lucky not to have reached the interval goals two down as Nemanja Vidić somehow turned the ball over the crossbar when it looked easier to score after John O'Shea had flicked on a Ryan Giggs corner. The heavens opened as the game restarted and there were chances at both ends, Dimitar Berbatov drawing a save from Helton before Meireles shot narrowly over from distance. With the noisy backing of the home crowd, Porto were seeing more of the ball but United's counterattacks carried the greater threat. With Giggs excelling, it took a fine block by Fernando to thwart Rooney and Helton then had to race out of his goal to beat Ronaldo to the Welshman's through ball.

Home and dry
For Porto, set-pieces appeared the best hope and Rolando almost profited from Van der Sar's failure to reach a Meireles corner, heading wide of the far post with 12 minutes remaining. Lisandro then steered Mariano's cross straight at the Dutch goalkeeper but there would be no late twist to match Costinha's goal when the sides met five years ago. Despite the teeming rain, United were home and dry.

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15278/match=302808/report=rp.html)

'We're still super outsiders'

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal

Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger believes his side were rewarded for their attacking endeavours as goals from Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie ended the UEFA Champions League hopes of Villarreal CF to set up a mouthwatering semi-final against holders Manchester United FC. Wenger still describes his team as "super outsiders" to lift the trophy in Rome on 27 May, but his opposite number Manuel Pellegrini was less pessimistic, acknowledging the victors deserved their place in the semi-finals.

Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
I said before we would play to win and the team we had out was an offensive one. We attacked well against a team who keep the ball but we used the ball well when we had it and did well with our pressing. I was impressed with the quality and speed of our game overall and we gave a technically very good Villarreal team problems where they didn't like it – going in behind them and counterattacking well.

We have confidence at the moment and that is down to the slow progress, from game to game, in the championship. Confidence transfers from one competition to another, you can't pick your matches. I never doubted these players but when you don't win games you want better. I was always convinced but I was more worried, not about the quality of the players but more the confidence and belief of a very young side. It's always difficult when you don’t win games and I was worried with the mental side at the start of the season. But this group has shown they are mentally strong.

Games between Manchester United and Arsenal are always very exciting, both teams like to go forward. It's a test but it is a challenge we will relish and we're excited about that. [Playing another English team] is difficult because of the quality of the teams but psychologically it is not difficult; if you want to go far in the Champions League you have to play another English team. I'd like to first enjoy the qualification; history always has a part to play but it's a cup competition now, over 180 minutes and the form on the day and how much we can manage to be physically well on the day will determine how we do. We're still super-outsiders.

Manuel Pellegrini, Villarreal coach
Arsenal were better than us in the end. When it was 1-0 we still had a chance, but when they scored the second goal it was very difficult for us to come back from that. As far as the penalty is concerned, I was too far away to see it but the referee gave it and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't know why [Sebastián] Eguren was sent off, I haven't spoken to him about it. Of course I'm disappointed, we obviously wanted to get through to the semi-final but Arsenal were better than us, even before the sending-off. I have no complaints. They are in the semi-finals now and when you're there, anything can happen. It will be a difficult tie against Manchester United – it will be 50-50 and it's very difficult to predict what will happen.

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15278/match=302807/report=rw.html)

Touré turns attention to formidable Chelsea

FC Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré told uefa.com his team will have to continue their devastating home form if they are to overcome Chelsea FC and reach the UEFA Champions League final.

Déjà vu
The Ivorian international helped the 2005/06 European champions secure a place in the last four with a 1-1 draw at FC Bayern München on Tuesday, which set the seal on an emphatic 5-1 aggregate triumph. It was a burst of four goals in a thrilling first 45 minutes in the first leg at the Camp Nou that paved their way to the last four, though, which itself had followed a 5-2 win against Olympique Lyonnais in the first knockout round in Spain. With the opening leg of the semi-final also to be played in Catalonia, Touré is hoping for déjà vu against Chelsea.

Home strength
"There wasn't much to play for tonight after our first-leg performance, it was more a question of reinforcing the advantage we had," he said. "Chelsea are a great side. To win the Champions League, we have to play the biggest teams. We're going to play the first game at home, so we'll try to play as we did against Lyon and against Bayern. We know it won't be easy, but we're going to keep on working as we have done up until now."

Industry
That industry was in evidence at the Fuβball Arena München where Barcelona withstood a spirited opening from Bayern, and earned themselves a draw thanks to Seydou Keita's 73rd-minute strike after Franck Ribéry had given the hosts the lead two minutes after the interval. Touré paid tribute to his less glamourous team-mates who, like him, toil in the shadow of the media glare cast upon the likes of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry.

'Great defence'
"I think we have to say that we have some fantastic defenders. They work a lot, because it's not easy to have great attacking players in your side, and defend with just four at the back as you can concede a goal on the counterattack," said the former AS Monaco FC player, who is aware that Chelsea's athletic prowess even exceeds that of his own side. "They are in great physical form, work very hard, and I think that – physically – they're better than we are. What we know how to do, though, is keep the ball. We're going to try and have fun, and win the game."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=820323.html)

Hiddink fire fuels Chelsea recovery

Chelsea FC's stirring recovery to finally smother Liverpool FC's formidable challenge at Stamford Bridge and claim a memorable UEFA Champions League quarter-final triumph was not the result of any great tactical change but something far more fundamental, according to midfielder Frank Lampard.

'Turn up please'
"It was a case of 'just turn up and play please' [from coach Guus Hiddink at half-time] because in the first half we did not turn up," said Lampard, whose two goals helped earn Chelsea a 4-4 draw on the night and a 7-5 aggregate victory. "No matter what tactics you play, if you don't get near them, if you don't work hard enough, you're going to fall behind. We knew we had to up our game and I'm just delighted to score two goals. The way Liverpool played was very, very special but we made it difficult for ourselves."

'Great personality'
Florent Malouda said it was a "crazy" game and a "fantastic" occasion for the fans". He added the fact Chlesea had conceded three goals against Bolton Wanderers FC on Saturday, in a 4-3 win, weighed heavily on their minds and contributed to a poor start in which Fábio Aurélio, from a free-kick, and Xabi Alonso, from a penalty, had wiped out Liverpool's two-goal deficit from the first leg. "At 2-0 down we showed great personality to change the game and we should be proud because it was not easy," said the French midfielder. "It's unusual for us to concede so many goals but it is also unusual for Chelsea v Liverpool matches to produce so many goals."

Čech beaten
Goalkeeper Petr Čech accepted responsibility for Liverpool's first goal, a disguised free-kick which Aurélio planted inside his left-hand post as the Czech prepared for a ball played to the far post, but insisted he had not lost confidence. "There was a goal I didn't like on Saturday [against Bolton] and another one tonight," said Čech, who was beaten twice again late on by a deflected Lucas drive and a Dirk Kuyt header. "They have been two difficult games for me but my form was good in the 15 games before that."

'Best in Europe'
Now Hiddink's team prepare for another high-quality duel with FC Barcelona in the semi-final – Chelsea's fourth in five UEFA Champions League seasons – after the Spanish side eased through 5-1 on aggregate against FC Bayern München. "Barcelona are probably the form team in Europe, if not the world, and there couldn't be a tougher game for us," said Lampard. "We need to show the confidence we did at Anfield and the character we did tonight if we are going to win."

Malouda warning
Malouda said Chelsea could not afford to defend as poorly again, adding: "If we can show the same spirit and quality we can achieve great things. If you want to win the Champions League you have to beat the top teams. We have beaten Liverpool and if we play to our level we can put Barcelona in danger as well."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=820339.html)

Gutsy Liverpool make Kuyt proud

Dirk Kuyt said Liverpool FC could take great pride from their performance at Stamford Bridge despite failing in their quest to overturn Chelsea FC's 3-1 advantage from the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.

Lampard decider
The Merseyside club led 2-0 inside the first 30 minutes and then, after Chelsea had recovered to lead 3-2 on the night, scored twice more to put the issue in doubt again before Frank Lampard struck with a minute remaining to earn Guus Hiddink's side a 4-4 draw on the night and a 7-5 aggregate victory. "We tried everything we could and the team can be proud," said Kuyt, whose header made it 4-3 to Liverpool in a contest that pulsated with drama and tension from start to finish. "We had a good first half but Chelsea came back in the game. Then we tried to come back again but unfortunately it was not enough. When we led 4-3 we hoped for a miracle but it was not to be."

No Gerrard
Liverpool's effort was even more laudable considering it was achieved without their talismanic captain Steven Gerrard who was not risked because of a groin strain. "We played for Stevie, for the team and for the supporters who were really good again tonight. It was everyone together," added Kuyt. "To score four goals at Stamford Bridge is a really good effort. Maybe we needed a bit more luck but at the end the team who wins deserves to go through."

League quest
Pepe Reina agreed, saying: "We gave it our all and we have to be proud. After the first leg we knew we had to perform and now we have to learn from that and try to keep going in the league." With Chelsea now facing FC Barcelona in the semi-final, the Liverpool goalkeeper is under no doubts who he would like to see go through. "They are both great teams but being Spanish and having played in Barcelona for many years I want them to win," added Reina, who was on the books at the Camp Nou before moving to Villarreal CF in 2002.

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=820345.html)

Who will top the scoring charts?

With eight goals to his name in the UEFA Champions League this term, Lionel Messi has already matched the tally reached by last season's top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, but will the FC Barcelona phenomenon still lead the table after the Rome final on 27 May?

Klose injury
Messi found the back of the net twice against FC Bayern München last week to overtake Steven Gerrard and Miroslav Klose on seven apiece, and that two-goal haul had the further merit of leaving the latter's chances of responding very slim indeed. In the highly unlikely event that Bayern come back from their 4-0 defeat at the Camp Nou, their German international striker is expected to miss at least the opening leg of the semi-finals as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

Gerrard prospects
Likewise, Gerrard's continued presence in the competition is in major doubt, following Liverpool FC's 3-1 loss to English Premier League rivals Chelsea FC at Anfield last Wednesday, when he was marked out of the game by Michael Essien. The England midfielder looks to have recovered from a groin injury, however, and if the Merseysiders do stage a stunning fightback, no one would be surprised if Gerrard added to his total in the process. Chelsea's leading marksman, Didier Drogba, has four goals and far more catching up to do, in contrast.

Lisandro form
Sitting proudly on six goals is El Pelado, Lisandro. The FC Porto striker boasts more shots on target than anyone else this term, 21, and will be feeling positive about his chances to mount a challenge on fellow Argentinian Messi after last week's 2-2 draw with Manchester United FC at Old Trafford. Behind the 26-year-old, five-goal Thierry Henry has to be in contention too, particularly with many backing Messi to be rested in the second leg against Bayern, although the Frenchman's own participation has been put in doubt by a high temperature.

Scoring rates
Further down the list, Emmanuel Adebayor has registered four times for Arsenal FC but at the rate of a goal every 90 minutes and with potentially four more matches ahead of him. No one can match Messi's ratio of 1.27 strikes per game, though, and having steered clear of the muscle injuries that have dogged him in seasons past, the exuberantly talented forward could well be set to succeed Cristiano Ronaldo – in the UEFA Champions League scoring charts and possibly much else besides.

(From Website : http://www1.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/talkfootball/tpoint/newsid=819653.html)

'Beast' the best for delighted Terry

The hero of the hour let his captain do most of the talking, as Branislav Ivanović made a modest exit from Anfield after his two headers helped Chelsea FC to a 3-1 victory over Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

'Fantastic moment'
The Serbian international full-back, who connected with corners by Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard in either half to claim his first goals for Chelsea, only started the first leg due to José Bosingwa's calf injury. His presence was to prove pivotal, however. "It's a fantastic moment for me. I am very happy because I played right-back and scored twice from corner kicks," the shy 25-year-old said. "I've scored [four] goals for Serbia and now two for Chelsea, but I just try to do my best. All the team played very well, I don't like to speak about myself."

Semi-finals beckon
Ivanović made the difference after Liverpool had forged an early lead through Fernando Torres, and a third goal by Didier Drogba put the London side in prime position to move into the last four for the fifth time in six seasons. Chelsea and England skipper John Terry, who will miss Tuesday's second leg after being booked, said: "He [Ivanović] is unbelievable. I've said before how strong he is. He's a beast from set- plays and now he's got his first and second goals for us. And what a time to get them. He's such a solid player. He gets forward and tracks back and a few people tried to get round him tonight but they were really struggling because he is so quick, strong and great in the air. Fair play to them [Liverpool]. For the first 15 or 20 minutes they outplayed us totally and got their goal early on, but after that I think we dominated the game and were unlucky not to win by five or six goals."

'Fantastic spirit'
Striker Drogba shook off an ankle problem to provide a constant threat to Liverpool, and his persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when he converted an excellent low cross by Malouda to complete Chelsea's perfect evening. "Tonight we had a fantastic spirit," Drogba said. "Even when they scored, we kept playing to make a difference. We had chances at set-pieces and we used them very well. I think Liverpool played well, but so did we. The second leg will be a different game, we will see. We don't know what's going to happen but we will do everything to get to the semi-final."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=818263.html)

Chelsea and Barça fire warning shots

If the other UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists can take any positives from Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona's blistering performances on Wednesday, it is that should both sides reach the semi-finals, one will then be knocked out.

Killer instinct
The winners of their quarter-finals have been drawn to meet in the last four and on the evidence of the first legs, Chelsea and Barcelona will be looking to next week's second legs with every expectation of making the semi-finals. Both possess an alarming killer instinct. Barça were four goals to the good against FC Bayern München before half-time and had seemingly put the tie beyond the German champions by the 43rd minute when Thierry Henry rolled in their fourth. According to Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, meanwhile, the London club could "smell" victory against Liverpool FC at Anfield and went for the kill. "If you feel the opponent can be hurt in some part of their team, it would be stupid not to go for it," he said. "If a team smells that, they go for it."

Surprise
Given the commanding manner of Chelsea's 3-1 win, that scent quickly became the sweet smell of success. Of course, neither tie is over and Liverpool defender Álvaro Arbeloa was right to point to the 2005 UEFA Champions League final – when Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down at the break to beat AC Milan on penalties – for motivation. It would take just such a stunning turnaround for Bayern and Liverpool to stop the Barça and Chelsea juggernauts now. If Chelsea turned heads on Wednesday, they were following the example set by FC Porto the night before as the Portuguese champions tore at holders Manchester United FC.

Porto impress
Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira said he was "honoured" by his team's performance as they battled back to claim a 2-2 draw in the last minute, but given the number of times they carved open United's defence it was the home side who should ultimately have been thankful for the draw. Porto, not United, sit in the box seat going into the return match. Should Porto progress, there is a good chance they will face group-stage opponents Arsenal FC again in the semi-finals. Emmanuel Adebayor's spectacular leveller at El Madrigal against Villarreal CF has given Arsène Wenger's men the advantage, but with the Yellow Submarine still seeking revenge for their defeat by the Gunners in the 2006 semi-finals this could be the tightest of the second legs. "I've got faith we can do it and faith is the very last thing you lose," striker Guille Franco said. "I think this team totally believes it can achieve a semi-final place."

(From Website : http://www1.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/talkfootball/tpoint/newsid=818320.html)

Messi urges caution for swashbuckling Barça

The football that FC Barcelona played in beating FC Bayern München 4-0 in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg was dashing and cavalier but the reaction of the majority of Josep Guardiola's players after the match was much more conservative.

Nothing settled
Both Lionel Messi, author of two terrific goals in a stunning first half, and Andrés Iniesta, Barcelona's most influential player without a goal on the night, agreed that even after inflicting Bayern's joint-heaviest margin of defeat in Europe, the job was barely half done. Man of the Match Messi told uefa.com: "We went out with the intention of settling this match as quickly and efficiently as possible, and I think we patently achieved that. Our tactic was to play with a high tempo, to pressurise Bayern all the time and to score enough goals to take full advantage of the first leg being at home. But we didn't need the coach to put our feet on the ground again at the end because we all know that a game in Germany against a club like Bayern, who have top-level players, will be difficult. In our minds nothing is settled."

European crown
The goals Messi stroked past Bayern keeper Hans Jörg Butt could easily have been added to had Butt not produced an excellent save from Barça's No10 early in the second half – and had team-mate Seydou Keita not accidentally blocked a goal-bound shot from the Argentinian in added time. The striker was keen to turn the spotlight away from a display which left him leading scorer in the competition on eight goals and focus it on his colleagues. "I think from one to eleven, each of our players put in an excellent performance against Bayern – as a team we played to our true potential. But to be considered the best team in Europe, it's not about playing like this, it is about winning the Champions League and regaining the Spanish title. That's something we can only achieve by taking things calmly and a game at a time."

Difficult return
Iniesta added weight to the idea that Barça's players already had in mind the difficulty of visiting Bayern's Fußball Arena München when they produced such passion and enthusiasm on home soil. "We enjoyed it because it was a terrific performance," said the midfielder. "We were very conscious how difficult the second leg could be in Germany so we went out full of pride and hunger, and imposed ourselves. As a midfielder I must say I have three of the best footballers in the world in front of me, and while Leo [Messi] deserved a hat-trick, the fact he didn't get one does not remove any credit from a great display. It's okay to say we have one foot in the semi-final but to actually play in it, you need to get both feet there."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=818266.html)

Liverpool and Chelsea come together again

The epic series of encounters between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League resumes at Anfield on Wednesday, when the English sides face each other for the ninth time in the past five seasons.

Remarkable series
This year the teams meet at the quarter-final stage, following two extraordinarily tense last-four victories for Liverpool – 1-0 on aggregate in 2004/05, and after a penalty shoot-out in 2006/07 – while Chelsea reached the 2007/08 final by winning 4-3 over two legs after extra time. Two goalless draws in the 2005/06 group stage complete the remarkable sequence. Chelsea will be encouraged that their sole triumph against Liverpool in the last four came after playing the first leg away from home, just as they will this time.

Giants slain
The two clubs overcame strong opposition in the first knockout round, with Liverpool dispatching Real Madrid CF 5-0 on aggregate while Chelsea prevailed 3-2 over two legs against Juventus. Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez, who has been in charge for all of their European encounters with the London club and masterminded the elimination of Arsenal FC at this stage last season, said: "We are really pleased to be playing against Chelsea again at this stage of the competition and hopefully it will be the same for the next five years because it will mean we're still there."

Unlikely fan
Liverpool and Chelsea remain the only serious contenders to halt Manchester United FC's quest to retain the English Premier League title, and Benítez said he believes that Sir Alex Ferguson will be in the unusual position of cheering on the home side at Anfield. "He'll be supporting Liverpool because he knows that we are the biggest threat now," Benítez said. "If we continue in the competition then maybe we will be tired [for the league], but if we are not in the competition he knows that we will be a threat. If Chelsea are not in the competition he knows that they can be a threat. He will lose either way!"

Title chasers
Benítez's side returned to the top of the table on Saturday after Yossi Benayoun struck in added time in a 1-0 triumph at Fulham FC, although United regained their one-point lead at the summit on Sunday with similarly late victory against Aston Villa FC. Goals by Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda earned Chelsea a 2-0 win at Newcastle United FC that kept them in touch with the top two.

World is watching
Benítez is without midfielder Javier Mascherano as he serves a one-match suspension while Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has full-back José Bosingwa missing due to a calf strain, although striker Didier Drogba is fit following an ankle problem. Hiddink pledged to take the game to Liverpool, saying: "These matches are finals, watched by the whole world. We did not come here to sit back and wait until we are overcome, and then react. It's not the way to play football in my philosophy. Wherever we can we will try to take the initiative. When the players are fully committed and stick to the tactical plan, it will depend on which team is not making fatal errors."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15278/match=302803/report=pr.html)

Guardiola urges Barça to go for goals

Josep Guardiola wants his FC Barcelona side to be an irresistible force rather than an immovable object when they meet FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Free scoring
The Barcelona coach excelled as a defensive midfielder when winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1992 but his team have conceded more goals than any of the teams left in the competition. Nonetheless, the 38-year-old has ordered Barça to reproduce the scintillating attacking flair which eliminated Olympique Lyonnais 6-3 on aggregate in the last round and test whether Jürgen Klinsmann's side, beaten 5-1 by VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, can withstand the onslaught.

Attacking tactics
"We will attack from the first minute and attempt to move the ball with speed and purpose for the entire match," said Guardiola, whose side have scored 125 competitive goals in his debut season as coach, including 28 in this competition. "Bayern are physically strong but our intention is to play the same way as we've done all season and won't betray our principles. We have to fight on all levels; even the ball boys are important – they have to do their job quickly."

Record win
Of course Guardiola does not merely have the threat offered by his attacking quintet of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta in mind when he demands outright attack in front of a capacity crowd. But Bayern have won each of their two competitive matches against Barcelona at the Camp Nou – including a 1995/96 UEFA Cup semi-final in which Klinsmann played - and can take confidence from a record 12-1 aggregate defeat of Sporting Clube de Portugal in the previous round.

Fitness boost
"At this level all opponents are top quality and punish your mistakes," continued Guardiola. "I don't believe we're favourites. If any team has an advantage it's Bayern because the return leg is in Munich. We're very aware of their strength, so let's see if we can knock them out." The coach is still without central defender Gabriel Milito and left-back Eric Abidal but otherwise has a full squad now that Aleksandr Hleb and Yaya Touré have recovered from hamstring and adductor problems.

Badstuber promoted
Klinsmann, meanwhile, said he was "not too worried" about injuries to striker Miroslav Klose and Lucio, whose fellow centre-back Daniel Van Buyten could possibly return from compassionate leave in Belgium. Hamit Altıntop has overcome a calf strain and is named in a squad which includes reserve midfielder Holger Badstuber, 20. "We've had injuries during the season and have improvised. We'll still send out a competitive side capable of holding its own against Barcelona," said the 44-year-old.

Attacking philosophy
"We're going to attack and, in that respect, our fans can be happy because they're going to see a great match between two European giants," continued Klinsmann. "I have a lot of respect for Barcelona because they've had a magnificent season, and congratulate Josep Guardiola for recreating Johan Cruyff's philosophy in current times. However, I also think we're an impressive team. If Guardiola has Messi, I have [Franck] Ribéry who is another genius. The greatness of the Camp Nou gives all the motivation to win my players need because playing in front of 96,000 spectators doesn't happen every day."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15278/match=302804/report=pr.html)

Macheda adds fresh twist to United tale

His answers may have been directed to the journalists in front but Sir Alex Ferguson's gaze wandered more than once beyond the rows of seated pressmen to a TV high on a wall in the Europa Suite at Old Trafford. The same went for Cristiano Ronaldo and, turning around, it soon became obvious why: there on the screen were the highlights of United's crucial comeback win against Aston Villa FC 24 hours earlier.

Late winner
Victories snatched from the jaws of defeat are part of the very fabric of Sir Alex's Manchester United FC. The last-gasp Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær goals that earned United their improbable comeback against FC Bayern München in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final were not unique. United only lifted the FA Cup that same treble-winning season because of a similar smash-and-grab against Liverpool FC in the fourth round, when Dwight Yorke and Solskjær scored to overturn a lead Liverpool had held for 86 minutes. Six years before that an injury-time brace from defender Steve Bruce against Sheffield Wednesday FC put United on course for their first league title in 26 years.

Galvanised
It is fitting that Solskjær should earn a mention here given the erstwhile United scoring hero is now overseeing the progress of the young Italian forward who, at 5.48 on Sunday evening – or in the third minute of injury time – ensured Old Trafford's loudest and longest celebration this season. Substitute Federico Macheda's winner on his United debut has, in the words of Sir Alex, "galvanised" a United team who would otherwise have finished the weekend in second place in the Premier League, the initiative surrendered to Liverpool.

'Challenge'
Speaking on the eve of FC Porto's UEFA Champions League quarter-final visit, United's manager revealed how the 17-year-old had risen to a challenge laid down by Solskjær just days earlier, prior to a reserve match against Newcastle United FC. "Ole Gunnar was told to tell him last Monday that if he did well in the reserve team he would be on the bench on Sunday. It was a challenge to him and he went and scored a hat-trick. I like to see that in young lads who want to get there."

Spectacular winner
Lured to England from S.S. Lazio at the age of 16, Macheda – or Kiko as he is known – is following in the footsteps of so many other talented young players who have developed under Sir Alex's tutelage, including Ryan Giggs, a man twice his age, whose pass led to the Italian's strike. Whatever the future brings for the youngster – who "will be involved on the bench" for the first leg against Porto according to his manager - he has already earned a place in Old Trafford's affections, after turning and firing that spectacular winner.

'Incredible moments'
"Amazing" was the verdict of Ronaldo, who added: "He's a clever boy, he knows how to listen and he wants to improve." As for Sir Alex, he described Macheda's goal as "just one of those incredible moments". The Scot, of course, has seen a few of those in his time. And they have tended to fall on the path to a trophy. No wonder he fancied another look.

(From Website : http://www1.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/talkfootball/blogs/newsid=817257.html)

Villarreal rocked by Cazorla injury

Villarreal CF's preparations for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal FC have suffered a blow with the news that Santi Cazorla will miss the remainder of the season after fracturing the fibula in his right leg during the 3-0 loss to UD Almería on Saturday.

Further tests
The Spanish international was carried off on a stretcher after 65 minutes with the Yellow Submarine three goals down and a man light following the dismissal of Robert Pirès. Initial medical examinations at a local hospital revealed the extent of the injury, which the 24-year-old suffered in a challenge with two Almería players. Further tests will be conducted on Monday morning to ascertain whether the player requires surgery and how long he will be sidelined for.

'Very sad'
"I am very sad because a beautiful part of the season is approaching and I'll miss it," said Cazorla, who was ever-present in the Liga this term. "It's a big disappointment for me. I understand the severity of the injury and I will continue to support my team-mates. I fell badly and as soon as I heard a crack I knew that something was wrong."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=816561.html)

Pirès braced for night of emotion

When Robert Pirès jogs out to face his former club Arsenal FC in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at El Madrigal the Frenchman will be coping with a myriad of emotions.

Paris heartbreak
Sentiment at facing his former team, a club he still loves, will be foremost in the mind of the Villarreal CF midfielder. Hungry ambition to win the competition which broke his heart in Paris three years ago, when losing the final to FC Barcelona, will not be far behind. And there will be pride that the Liga club have just renewed his contract until 2010, at the age of 35, because he remains one of the cleverest, most important and fittest footballers in Spain. But he won't suffer a thirst for revenge.

Total disbelief
It was in an interview with uefa.com earlier this season that Pirès said he thought it was a "practical joke" when he saw his number being hoisted to be substituted when Jens Lehmann was red carded after 18 minutes of that Paris final. The Frenchman felt hurt, and decided that what he saw as a lack of trust in him by Arsène Wenger meant he had to leave the club. Typically, however, Pirès has confronted his anger, talked it through with his former mentor and refuses to let the idea of revenge obstruct his purer desire to simply help Villarreal impose themselves on the Gunners.

Arsenal emotion
"The fact that I was only allowed to play 18 minutes in that final three years ago remains painful, there's no point in denying that now," he told uefa.com. "Wenger knows it and we still talk about it – he knows that, despite me admitting that it's tough to be a coach, I'll never agree with him that he made the right decision. But it's a little thing which cannot define our relationship. It cannot erase six years when I won trophies, learned from him, grew in confidence and did well with France's national team. I've put it behind me. When I go out to face Arsenal for the first time since leaving there will be a lot of emotion, that's sure. But I'm sorry, Arsenal fans, if I can play well and eliminate them then I'm going to do it. But for Villarreal, not for me."

Lucky victory
Pirès has played in this fixture before, wearing an Arsenal shirt when the two sides met three years ago in the semi-finals. It brought the only defeat Villarreal have suffered in nine competitive meetings with English club sides and sent Pirès, Wenger and company through to the 2006 final. The midfielder has a startlingly clear verdict on Arsenal's semi-final triumph over Villarreal and some around him in the Madrigal dressing room have also drawn firm conclusions. "We played the worst game of our season that night and Villarreal not only deserved to beat us but by a big enough margin to reach the final instead of Arsenal," he said. "Somehow Villarreal had more energy, more drive and played much better. Arsenal had the luck that night. The guys who were in Villarreal's team that night were telling me before this draw paired us with Arsenal that if we drew them again then Villarreal would definitely win over two legs this time."

Goal celebration
Wenger was on the telephone to Pirès within hours of the draw in Nyon. They shared their delight at a competitive reunion. The younger Frenchman is sure that Villarreal have progressed sufficiently to earn the result which eluded them due to that goalless second leg at the Madrigal in 2006, following Arsenal's win at Highbury. And if he should score against his former club – is he prepared? "I'm happy with the draw because it was my goal to face Arsenal at least once before retiring and to say goodbye to tremendous fans who were great to me in London. That's important," he said. "And if I'm lucky enough to score I know that I won't celebrate, simply as a gesture of respect to a club, and their fans, which have meant so much in my career."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=816167.html)

Liverpool hold 'no secrets' for Hiddink

Chelsea FC manager Guus Hiddink says there will be "no secrets" when his side meet quarter-final opponents Liverpool FC for the fifth time in as many seasons in the UEFA Champions League. Taking on Liverpool in Europe has become something of a right of passage for Chelsea managers in recent years and after José Mourinho and Avram Grant, Hiddink takes his turn pitting his wits against Rafael Benítez.

'Very tight'
"There are no secrets in modern football," Hiddink told uefa.com. "The players are known by the managers, the players know each other very well, the managers know how they play, so it's very open and very tight. [Benítez] has proven he is a very smart manager. I'm looking forward to this battle, but in the end we can plan what we want – the players, they have to execute it and it always depends on those little details in the execution." The little details went Chelsea's way last term when John Arne Riise's last-minute own goal at Anfield tipped the balance of the semi-final Chelsea's way. After losing twice in the last four to Liverpool by the narrowest of margins, in 2005 and 2007, fortune had finally favoured the London team and they made the most of it to reach their first final.

Fresh impetus
Like last season before Mourinho's departure, Chelsea started this campaign slowly before picking up a head of steam, and Hiddink's arrival in place of Luiz Felipe Scolari has provided fresh impetus at a key moment. Since the Dutchman's appointment in January on an interim basis – as he continues his work as Russia coach – Chelsea have advanced to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the semi-finals of the FA Cup and climbed to within four points of Premier League leaders Manchester United FC. "I said from the first day, we have to deliver results," Hiddink said. "They reacted very well. I was asked to keep Chelsea in the Champions League [qualifying] position, which means they must be there next year. That was asked, nothing more. But now we are here, we are aiming for other targets as well."

Drogba belief
Under Hiddink Chelsea are playing with renewed belief, epitomised by the resurgence of striker Didier Drogba, whose late goal at Juventus ensured their place in the last eight. "I worked from the first day with him, and he was very committed to work hard. It paid off for him with very good goals, decisive goals." Hiddink has made his name getting the most out of his players, a trait he admired in the late, great Austrian trainer Ernst Happel, whom he cites as a major career influence. "I didn't work with him on a daily basis, but I met him a few times. He was one of my favourite coaches, because he could get the optimum [out] of a player, whether he worked in Holland, Belgium or Germany."

'Football lover'
The same applies to the globe-trotting Hiddink. Drogba, out of form and favour under Scolari, is a case in point, although the Dutchman plays down his reputation as a master motivator. "I try to find players who have motivation from the inside, [regardless of] whether they are big professionals with high status, with good salaries. That's the key for me. Whatever the player might be in his professionalism, he must be in his heart a lover of football."

'Spirit'
Dividing his energies between Russia and Chelsea seems to have had no ill-effects on the 62-year-old who, after coaching and playing in teams on four continents, is enjoying his first spell in the birthplace of the game. "Whether you work with Koreans or Australians, it's the same," he said. "The only difference is, you use their culture to achieve those demands. The attraction [of English football] is founded on the spirit. They like to go at pace, they like to go on fighting, they like to go on as soon as possible, finding the opposite box."

'Huge achievement'
Hiddink has timed his English sojourn well. Premier League sides are enjoying a period of dominance in the UEFA Champions League and after last year's all-English final, they look perfectly placed to repeat the feat. Hiddink won the competition with PSV Eindhoven in 1988 and would join Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as the only coaches to have done it with two different clubs should he triumph with Chelsea. "For a club like PSV, it's a huge, huge achievement to have won this championship," he said. "As a young manager, as I was, it was something you only can dream of. After many years in this profession, at the end of my career, it would be nice if we can go into the final as well."

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=816075.html)

Barça concern over Iniesta and Touré

Andrés Iniesta and Yaya Touré both face a race to be fit for the first leg of FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against FC Bayern München after the midfield pair picked up identical injuries during Sunday’s 6-0 Liga home win over Málaga CF.

Concerns
Touré, 25, was replaced in the 25th minute after failing to recover from a challenge with opposition full-back Nacho and was later diagnosed with a small tear to his right adductor muscle. The 24-year-old Iniesta, who has been restricted to 19 Liga appearances this season because of injury problems, lasted an hour before being forced off with the same complaint. Both players have been given an estimated recovery time of 15 days.

Bayern encounter
To make matters worse, Xavi Hernández also hurt his achilles though he remains in the Spain squad for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Turkey. Josep Guardiola's side welcome Bayern on 8 April with the return leg in Munich taking place six days later.

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=812962.html)

Arsenal-shy Henry counts Barça's blessings

Thierry Henry is glad the UEFA Champions League draw did not pair FC Barcelona with his old side, Arsenal FC, but expects a tough test nonetheless against an FC Bayern München team who "have so many players who can score goals".

Arsenal avoided
The 31-year-old forward, who left north London for Camp Nou in 2007, is relieved to have been spared a game against his former colleagues, though the two clubs could yet meet in the final at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on 27 May. "I'm happy we avoided Arsenal as I didn't want to face them," said Henry, France's all-time leading goalscorer with 48 strikes.

Fearsome scoreline
However, having noted Bayern's 12-1 aggregate victory over Sporting Clube de Portugal in the first knockout round, Henry is in no doubt that the German champions are dangerous opponents. "It's going to be a difficult tie," he said. "They have so many players who can score goals. They beat Sporting in the last round by a hatful, although we also know we'll have chances against them.

'Bayern's Lionel Messi'
"They have so many players who can make a difference in a game, however – Luca Toni or Bastian Schweinsteiger for example," he continued, adding of his international team-mate: "Franck Ribéry is Bayern's Lionel Messi. When there seems to be no space to move, Franck can still do things. With his talent he can hurt Barça, Real Madrid, Manchester United or any team you care to mention."

Mixed blessing
The Blaugrana have the additional pressure of playing the return match away from home, yet Henry is sanguine about that prospect. "It works both ways," he explained. "If we perform well at Camp Nou, we go there in a calmer frame of mind. It's hard to predict." The first leg at Camp Nou is scheduled for 8 April, with the decider taking place at the Fußball Arena München six days later.

(From Website : http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=812322.html)