Champions legue ( post official)

Fiorentina 3-2 Bayern Munich (Agg 4-4, Bayern win on away goals): Arjen Robben strike rescues Bavarians

Dutchman's wonder-strike sends Bayern through...

Cesare Prandelli's Fiorentina had a familiar look about them as they took to the pitch for round two of their encounter with Bayern Munich. 

The Tuscan side lined up in the same 4-2-3-1 formation that featured in a now infamous 2-1 loss in Munich, with two personnel changes: Cristiano Zanetti replaced Mario Bolatti in central midfield, and Felipe started at left-back in place of suspended defender Massimo Gobbi.

Louis van Gaal's Bayern Munich were also quite similar to the side that played in Munich, with only one change to the previous squad. Following an injury to Martin Demichelis, left-back Holger Badstuber moved into a central defensive role, and 17-year-old midfielder David Alaba was chosen to start at left-back.

Although the grounds crew was able to ready the pitch on an inhospitable evening, there remained a slick surface and a strong wind blowing towards the Bayern goal. Any ball played in the air was difficult to judge, which made for a nervy beginning to the game for the visitors.

The wind at his back, Juan Vargas missed an audacious free kick from 40 yards early on, and Bayern goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt was forced to drive low free kicks rather than lofting them upfield.

The opening minutes of the match had a feel markedly similar to that from the previous leg, with Bayern controlling the majority of possession and Fiorentina denying their guests any space on the ball with use of close marking and good organisation. 

What was markedly different was that in this leg, Fiorentina were not forced to repeatedly commit fouls. Bayern's control of the ball remained commanding, but magicians Arjen Robben andFranck Ribery were unable to use their jinking runs on such a slippery pitch, and caused few problems for their hosts.

For the majority of the first half, the ball remained in midfield, and there was a veritable dearth of scoring opportunities. The only way through was bound to be a defensive error, and sure enough, it was a goalkeeping howler that allowed Fiorentina to take the lead on 27 minutes. After Marco Marchionni sent a speculative shot from long distance towards the lower-right corner, Hans-Joerg Butt spilled the ball directly into the path of Vargas. The Peruvian beat Daniel van Buyten to the ball and struck in the opener with a fine finish.

The situation worsened for Bayern three minutes later, when Mario Gomez was forced to withdraw after taking a knock. Miroslav Klose replaced his German international colleague, who up to that point had been anonymous in attack.

The same fortune that favored Fiorentina in minutes prior would prove to be indiscriminate, when on 34 minutes Bayern had a bit of luck swing their way. After Bastian Schweinsteiger headed a pass towards the top of the penalty area, confusion erupted, and the ball slipped into the penalty area. Robben pounced and struck a hard volley towards Sebastian Frey, but the French goalkeeper made an excellent reflex save to tip the Dutchman's effort over the bar.

Having scored the necessary goal to progress, Fiorentina's tactics remained the same: the hosts played conservatively going forward, but played a pressing game that forced Bayern to make quick decisions coming out of their own half, and never conceded an inch of space.

After the break, Fiorentina continued to play at high intensity, and took advantage of the visitors' lethargic start to the half. After a few warning shots, a cross came in that two Bayern defenders failed to clear, and slipped to the feet of Alberto Gilardino. The Italian striker was taken by surprise, and his shot from close range was saved by Butt.

At the other end, Thomas Mueller played a lovely 1-2 with Robben and looked like scoring, but Per Kroldrup set the young German off his stride, and Cesare Natali made a superb challenge.

Just as it looked as though Bayern might be ready to hit their stride, the hosts struck again, in a situation that can only be described as karma coming back to haunt Bayern. Following another low cross from the right side, Gilardino (who appeared to be a stride offside), played a gorgeous backheel to Stevan Jovetic, who was unmarked in the centre of the box. The young Montenegrin striker made no mistake and slotted into the net.

Having fallen two goals behind but needing just one to force extra time, Bayern reacted with their best play of the game. Alaba's ball to Klose forced an excellent, goal-saving tackle, but Bayern would not be denied. On the hour mark, a triple-teamed Ribery slipped a ball towards the centre. With the Fiorentina defense concentrated on the right flank,Mark van Bommel was wide open at the top of the penalty area, and blasted a low drive just inside the left post.

Fiorentina reacted with similarly crucial timing, and next scored just four minutes later.Jovetic caught the Bayern defense off guard, and took on Van Buyten in a one-on-one. Gilardino nodded on the Montenegrin's deflected ball, and Jovetic fired in from close range.

It was at that point that Robben decided to take matters into his own hands. Seconds after the restart, the Dutchman was granted space for the first time, and cut inward from the right side. With impressive power and accuracy, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star curled his shot into the upper-left corner of the net, putting one Bayern foot into the quarterfinals.

Once again, Fiorentina reacted well, and began their best attacking stint of the two-legged affair. Gilardino put the ball in the net on 76 minutes, but was called offside. Amid a long spell of high pressure, only last-ditch defending denied the hosts a vital goal.

As full time approached, space opened up for the likes of Robben and Ribery to use on the break, and Fiorentina were forced not to overcommit on the offensive end. With seven minutes left, Manuel Pasqual played a dangerous ball across the penalty area, but no violet shirt was available, and Schweinsteiger cleared.

Prandelli rolled the dice late as he brought on Keirrison for Vargas, but the Brazilian striker was unable to make an impact against a Bayern side that played uncharacteristically deep in the closing minutes. After three minutes of injury time, the hosts were still unable to net the goal necessary to advance, and Bayern advanced to the quarter-finals, albeit by the most narrow of margins.

 

 

Real Madrid 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais (Agg: 1-2): Blancos out of Champions League as Miralem Pjanic stuns Bernabeu

Los Blancos? dream of claiming a tenth European title on home soil ended...

 

Real Madrid?s now annual last 16 Champions League jinx struck again on Wednesday night, with French outfitOlympique Lyonnais the grateful benefactors of their inability to shine at the knockout stages.

Commanding a 1-0 lead from their home leg, Claude Puel?s well organised, disciplined side learned their lesson from last season?s second leg capitulation against Barcelona to squeeze through 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.

The match started in perfect fashion for los Blancos, with Cristiano Ronaldo striking home beautifully from an acute angle. Gonzalo Higuain then missed an open goal as the home side dominated but could not add to their advantage. After the interval, the Ligue 1 side were far more aggressive and got their reward as Miralem Pjanicbattered home from close range.

Lyon boss Claude Puel had warned his side to expect their hosts to whip up a tempest in the opening 20 minutes, but even he couldn?t have imagined the whirlwind start los Merengues made. Within 20 seconds of play Hugo Lloris had to advance smartly from his goal to block a fine opening for Kaka, who had made good space in the right channel.

This early gambit from the Spaniards was to set the tone for the first half, and los Blancos would soon have a goal to fuel their momentum. Back after injury, Guti showed all his quality on five minutes to clip a delicious pass over the top of the OL defence, pinpoint into the path of Ronaldo. The Portuguese burst away from Cris before firing the ball through Lloris? legs from an unlikely angle.

Ronaldo was to prove central to many of Real?s best moments in the first half, injecting pace into their often patient build-up play. Nevertheless, he would not be at the cutting edge of the charge for the remainder of the half. Instead, Gonzalo Higuain would come to the fore, snapping a shot by Lloris? left hand post soon after the opening goal. 

Kaka wasn?t about to be upstaged either, making a number of direct first-half runs, the pick of which carried him by three feeble French tackles before he sent a shot into the gloves of the visiting custodian from the edge of the penalty box.

Les Gones were offering precious little in an attacking sense, breaking their hosts? stranglehold on the game briefly just after a quarter of an hour of play to win a corner. From the flag kick, Real could only partially clear, allowing Jeremy Toulalan to bend an effort by Iker Casillas? upright.

The Spain No.1 wouldn?t be called into shot-stopping action throughout the first half, though Lloris certainly would at the opposite end, producing a brilliant stop low to his left after Kaka had laid the ball into the path of Higuain near the periphery of the area.

Prior to that moment, the young French goalkeeper had a lucky escape. Having charged from his box to try and intercept a through ball from Kaka to Higuain, the goalkeeper was beaten in a foot race by the Argentine. Round Lloris and with much of the target to hit, the in-form striker hit the inside of the post and watched the ball dribble along the goal line before dropping safe.

 

Los Blancos would also have a let off before the break, though. On a rare foray forward, Lyon unleashed Sidney Govou down the right-hand side. The veteran turned inside Alvaro Arbeloa and sent a low cross into the box that dropped just behind Jean Makoun, who couldn?t make good contact on the ball just eight yards out.

Guti enjoyed a bright evening, and his quick thinking over a set-piece situation nearly set Higuain free. A combination of Jean-Alain Boumsong and Aly Cissokho just managed to squeeze the attacker out, while a late headed flick from the same player flashed past Lloris' far post minutes before an interval that was much welcomed by an OL side who had been stretched to their limit in the opening period.

It was soon apparent after the break that Lyon were going to approach the second period with a good deal more attacking zest. Within three minutes of the restart a Cesar Delgado dink had picked out substitute Maxime Gonalons at the back post, though the young midfielder was stretching too much and couldn?t angle his header on target.

Govou then wasted a fine opportunity from around the penalty spot after an intuitive pass from Kim Kallstrom, who had also been introduced at the break. This Lyon barrage was still not over, with Lisandro bulldozing his way into a shooting position 30 yards from goal, though Casillas got two strong fists behind the Argentine?s fearsome drive.

Ronaldo fashioned an opening for Kaka a blink of an eye later, though the Brazilian?s effort from the edge of the box flashed by the post when he perhaps should have found the target. Esteban Granero then scooped a good chance over as los Blancos replied.

After this lively opening, the two midfielders started to get their teeth into the fixture, preventing the flow of clear openings. A dangerous Pjanic free kick was a toe away from Cris getting a decisive touch to flick the ball beyond Casillas, while at the other end Rafael van der Vaart came off the bench to crack a shot over the top from the edge of the area.

Lyon had wrestled the upper hand of this game away from their hosts and would stun the Bernabeu with 15 minutes remaining. Delgado, who had looked dangerous throughout the second half, spun a low pass into the box for Lisandro, whose touch from 12 yards was perfect for Pjanic to march onto, take a touch and smash into the net.

Immediately, Raul was brought off the bench to replace Kaka as the expected onslaught began. Crosses rained into Lloris box, but a combination of solid defending and poor delivery prevented los Blancos even threatening the visiting net. 

As Real flooded forward in the dying seconds, Lisandro should have added to Lyon?s lead. Played in by Cissokho, the former Porto man had seconds to steady himself in front of goal but knocked his shot wide. Delgado had a similar opportunity, but smashed over in a ridiculously frantic close to the game.

That proved a footnote, as the big spending Galacticos would crumple out in the first knock-out stage for the sixth consecutive occasion.

 

 

 

 

Manchester United 4-0 Milan (Agg: 7-2): Wayne Rooney leads the charge as Red Devils cruise into quarter-finals

Rossoneri demolished at Old Trafford...

Manchester United cruised into the last eight of theChampions League with a resounding 4-0 victory againstMilan at Old Trafford this evening. Wayne Rooneystarred, scoring twice for the Red Devils before Ji-Sung Park and Darren Fletcher rounded off the scoring.

United had an early chance to take the lead, Antonio Valencia slid in to steal the ball from Marek Jankulovskideep inside the Milan half. It fell to Rooney, who exchanged passes with the Ecuadorian before turning his marker and going for goal from just inside the Milan penalty area. His left foot shot was powerful, but it zipped just wide of the right-hand post.

Milan responded with a free-kick from the right flank, Andrea Pirlo whipped in the cross and it brushed off the head of Nani before Ronaldinho met the ball with a vicious header. It rifled towards the right-hand side of the goal and Edwin van der Sar was static as it whisked beyond his left-hand post.  

The hosts were nearly caught out by a long ball minutes later. Thiago Silva played a perfectly weighted pass over the top of the United defence. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar beat the offside trap and met the pass just inside the penalty area, but his touch was heavy and the ball rolled through to Edwin van der Sar. 

United took the lead in the 13th minute with a Rooney header. Gary Neville advanced on the right flank and was allowed time and space to float a cross into the box. The right-back got his head up and picked out his English colleague in the centre of the box, Rooney got the jump on his marker and drilled the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Milan were undeterred by this setback and continued to enjoy good possession in the attacking third of the field. Pirlo stung van der Sar?s gloves from range with a swirling drive in the 20th minute. The Dutch ?keeper spilled the strike, but managed to recover quickly with Marco Borriello bearing down on him.

The tempo dropped off after this point with neither team creating any chances of note.Nemanja Vidic caught a hefty blow to the face as Mathieu Flamini challenged for a header on the edge of the United penalty area. The Serb went off to receive treatment briefly but was ok to play on.

Pirlo continued to exert an influence on the game, he spread a lovely cross-field pass in behind the Manchester United back four to play Ignazio Abate into space on the right flank. The Italian progressed to the by line but was closed out and wasted the opportunity.

Milan then worked a free-kick cleverly on the left flank, with Ronaldinho exchanging quick passes with Pirlo. The Italian play-maker then advanced into the left-hand side of the box, but was closed down by Fletcher as he looked to shoot and couldn?t get an attempt off at goal.

The Scottish midfielder was involved at the other end of the pitch before the half was over. Dashing forward, he was played in by Nani and advanced as the Milan defence backed off. He took the invitation and went for goal, sending a curling strike wide of the left-hand post.

Leonardo made a change at half-time, bringing off Daniele Bonera in favour of Clarence Seedorf. Captain Massimo Ambrosini dropped back to fill in at centre back.

 

 

This substitution didn?t have the intended impact, as United were two up within a minute of the restart. Nani burst down the left flank and played a sumptuous pass to Rooneywith the outside of his right foot. The Englishman charged onto the pass and dinked the ball past the oncoming Christian Abbiati to make it 2-0 to Manchester United.

Milan had a good chance to get a goal back in the 54th minute, Pirlo played a sublime pass to Abate to release his countryman into space on the right flank. Abate chipped the ball into the centre where his cross was met by Huntelaar, but it was just too high for the Dutchman who sent his header over the cross bar.

Park put the game beyond the visitors in the 59th minute. Paul Scholes feigned a shot from 25 yards and slipped the South Korean into the right-hand side of the area. His first touch was excellent, taking the ball away from his marker, and the midfielder finished sweetly ? firing into the bottom left-hand corner: 3-0.

Leonardo responded by introducing David Beckham to a fantastic reception from theManchester United faithful. He was then promptly booed when he first touched the ball.Sir Alex Ferguson also made a couple of changes, bringing off Dimitar Berbatov and Rafael da Silva in place of Rooney and Neville.

Van der Sar ensured Manchester United retained their clean sheet with a good reaction save in the 70th minute. Flamini went for goal from distance and his shot took a deflection on route, requiring the Dutch ?keeper to make an adjustment and save with his right foot.

Beckham nearly had a sentimental consolation in the 75th minute. Ronaldinho dinked the ball into the box from the left and Rio Ferdinand headed clear. The clearance dropped to Beckham on the edge of the penalty area and he executed a fantastic volley that rifled towards the United goal. Despite its power, it was straight van der Sar and he managed to punch it clear.

As the minutes drifted away it was the Red Devils that were looking most likely to score the next goal. They got it in the 88th minute, as Rafael delivered a wonderful cross to the back post from high on the right flank. Fletcher arrived unmarked and headed past the stranded Abbiati to complete the domination: 4-0, and United progress to the last eight.

 

 

 

 

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini refuses to resign after Champions League exit

Pellegrini shouldered the blame for Real Madrid's Champions League elimination but won't step down...

 

 

After being eliminated from the Champions League byLyon in what was Real Madrid's sixth consecutive exit in the first round of the knockout stage, coach Manuel Pellegrini declared that he had failed but that he was not going to resign as coach. 

In comments reported by Marca, Pellegrini declared that the project he hopes to head in the Spanish capital is "greater than six months". The Chilean also responded with a definitive reply with respect to the future of his job. 

"I am not going to resign. It is a difficult loss to take, but I will not leave. One will have to ask the directors about that [his future at the club].

"We would like to have won everything this year, but now we find ourselves out of two competitions, even though we are leaders in La Liga. The first person responsible for an elimination is the coach, but we need to turn the page and win La Liga like [Fabio] Capello and [Bernd] Schuster did. It was everyone's hope that we would be in the final, and the elimination is that much more painful for that reason." 

Avoiding an analysis of the defeat, Pellegrini denied that the cause was a lack of ability in the Spanish game. 

"There will be a time for a lot of analysis, but the reality is that we have been eliminated after a first half in which we could have finished off the match. There will be a lot of discussion about what happened in the second half."

'El Ingeniero' also did not want to analyse the squad, but acknowledged that Guti was "not at his best for the entirety of the match" and that "little by little we tried to score as individuals, not as a collective unit as we did in the first half when we enjoyed a number of chances and could have scored a number of goals."

Finally, Pellegrini commented on Guti's earlier statements when the midfielder blamed the second half impotence on too much individualism on the part of the players. 

"I believe we played a very good match in the first half in every aspect. In the second half we did act more as individuals. Between the pressure and the lack of continuity in our passing, we erroneously looked for another route."

 

 

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho: Luck will determine winner of Champions League clash with Chelsea

'The Special One' looking forward to being back at Stamford Bridge...

 

 

Jose Mourinho believes that the winner of the Champions League tie on Tuesday between Inter Milan and Chelseawill come down to luck.

Mourinho's Inter side hold a 2-1 lead after their first leg victory, but believes fine margins will decide which club emerges victorious and progresses to the quarter-finals.

"It's really about details; lucky or unlucky in the draw, if the ball that hits the post goes in or out, the player that is suspended and cannot play a crucial game, the timing of injuries whereby a team goes into a game missing two or three key players, a refereeing decision that can go for or against you," Mourinho told uefa.com.

"Of course, only a very good team can win the Champions League, but I can find seven, eight, nine teams who can win the competition. It's so hard to predict."

Mourinho, who spent a successful three years with Chelsea, is expecting an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, but hopes it doesn't affect his players.

"The good thing is that I don't have far to walk [to get to the dugout]," he said.

"From the dressing room to the bench is five metres. I don't have to cross the stadium, I don't have to feel the emotions and reactions from the crowd. I will just sit there and play my game.

"The players play on the pitch, I play outside. They are much more important than me, because on the pitch you win matches, not on the bench.

"But I will be there with my heart fully on either side. That's what a professional does. I don't hide that Chelsea are a very important part of my life."

 

 

John Terry confident Chelsea can beat Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in Champions League

Blues going for three trophy haul...

 

 

John Terry is convinced Chelsea will end Jose Mourinho's bid for Champions League glory when his Inter Milan side visit Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Inter head into the tie with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, but captain Terry is confident that his side will overcome the Italian champion's slender lead.

"Returning to Stamford Bridge with a one-goal deficit and an away goal against the Italian champions is a starting point most sides would take and this side believes we can turn it around," Terry said, according to FIFA.com. 

"We are going for three trophies right now and every game is crucial. Only winning will do."

Striker Didier Drogba will likely prove crucial to the Blues if they are to win the game. The 31-year-old has scored 25 goals already this season, but believes his influence off the pitch has been equally important.

"There are different kinds of leadership and maybe I do speak when I feel it is important to," said Drogba.

"When you speak, after that you have to go out on the pitch and show and prove it. That is how people respect you and I think that is how you become a leader. 

"When I feel it I do it but the good thing is I am not the only one. John Terry or Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack, or other players, we are really going in the same direction."

Drogba has completed the sweep of domestic trophies with Chelsea, but still hopes to add the elusive Champions League title to his collection.

"I think all players dream about it and there are no reasons why it shouldn't happen," he said.