Champions League Quarter Finals
Draw and dates for quarter- and semi-finals announced
Details of the draw for the quarter-finals of the European Champions League, including brief reports from the last-sixteen round matches.
The quarter-finals of the Champions League, Europe’s most prestigious soccer competition, has been announced, with three English and two Italian teams, as well as one team from Germany, Holland and Spain set to battle it out.
Italian team AC Milan will face German side Bayern Munich in the first of the quarter-finals. Milan had struggled to see off Scottish side Celtic in the last-16, with the two sides unable to find a goal between them in either the first or second game – it wasn’t until three minutes into extra time in the second leg that Brazilian Kaka came up with the decisive wondergoal.
In the most exciting match of the last-16, Bayern Munich overcame Real Madrid to go through on away goals after the tie concluded with an aggregate score of 4-4. Dutchman Roy Makaay netted the fastest goal in Champions League history just ten seconds into the match.
Liverpool knocked out the 2006 champions Barcelona in a close-fought contest and will now play PSV Eindhoven. Barcelona couldn’t overturn the 2-1 defeat inflicted in the first leg in Spain. A goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen earned them a 1-0 victory in the second leg of the tie, but, with the result tied at 2-2, it was Liverpool, champions in 2005, who progressed on the away goals rule.
PSV dumped Arsenal out of the competition in a battle of attrition that effectively ended the Londoners’ season. PSV had weathered Arsenal’s assault in the first leg in Holland to snatch an unlikely 1-0 victory. However in the return match there was no doubt that PSV deserved their victory. Arsenal never looked capable of scoring, and it took an own goal from PSV’s Alex for them to get on the scoresheet. Alex made amends later when he headed in a powerful equaliser to guarantee PSV’s passage.
Roma will play Manchester United in the third quarter-final, the Italian side having seen off the highly-rated French outfit Lyon in the last-16. After a goalless first leg in Italy, goals from Francesco Totti and an absolute beauty from Alessandro Mancini fired Roma into the next round.
Their next opponents, Manchester United, also overcame French opposition, beating Lille 2-0 on aggregate after winning both legs by a single goal. After a controversial encounter in France, calm was restored in the second leg as the home side cruised into the quarter-finals. A goal from Henrik Larsson in his last game for Manchester United before he returns to his native Sweden was enough to secure the victory.
Spanish side Valencia will take on Chelsea in the final quarter-final. Valencia saw off Inter Milan in their last-16 game, in the most eventful of the week’s games. The sides drew 2-2 in Milan and then 0-0 in Spain, with Valencia going through on away goals. However the second game was marred by a violent brawl at the end of the game, as a result of which governing body UEFA has charged five players, including Carlos Marchena and David Navarro of Valencia, with gross unsporting conduct.
The row was sparked by an angry confrontation after the final whistle between Marchena and Inter's Nicolas Burdisso, with Navarro then running onto the pitch and breaking Burdisso’s nose with a shameful punch. Navarro promptly fled the scene but the fight continued and even spilled over into the dressing rooms. The game itself had been a tight affair, with Inter creating the better chances but failing to convert them, much to their own frustration.
Chelsea advanced into the last eight in more serene fashion, though it took a late winning goal from German Michael Ballack to secure their passage. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho found himself up against his previous club Porto, with whom he won the competition in 2004, and his old colleagues gave him a scare when they took the lead in the first half at Stamford Bridge. Following a 1-1 draw in Portugal, Chelsea came from behind in the return tie to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Ballack and, earlier, Dutchman Arjen Robben, who profited from a horrendous error from the Porto goalkeeper.
AC Milan v Bayern Munich
(First leg 3 April, second leg 11 April)
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool
(First leg 3 April, second leg 11 April)
Roma v Manchester United
(First leg 4 April, second leg 10 April)
Chelsea v Valencia
(First leg 4 April, second leg 10 April)
