If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

News Archive

Champions League, round of 16, second leg

One Spanish side through and one out in the first week of the round of sixteen second legs. Real Madrid bounced back from a Sergio Ramos own goal to beat Manchester United 1-2 on Tuesday, two goals in three minutes midway through the second half from Modric and Ronaldo taking Mourinho's team in to the last eight. Valencia will take no further part in the competition though, their 1-1draw at Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday just a goal short of forcing the match in to extra time. Jonas did give them hope with an impressive strike early in the first half, but Lavezzi made it all square ten minutes later. (06.03.13)

Paris Saint Germain 1 - Valencia 1

Valencia will take no further part in the competition, their 1-1draw at Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday just a goal short of forcing the match in to extra time. The 1-2 defeat in the Mestalla stadium three weeks ago proved to be too big a hurdle to jump in the end, although Rami's late goal and a red card for Ibrahimovic in that first game did at least give them a fighting chance.

Valverde's team needed to score two goals to have any chance of qualifying, but other than a couple of long shots by Jonas and Soldado, local keeper Sirigu was hardly troubled throughout the first half. His opposite number Guaita had even less to do though, as the French side clearly missed their flamboyant striker.

Ten minutes after the restart however Tino Costa won the ball back inside the PSG half, and Jonas picked up the rebound and unleashed an unstoppable shot past the keeper. Ancelotti reacted bringing on an extra forward Gameiro, and Guaita had to come out of his area quickly to clear from the striker soon afterwards. And just a minute or so later another attack led by Gameiro ended with a tackle rebounding in to the path of Lavezzi in front of goal, and although Guaita kept out his first shot, the Argentinian forward forced the ball back in to the net with his thigh.

That didn't change things too much, as Valencia still had to score again to take the tie in to extra time. But despite a high majority of possession and an uncountable number of corners, the Ches were unable to find the route to goal. Disappointment in the end, but at least they put up a good fight. PSG themselves are in to the quarter finals for the first time in eighteen years, and although circumstances didn't allow David Beckham to make his Champions League debut with his new side, he will have another chance in the next round. (06.03.13)

Manchester United 1 - Real Madrid 2

Real Madrid are through to the quarter finals of the Champions League! Mourinho's side came back from a goal down in Old Trafford to beat Manchester United 1-2, taking them through 3-2 on aggregate.

The Premier League side came closest to scoring in the first half when Vidic headed a Giggs corner against the upright, Welbeck turning the rebound in to the hands of Diego López, and the visiting keeper made important saves from Van Persie and Welbeck before the interval.

Higuaín did have a strike ruled out for a previous foul by Sergio Ramos, but otherwise Madrid created few chances, and three minutes in to the second half the locals went ahead when Sergio Ramos deflected a Nani cross in to his own net.

The turning point came though a few minutes later when the Turkish referee sent off Nani for what he considered to be a dangerously high kick on Arbeloa, and with Modric on the park the visitors pushed forward. Soon after coming on Modric squared the tie when he picked up a return pass from Ramos before curling a shot in off the post, and three minutes later Ronaldo scored his team's second after Özil and Higuaín combined to set him up.

Sir Alex brought on Rooney for the last quarter of an hour, and Diego López had to be at his best to keep out Van Persie, Carrick and Vidic late on. De Gea had to save a couple of times from Ronaldo though and Kaká hit the outside of the post as Madrid looked to catch out their opponents on the counter-attack, but they had already done more than enough to round off what has surely been their best week of the season. (05.03.13)