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News Archive

Champions League, quarter final, second leg

Barcelona will be joining Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Friday's semi-final draw after they knocked out Paris Saint Germain on the away goal rule! With Messi not fit enough to start, Tito Vilanova's team struggled in the first half, and they went behind five minutes after the restart when Pastore ran on to Ibrahimovic's through ball to beat Valdés. Messi eventually came on however, and he started a move which saw Villa play the ball back for Pedro to make it 1-1 with twenty minutes to go. (10.04.13)

Cruel luck for Málaga in Tuesday night's Champions League game, the Andalusians losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund after the German side scored twice in injury time. Joaquín put Pellegrini's team ahead midway through the first half, and although Lewandowski made it all square before the break, Eliseu restored the lead with seven minutes to go. However Reus and Santana scored twice in time added on to end Málaga's dream of a place in the semi-finals. Real Madrid are through to the last four though after they beat Galatasaray 5-3 on aggregate. Defending a three goal lead from the first leg, an early strike from Ronaldo virtually ended the tie. And although Eboué, Sneijder and Drogba all scored for the Turkish side after the restart, Ronaldo put the result beyond doubt with a second goal right at the end to make it 3-2 on the night. (09.04.13)

Barcelona 1 - Paris Saint Germain 1

Barcelona will be joining Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Friday's semi-final draw after they knocked out Paris Saint Germain on the away goal rule! With Messi not fit enough to start, Tito Vilanova's team struggled in the first half, Valdés having to make saves from Moura, Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic, and Lavezzi and Moura firing shots over the top. Xavi went close with an early free kick, and Iniesta tried to catch Sirigu off his line with a shot from midfield, but five minutes after the restart Pastore ran on to Ibrahimovic's through ball to beat Valdés and open the scoring. The Argentinian striker scuffed an easy chance a few minutes later, and Vilanova eventually had no option but to turn to Messi. That animated the crowd and the players though, and after Dani Alves fired a shot over the bar, Messi sprinted past two defenders and played the ball on for Villa, who laid the ball back in to the path of Pedro for him to equalize. There were a few nervous moments after that, especially when Deschamps brought on Gameiro and Beckham, but Barça held on to make it through to the semi-finals for a record sixth year in a row. (10.04.13)

Borussia Dortmund 3 - Málaga 2

Cruel luck for Málaga in Tuesday night's Champions League game, the Andalusians losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund after the German side scored twice in injury time. The goal-less draw in the first leg meant that Pellegrini's side had to score, and although the early chances fell to Lewandowski, Joaquín put the visitors ahead after cutting past Schmelzer to fire a low shot past Weidenfeller. A few minutes later though Dortmund equalized, Reus flicking Götze's centre on with his heel for Lewandowski to lift a shot past Caballero, and only a good save by the visiting keeper prevented the Polish striker from scoring a second soon after the restart. A Joaquín header and a long shot by Toulalan tested Weidenfeller again after that, and Caballero responded with top class saves from Reus and Götze. However with seven minutes to go substitute Eliseu restored the lead from an offside position after Baptista played the ball across goal on a quick break-away. Dortmund now needed two to win, and with the game in time added on it appeared to be all over. But Reus made it all square again after Gámez could only partly clear Subotic's cross, and a minute later a scramble in front of goal ended with Santana forcing the ball over on the goal line, again from an offside position which Scottish referee Craig Thompson and his four assistants all missed. (09.04.13)

Galatasaray 3 - Real Madrid 2

Real Madrid are through to the last four though after they beat Galatasaray 5-3 on aggregate. Defending a three goal lead from the first leg, an early strike from Ronaldo after Özil and Khedira combined to set him up seemed to have put an end the tie. Di María brought a good save out of Muslera and Ronaldo fired a shot wide either side of half time, but a few minutes later Eboué ran on to Sneijder's cross to thrash a shot wide of Diego López to make it all square on the night. Sneijder missed an easy chance soon afterwards, but with twenty minutes to go the ex Real Madrid midfielder latched on to Sarioglu's pass to run past Varane and score his side's second, and a minute later he crossed in for Drogba to drag a shot in to the net with his heel. The Turkish side still needed to score two more though, and although Arbeloa got himself sent off with a silly second booking for insulting the referee, Ronaldo put the result beyond doubt with a second goal after Benzema laid the ball across. It was the Portuguese striker's eleventh goal in the competition, and it signaled a third Champions League semi-final in a row under José Mourinho. (09.04.13)