Champions League Quarter Finals (Second Legs)

Bayern Munich 3 v 1 Manchester United Evra (57), Mandzukic (59), Muller (67), Robben (76)
(Aggregate scoreline - Bayern Munich 4 v 2 Manchester United)
First Half: Valencia has a goal ruled out for offside.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Goal! 0-1, United take the lead through Evra who scores with an absolute rocket from the edge of the box into the far top corner. Goal! 1-1, Bayern equalise through Mandzukic who heads in Robben's cross at the far side. Goal! 2-1, Bayern come from behind to take the lead through Muller who scores with a low shot at the far side from a low Robben cross. Goal! 3-1, Robben skips past two defenders, cuts inside and scores with a low shot that takes a deflection before nestling in the near bottom corner.
Full Time: 3-1.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Robben. Bayern storm into semi-finals. The game played out in similar fashion to the way it did in the first leg, with Bayern dominating possession for the majority of the match. However, they struggled to open the scoring in the first half which left them vulnerable to United scoring an away goal. Incredibly, they went behind to an absolute wonder goal from Evra but it only seemed to waken them up. All of a sudden Bayern looked much more of a threat going forward and they levelled the tie two minutes after going behind. It was all Bayern from then on and they compounded victory with a further two goals from Muller and Robben to book their place in the semi-finals. 
United were defensively very strong and kept themselves in the game going into half time. Valencia had a goal ruled out for being offside which looked like a close call but it seemed to be going okay. Amazingly, they took the lead as Evra scored with an absolute rocket of a strike into the far top corner which sent United into bliss. However, their moment of glory was short-lived as they switched off in defence as Mandzukic equalised. At this point, the game was heading into extra time whilst a United goal would mean Bayern would have to score twice to go through. Sadly, it was Bayern who struck again to take the lead which forced United into scoring to stay in the competition. The game was over when Robben scored Bayern's third as United were never going to score a further two away goals. Really disappointed that the defence switched off so soon after taking the lead. A real shame but it was largely expected. Moyes and United will now be under increased pressure and it's all starting to look a little dim. 

Atletico Madrid 1 v 0 Barcelona Koke (3)
(Aggregate scoreline - Atletico Madrid 2 v 1 Barcelona)



My Opinion:
Many pundits predicted that this was on the cards and Barcelona are now out. Atletico have played really well over the two legs and managed to contain Barcelona. They could easily have won this game by two or three goals as the woodwork was struck on more than one occasion. The early goal really settled them down and they took full control of the tie and never looked back. Great performance and they fully deserve to through. 
Barcelona are in a bad place and this result only increases to the mounting pressure on a poor season by their standards. They are struggling domestically and needed a good run in the champions league. However, their run was cut short in the quarter-finals at the hands of Atletico Madrid. It was not a good display from them in Madrid and they looked second best. Disappointment for the Catalan faithful as this season continues to be one to forget. 

Best Goal: Evra, Robben. Winner: Evra

Semi-Final Draw:
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

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Champions League Quarter-Finals (First Legs)

Manchester United 1 v 1 Bayern Munich Vidic (58), Schweinsteiger (67)
First Half: Welbeck has a goal ruled out for a high footed tackle. Muller spurns a decent chance from a Ribery cross. Robben has a curling shot from long range across goal pushed behind from a diving save. Rooney has a shot from the edge of the box blocked by Lahm. Welbeck goes past Boateng and through on goal but has a deft chip palmed away. Valencia has a driven shot deflected over the bar.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Schweinsteiger fires a shot over at the near side. Kroos has a low shot from long range blocked. Goal! 1-0, United take the lead as Vidic heads in from Rooney's corner into the far bottom corner. Boateng has a long range driven shot saved. Goal! 1-1, Bayern equalise as Mandzukic heads down towards Schweinsteiger who skilfully scores with a shot into the near top corner. Valencia is dives into a tackle and is lucky to not get a second yellow card. Robben fires a low shot just wide of the near post. OFF! Schweinsteiger fouls Rooney and is shown a second yellow card.
Full Time: 1-1.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Vidic. United were extremely resilient in defence after playing most of the game in their own half. Vidic was instrumental in keeping Bayern out but United struggled to pass the ball out of their own half as Bayern pressurised high up the pitch. Welbeck had a goal wrongly disallowed in my opinion for a high foot. Not convinced it was foul but Welbeck had another great chance in the first half which should have been buried after he was through on goal but opted to audaciously chip Neuer which didn't work out. They took the lead just before the hour mark which dramatically lifted the crowd inside Old Trafford when Vidic headed in from a corner. However, they were put under more pressure and couldn't keep a vital clean sheet which means that they have to score in Munich to avoid going out. Valencia was very lucky to stay on the pitch after crazily lunging in whilst already being on a yellow card. United are still in the tie which was a huge relief after recent performances but going through will be extremely tough now.
Bayern will be delighted that they managed to score an away goal. They will fancy their chances of winning the return leg after dominating for most of the match tonight. They had plenty of possession but didn't make it count on a number of occasions as many chances passed them by. The United goal seemed to wake them up and they looked much more of a threat going forward and the pressure eventually told as Schweinsteiger scored with a good finish. However, Schweinsteiger lunged in on Rooney late in the game and picked up a second yellow card which rules him out of the return leg in Munich. Guardiola and Bayern will be satisfied with their work tonight and go into the return leg as favourites to progress. 

Barcelona 1 v 1 Atletico Madrid Diego (57), Neymar (71)



My Opinion:
Barcelona have been struggling for form in recent weeks and didn't look quite up to their normal standards again tonight. They created chances but Messi just wasn't at his best. They went behind to an absolute wonder goal from Diego but managed to hit back as Neymar struck 14 minutes later to level the tie. The result doesn't favour Barcelona going into the return leg as they will be forced into scoring a goal as they are currently heading out on away goals. They will need a big performance from their start players in Madrid next week but many pundits are expecting them to face a champions league exit. 
Atletico were very strong and will be delighted to have scored such a vital away goal. It was a thunderous strike from Diego from so far out and not to mention the angle from which he struck it. Incredible goal. Despite conceding, Atletico will really fancy their chances of causing a big upset in Madrid as they prefer to counter teams on the break. Therefore, the scoreline really favours the way they like to play as Barcelona will be forced to push for a goal in Madrid. If Atletico play like they did tonight and Barcelona don't find the magic they need then it all points to Atletico progressing into the semi-finals. 

Best Goal: Schweinsteiger, Diego, Neymar. Winner: Diego

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Champions League: Round of 16 (Second Legs)

Barcelona 2 (4) v 1 (1) Manchester City Messi (67), Kompany (89), Alves (90)
First Half: Messi has a penalty appeal turned down. Iniesta strikes a low dragged shot from long range wide across goal. Milner puts an effort across goal wide. Neymar has a goal ruled out for offside. Silva blazes a shot across goal from the edge of the box over the bar. Neymar has a low shot parried past the near post. Xavi has an effort parried away at the near side. Nasri has a low volley saved. Neymar has an effort headed off the line by Fernandinho.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Dzeko has a low shot saved. Messi cuts inside and hits the far post with a low shot. Dzeko is denied with a header by a great save away from the far top corner. Zabaleta slices a shot wide of the far post. Nasri fires a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Messi fires a low shot from long range wide of the near post. Goal! 1-0, Barcelona take the lead on the night as Lescott fails to clear, allowing Messi to chip the ball into the far side. Xavi has a strike from the edge of the box parried behind at the near side. Iniesta slices a long range shot wide. Dzeko has a penalty appeal turned down. OFF! Zabaleta is shown a second yellow card and sent off for dissent. Fabregas has a shot parried behind the near post. Goal! 1-1, City equalise on the night as Kompany scores with a close range tap in from the rebound of Dzeko's parried header across goal. Goal! 2-1, Barcelona take the lead again as Iniesta plays the ball to Alves who beats the defence before blasting a shot past Hart.
Full Time: 2-1
Barcelona win 4-1 on aggregate.



My Opinion:
A shame to see City go out but the task just proved too much for them. Barcelona controlled the majority of the game as you would expect but it took them until the 67th minute to break the deadlock in the second leg. Messi scored a delightful goal which all but ended the tie. They did concede a late goal which meant another City goal would put them out but Alves ended any hope for the English club by smashing past Hart in the last few minutes. They deserved to win this leg but it was a farcical first leg where the decisions favoured Barcelona. 
Man City gave themselves chances but they were unable to take any of them until it was too late. Kompany was their star player by quite a distance, proving himself to be a talisman at the back for City whilst leading by example. They really needed to score first to have any hope of going through but the Messi goal just killed them off. Kompany gave them a little bit of hope at the death but Alves soon saw to that. Another learning experience for City in the Champions League but I fully expect them to come back stronger next year. 


Paris Saint-Germain 2 (6) v 1 (1) Bayer Leverkusen Sam (6), Marquinhos (13), Lavezzi (53)
Paris Saint-Germain win 6-1 on aggregate.

My Opinion:
Well this was a pretty one-sided affair with Paris coming through with flying colours. The damage had been done in the first leg where Paris romped to victory and stacked up the away goals. However, Sam gave Leverkusen an early lead in the second leg but his efforts proved to be in vain as Paris equalised not long after before Lavezzi put them ahead on the night. In the end, Paris strolled into the quarters with ease, thrashing Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate. Not many teams will want to face PSG in the quarters with the likes of Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Lavezzi leading their front line. 

Best Goal: Messi, Lavezzi. Winner: Messi

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