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 (Second Legs)

Chelsea 2 v 0 PSG Schurrle (32), Ba (87)
(Aggregate scoreline - Chelsea 3 v 3 PSG, Chelsea go through on away goals).
First Half: Eto'o has an effort that deflects over at the near side. Ivanovic has a glancing header that goes wide of the far post. Lampard has a deflected free kick stopped by a great parry behind at the near side. Goal! 1-0, Chelsea take the lead as a long throw is flicked on by Luiz before Schurrle scores with a low shot into the far bottom corner. Schurrle has a penalty appeal turned down. Cahill slices a good chance high and wide of the far side.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Schurrle has a shot that crashed back off the bar. Oscar strikes a free kick across goal against the bar. Lavezzi has a free kick across goal punched behind. Cabaye blazes a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Schurrle has an effort from the edge of the box saved. Cavanni fires a shot just over the bar at the near side. Ba has a penalty appeal turned down. Cavanni shoots just over the bar at the near side. Goal! 2-0, Chelsea are now going through on away goals as a low drive from Azpilicueta deflects into the path of Ba who scuffs the ball over the keeper from close range. Marquinhos has a shot really well parried behind at the near post.
Full Time: 2-0.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Schurrle. Ba sends Chelsea into semi-finals. That was an incredible game to watch and Chelsea dug themselves out of a hole by getting the result they needed to go through into the Champions League semi-finals. They deserved to go through just for their determination as they pushed throughout to score those goals. Chelsea were the dominant team in the first half and went ahead just after the half hour mark as Schurrle slotted home brilliantly into the bottom corner. How Chelsea were not two goals up much sooner than they were amazed me as both Schurrle and Oscar saw their amazing efforts bounce back off the crossbar. On the whole, they were much better defensively than they were in the first leg and kept the likes of Cavanni and Lavezzi quiet. However, Cavanni could easily have scored on another night and they were fortunate that PSG were off the boil in front of goal. Nonetheless, it looked like Chelsea were not going to get that second goal depsite their best efforts until Demba Ba came on and scored a rather clumsy goal near the end to put Chelsea through. Incredible scenes and I'm pleased they were able to do it. 
PSG will be devastated with their performance tonight. They were in a really strong position at the start of the game but they paid the ultimate price for not being able to score an away goal. They played the majority of the game in their own half but had a couple of really good chances on the break but Cavanni volleyed both of his efforts over the bar. Things could easily have gone their way tonight but they didn't which means that they bow out in the quarter-finals. 

Borussia Dortmund 2 v 0 Real Madrid Reus (24,37)
(Aggregate scoreline - Real Madrid 3 v 2 Borussia Dortmund).



My Opinion:
Dortmund were so close to levelling the match but just couldn't find that third goal. They were all over Madrid in the second leg, looking like a completely different side that turned up in the Bernabeau. Reus put them two up on the night in the first half but they just couldn't find that extra goal that would have taken the tie into extra time. Lewandowski proved to be a big miss in both ties and could have proven to be the difference but last season's runners up bow out in this years quarter-finals. 
Real Madrid will be thanking their lucky stars after that atrocious performance. Ronaldo was left on the bench due to injury problems and it really showed that he wasn't on the pitch playing. Madrid were just all over the place and came so close to throwing away all their good work in the first leg. Somehow, they managed to hold on at 2-0 down but it was a real eye opener and cause for concern for the semi-finals. They will be hoping that Ronaldo returns from injury asap because that just wasn't good enough.

Best Goal: Schurrle, Reus. Winner: Schurrle

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Champions League Quarter-Finals (First Legs)

Paris Saint-Germain 3 v 1 Chelsea Lavezzi (4), Hazard (27pen), Luiz OG (62), Pastore (90+3)
First Half: Goal! 1-0, PSG take the lead as Chelsea fail to clear a cross which leaves Lavezzi to strike into the top neat corner. Penalty! Thiago Silva fouls Oscar inside the box. Goal! 1-1, Chelsea equalise as Hazard scores from the spot with a low strike into the near bottom corner.
Half Time: 1-1.
Second Half: Goal! 2-1, PSG go back in front just after the hour mark as Luiz converts into his own net from close range after trying to clear a free kick. Goal! 3-1, PSG double their lead with a late goal from Pastore who goes past the Chelsea defence from the corner spot before firing a low shot past Cech at the near post.
Full Time: 3-1.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Lavezzi. Paris will be delighted with that result. They are in command of the tie with a two goal lead although if Chelsea score twice at Stamford Bridge then PSG will have to score an away goal to go through. They took an early lead thanks to a controlled finish from Lavezzi. Thiago Silva was guilty for giving away a penalty which cost them an away goal but they went back in front thanks to an own goal from Luiz. Things got very cosy for them right at the end of the match as Pastore scored quite a spectacular individual goal to put them in charge. They will head to the Bridge for the return leg as favourites but still have to keep Chelsea out which could prove to be a tough task. 
That was a really disappointing performance and result for Chelsea who have left themselves with plenty to do back at the Bridge. Conceding an early goal didn't help them to settle into the game at all but they gifted a way back into the game thanks to Thiago Silva fouling Oscar inside the penalty area. Hazard nonchalantly slotted from the spot to provide a vital away goal which was the only positive outcome for Chelsea in Paris. Luiz was at fault for the second Paris goal whilst Cech should probably have done better at the near post to keep out Pastore's late effort. Not what Chelsea were hoping to come away with but they know that a 2-0 win in the return leg will see them through into the semi-finals. 

Real Madrid 3 v 0 Borussia Dortmund Bale (3), Isco (27), Ronaldo (57)



My Opinion:
Real Madrid were simply too good for Dortmund at the Bernabeau. A very strong performance saw them put one foot into the semi-finals as they stormed to victory. Bale scored an early goal which put Madrid on the front foot for the rest of the game and goals from Isco and Ronaldo sealed a dominant first leg win. The result will go a long way to healing the wounds Dortmund inflicted upon Real in last years competition where Real were beaten by Dortmund in the semi-finals. Although having to face Bale and Ronaldo must be extremely tough to play against and an absolute dream to have in your attack. I expect Real to progress into the semi's this year after that result and can't see them conceding three in Dortmund without scoring themselves.
Dortmund were just not at it in Madrid and paid a heavy price. Lewandowski proved to be a massive miss as they failed to score a vital away goal which makes life for them in the second leg extremely hard. If Madrid score in Dortmund then Borussia will have to score at least five goals to have a chance of progressing. Seems extremely unlikely to me that they will perform a miracle in the return leg and I fear that could be the end of the road for Dortmund in this years Champions League. 

Best Goal: Pastore, Lavezzi, Isco. Winner: Pastore

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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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