It was great entertainment all around in Champions' League week with a total of 14 goals in 4 matches for the 4 quarter-final matches. 3 of these matches saw comeback results, twice in the Man Utd - Porto encounter. While ties are decided over two legs, it is fair to say that Chelsea and Barcelona are almost certainly through after great results respectively. What is also great is that all the teams, except for Bayern, played open attacking football to send a positive message to future teams competing and for the integrity of the tournament in general that with attacking football combined with solid organisation, goals can be scored against even the best teams as Porto did against Man Utd. The best part? All 4 games started off with an early goal.
Villareal 1 - 1 Arsenal
Villareal were awesome until they slowed down their pace in the 2nd half to allow Arsenal to come back and secure a precious away goal. Marcos Senna struck a stunning shot from range to give the Yellow Submarines the lead early on but Adebayor scored a fabulous bicycle kick to equalize midway in the 2nd half. In light of the result, Arsenal, with that away goal, can head into the 2nd leg knowing a goalless draw or any sort of win will see them through. For Villareal, they should have killed off the tie in the 1st leg but are now staring at the exit door instead.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Chelsea
Liverpool took an early lead with a clinical finish from Torres after a great build-up. Chelsea's defender Ivanovic scored headed goals either side of the half from corners to send a message for the 2nd leg that he is a key man to look out for. Drogba, revitalized under Hiddink following a very poor season for the most part of the season, scored a clinical goal of his own after Malouda had delivered a teasing cross behind 2 Liverpool defenders. Liverpool has to now score 3 goals to match Chelsea's away goals and to not concede if they are to go through.
Barcelona 4 - 0 Bayern Munich
Barcelona are the best team and hot favourites to win the trophy after ripping apart a hapless Bayern side. Bayern had conceded only 5 goals in the league game before this while Barcelona had scored in the previous 26 games in all competitions at the Camp Nou. An early Messi goal paved the way as all 4 goals came in the 1st half. Messi could have easily had a hat-trick and with all 3 strikers scoring, Henry and Eto'o the other scorers, they are a dangerous team to play indeed. The most pleasing part is that their football is so simple with one/two touch precise passing and quick movement off the ball yet they are also a joy to watch. Bayern Munich to score 4 goals next week? Odds off.
Villareal 1 - 1 Arsenal
Villareal were awesome until they slowed down their pace in the 2nd half to allow Arsenal to come back and secure a precious away goal. Marcos Senna struck a stunning shot from range to give the Yellow Submarines the lead early on but Adebayor scored a fabulous bicycle kick to equalize midway in the 2nd half. In light of the result, Arsenal, with that away goal, can head into the 2nd leg knowing a goalless draw or any sort of win will see them through. For Villareal, they should have killed off the tie in the 1st leg but are now staring at the exit door instead.
Liverpool 1 - 3 Chelsea
Liverpool took an early lead with a clinical finish from Torres after a great build-up. Chelsea's defender Ivanovic scored headed goals either side of the half from corners to send a message for the 2nd leg that he is a key man to look out for. Drogba, revitalized under Hiddink following a very poor season for the most part of the season, scored a clinical goal of his own after Malouda had delivered a teasing cross behind 2 Liverpool defenders. Liverpool has to now score 3 goals to match Chelsea's away goals and to not concede if they are to go through.
Barcelona 4 - 0 Bayern Munich
Barcelona are the best team and hot favourites to win the trophy after ripping apart a hapless Bayern side. Bayern had conceded only 5 goals in the league game before this while Barcelona had scored in the previous 26 games in all competitions at the Camp Nou. An early Messi goal paved the way as all 4 goals came in the 1st half. Messi could have easily had a hat-trick and with all 3 strikers scoring, Henry and Eto'o the other scorers, they are a dangerous team to play indeed. The most pleasing part is that their football is so simple with one/two touch precise passing and quick movement off the ball yet they are also a joy to watch. Bayern Munich to score 4 goals next week? Odds off.
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