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R Madrid 2-1 B Munich (agg 3-3)

Apr 25

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Bayern Munich win 3-1 on penalties

                                                                                                                                                                                 Bayern Munich will face Chelsea in the Champions League final after beating Real Madrid in a penalty shoot-out following an engrossing semi-final.

Real trailed by a goal from the first leg but two Cristiano Ronaldo strikes – the first a penalty, the second a neat low finish – put them in control.

However, Arjen Robben levelled the tie for Bayern with a spot kick of his own.

No further goals meant a shoot-out, which Bastian Schweinsteiger settled to send his team to a final on home turf.

The midfielder was not his side’s only hero in the shoot-out. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer played a major part, saving Real’s first two penalties – from Ronaldo and Kaka, while Mario Gomez and David Alaba scored for Bayern.

This was the second time in major Champions League shoot-outs that Ronaldo had missed from the spot, having also failed for Manchester United in the 2008 final against Chelsea.

It also means the two players currently rated the world’s best have missed key penalties in successive days following Lionel Messi’s failure from the spot for Barcelona on Tuesday.

It was a terrible end to the game for the Portuguese winger who had earlier put his side in control with two goals in the first 15 minutes.

The first came from the penalty spot as he stroked home – nervelessly on that occasion – after Alaba had handled Angel di Maria’s cross in the box. His second was a superb low finish into the corner of the net after being found by Mesut Ozil in the box.

It put Real on course for the final and a potentially memorable double, following a great week in which they have virtually secured the Spanish title with victory at Barcelona on Saturday.

It also set up the enticing prospect of a match-up between Real boss Jose Mourinho – looking for an historic third Champions League title with a third club – against his former charges Chelsea, the only one of his major clubs he has failed to lead to European glory.

Instead it is Jupp Heynckes who could now claim his second European crown on 19 May after leading Real to the trophy in 1998.

His side were simply not prepared to allow their dream of a final on home soil slip away so easily and they hit back with a penalty of their own midway through the first half when Mario Gomez tumbled in the box under a challenge from Pepe and Robben made no mistake from the spot.

It was a fitting reward for the German side, who had matched Real in the first half and shown plenty of attacking intent.

Had Gomez demonstrated the sharpness that had brought him 12 goals in the competition this season Bayern could even have led at the break, but he saw a low shot saved by Casillas and glanced a header wide.

Gomez also had the clearest opportunity of a very tight second half and extra-time but instead of hitting the ball first time with the goal at his mercy, he dwelt and Real cleared.

It seemed only fitting that a tie so evenly matched over two legs should be settled by a penalty shoot-out.

After Neuer’s early heroics, Casillas almost rescued his side with two saves of his own from Toni Kroos and Phillip Lahm, but Sergio Ramos then blazed over for the home side, leaving Schweinsteiger to claim his moment of glory.

The win came at a cost for the German side, who will be without Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo after they picked up bookings.

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    • Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea (agg 2-3)

    Apr 25

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                                                                                                                                                             Chelsea reached the Champions League final despite John Terry’s sending off to seal a truly remarkable two-legged victory over Barcelona.

    The Blues were in serious trouble after goals from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta put Barca ahead either side of Terry’s dismissal for violent conduct.

    But Ramires strode forward to chip Chelsea ahead on away goals.

    Lionel Messi hit the bar with a penalty for Barca before Fernando Torres ran clear to seal the tie in injury time.

    Earlier in the week, Torres had said “the best team does not always win” . His words were prophetic for England’s last men standing in Europe as they scrapped their way past the defending champions and into the final in Munich on 19 May.

    That it was Torres who scored the goal after being so maligned during his time at Stamford Bridge made for the perfect ending to a famous night for Roberto di Matteo’s side.

    Indeed, the whole game turned expectation on its head. Barcelona had scored 102 goals at the Nou Camp this season and scored 18 goals in their last five Champions League home games.

    However, Chelsea’s last three visits to the Nou Camp had each ended in draws, while Real Madrid beat Barcelona on Saturday, and the Blues were leading 1-0 from the first leg after Didier Drogba’s winner.

    Incredibly, all three of Chelsea’s goals in the tie were scored in time added on, while Barcelona enjoyed 72% of possession in both legs.

    It was a result that owed a lot to a moment of guile from Ramires but more to a display of guts from the Brazilian and his team-mates after Terry’s needless dismissal eight minutes before half-time for driving a knee into the back of Alexis Sanchez off the ball.

    The Blues’ challenge had been rocking at that point, with Terry’s centre-back partner Gary Cahill lost to injury and Barca having just levelled the tie through Busquets’s neat, close-range finish from Isaac Cuenca’s pull-back.

    Within five minutes, the true cost of Terry’s indiscretion seemed clear as Iniesta collected from Messi in the box and swept the home side into the lead.

    However, Chelsea raised themselves for a final salvo of the half, as Frank Lampard’s through-ball gave Ramires an opportunity he did not waste, chipping Victor Valdes from 15 yards.

    Chelsea’s joy looked likely to be short-lived, however. The second half had barely begun when Barca were given the chance to take hold of the tie again, Drogba tripping Cesc Fabregas in the box.

    Messi has scored 14 goals in the Champions League this season – one more would have given him the record for a single campaign – but he struck his spot-kick against the bar.

    It was a let-off for Chelsea, but one they seized upon and their rearguard action in the remainder of the second half was stunning.

    Barca had their chances, Cuenca seeing an effort saved by Petr Cech and Messi striking a post from 22 yards.

    In stoppage time, substitute Torres ran clear and rounded Valdes before slotting in to set up a showdown with either former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid – or the side whose ground hosts the final, Bayern Munich.

    The only sour note for the London side is that suspensions means they will have to do without Ramires, Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles in Munich.

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    • Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

    Apr 22

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    Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Real Madrid took a giant stride towards a first La Liga title since 2008 with victory at Barcelona in el Clasico.

    Ronaldo saw a header tipped over before Sami Khedira scrambled Real ahead after poor defending by captain Carles Puyol.

    The hosts equalised when substitute Alexis Sanchez poked in from close range moments after replacing Xavi.

    But Mesut Ozil fed Ronaldo to fire past Victor Valdes and send Real seven points clear with four games remaining.

    They host Sevilla next Sunday, travel to Athletic Bilbao three days later and Granada on 6 May before finishing at home to Real Mallorca.

    Barca travel to Rayo Vallecano, host Malaga and then Espanyol before going to Real Betis on the final day.

    In all probability, Real boss Jose Mourinho is within touching distance his first Spanish league crown – and it will owe much to this result.

    His side inflicted on Barca a first home defeat in 55 games and deservedly so after a near-perfect tactical display.

    The out-of-sorts hosts looked jaded from Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg defeat at Chelsea.

    Real also lost in midweek, at Bayern Munch, but they had an extra day to prepare and looked both fresher and more hungry.

    Mourinho kept faith with the team beaten in Germany and he was rewarded with a display combining enterprising attack and stout defence.

    They looked dangerous on the counter-attack, worked tirelessly throughout and brought the European champions to their knees in a way few have managed in recent years.

    Only four minutes were on the clock when Ronaldo nodded Ozil’s corner towards goal, Valdes reacting well to turn it away.

    Barcelona were predictably enjoying most of the possession but their ball-retention was uncharacteristically poor.

    Aside from a Dani Alves chance – he was expertly foiled by Iker Casillas after intercepting Pepe’s poor pass – they hardly mustered a clear-cut opportunity in the opening quarter.

    Real were far more ruthless and in the 17th minute they struck a blow that silenced the home crowd.

    Pepe met Angel di Maria’s corner with a firm header at the back post, drawing a one-handed save from Valdes.

    The ball fell to Puyol but the veteran Barca captain hesitated inexplicably and Khedira was able to bundle over the line.

    Barca almost hit back when the ineffective Lionel Messi sent Xavi racing clear, only for his low strike to fizz wide via the thigh of Casillas.

    It took Pep Guardiola’s men almost 20 minutes to get going in the second half, but once they did another glorious opening was wasted.

    Andres Iniesta fed Crisitan Tello with a deft flick and the 20-year-old blazed horribly high and wide when clean through on the left.

    Xavi then skimmed a shot just wide and cut a frustrated figure as Guardiola replaced him with Sanchez.

    The move immediately paid off – Sanchez stabbing in after Tello’s drive was saved – but Real curtailed their celebrations in devastating fashion.

    Ozil found himself with time and space on the right, he picked out Ronaldo with a perfectly-weighted pass and the Portuguese took a touch before placing a crisp finish beyond Valdes.

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    • Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona

    Apr 18

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    Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a precious lead to take to the Nou Camp for the Champions League semi-final second leg as his goal beat holders Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

    The Catalans dominated possession as well as creating a succession of chances – but Drogba struck in first-half injury time to give interim manager Roberto di Matteo’s side an advantage to protect in Barcelona next Tuesday.

    Chelsea were forced to mount a resilient rearguard action in the face of Barcelona’s famous passing “carousel”, but Drogba converted their one clear chance to reward the outstanding defensive work of Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole and captain John Terry in keeping Lionel Messi and co at bay.

    Barcelona produced evidence of the huge threat they will pose in front of their own supporters as they enjoyed 72% of the possession, but Chelsea will be elated at not only claiming the victory but also keeping a crucial clean sheet.

    Alexis Sanchez hit the crossbar for Barcelona early on and Pedro hit the post in the dying seconds – while Cole cleared off the line from Cesc Fabregas. Goalkeeper Petr Cech also saved well from Messi and Carles Puyol as Pep Guardiola’s team tried every avenue in an attempt to break Chelsea down.

    In the end, Chelsea’s organisation and discipline was rewarded but Di Matteo knows they will have to produce the same – and more besides – in the Nou Camp to confirm a meeting with either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final in Munich next month.

    Di Matteo clearly saw Drogba’s power as a potential threat to a Barcelona defence stripped of Gerard Pique – but he barely caught sight of goal in a first 45 minutes in which the Catalans exerted their technical superiority.

    Chelsea were riding their luck as early as the eighth minute when Andres Iniesta played in Sanchez. The Chilean’s lob left Cech stranded but his effort bounced back to safety off the bar.

    Fabregas was the guilty party when Chelsea had another escape soon after. Messi was the creator to set up Iniesta but when Cech could only push out his shot, the former Arsenal captain miscued his finish from eight yards.

    Messi was the next to test Cech with a header from Sanchez’s cross, the Chelsea keeper gathering the effort comfortably as Barcelona once more failed to produce the final touch to accompany their artistic approach work.

    As half-time approached Fabregas had another chance to give Barcelona the lead. He collected an incisive Messi pass and this time beat Cech, who required Cole to scramble back and clear the ball off the line.

    Chelsea, at this point, would have been happy to reach the interval on level terms – but instead they produced the wonderful bonus of a goal in first-half injury time.

    Messi was caught in possession by Frank Lampard, who released Ramires, and the reliable Brazilian served up the perfect cross for Drogba to sweep a left-footed finish past Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

    Drogba’s main contribution prior to his goal was to go through his full range of theatrics but this was an example of exactly why Di Matteo made him his choice.

    As is their style, Barcelona continued as if almost failing to recognise they had fallen behind – but also in the same vein of wasting the openings they created as Adriano saw a shot pushed away by Cech and Sanchez was unable to apply the finish to Fabregas’s scooped pass.

    Chelsea were pushed right back into their own territory as Barcelona probed and passed for an opening. They were able, however, to survive without too many serious alarms until the closing moments.

    Cech dived away to his right to save Puyol’s header from Messi’s free-kick then escaped again in the final seconds as substitute Pedro struck the base of the post, with Sergio Busquets lifting the rebound wildly over the bar.

    And after clinching a place against Liverpool in the FA Cup Final with victory against Tottenham on Sunday, Chelsea can now contemplate the possibility of reaching their second Champions League Final in five years.

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    • Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid

    Apr 17

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    Mario Gomez’s last-minute goal gave Bayern Munich the advantage over Real Madrid after the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

    Franck Ribery’s powerful finish had given the hosts the lead.

    But Mesut Ozil’s close-range effort just after the break looked to have earned the visitors a draw.

    Gomez wasted a string of second-half opportunities but touched in from just a couple of yards out to give the German side a deserved lead.

    Real had seemed content to sit on their draw after spending most of the evening on the back foot and they looked set to return to Spain on level terms, with Gomez proving wasteful in front of goal despite causing centre-backs Pepe and Sergio Ramos problems all night.

    But, with Cristiano Ronaldo producing an ineffective performance for the visitors, Gomez showed composure when it mattered to take his last chance to score his 40th goal of the season.

    As well as facing a deficit, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho’s plans for the second leg will be complicated by the fact that Real, who are four points clear of Barcelona in La Liga, travel to the Nou Camp on Saturday, while Bayern can rest players at Werder Bremen after their hopes of winning the Bundesliga were all but ended last weekend.

    But Jupp Heynckes’s side were certainly worth their win as they look to become the first team to contest a Champions League final at their own stadium.

    Before Bayern took the lead their goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was called into action to tip away Karim Benzema’s effort and Ribery went down under a Ramos challenge in the area.

    A Toni Kroos corner thumped against the chest of Ramos and Ribery was the first to react, steering a low shot through a crowd of bodies and past visiting goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

    Bayern continued to stretch the Real defence in wide areas and, after slicing well over with one shot, Ronaldo’s impact was limited to a couple of free-kicks that failed to trouble Neuer.

    Ramos and Pepe never looked comfortable in dealing with Gomez and the Bayern striker had a firm effort pushed away by Casillas just before the interval following an incisive break from the hosts.

    But, seven minutes after the restart, Real pulled level after Ronaldo saw a weak effort easily pushed away by Neuer.

    Ozil reacted quickly to feed Benzema and the Frenchman’s drilled cross was pulled back by Ronaldo for Ozil to touch in from just a couple of yards out.

    Casillas was out quickly to produce a brave block after Gomez was played through by Robben.

    Gomez had no excuse for lifting over from just four yards after Ramos again failed to deal with a set-piece from Kroos and the Germany striker also glanced over with two headers from good positions.

    But he finally made the breakthrough when Philipp Lahm’s cross from the right thumped in off the striker at the near post.

    Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes: “My players showed what I had demanded from them – lust and hunger for success.

    “I think we more than deserved the win because we played cleverly and intelligently.”

    Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho:

    “The second goal came out of context. We were a better team in the first half in the second half the game was a bit broken and I didn’t like it so much.

    “It was under control by both teams and no-one believed they could win 2-1 but that’s football they scored and we have to play in the second leg at home in a different atmosphere and let’s go for it.

    “I prefer to (a game like Barcelona at the weekend) it than not have it like Bayern. They are eight or nine points behind Dortmund. For us it means a lot but we are fighting for a title. We know it’s a disadvantage but it’s better like this.”

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    • Chelsea 2-1 Benfica (3-1 agg)

    Apr 5

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    Chelsea will face Barcelona after reaching their sixth Champions League semi-final in nine years with victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.

    Frank Lampard’s first-half penalty set the platform for Chelsea’s successful defence of the 1-0 lead they established in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light.

    And though Chelsea had to survive nervous moments in the last five minutes after Javi Garcia’s header put Benfica one goal away from winning the tie, a spectacular strike from substitute Raul Meireles in the dying seconds cut short the comeback.

    Chelsea’s win sets up a repeat of the controversial 2009 semi-final when only Andres Iniesta’s stoppage time strike at Stamford Bridge rescued Barcelona and prevented an all-Premier League meeting with Manchester United in Rome.

    The Blues’ performance here was hardly of the calibre to strike fear into the hearts of the holders and tournament favourites – indeed, for long spells, the fare was decidedly ordinary – but for caretaker manager Roberto di Matteo and his players it was mission accomplished.

    Their opponents created chances throughout but simply lacked the cutting edge to capitalise – a task made even more difficult by the first-half dismissal of captain Maxi Pereira after he received a second yellow card for a crude challenge on Jon Obi Mikel.

    But while Chelsea may not have touched the heights, their rejuvenation under caretaker Di Matteo continues as they now contemplate another semi-final to go with their FA Cup date with Tottenham at Wembley.

    It is a brutal reality, however, that they will have to display infinitely greater quality than this to trouble Pep Guardiola’s Catalan superstars as they battle for a place in next month’s final in Munich.

    The visitors opened with ambition as they chased down the deficit from the first leg in Lisbon, with the gifted Pablo Aimar prominent.

    The early momentum was halted, however, by the concession of a needless penalty after 21 minutes when Garcia barged Ashley Cole to the ground. Keeper Artur touched Lampard’s penalty but it carried too much power.

    Benfica needed a swift response and almost got it through the dangerous Oscar Cardozo but his shot from the edge of the area was swept off the line by home captain John Terry.

    Passages of the first half had been niggly, with referee Damir Skomina producing his yellow card at regular intervals. And it was red for visiting captain Pereira five minutes before the interval when, having been booked for protesting about the penalty, he received a second yellow for an ugly lunge at Mikel.

    Even then, it took a fine save from Petr Cech to prevent Benfica drawing level moments after the restart, the Blues keeper showing great agility to claw away Cardozo’s effort.

    The game became increasingly stretched as Benfica’s need for a goal became more urgent and seconds after Yannick Djalo’s shot was deflected narrowly off target at one end, keeper Artur was forced to block at Kalou’s feet at the other.

    The visitors’ threat finally brought a goal, courtesy of Garcia’s glancing header in the 85th minute, but just as the prospect of a dramatic turnaround materialised, so it promptly disappeared. Meireles – taunted by the visiting fans for his connection to rivals Porto – settled the tie.

    He broke away as Chelsea cleared a Benfica free-kick, keeping his composure to flash a finish past Artur to confirm another meeting with old Champions League adversaries Barcelona.

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    • Real Madrid 5-2 Apoel (agg 8-2)

    Apr 5

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    Real Madrid confirmed a Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich despite Apoel’s defiant performance.

    The hosts, with a 3-0 first-leg advantage, took the lead on the night through Cristiano Ronaldo’s close-range finish before Kaka curled in a second.

    Apoel’s Gustavo Manduca finished a fine attacking move before Ronaldo scored a free-kick to make it 3-1.

    Jose Callejon added a fourth on the break and, after Esteban Solari’s penalty, Angel di Maria chipped in.

    Real boss Jose Mourinho would have expected a more comfortable evening but will be satisfied to see his team in the last four for just the second time since 2003.

    Real are six points clear at the top of La Liga with eight games to go and, as the Portuguese looks to win this competition with a third different club, could still meet domestic rivals and defending champions Barcelona in the final.

    Before that, Real must see off Bayern, whom they meet in this competition for a 10th time.

    They beat the Germans in the semi-finals before their 2000 victory and in the quarter-finals on the way to their last Champions League success in 2002.

    Whatever chance Apoel had of preventing that meeting had passed in the first leg and the visitors from Cyprus were content to defend deep from the start, damage limitation perhaps the summit of their aspirations.

    Even so, Ronaldo tapped in from a Marcelo cross midway through the opening period to open a four-goal aggregate margin and Kaka, who also hit the post before half-time, bent a shot into the top corner from 25 yards to make it five.

    The Brazilian’s effort was his 27th in the Champions League, equalling Ryan Giggs’ record for most goals in the competition by a midfielder.

    Apoel pulled one back when an impressive attacking move ended with Ailton guiding a ball through for Manduca to clip a shot past Iker Casillas.

    Ronaldo restored the two-goal margin on the night with a powerful free-kick from a wide position to take his tally to 49 for the season before Callejon latched on to a long ball to thump in a fourth.

    After Hamit Altintop clipped Aldo Adorno in the area, Solari rolled in the penalty but Di Maria, who has been sidelined with a thigh problem, scored Real’s fifth on the night and eighth in all with an impressive chip.

    Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho:

    “Let me be honest, I don’t think the final will be a Real Madrid v Chelsea final. It could be Bayern or Barcelona, I just don’t think it will be Real Madrid v Chelsea and we know why.

    “Somebody said that I have a signed contract with Man City and it’s completely untrue so I’m not happy with news that has nothing of truth. I have two more years of contract in Madrid. Everyone knows I love England. I will be back one day but no-one knows when that one day will be.

    “We know that it is almost impossible for Apoel to come here and beat us 4-1 and go through so it wasn’t easy to motivate the boys but we did our job.”

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    • Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan (3-1 agg)

    Apr 4

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    Lionel Messi was Barcelona’s hero yet again as his two first-half penalties sealed a Champions League quarter-final win over AC Milan.

    Messi, 24, moved into third on the list of all-time goalscorers in the competition as Barca set up a last-four place against Benfica or Chelsea.

    Milan were briefly level when midfielder Antonio Nocerino steered in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s pass.

    But they had no answer after the break with Andres Iniesta adding a third.

    No side has ever retained the trophy in the Champions League era but Pep Guardiola’s side must be outstanding favourites to achieve the feat in Munich on 19 May.

    Messi inspired them to beat Manchester United in last year’s final at Wembley, and the Argentine’s incredible goalscoring form could steer the club to another title this year.

    Barely a week seems to go by without Messi adding another record to his collection, and he quickly chalked up two more to his ever-growing list of personal achievements with his 57th and 58th goals of a remarkable season.

    He became the youngest player to score 50 Champions League goals with his first spot-kick, before notching up the most goals in a single campaign as his second of the night – and 14th in total this season – put Barca back ahead.

    Messi then completed the night’s work with an assist as his shot was blocked by the hapless Philippe Mexes, only to fall into the path of Iniesta who struck the pivotal third goal into the far corner.

    Chelsea could yet bar Guardiola’s side’s progress – in a repeat of the ill-tempered semi-final of 2009 – and Roberto di Matteo’s side will have seen few chinks in the defending champions’ armour during this display.

    Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan team knew that any score draw would be enough to see them through, and they made a lively start before Messi opened the scoring 11 minutes in.

    Disappointingly for the visitors, the goal was a gift as Mexes dawdled on the halfway line and was robbed of possession by Messi.

    The forward surprisingly elected to cut the ball back for Xavi instead of shooting, but when the ball came back to Messi he was brought down by Luca Antonini.

    Referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded the penalty and Messi stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

    Milan continued to pose a threat and drew level with a fine goal just after the half hour.

    Former Manchester City man Robinho hurdled two tackles before finding Ibrahimovic on the edge of the box, and the Swede played a perfectly-weighted through pass which Nocerino placed beyond Victor Valdes.

    But the Italians failed to build on that goal and Barcelona were back ahead before the break as Alessandro Nesta gave away another cheap penalty.

    The vastly experienced defender needlessly grabbed hold of Sergio Busquets inside the area, and Messi struck the ball into the opposite corner.

    Messi was instrumental in the third goal as well, and when his low shot struck Mexes to land at Iniesta’s feet, the midfielder calmly took a touch before rifling past Christian Abbiati.

    That goal crushed Milan’s spirit, and the match desended into an exhibition as Barca booked their place in the semi-finals for a fifth successive year.

    With Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid still in the mix and a potent Bayern Munich side looking to win the cup on their own ground, Barcelona still face several considerable hurdles before they can lift the trophy again, but Guardiola’s men undoubtedly remain the side to beat.

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    • AC Milan 0-0 Barcelona

    Mar 28

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    Barcelona will need to beat AC Milan at the Nou Camp to ensure their place in the Champions League semi-finals after being held to a goalless draw in Italy.

    The defending champions’ claims for a penalty were turned down when Alexis Sanchez fell under Christian Abbiati’s challenge in a dominant first half.

    But Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had clear openings at the other end as AC Milan threatened on the break.

    Cristian Tello was denied by a last-ditch block as Barca ran out of ideas.

    The sides played out two pulsating games in Group H earlier in the tournament and AC Milan once again provided a fascinating counter to Barcelona’s staccato passing style.

    With the winners set to play the winners of Chelsea and Benfica’s quarter-final, the Serie A leaders maintained their record of never having lost a home quarter-final tie in the competition.

    The visitors created a raft of excellent chances in the opening half as they weaved passing patterns around Milan’s defensive veterans Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini.

    But their finishing could not match the precision of their build-up play.

    Xavi’s toe-poke was clawed away by Christian Abbiati after a sharp one-two with Lionel Messi, before Sanchez could not quite burn off the pursuing Luca Antonini, allowing the left-back to get in a last-ditch block.

    The Catalan side also had a strong claim for a penalty turned down by the officials after Sanchez was up-ended after he had peeled off the end of the Milan wall as part of a clever free-kick routine.

    But in an absorbing contest, Milan also headed to the dressing rooms ruing what might have been.

    Their pressing game frequently unsettled Barcelona and twice they carved through the remnants of the defending champions’ rearguard after winning possession high up the pitch.

    Robinho’s awkward side-foot volley cleared the bar from six yards early on before Zlatan Ibrahimovic, playing against his former club, scuffed a shot into the grateful arms of Victor Valdes after holding Carles Puyol at bay.

    The hosts continued to disrupt Barcelona’s usually reliable supply lines after the break and Pep Guardiola’s side could not muster the same sustained level of threat.

    The more attack-minded Tello was introduced in place of Andres Iniesta and the 20-year-old wriggled away from Daniele Bonera before rippling the wrong side of the side-netting.

    But it was rare opening as the ageing legs in the AC Milan side chased gamely and Barcelona’s stream of attacking invention dried up.

    Ambrosini, 34, slid in to block Messi’s shot as the Argentine shaped to pull the trigger just inside the box, before Antonini stretched every sinew to get to a loose ball first in the six-yard box.

    Their efforts were rewarded as Milan became the first side to keep a Champions League clean sheet against Barcelona for two years.

    • Apoel Nicosia 0-3 Real Madrid

    Mar 28

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    Kaka came off the bench to inspire Real Madrid to victory over a spirited Apoel Nicosia side in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

    French striker Karim Benzema had missed an open goal in the first half before he buried a curling cross from Kaka.

    Brazilian Kaka – who was in superb form – then finished off a fine run and pass from fellow substitute Marcelo.

    And Benzema wrapped up the win in stoppage time when he swept in Mezut Ozil’s ball from the right.

    Real were dominant before adding their three late goals, and are now firm favourites to reach the semi-finals, where they would face either Marseille or Bayern Munich, who play their first leg on Wednesday.

    The Cypriots had already accounted for Lyon – perrenial foes of Madrid in the Champions League – and despite losing defender Marcelo Oliveira to injury inside 10 minutes produced a rousing first-half display to shut out Jose Mourinho’s side.

    Ozil tested goalkeeper Dionisis Chiotis with a volley and then Benzema somehow missed from three yards out minutes before the interval.

    Ailton lifted the home crowd with a wonderful solo run down the left at the start of the second period before the introduction of Kaka and Marcelo triggered a change of gear by Real.

    Kaka crossed deliciously from the left and Benzema dived to head past Chiotis, before Marcelo was caught in the box by Paulo Jorge but kept his balance and cut the ball back for the former AC Milan playmaker to slot home.

    Benzema then tucked away Ozil’s inviting low pass in the last minute for his 26th Champions League goal to put Real on course for the last four.

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