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Bayer Leverkusen-Paris Saint-Germain Preview: Parisiens favourites despite absence of Cavani
The striker's thigh injury is set to keep him sidelined but the Ligue 1 champions visit a home side missing a handful of key players in the Champions League last-16 first leg
By Nicholas McGee
Paris Saint-Germain reached the quarter-finals of last season's Champions League under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti and look to be among the contenders this term as they prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen.
Laurent Blanc's men lost just one game on their way to topping Group C before Christmas, with the sole setback coming against Benfica after the Ligue 1 champions had already secured progression.
The French capital club head into Tuesday's first leg last-16 tie at the BayArena in fine form, having lost once in 10 matches in all competitions since the end of the winter break.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has produced some of his best performances in Europe this season and is the tournament's second top-scorer with eight goals.
And the onus will likely be on the Sweden striker to deliver the goods again with strike partner Edinson Cavani - the scorer of 20 goals since joining from Napoli - set to miss out because of a thigh injury picked up against Bordeaux last month.
Defender Christophe Jallet is the only other major injury concern, although the right-back is nearing a return to full fitness.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will be without midfielder Emre Can due to suspension, while Stefan Reinartz (foot) is a doubt. Strikers Eren Derdiyok (foot) and Robbie Kruse (knee) also miss out through injury.
Sami Hyypia's side qualified for the knockout stages of the competition after finishing second behind Manchester United in Group A.
The Arsenal boss has become embroiled in a war of words with Jose Mourinho, but another former foe of the Chelsea boss has offered him his support
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is has revealed his respect for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as he prepares his side to face the Gunners at the Emirates.
The two sides meet on Wednesday in the first leg of an eagerly anticipated Champions League last-16 clash.
Defending champions Bayern knocked Arsenal out at the same stage last year, but Wenger's men are enjoying an excellent season, sitting second in the Premier League and through to the last eight of the FA Cup.
The London club are also unbeaten in their last 13 home matches, of which 10 have been wins, making Guardiola cautious.
"My opinion on Arsene is that I have a lot of respect," the Spaniard said.
"His teams have his quality and I have to admire the quality of my opponents.
"We are going to play one team that has all the season been up (leading the league), so now they are third or second in the league, but in the beginning (they were) there.
"It is a typical team that always puts in a good performance in the Champions League.
"The last eight, nine or 10 years they have been in the Champions League and they are a special team with (Santi) Cazorla, (Mesut) Ozil, (Jack) Wilshere, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, (Aaron) Ramsey.
"They always have good midfield players, with combinations. You have to be good in both sides in our defensive movements and try to understand their game."
Bayern are also in good form and have won their last nine matches in all competitions, scoring 28 goals in the process.
Rolfes: Leverkusen must 'constantly annoy' Ibrahimovic
By Mark Doyle
Feb 17, 2014 1:59:00 PM
The midfielder feels that Sami Hyypia's men need to rattle the Sweden international but acknowledges that it is impossible to "take the striker out of a match completely"
Simon Rolfes says that Bayer Leverkusen will have to do everything they can to put Zlatan Ibrahimovic off his game if they are to have any hope of upsetting Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Germans host the Ligue 1 leaders on Tuesday evening well aware that their prospects of reaching the quarter-finals hinge on nullifying the threat posed by the visitors' star striker.
"You can't take Ibra out of a match completely," Rolfes conceded during a press conference on the eve of the first leg at the BayArena. "But we have to be a menace for him and constantly annoy him.
"Everybody has to play to his limit and then we will see if that is enough to trouble PSG.
"They are the favourites, but we are a confident challenger. If we play with our heads held up high, what happened against Manchester United [a 5-0 home defeat in the group stages] won't happen again."
Sami Hyypia also admitted that his primary objective in the build-up to the game has been trying to come up with a way to deal with Ibrahimovic.
"Even if you play perfectly against him, he is able to score a goal at any time," the Finnish coach confessed.
"We have to stop him collectively and make sure he gets the ball little."
Leverkusen's clash with PSG will kick off at 20:45CET.
The World Cup winner has pointed out that his side boasts several attackers capable of scoring goals, yet he is concerned by the Germans' aerial prowess and pace on the break
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has warned Bayer Leverkusen against concentrating solely on Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16, first-leg encounter between the two sides.
The Germans have already admitted that their primary objective will be to try to unsettle the prolific Sweden international striker at the BayArena.
However, Blanc says that it would be a mistake for Leverkusen to ignore PSG's other attacking threats.
"Leverkusen will focus on Ibrahimovic, but we have a lot more players who are able to score," the World Cup winner told reporters on Monday.
"You can feel the Champions League atmosphere within my team. They are all looking forward to this match in a wonderful stadium with an excellent pitch. I feel the importance of this match inside the team."
However, Blanc freely admits that he is concerned by the physicality of the Leverkusen line-up, as well as the pace with which Sami Hyypia's men attack on the break.
"Leverkusen are a very athletic team, like every German team," the PSG boss mused. "So we have to take care at free kicks and corners because they might be dangerous for us, as we have smaller players.
"But we will be awake and try to control and dominate the match with a lot of ball possession.
"However, Leverkusen are very dangerous with their counterattacks. Maybe they will let us have more ball possession and just wait for playing their counters.
"So, if we lose the ball we should try to get it back very quickly."
The Italian has been in touch with his old player to give him some guidance over how to beat the Rojiblancos - though he is full of praise for Diego Simeone's side
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he has given AC Milan boss Clarence Seedorf advice as to how to beat Atletico Madrid.
Los Blancos overcame their city rivals 5-0 over two legs in the Copa del Rey earlier this month, and Diego Simeone's men now face off with the Rossoneri in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Seedorf played under Ancelotti during his time at San Siro and the Italian says his old charge has been in touch over how to best the capital club.
"He's a partner and a friend," Ancelotti told the Corriere dello Sport.
"It was inevitable that he'd request information. He knows how to deal with it. He's completely into his role. He has great ideas.
"Atletico play in the image of their coach. I remember Simeone as a player. He's smart tactically and gave it all. So his team are like him: strong, compact, with the mentality of a fighter.
"Milan must be careful about the counterattack and set pieces."
AC Milan-Atletico Madrid Preview: Can Rossoneri end Spanish hoodoo?
Clarence Seedorf's side have struggled against La Liga opposition at San Siro in recent times and could be without Kaka for the visit of Diego Simeone's side
By Alex Fisher
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone and Milan boss Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf and Diego Simeone renew their rivalry on Wednesday when Atletico Madrid visit AC Milan in the Champions League.
The former midfielders regularly locked horns during their playing careers and meet again when their sides do battle in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition.
Atletico arrive in Italy as one of only three sides to avoid defeat in the group stages, winning five of their six games en route to the last 16.
They face a Milan side blighted by inconsistency this season and they have also struggled against Spanish opposition at San Siro.
In eight matches against La Liga sides, Milan have only won once, a 2-0 victory at this stage of last season's competition against Barcelona, and have lost their last four knockout ties against Spanish opponents.
Atletico have won three times in their eight visits to Italy as they prepare to face Milan for the first time in European competition.
Both sides have strikers in form and the outcome of the first-leg tie could hinge on the service provided for Mario Balotelli and Diego Costa.
Costa has 26 goals to his name in all competitions this season, with four in his last three in Europe, but Balotelli has scored five in his last six appearances - including a stunning late winner against Bologna last Friday.
Seedorf will be without midfield duo Riccardo Montolivo and Sulley Muntari through suspension, while there are also doubts over Kaka (ankle) and Cristian Zapata (thigh).
The visitors will be without Tiago (wrist), Filipe Luis (groin) and Javi Manquillo (back).
Arsenal-Bayern Munich Preview: Arteta banned and Ribery ruled out as Gunners take on Guardiola again
Arsene Wenger's men are challenging on three fronts as they bid to end their nine-year trophy drought but face the world and European champions who knocked them out last season
By James Willoughby
Arsenal have defied the critics to enjoy a strong season but their biggest test to date sees Bayern Munich visit London on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger's side sit second in the Premier League table and qualified for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
But their chances of progress in the Champions League face a tough examination when the European champions come to town for the first leg of the European last-16 clash.
The Gunners were knocked out by Bayern at the same stage of the competition last season despite a 2-0 win in Munich – one of just three losses the German giants suffered in 2013.
But Arsenal – who won four matches to finish second in Group F - have not lost at home in their last 13 games and defender Per Mertesacker is confident of another positive result.
"I think [Bayern are] one of the best teams in the world at the minute," he told the club's official website. "But [it's] another home game and we are very confident at the moment with home games.
"We haven't conceded a lot in the last couple of weeks so confidence is good."
Lukas Podolski was back on the scoresheet on Sunday and the performance of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who scored the opener and set up the German forward for the second goal – will have pleased Wenger in the continued absence of fellow winger Theo Walcott (knee).
Midfielders Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla will be expected to come back into the starting line-up, while Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna and Olivier Giroud started on the bench against Liverpool and will be hoping to start.
Mikel Arteta is suspended and Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Abou Diaby (knee) and Kim Kallstrom (back) remain sidelined.
Bayern appear destined for another Bundesliga title, with their 4-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday extending their advantage over the second-placed Bayer Leverkusen to 16 points.
Pep Guardiola's men have won 19 of their 21 league fixtures, drawing the other two, and they have conceded just once in their last six competitive matches.
Free-scoring in attack and tough to break down at the back, Bayern – who won five of their six European games to win Group D - will fancy their chances of ending Arsenal's great home record.
Xherdan Shaqiri tore his hamstring on Saturday and will miss out, while fellow winger Franck Ribery is ruled out after undergoing buttock surgery.
But two substitute appearances look to have put Bastian Schweinsteiger back in first-team contention as his comeback from an ankle injury continues.
The BayArena chief was embarrassed with how his side crumbled against PSG on Tuesday and believes conceding in the opening minutes proved to be their undoing
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller says his side "look stupid" after being battered 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi opened the scoring early on before star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice, with January signing Yohan Cabaye adding a fourth goal with two minutes left on the clock.
The defeat leaves the Bundesliga side all but out of the Champions League ahead of the second leg of the last-16 tie and Voller said he was embarrassed by the performance.
"It's always hard to comment after such a match," he told Sky after the game. "Such a loss hurts.
"To lose against a top-team like PSG isn't that much of a big deal. But it looks stupid now with us losing 4-0.
"We must turn things around now. If you go behind after two minutes it's lethal."
Sami Hyypia's men face PSG at the Parc des Princes in the return leg on Wednesday March 12.
Pellegrini punished for suicidal Demichelis selection
Feb 18, 2014 11:26:00 PM
Manchester City are staring Champions League elimination in the face after a rash tackle from their Argentine defender turned the tide in Barcelona's favour
COMMENT
By Jonathan Birchall at Etihad Stadium
A red card, a tie transformed and for Manchester City, that wretched feeling of what might have been. On a night to make history for Manuel Pellegrini's side, there was instead a painful sense of deja-vu.
Three years ago, outside the Etihad changing rooms after City's last European knockout tie at this ground, Nigel de Jong puffed his cheeks out, looked down at the floor and told us what we already knew.
Mario Balotelli's sending off against Dynamo Kiev, the red card that changed the game, had cost his side and sent City crashing out of Europe.
And so it goes again. This time Martin Demichelis, the Argentine whose selection drew furrowed brows before kick off and shakes of the head come full-time. The 33-year-old, whose 53rd minute hack on compatriot Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the penalty they needed to open to scoring, had cost his side.
Sympathy may be in short supply for Demichelis but his wasn't a moment of madness or petty frustration. The challenge, trying to stop the unstoppable Barca man, was borne out of desperation. Messi was away, advancing towards an almost inevitable opener and a goal that would completely change the complexion of a tie which was hitherto in the balance. The most painful thing was that we could all see it coming.
The former Malaga man started nervously for a man already armed with Champions League experience. Alongside Vincent Kompany, he gave the ball away under early pressure from the suffocating, relentless Catalans, but as City sat deep he remained safe with little in the way of space in behind.
Demichelis, whose lack of pace has already been exploited on more than one occasion this season, was always susceptible to the counter-attack and unsurprisingly it was Messi who ruthlessly exploited that weakness.
To play the Argentine ahead of Joleon Lescott suggested that Pellegrini was playing it relatively safe. Sit, wait and break to devastating effect, rather than build from the back and to a point it had worked. Barcelona took over half an hour to get a shot away but the feeling remained that they would eventually find a way through.
Pellegrini has no doubt been unlucky in losing Matija Nastasic to injury but it undoubtedly proved his squad's weakest position, with the eyes of the world watching on. Blame can't be totally apportioned to Demichelis, it was City's manager who simply left the grenade and hoped that Barcelona wouldn't pull the pin.
"They were there for the taking" was the party line come full-time from captain Kompany. They knew this was an opportunity missed. This was no humiliation like the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in October but now it matters so much more as City look to take the next step in Europe.
City will travel to Barcelona next month down if not yet out, but the damage seems as close to irreversible as it gets, after Dani Alves' injury-time strike made it 2-0 and brought with it that shuddering sense of deja-vu.
The Blaugrana boss felt his side were not always completely dominant in the first leg but was happy with the way they performed in the second half at the Etihad
Gerardo Martino praised the temperament of his Barcelona side after admitting they "lost control" prior to beating Manchester City 2-0 on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the spot shortly after half-time in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie after Martin Demichelis was sent off for bringing him down just inside the penalty area.
Daniel Alves then doubled the advantage at the death, putting Barca firmly in the driving seat ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou in March.
"For 10 minutes during the first half we lost control a little but in the rest of the game we did well," the Argentine coach told reporters.
"We have to remain calm and continue along the same path because there is no time to relax as we must now start thinking about our next game in La Liga.
"We have clear objectives in each tournament. We can play better or we can play worse than tonight but in no way are we going to relax."
Barcelona are back in action on Sunday in a visit to Real Sociedad as they look to retain their place at the top of La Liga.
Pellegrini slams referee after Barcelona defeat: He decided the game
Feb 18, 2014 10:30:00 PM
The Manchester City manager was furious with Jonas Eriksson and believes that Uefa made a mistake in appointing him to officiate the first-leg clash at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has criticised referee Jonas Eriksson following his side's Champions League defeat to Barcelona.
The Premier League title challengers were put to the sword by Tata Martino's side, with Lionel Messi converting from the penalty spot following a cynical foul by Martin Demichelis before Dani Alves sealed the win in the closing moments of the match.
Demichelis was red carded for the foul on Argentine maestro Messi and Pellegrini has blamed referee Erkisson for the defeat, insisting that Uefa made a mistake in appointing him to take charge of the last-16 first-leg encounter.
He told Sky Sports: "Of course I have a complaint, and not only for the penalty and the red card. In the whole match I didn't feel we had a referee with impartiality to both teams, and he decided the game.
"He decided the game because it was a foul by Busquets on Navas. He was three metres away but didn't want to whistle, and the foul by Demichelis outside the box is not a penalty.
"With such important mistakes against a team as great as Barcelona, it's very difficult to win.
"I think it's a mistake to nominate a referee who had problems with Barcelona [turned down penalty appeals vs AC Milan last year] as the referee here, and I repeat he decided the game."
Reflecting on whether his side can turn things around and advance to the quarter-final stage of the competition, Pellegrini accepts it will be a tough ask but holds out hope that a comeback could still be possible.
He added: "Of course we are going to try. We are going to play in Camp Nou. We did it against Bayern after we lost at home. The second goal was a difficult moment because the match was ending and now they have a two-goal advantage, but we will see what we can do there."
The coach is worried that his side's favourites tag could come back to haunt them and says Atletico must remain level-headed throughout
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has admitted he fears AC Milan's vast European experience ahead of their Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday.
The Rossoneri have had a poor season so far and despite hiring Clarence Seedorf to replace the struggling Massimiliano Allegri in charge at San Siro - they still sit ninth in Serie A.
In contrast, Atletico sit third in La Liga, level on points with second-placed Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona, but Simeone remains fearful of Milan's European pedigree.
"Tomorrow it will be a wide open game where anything could happen," Simeone told reporters on Tuesday.
"I don’t want to make predictions, but this tie will be important ahead of the second leg at the Vicente Calderon. I expect to see a great Milan side and above all I fear their history, which on nights like this can really count. We’ll be facing a great rival.
"We do not feel like the pre-match favourites and we've got to prove our ability on the pitch. It won’t be easy, because the Italian sides always make the most of their scoring chances. We will need to be intense and focused."
Milan have conquered Europe seven times, while Atletico's best finish was as runners-up back in 1973-74 in the tournament's old format.
Arsenal will be Bayern's acid test, says Guardiola
By Sam Holden
LONDON Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:50pm GMT
Bayern Munich's head coach Pep Guardiola attends a news conference at a hotel in London, England February 18, 2014. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
(Reuters) - Bayern Munich will use the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match against Arsenal on Wednesday as a barometer of the team's progress this season, coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.
The Champions League holders defeated their English opponents 3-1 in the same stage of the competition at the Emirates last year.
"It's a good test for us. Tomorrow we will know what our level is in Europe this year," Spaniard Guardiola told a news conference on Tuesday.
"You can't dominate for 90 minutes against Arsenal, it's impossible. You can play good and maybe dominate one half or 75 minutes but never the full game. With their quality of players you can always have problems.
"We won't think about the second game, we're just concentrated on what we have to do tomorrow."
Bayern have lost only once in 34 games and have won 13 successive Bundesliga matches but Guardiola wants to guard against the complacency that caused the eventual champions to lose 2-0 at home in the second leg against Arsenal 12 months ago.
"We have to accept that every game we are favourites and that we are favourites to retain the title, I can't deny that," he said.
"I'd like to live without these feelings but I can't. But tomorrow we start 0-0," Guardiola added.
"Always with the ball they (Arsenal) are organised and in good shape. Once we let them (have) the ball we will suffer. We must dominate the ball."
THREE TROPHIES
Guardiola, who won the Champions League as Barcelona coach in 2009 and 2011, took over from Jupp Heynckes last year after the German coach guided Bayern Munich to three trophies last season.
But the master tactician played down his team's chances of being the first club to retain the European title in the Champions League era.
"My target is to play every week better than the last. To retain the title is so difficult, so I'm not worried about that," the former Barcelona midfielder said.
"I know as a sportsman how difficult it is to win everything one year and then win again. We are just going to fight against one of the best teams in Europe (Arsenal) and then will we see the level."
Bayern thrashed Freiburg 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to extend their unbeaten league run to 46 games. Their only loss in this season's Champions League group stage came at home to Manchester City, with qualification already assured.
France winger Franck Ribery will miss the match in London with a buttock injury and fellow midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored twice against Freiburg, will miss out with a thigh strain.
Arjen Robben, who scored the winning goal in Bayern's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final last season, is fit.
"Especially after last season where we won everything I think it has been good that a fresh wind came in," the 30-year-old Dutch winger said.
"As players we had to be focussed from the first day onwards and go with this new coach, and his new plan.
"We had a great result last year but it's going be a very different game. We're going to try to play our own game and try to win again."
Classy Barca all but end City's dreams of European glory
By Mike Collett
MANCHESTER, England Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:58pm GMT
Barcelona's Dani Alves scores past Manchester City's goalkeeper Joe Hart during their Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England February 18, 2014. REUTERS-Nigel Roddis
(Reuters) - Barcelona virtually ended 10-man Manchester City's dreams of European glory when they dominated their Champions League last 16 first leg and finished deserved 2-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Billed as the biggest match in City's recent history, it all went wrong for Manuel Pellegrini's side after 53 minutes when defender Martin Demichelis was sent off for a last-man lunge on fellow Argentine Lionel Messi who scored from the resulting penalty to put Barca ahead.
It was the first goal he had scored in an away European tie in England - his goal in the 2011 Champions League final against Manchester United having come at neutral Wembley - and set the Spanish champions on the way to their first win in an away European tie in England for six matches.
Their second goal came in the last minute when Dani Alves collected a pass from substitute Neymar and fired through goalkeeper Joe Hart's legs to give City an almost impossible task of rescuing the tie in the second leg on March 12.
The defeat sparked an out-of-character attack from Pellegrini who accused Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson of favouring Barca and the Chilean risks a reprimand and possible severe punishment from soccer's European governing body UEFA.
"I spoke to him at the end and told him he should be very happy because he decided the match," Pellegrini told reporters.
"Barcelona had no chance to score until the penalty against Demichelis.
"The referee was not impartial. He did not have any control of the game. I think it was not a good idea to have a referee from Sweden in such an important match.
Asked why it was relevant that the referee was Swedish, he replied: "More important football is played in Europe than in Sweden so a big game with two important teams - that kind of game needs a referee with more experience."
Eriksson, a FIFA referee since 2002 who is on the list for this year's World Cup finals in Brazil, has refereed 86 UEFA matches and this was his 22nd Champions League game.
It was also City's first in the knockout rounds of the competition and they rarely showed the kind of form that has brought them 117 goals in all matches this season and prompted talk of a quadruple haul of trophies before this setback.
Barca, with a three-pronged attack of Messi, Andres Iniesta and Alexis Sanchez in front of a typically fluid three-man midfield, dominated the first 20 minutes, allowed City back in the game briefly, then took control again after the dismissal.
DANGEROUS OPPONENT
Their coach Gerardo Martino said he was delighted with the win but was not taking anything for granted for the return.
"I am not so confident yet for the second leg. Our intention was to win and I think it's a fair result.
"But when we allowed City to have the advantage for 10 minutes in the first half and 10 in the second they made it risky for us.
"We have had a good away win and now we have to repeat the performance at home. But City lost at home to Bayern Munich in the group stage and then won away. They are a very dangerous opponent."
City had few chances, with the best falling to David Silva in the 77th minute when he chested the ball down and then volleyed at Victor Valdes who saved well.
But on the whole Barcelona silenced the home fans and blunted City's attacks which were few and far between.
The two sides, who had scored 228 times between them this season heading into the game, failed to produce the goalfest that many expected.
However, the estimated global audience of 250 million would have enjoyed seeing Barca reproducing their trademark passing game and winning after a relatively tricky season by their own exalted standards.
"People have been saying this is not the same Barcelona of previous years but we've got a great a result tonight and we've proved a point to some people," Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas said.
"We are not there yet, though. They are a good team and we still have to work hard to get through."
The balance tipped Barca's way with Demichelis's dismissal, which will keep him out of the second leg at the Nou Camp.
The defender appeared to have fouled Messi outside the area but Eriksson had no doubt, pointing to the spot, and showed Demichelis a red card, allowing Messi to stroke the ball past Hart to put the visitors ahead.
"Two-nil is very tough on us. When it was 11 versus 11 we were in the game but with a man less and with their individual quality which is so high it was very hard," Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany told ITV.
"If they play as they can in the second leg it will be very hard but we still have a chance."
(Reporting by Mike Collett; editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris)
Fabregas tells Mourinho & Barca detractors to 'shut up'
Feb 18, 2014 10:26:00 PM
The midfielder has lashed out at those who have suggested the Catalans are no longer the force of previous years
Cesc Fabregas hit back at Jose Mourinho and the rest of Barcelona's detractors, telling them to "shut up" after the Catalans seized control of their Champions League knockout clash with Manchester City.
The first leg of the last-16 tie at the Etihad Stadium was finely poised until the 54th minute when City defender Martin Demichelis hauled down Lionel Messi with the Argentine through on goal.
Although initial contact may have been outside the area, referee Jonas Eriksson awarded a penalty and issued Demichelis with a red card, with Messi converting the penalty and Dani Alves adding a late second.
Barca have been criticised of late for some below-par performances - former Real Madrid boss Mourinho claimed earlier this week they were the "worst Barcelona for many, many years" - but Fabregas was quick to focus on the positives.
The former Arsenal midfielder told ITV: "We are top of the league, we had a great result tonight, we are in the final of the cup and there's nothing else you can ask for but the fans in Spain, in general… they put so much pressure on you as a team. That's what makes everyone feel so special to this team.
"Maybe we had to prove a point in a way and I think we did it, in style. But I think this team has done so much, has won so much but today was one of those days.
"Everyone was saying Barcelona was not the same Barcelona, some people have been talking a bit too much and as usual now they will have to shut up for a few days.”
Fabregas was adamant the tie was not yet over, however, and that Gerardo Martino's men will not take their foot off the gas in the second leg at Camp Nou.
"We will respect City until the end. At 2-0 you never know what can happen in football. It's been a good night of football but now in three weeks we'll have to fight very hard to be in the quarter-final."
The former Real Madrid star has struggled for form in recent weeks but his international team-mate insists he could have a big impact on Tuesday's Champions League tie
By Thomas Unsworth
Mesut Ozil will "punish" Bayern Munich if the holders take the threat of Arsenal lightly in their Champions League last-16 clash, according to Philipp Lahm.
The Bayern captain and Arsenal’s record signing have represented Germany on 156 occasions between them, but will line-up on opposing teams when Pep Guardiola's side travel to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
After a bright start to his Arsenal career following his £42 million move from Real Madrid in August, Ozil's presence in Premier League games had waned in recent weeks.
But Lahm, whose side are strong favourites to become the first to retain the Champions League, knows that one moment of magic from Ozil could prove the difference in the tie.
"Many of the players at Bayern know exactly what Mesut is capable of - he has been one of the best central midfield players in the world for many years now," Lahm told Goal.
"He sees passes and space that very few players in the world are able to see - he is a very intelligent player.
"Even when he is maybe not having the best of games or is not in the best form - you can't give him any space or time on the ball - because in a second he can find that pass and you are punished."
Published: Tuesday 18 February 2014, 21.13CET
"We have a strong desire and are a united team," Arsène Wenger said in outlining why Arsenal FC are equipped to avenge last year's first-leg loss to FC Bayern München.
Twelve months after his side lost 3-1 at home to FC Bayern München in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 opener, Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal FC are in "much better mental shape" to tackle the holders when they renew acquaintances at the same stage. The Gunners manager says the Londoners possess the requisite team spirit and desire to overcome an all-conquering Bayern squad who, in the words of Josep Guardiola, are looking forward to a "good test" of their tournament credentials.
Arsenal
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
We are in a much better mental shape today than we were one year ago because we lost against Blackburn at home in the FA Cup. It was a big disappointment for us, but this time we defeated Liverpool and we are really determined to win this game.
We know we face the competition favourites, but what we have is the belief because we've had big games in the Champions League and in the FA Cup. We played against Tottenham and against Liverpool, so since the start of the season we know that in every single game we have to be 100%.
We believe we can do it, but that's down to the quality of our performance. We have a strong team spirit, that is for sure. We have a strong desire to do well and a united team. We always have these qualities, but perhaps we do not always have the belief – belief is built by results and on that front we are strong, of course.
Are Bayern the best team in the world? At the moment you can't say the opposite – they win every game. They won the [FIFA Club] World Cup and the Champions League. You can only say 'yes'.
Weekend result
Sunday: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool FC (Oxlade-Chamberlaon 16, Podolski 47; Gerrard 59pen)
Fabiański; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Arteta, Flamini; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Özil; Sanogo.
• Just eight days after a 5-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool, Arsenal bounced back to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. Yaya Sanogo started his first game for the club.
Team news
Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Kim Källström (back) and Abou Diaby (knee) are all out of action. Mikel Arteta is suspended, but all Arsenal's other players have recovered from Sunday's action, with Tomáš Rosický also coming into the squad.
Bayern
Josep Guardiola, Bayern coach
It's my third time here to play Arsenal. I've never won here and I've learned that you can't dominate for 90 minutes against Arsenal. You can play good and dominate for half the game perhaps, or for 70 minutes, but for 90 minutes it's impossible.
With the quality of players Arsenal have we know they can cause [us] a problem, but we'll try to play well, as best we possibly can. We don't think too much about the second leg – we must concentrate on what we have to do tomorrow and I hope it goes well.
We are in the most prestigious competition in world football and in a perfect setting – here at Arsenal, in London – so it's a good test for us. We are doing well in Germany, but now we face a good test to know what our level is. I'm looking forward to finding out.
I know how difficult it is to take the next step. I know what happened last year against Arsenal. Bayern won, but it was very difficult in the last five minutes. I have a lot of respect for my colleague Arsène Wenger. They have good organisation, they are always in good shape and they always organise with the ball, never without.
• Bayern have won 13 Bundesliga games in a row. They were four points clear of second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen on matchday six; their advantage now at the summit is 16.
Team news
Franck Ribéry misses the first leg as he recuperates following surgery on a buttock injury while Xherdan Shaqiri was ruled out with a thigh problem. Bastian Schweinsteiger (ankle) and Daniel Van Buyten (knee) return to contention.
Match fact
• As FC Barcelona coach, Guardiola's record against Arsenal was W2 D1 L1. His team lost 2-1 in north London in the 2010/11 round of 16 first leg but won the return 3-1.
