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'The return leg will be very complicated' - Marseille's Deschamps after Champions League defeat to Bayern
The World Cup winner was left to rue his side's missed chances in the 2-0 defeat to die Roten, and does not expect a straightforward return fixture next week
Mar 28, 2012 10:15:00 PM
By Mohammed Ali
Olympique de Marseille boss Didier Deschamps stated his frustration at his side's 2-0Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening.
Mario Gomez put the Bavarians ahead a minute before half-time with a well-taken finish, capitalising on third choice goalkeeper Elinton Andrade's mistake. The visitors doubled their advantage through Arjen Robben midway into the second half.
The hosts had their chances, most notably within the first 10 minutes when Loic Remy, who shrugged off a hamstring problem to feature, fired inches wide from a rebound.
Nevertheless, the Ligue 1 side face a major task in the return at the Allianz Arena next Tuesday, leaving Deschamps to ponder his side's chances.
"Obviously [the return leg] will be very complicated after a defeat of 2-0. I knew this before, butthere are many qualities in this Bayern team." the 43-year-old was quoted as saying on the club's official website after the contest.
"They [Bayern] do many things very well and they have this strength in [attack which] isimpressive. Even if we did good things, the goal just before half-time hurt us because they had not had many opportunities.
"That's also what the great teams have, even with little ammunition."
Marseille's game at the weekend against Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier has been postponed until April 11, allowing Deschamps' men to focus on the return leg at the Allianz Arena on April 4th.
Bayern Munich travel to Nurnberg as they resume their Bundesliga title challenge at the Weekend.
Guardiola, Allegri satisfied - for different reasons
29 March 2012
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has taken AC Milan boss MassimilIano Allegri's pleasure at their Champions League draw as a compliment.Milan's battle with the defending European champions at the San Siro finished scoreless, with Allegri expressing his delight at holding off the favoured Barca outfit, while Guardiola was thrilled his side took the game on in the away leg.
Allegri reserved special praise for Luca Antonini, who kept Barca maestro Lionel Messi relatively quiet and off the scoresheet."I wish to congratulate my side on their performance. We suffered more in the first half than the second, and Luca Antonini was brilliant marking Lionel Messi," Allegri said. "Tonight we showed great commitment despite some difficult moments, and now we can think about the return - a draw or a win will see us through."
But Guardiola said that Milan's relief to escape without shipping a goal was a negative mindset from the Italians, and a bonus for the La Liga champions."That Milan are happy with tonight's result is the greatest praise for us. You never settle a tie in the first leg, and the only thing we are missing is an away goal," Guardiola said."We deserve a lot of recognition for coming here and trying to play football. I give my players credit for managing 17 shots on goal." Allegri said he felt his side did create chances on goal early, before settling for a draw.
"We approached the game in two different phases, the defensive one and the attacking one," the Italian boss said."We played better football after the restart, but in the first half we created several clear chances and despite the regret at not taking them we gained confidence. The final result is fair, now we know we can achieve qualification in Barcelona. It's very difficult to measure our chances for the return leg."
Guardiola begged to differ, however, stating that his goalkeeper Victor Valdes went virtually untroubled throughout the 90 minutes."To be champions you must come through all types of tests. We have come through many before and we will continue to do so," the Spaniard said."We must try to do things better each time, there is no other way. Apart from the first few threats - including (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic's one-on-one with Valdes - they hardly had a shot the entire game."
The second leg will take place at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Mascherano voices frustration with AC Milan draw
The Argentine midfielder was by no means satisfied with Wednesday's scoreless draw at San Siro and feels the Blaugrana should have converted one of their many chances
Robben: Bayern have made a big step towards the semi-finals
The Dutch winger was over the moon with his side's Champions League victory over OM, and feels FCB are well on their way to reach the final four of the competition
Seedorf: We were not clinical enough against Barcelona
The Dutchman was pleased with the Rossoneri's performance, but felt that things could have been even better had they showed killer instinct in front of the goal
Messi: We deserved to beat Milan
The Argentine forward feels that Barca deserved more than a draw at San Siro, as he partially put the blame on the pitch for their inability to break the deadlock
All passing but no penetration - Barcelona's San Siro shortcomings leave Champions League door slightly ajar for methodical Milan
The Catalans were held to a goalless draw in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg match on Wednesday, but they cannot blame the state of the pitch or the match officials
Mar 29, 2012 9:00:00 AM
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
In order to win the Champions League, pondered Pep Guardiola after seeing his side held to a goalless stalemate at AC Milan on Wednesday night, it is necessary to overcome thousands of things.
Guardiola was referring to the referee, after Barca had been denied two clear penalties, one for a an Abbiati foul on Alexis Sanchez, the other for a Djamel Mesbah tug on Carles Puyol following a corner. The Barca coach was also alluding to the poor state of the pitch, criticised by players from both sides as some of the world's finest footballers slipped and slid on the San Siro surface. He might have added, however, his team's inability to overcome a disciplined and diligent defence, as well as their own failings in front of goal, and an increasing dependence on Lionel Messi.
Barca failed to find the net in the Champions League for the first time in 29 games, dating back to a little-remembered goalless encounter versus Rubin Kazan in 2009. And it was in that very edition of the continent's choice club competition that the Catalans last came unstuck among Europe's elite, as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Inter at San Siro in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Such a scenario looked less likely this time around against a makeshift Milan side at the same venue, particularly in the absence of their defensive darling Thiago Silva, sidelined by injury ahead of his team's toughest test this term. The Brazilian, who can count the Catalans among his many admirers, headed a stoppage-time equaliser at Camp Nou earlier this season as the sides drew 2-2, but could do nothing as Barca brilliantly beat the Italians 3-2 in their second group meeting back at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Going to ground | Alexis was brought down by Abbiati but no penalty was given
Then, Guardiola had opted for a bold 3-4-3 formation. With rather more at stake this time, however, the Barca boss aired on the side of caution. So 4-3-3 it was - with two defensive-minded midfielders, Sergio Busquets and Seydou Keita - and despite dominating possession, the visitors' low-tempo style suited Milan. The best chances fell to the home side, too, with Robinho guilty of a glaring miss in the opening minutes and Zlatan Ibrahimovic failing to beat Victor Valdes in a one-on-one later on.
Barca, meanwhile, were over-elaborate and under-efficient - all passing but no penetration. And other than their two penalty claims, the Catalans created little in the way of clear-cut chances. Alexis in particular was unlucky to see his spot-kick shout ignored by the referee, although the Chilean's tendency to go to ground easily in the area is seeing him awarded less and less decisions such as that one. The South American was also culpable when he looked clean through on goal but chose to back-heel a pass to Xavi instead of shooting himself.
Later, Mesbah pulled Puyol's shirt in the area, in an action which occurred right in front of the referee. "If he didn't see it, he can't give it," was Guardiola's public assessment. Privately, though, the Barca boss surely saw it differently.
Barca appealed again for a spot kick as Messi went down between two Milan defenders in the second half. There looked to be no foul this time, however. How he would have liked a chance to stroke home from 12 yards on a night when things rarely went for him and which ended with the sullen scolding of team-mate Tello, who had dared to shoot instead of passing to the Argentine.
In the end, a draw looked the right result, and although Barca leave Lombardy without an away goal to their credit, having failed to score in a European knockout fixture for the first time in the Guardiola era, the Catalans will remain confident of completing the job at Camp Nou next week. Following their sub-par performance on Wednesday, however, they have left Milan with a lifeline and, as Pep preached in his post-match press conference on the night, there are still plenty of things to overcome before they can contemplate European glory once more.
Inter show support for stranded Barcelona by offering up training facilities
Over 1,000 fans turned out to watch the Blaugrana being put through their paces by coach Pep Guardiola at the Nerazzurri's Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti
Ibrahimovic presents Keita with signed shirt for Abidal - report
The Swede spent a season at Camp Nou between 2009 and 2010 and is said to have been good friends with the Frenchman, who is set to undergo a liver transplant
AC Milan hit back at Barcelona over pitch complaint
The Catalans were unhappy with the way in which the surface cut up during the game and several players claimed that they had struggled to keep their footing throughout the match
Barcelona must start behaving like real champions after their pathetic AC Milan pitch complaint
The Blaugrana have petitioned Uefa to do something about the home side's decision not to water the San Siro surface, but it's a classless move from such a classy footballing team
Ramires mistakenly hails Benfica 'draw' despite Chelsea victory
The Brazilian midfielder was thrilled with a stalemate in Lisbon before discovering that his team had actually recorded a win courtesy of a goal from Salomon Kalou
Wenger faces touchline ban after Champions League referee clash - report
The Arsenal boss could be disciplined action by Uefa after arguing with the officials during his side's European exit at the hands of AC Milan last month
Barcelona complain to Uefa over AC Milan’s poor San Siro pitch
The Champions League holders have filed a formal complaint about the conditions at San Siro during Wednesday evening's quarter-final against the Rossoneri
Alou Diarra: Lack of experience cost Marseille
The holding midfielder has voiced his disappointment with his side's loss against the Bundesliga outfit, and feels they were too naive at the Stade Velodrome
Lahm: Marseille made things easy for Bayern
The Germany international feels that the Ligue 1 champions played into their hands by pushing high up the pitch after the interval, but warned the tie is not over yet
Antonini: Milan created even bigger chances than Barcelona
The full-back feels that the Rossoneri could easily have snatched a win in Wednesday's game, and was delighted with his personal contribution to the game
Barcelona must start behaving like real champions after their pathetic AC Milan pitch complaint
The Blaugrana have petitioned Uefa to do something about the home side's decision not to water the San Siro surface, but it's a classless move from such a classy footballing team
Mar 29, 2012 1:00:00 PM
By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor
Don’t praise Luca Antonini for his two great blocks, nor Massimo Ambrosini for his 90-minute policing job in front of a tip-top AC Milan back four. Don’t blame Alexis Sanchez for not making the most of his burst into the area, nor for his backheel to Xavi from a shooting position. The real reason Barcelona failed to beat the Rossoneri in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night was that the pitch wasn't watered ... according to the Catalans.
On Thursday lunchtime, the Blaugrana submitted a formal complaint to Uefa, citing Milan’s refusal to water the pitch before the match or at half-time, having earlier agreed to do both under the guidelines set down by the European governing body.
Let’s be frank shall we - Barcelona drew 0-0 because they didn't play very well. Worse teams than the Spanish, European and world champions have turned up at the Giuseppe Meazza and got results this season, and will do so again. This complaint to Uefa simply holds no water – pardon the pun!
When Clarence Seedorf played a fantastically weighted pass into Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s feet in the 19th minute, the Swede should have hit the back of the net; partly because he has scored similar goals with his eyes closed for Milan, but more pertinently due to the fact that the Dutchman’s through-ball had been judged to perfection.
It just went to show that good passes would be rewarded, with technical ability being favoured by a pitch which didn’t allow for balls to just skip out of play more often than not. Barca’s magnificent football clearly excels on a slicker surface, but they can’t expect to have it their own way all the time. They have no divine right.
They should count themselves lucky that they didn’t arrive in Lombardy two months ago ... or even six weeks ago. After the pitch was relaid over Christmas, there had been difficulties with the surface even before Inter hosted Palermo on a sheet of ice in the grip of the Italian winter in late January. When a temporary fix saw the two wings resurfaced, there were issues still when Arsenal visited three weeks on.
Since then the pitch has been relaid once more, with much more satisfactory results, but it remains a sometimes uneven surface, with divots coming up at times. It resembles to an extent the pitch at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, which has only a thin layer of soil between the top surface and the concrete base. But it’s hardly a cause for serious complaint.
Playing an away game should be testing in more ways than one. It shouldn't just be about the hostile crowd, it should also be an examination of a side in foreign surroundings, in conditions which may well not favour them. Just as in cricket, where home curators regularly prepare a wicket which best suits the local side, so too should football groundsmen be allowed to have the final call on how the pitch is prepared, so long as it stays within the parameters set out in the laws of the game.
This is hardly the same as when pin positions and sometimes entire holes were altered in golf in order to slow down the progress of the once-dominant Tiger Woods. Instead it simply asked for a minute change in the weight of passes. It was a challenge for the technically gifted Barcelona players to think on their feet and adjust their style ever so slightly. They failed the test, drew the game, and have now spat their dummies out instead.
It is this kind of behaviour which gives those who doubt Barca’s class off the pitch suitable ammunition. They are arguably the saviours of modern-day football, with their style on the ball mesmerising fans everywhere, yet their decision to argue the toss over a bit of water is the latest reason some neutrals are starting to turn their backs on them.
Whether it is a serious gripe, or simply a show of brinkmanship ahead of the second leg next Tuesday, Barcelona’s complaint in a classless one. Milan deserve credit for the way they matched the Catalans, whomever the elements favoured. True champions should accept the blow and move on.
Pato included in Milan squad for Barcelona clash
The Brazil international has been deemed match fit again after a spell on the sidelines due to injury, and has made the roster for Tuesday's encounter
Fabregas fit to face AC Milan
The Spain international has missed the Catalan outfit's last two games with a lower back problem but he is now set to make his return to action against the Rossoneri
David Luiz 'obsessed' with winning Champions League for Chelsea
The Brazilian defender has explained that European glory is the Blues' aim, while his team-mates are refusing to underestimate Benfica ahead of their quarter-final second leg
Iniesta: No excuses if Barcelona fail to beat AC Milan
The Catalans struggled to break the Rossoneri down during their first-leg clash at San Siro but the midfielder is confident the Blaugrana will make the breakthrough at Camp Nou
Uefa representative defends San Siro pitch after Barcelona complaint
Giorgio Marchetti insists the surface of the Milanese stadium is "acceptable" and should not have warranted a complaint, but agreed it suffers from intermittent microclimate issues
Kalou: Chelsea can win Champions League
After his precious away goal at Benfica, the Ivorian forward now believes 'anything is possible' and that his side can go all the way and lift the trophy in Munich
Drogba doubtful for Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Benfica
The Ivory Coast international missed the club's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday after sustaining a toe injury and his inclusion on Wednesday is now a doubt
Pato fit to face Barcelona in Champions League
The Brazil international has been in the United States undergoing treatment for a muscular injury, but has been deemed ready to participate in the crunch fixture at Camp Nou
Two shocking missed sitters against Barcelona, just four Serie A goals - Robinho's AC Milan days are numbered
The Brazilian failed in front of goal against the Catalans once more in midweek, and it's endemic of his form this term as the Rossoneri are still looking to strengthen up front
Arsenal boss Wenger feels Uefa ban is 'not justified' & will appeal immediately
The Gunners manager is angry at the three-game suspension and fine handed to him after his team’s 3-0 win over AC Milan and believes that refs are considered "untouchable icons"
Valbuena urges team-mates to take responsibility for Marseille's poor run
The France international is adamant that the entire squad must be blamed for OM's current woes, but reaffirmed his loyalty to the Ligue 1 club
Allegri admits AC Milan must resolve San Siro pitch problems
Barcelona were unhappy with the state of the playing surface for Wednesday's Champions League clash at the Giuseppe Meazza and lodged an official complaint with Uefa
Uefa hands Arsene Wenger three-game ban and fine
The Arsenal manager is suspended and fined €40,000 (£37,000) for his conduct in the Gunners’ 3-0 win at home to AC Milan, when a four-goal victory was needed to reach extra-time
Uefa representative defends San Siro pitch after Barcelona complaint
Giorgio Marchetti insists the surface of the Milanese stadium is "acceptable" and should not have warranted a complaint, but agreed it suffers from intermittent microclimate issues
Apr 1, 2012 7:10:00 AM
By Livio Caferoglu
A Uefa representative has defended the pitch at San Siro in the wake of Barcelona's decision to lodge an official complaint earlier in the week.
The Blaugrana opted to contact the European football body on Thursday following a 0-0 draw with AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, alluding to the fact the quality of the playing surface negatively impacted on the team's chances of winning.
However, director of competitions at Uefa, Giorgio Marchetti, has since played down the state of the turf laid on the Giuseppe Meazza, stating that both Milan and Inter do their utmost to tackle the ongoing problem of the stadium's microclimate.
"The pitch in Milan is a recurring problem of the microclimate inside that stadium and there is nothing more the two clubs can do," he told RadioCalciomercato.
"Inter and Milan try to get through the problem by re-laying the turf, but many games are consequently played in less than ideal conditions.
"Having said that, the Stadio Meazza playing surface was acceptable. It's only normal that there is a difference between acceptable and ideal."
The two teams meet again on Tuesday at Camp Nou for their second leg encounter.
Cristiano Ronaldo: We're on track to win La Liga & Champions League The Portugal star feels that Los Blancos have practically secured qualification for the semi-finals following their away win over APOEL, and believes they could achieve the double
Forget Real Madrid & Dortmund - Bayern must finish off Marseille before they can think of the treble The German giants are still alive on three fronts and, as the balance between enthusiasm and realism is now a delicate one to negotiate, the Bavarians must not look ahead too soon
Luisao: Chelsea did not deserve to win the first leg The Brazilian stopper believes that his side should have secured a better result in the first leg, but he is not writing off the team's chances of success against the Blues
Guardiola: We need a ladder to stop Ibrahimovic The Catalans' coach has singled out the Swedish forward as the Rossoneri's main attacking threat, and is unconcerned with Lionel Messi's modest scoring record against Italian teams
AC Milan's Ambrosini: Messi is 'unique' but we won't man-mark him The veteran midfielder believes the Italian champions cannot afford to entrust a player with the sole responsibility of tracking the forward's every movement for 90 minutes
'I take it as a given that Milan will score' - Barcelona's Guardiola ahead of Champions League clash at Camp Nou Although the first leg at the Giuseppe Meazza last Wednesday produced no goals, the Catalans' coach is envisaging a far more open encounter this time around
Ibrahimovic: 'Messi is all talent, while Ronaldo is a product of much training' The AC Milan striker, who spent a season with Barcelona, feels that while the Blaugrana forward is overly reliant on his left foot, he is still the best player in the world
Marseille's Mandanda hoping for a miracle in Munich The Ligue 1 side must overturn a two-goal deficit at the home of one of the most in-form teams in Europe but the France international is adamant that all is not lost
Galliani: Barcelona have struggled against AC Milan this season The Rossoneri chief has guaranteed that his side will give Barca a run for their money and stated that a solution to Pato's fitness problems has been found
Abidal gives Barcelona 'thumbs up' ahead of Milan clash The France international is training on a daily basis with the rest of the team and gave his side a thumbs up before the crucial continental contest
Puyol: There is no margin for error against AC Milan The Spain international believes that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the Rossoneri's biggest threat and wants to keep him away from the penalty area
Lampard: Chelsea's Champions League campaign will not affect domestic form The midfielder is adamant that the club will not lose focus on their fight to qualify for next season's competition whilst they look to advance to the semi-finals on Wednesday
Allegri: Barcelona are still the best team in the world The Italian coach spoke highly of the Catalan side ahead of Tuesday's match and said he has not had enough time to prepare for the crunch encounter
Marcelo: Real Madrid are always favourites in the Champions League The Brazilian defender is taking nothing for granted ahead of Wednesday's match against the Cypriots, but believes that his side can win the continental tournament
Flight delay hampers AC Milan's preparations for Barcelona clash - report The Rossoneri are still in the dark over when they will be able to travel to Catalunya, but it is believed that their flight has been delayed by only one hour
Mario Gomez: Messi might be the best player ever The Germany international striker is neck-and-neck with the Barca star in the Champions League top scorer ranking, but insists he cannot be compared to the Argentine
Heynckes vows to use best Bayern XI against Marseille despite suspension risk Several key players are just one yellow card from being banned, but the trainer will still use his best line-up in Tuesday's Champions League showdown
Barcelona have every reason to be worried about AC Milan, says Marco Simone The former Italy international is optimistic that Massimiliano Allegri's men can eliminate Barcelona in the last eight before going on to lift Europe's top club prize
Lahm: Bayern dreaming of Champions League final The versatile defender is confident that the Bavarians can challenge Barca and Madrid in a direct clash, but is focussing on the match against Marseille for now
Sacchi's Milan better than current Barcelona, says Rafa Benitez The former Liverpool and Inter boss has voiced his opinion that the Catalans are a great team, but stressed that they're not at the same level as the illustrious Rossoneri side yet
Xavi doubtful for AC Milan clash - report The Catalans will possibly be without their playmaker in Tuesday's crunch encounter versus the Rossoneri as the Spain international is being plagued by muscular problems
Barcelona are still favourites against Milan, says Franco Baresi The legendary defender has voiced his opinion that the Catalan giants remain the team to beat, but stressed that the Rossoneri will get their chances at Camp Nou
Pedro confident Barcelona can eliminate Milan from Champions League The attacker has warned that the Rossoneri won't be pushovers in the second leg of their quarter-final encounter, but believes the Catalans have what it takes to progress
Champions League preview: Bayern Munich v Marseille
2 April 2012
Marseille have a big challenge before them when they travel to Bayern Munich for their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.The Ligue 1 side trail 2-0 after their home leg, and need to beat their German opponents - who have won their past seven in all competitions - by at least two goals at the Allianz Arena.The last time Bayern lost by two goals at home was to Borussia Dortmund in February last year, a season in which Jurgen Klopp's men went on to win the title.
Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said the club is hungry for success on the European stage. "At the moment, there's total desire in the team, and all credit for that," Schweinsteiger said."We have to make the most of our good position in the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to victory in Marseille." Munich are within reaching distance of a rare home Champions League final appearance, as the venue for the decider has already been allocated to the Allianz Arena.
It is fair to say Bayern will already be thinking of playing Real Madrid - most likely - in the semi-finals of the competition, given Marseille have lost eight of their past nine matches in all competitions.Five league losses, two defeats in the Champions League and a Coupe de France exit has seen Didier Deschamps' side be robbed of any momentum heading into the latter stages of the season. Marseille midfielder Alou Diarra, who is suspended for the leg in Germany, said Bayern's elder statesmen led the way in the first-leg victory.
"You could say experience was the difference," he said.Diarra added that Marseille have no expectations of advancing into the final four."We have nothing left to lose," Diarra said."It's not mission impossible. We scored three in Dortmund in the group stage."Bayern drop very few points at home so it will take a big performance, but we know we have the ability to cause them problems."The winner of the Marseille-Bayern tie will take on the victor in the Real Madrid-APOEL Nicosia fixture, with the La Liga powerhouse favoured to progress at home after winning the opening away leg 3-0.
Only a win will do for Barcelona when they host AC Milan at the Camp Nou in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday. The holders looked lethargic in the sides' goalless draw at the San Siro a week ago and while Lionel Messi and co could not manoeuvre their way around Milan's miserly defence, many at the club blamed a pitch described as 'unacceptable' for the result.
Now, in the safe confines of the Cam Nou with an 'even' pitch, there will be no excuses for Pep Guardiola's side, who have won 17 consecutive games at home.Curiously, the last time they were held in front of their faithful was back in September of last year, in the Champions League group stage, against AC Milan.A score draw is all Serie A leaders Milan need in Spain, but they will need to find a result without key defensive pillars Thiago Silva and Mark van Bommel, who are both injured.
For Barcelona, Carlos Puyol, rested in their 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday and used in a left-back role in the first leg, will undoubtedly return to the side on Wednesday while Cesc Fabregas is also available."We've dealt with it and today he (Fabregas) was better. So, even though we were forced to leave him out he will be there against Milan on Tuesday," Guardiola said after the Bilbao match.
Barcelona still have faint hopes of reining in La Liga leaders Real Madrid but will be otherwise preoccupied as they attempt to win back-to-back Champions Leagues.Jose Mourinho's men were in formidable form in their 5-1 win over Osasuna on Saturday that arrested two straight losses but with the El Classico yet to be played, Barcelona remain in the hunt.Massimiliano Allegri's plan to stifle Barcelona worked a treat in the first leg, with veteran Alessandro Nesta and Daniel Bonera, in particular, hard to breach in defence.
Doing that again will be a tough ask as few sides have been able to keep Barcelona's attacking armoury at the Camp Nou at bay for long.In the Serie A, Milan threw away a 1-0 lead against Catania to eventually draw 1-1 and see their four-game winning streak come to a halt.Former Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the key for Milan with his strength and power making him unplayable at times.
Beating Barcelona will be tough but not impossible, says former Milan player Stefano Nava
The former Rossoneri defender spoke to Goal.com about his experiences against the Catalan outfit, and rated his former side's chances of progressing to the semi-final
Ibrahimovic played a good match in the first leg against Barcelona, says Allegri
The Rossoneri trainer has voiced his opinion that the Swedish attacker worked hard for the team in last week's match at San Siro, and stressed that the result is all that counts
Chelsea will be hoping they can keep their perfect home record in the Champions League intact when they host Benfica on Wednesday.Roberto Di Matteo's side have won all four home matches in Europe's top competition this season, and another win on Wednesday will be enough for them to reach the semi-finals. A lone goal from Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea a handy 1-0 win in the first leg of their quarter-final against Jorge Jesus' side last week.
Indeed Chelsea have lost just once in their past nine home games in the Champions League, the defeat coming against Manchester United in last season's quarter-final.The Blues have also been in good form since Di Matteo took over from the sacked Andre Villas-Boas in early March, with a narrow loss to Manchester United and a scoreless draw with Tottenham the only blemishes on the Italian's record after eight games in charge.
They showed no ill effects from their trip to Benfica in a 4-2 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, with defender Branislav Ivanovic returning from injury and scoring a brace.Striker Didier Drogba missed the match at Villa Park with a toe injury while defender David Luiz was sidelined with an ankle complaint, and both will face fitness tests ahead of Wednesday's return leg against Benfica.
The Portuguese side are second in the Liga Sagres, one point behind Porto, but will need to continue to punch above their weight in Europe if they are to progress to the semi-finals. Benfica have already seen off one English side in the Champions League this season, claiming two draws against Manchester United as they topped Group C, while Sir Alex Ferguson's men finished third and were eliminated.
They will also take confidence in their impressive away record in the Champions League this season, with just one loss in six matches away from the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. And goalkeeper Artur believes there is no reason his side cannot get a result in London. "We'll have to work really hard to win the second leg.
Benfica showed the reason why we're in the quarter-finals and, despite the loss, we have the quality to turn the tie around," Artur said."We drew 2-2 with Manchester United, who are also a great team, so I don't see why we can't go to London thinking of winning the game. Nothing is impossible in football and we will fight to win that match."
Champions League preview: Real Madrid v Apoel Nicosia
3 April 2012
Only a minor miracle can prevent Real Madrid from progressing past APOEL Nicosia in their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. After Real scored a 3-0 win in the first leg in Cyprus last week, APOEL would need to win by at least three goals at the Bernabeu in the return leg to have any hope of making an unlikely appearance in the semi-finals.
But given Jose Mourinho's side have conceded three goals in a match just twice this season (both times against Barcelona) the odds of APOEL pulling off an upset seem astronomical. The Cypriot club stunned Lyon in the round of 16 to reach their first ever continental quarter-final, but even coach Ivan Jovanovic admits his side are not capable of beating Madrid's high-paid stars.
"Madrid are in the semi-finals; there is no question about that. I even believe that they will reach the final and, hopefully, win it," Jovanovic said after APOEL's loss in the first leg."It was very gratifying to play against a team like Real Madrid. We all saw firsthand what a quality side they are."You could say this game was a crowning moment for the fantastic campaign we produced this season in the competition." "My players have done themselves proud throughout this campaign and once again against superior opponents like Madrid."
A one-sided affair is on the cards at the Bernabeu, with Real having scored 13 goals in their past three matches after successive 5-1 wins in La Liga. However, Mourinho may choose to rest some of his stars given his side face a challenging match against Valencia just four days after the visit of APOEL, followed by a derby away against city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo has grabbed all the headlines, the form of French striker Karim Benzema also has Mourinho smiling. Benzema has scored five goals in his last three appearances to take his tally to 28 for the season, while Mourinho also has plenty of depth in his squad, with Raul Albiol and Esteban Granero two of the peripheral figures who may see some game time against APOEL.
Mourinho: I will not watch Barcelona's clash against AC Milan
The Portuguese trainer will deploy his regular starting XI against the Cypriots and said that he will pay close attention to the match between Bayern Munich and Marseille
Apr 3, 2012 1:45:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed that he will not watch Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final clash between Barcelona and AC Milan.
The tie is delicately poised after the first leg at San Siro ended in a goalless stalemate, and Mourinho acknowledges the importance of the encounter at Camp Nou, but insists that his eyes will be on the match between Bayern Munich and Marseille.
"I plan to watch Bayern-Marseille because we will face one of those teams if we progress," he told reporters at a press conference.
"That is the match I am interested in the most and the one I will be watching.
"Barca-Milan will be a great game, perhaps the most important one of the quarter-finals, but I will not watch it because right now it does not mean anything to us."
Madrid have one foot in the semi-finals following their 3-0 triumph over APOEL in the first leg, but Mourinho stated that he will not make many changes to the team for Wednesday's clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Not many people think that APOEL can come here and win 4-0, but we have to respect our fans and the opponent," he noted.
"There will be very few changes and we will play with a very strong team."
The 49-year-old then revealed that Angel Di Maria will likely see more playing time on Wednesday after the Argentine made his first appearance in over a month as a late substitute in Saturday's 5-1 thrashing of Osasuna.
"He is an important player to the team and his thigh injury was hard to recover from," Mourinho explained.
"He has been training well for the last 10 days, but training is one thing, playing is another.
"He showed some positive things against Osasuna and tomorrow he will not play the whole match, but surely more than 10 minutes."
Bayern Munich advanced to the Champions League semi-finals with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Marseille.The German giants were in pole position to progress heading into Tuesday's clash, having won the first leg 2-0 in France. And another 2-0 triumph in the return fixture saw them book their place in the last four of Europe's elite club competition.
Ivica Olic, who two years ago scored a memorable hat-trick against Lyon, scored twice for Bayern before half-time, and his goals were all the hosts needed to advance.The visitors made a bright start, and Loic Remy tested keeper Manuel Neuer in the opening minutes after making a clever turn. Then, Benoit Cheyrou made an impressive run from deep and found Jeremy Morel, but the left-back's finish was kicked clear by the goalkeeper.
OM would rue their missed chances, as in the 13th minute, Olic opened the scoring.Franck Ribery made a mazy run into the right side of the box before crossing low, and the Croatian striker stabbed home from close range.The visitors reacted well and continued their positive play, with Stephane Mbia's long-ranged blast forcing Neuer to tip over the bar.
But Bayern gained full control of the match before the half-hour mark, as Toni Kroos and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk both forced fine saves from Steve Mandanda with long-ranged efforts.Thomas Muller, who before half-time was withdrawn due to an apparent hamstring injury, forced Mandanda into action on 30 minutes, with a glancing header, and Kroos shortly thereafter rattled the left post with another strong effort from outside the box.
Bayern kept up their pressure, and on 37 minutes, Olic completed his double on the counter-attack. Ribery and David Alaba exchanged passes from deep in their own half before the Austrian crossed to Olic, who again finished from close range.After the half-time break, the hosts stepped off the throttle as Marseille enjoyed more of the possession than before, but lacked incisiveness in the final third.
Ribery continued to be dangerous and forced a couple fine challenges to deny a look at goal before Kroos flashed another long-ranged attempt narrowly wide.As the final quarter of the match approached, Marseille had their best chance of the game, but Brandao's open header from inside the six-yard box missed over the bar.The Brazilian striker's attempt would be an anomaly, however, as the final 20 minutes had a training ground feel about them.
This suited Kroos, who was substituted without having been booked, as well as Jerome Boateng and Luiz Gustavo, who also avoided bookings that would have seen them slapped with a ban.Bayern face the winner of Real Madrid's tie with APOEL in the semi-finals.
