Champions League Matchday 7

By: Bob | February 21st, 2007

The competition in Europe is getting down to the nitty gritty this week as 16 Champions League teams are whittled down to 8. Many of the big names remain in the tournament, but for how much longer is something we’ll only know after the second legs are played on March 6 & 7. Here is the quick rundown from Wednesday’s Round of 16 matches.

Barcelona 1 Liverpool 2

Two storied teams that have had to deal with recent turmoil off the pitch squared off in the Camp Nou. Craig Bellamy and his 6 handicap got the start for Liverpool. Samuel Eto’o and his ~~ego~~ injury were in street clothes for Barcelona. It was the art of Deco who started the scoring with a goal in the 14th minute for Barca. As luck always seems to have it, the villain became the hero as Bellamy scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute for Liverpool and the victim became even more of a hero when John Arne Riise scored in the 74th minute. Perhaps every team should have a karaoke golf club bust up before playing in the Champions League! The two teams will play the second leg at Anfield on March 6 with the tournament holders’ backs up against the wall. More on the match to come on the Liverpool Offside. We also will have a Barcelona Offside blog up and running soon and I am thrilled about that.

FC Porto 1 Chelsea 1

The storyline coming in was about Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho making a return to the place where he had just a little bit of success before. Mourinho was not one of the eleven to suit up for the Blues, however, and all he could do was watch from the sideline as Raul Meireles put the hosts on top in the 12th minute. It didn’t take long for Chelsea to answer with the Champions League goal scoring machine Andriy Shevchenko doing what he is paid handsomely to do: score. His strike in the 16th minute evened the match and gave Chelsea a much coveted away goal in a match that saw John Terry leave with a twisted ankle early on. The two sides meet at Stamford Bridge for the second leg on March 6. More about the match to come on the Chelsea Offside.

Inter Milan 2 Valencia 2

Serie A leaders Inter Milan haven’t lost since man started to walk upright. Today they faced a Valencia side that hasn’t exactly had the hottest form in Spain. The Inter faithful were not too displeased when they saw their lad Esteban Cambiasso put Inter on top with a goal in the 28th minute. Just when you thought that Inter’s armor was impenetrable, David Villa found the goal in the 64th minute on an outstanding free kick that bent around the wall. But that hardly discouraged Inter. Brazilian defender Sisenando Maicon knocked one home in the 76th minute only to see David Silva score the equalizer for Valencia in the 86th minute. This sets up another classic in Spain on March 6 with Valencia holding two away goals. Should be a thriller. More on Inter’s performance to come on the Italy Offside. We also have an Inter Milan Offside blog in the works.

Roma 0 Lyon 0

France’s best took to the road to face a Roma team that doesn’t lose very often at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma made its debut in the Champions League knockout stages. Lyon has been eliminated in the quaterfinals the past three years. After 90 minutes of football neither team could move the scoreboard and as a result they’ll be starting fresh again in a couple of weeks when the meet in France. Fans of the English Premiership will not be shocked to learn that referee Mike Riley handed out 11 yellow cards and blew his whistle like he was a bird trying to mate. More about Lyon’s performance to come on the France Offside.

Tuesday’s results

Celtic 0 – AC Milan 0
PSV Eindhoven 1 – Arsenal 0
Lille 0 – Manchester United 1
Real Madrid 3 – Bayern Munich 2

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