GABRIELLA FERREIRA
European football’s top sides competed in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on 9 and 10 April.
Even though Real Madrid lost 3-2 to Galatasaray, they still proceeded to the competition’s next round with a 5-3 aggregate after winning 3-0 in the first leg. Madrid took an early lead in the second-leg fixture after Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the seventh minute. Real Madrid then dominated much of the first half. Galatasaray played well in the second half, with Emmanuel Eboué, Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba creating chances for on-target shots and scoring three goals. Madrid’s Álvaro Arbeloa was sent off in the 90th minute after receiving a second yellow card, giving Galatasaray a one-man advantage late in the game. Madrid prevented Galatasaray from capitalising on this and overcoming their first-leg deficit after Ronaldo scored again in the 92nd minute.
Borussia Dortmund came from behind to win 3-2 against Malaga in Dortmund, going through to the semi-final round with a 3-2 aggregate. Although Dortmund dominated much of the game, it was Malaga’s Joaquín Sánchez who scored the first goal on the 25-minute mark. Dortmund equalised before the end of the first half with Robert Lewandowski scoring in the 40th minute. Malaga took the lead again in the second half with Eliseu scoring in the 82nd minute. Dortmund equalised again in the 90th minute through Marco Reus. Dortmund scored late in the game after a cross from Lewandowski led to Felipe Santana’s goal in the 93rd minute. The goal was awarded, although replays show that Santana was offside when the cross came in.
Barcelona drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at home to go through to the next round based on the away-goals rule after drawing 2-2 in Paris in the first leg. PSG’s manager Carlo Ancelotti said in a press conference that his team “did everything [they] could to win. Our team showed quality, character [and] bravery. In the end, I’m disappointed.”
Neither team converted goal-scoring opportunities in the first half. The first goal was scored in the second half when PSG took the lead after Javier Pastore scored in the 50th minute. After a quick pass from David Villa, Pedro equalised 20 minutes later for Barcelona.
Bayern Munich defeated Juventus 2-0 in Sicily to go through to the semi-finals with an aggregate of 4-0. Mario Mandžuki? scored in the second half to give Bayern the lead. Bayern scored again in the 91st minute after Bastian Schweinsteiger’s through ball to Claudio Pizarro.
The semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League will be held this week. Real Madrid and Barcelona travel to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively in the first leg of the round.
Images: www.uefa.com
