Today’s officials look like they have given Juventus a title lifeline after wrongly disallowing a Robinho goal which would have given AC Milan all three poits against Catania today. The draw seen Milan extend their lead a the top of Serie A TO 5 points however Juventus have a game in hand.
Former Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli enhanced his reputation as being one of the most unpredictable players in the game when he interrupted Inter Milans press conference today as they unveiled Andrea Stramaccioni as their new manager having sacked Claudio Ranieri at the week-end, just to say hello!
Hulk scores the opener in Porto’s 3-2 win over title rivals Benfica with a screamer clocked at 108 km/h, maybe AVB should have replaced Torres and Drogba with this guy and he may be still in a job right now.
Lionel Messi’s 5 star show in Barcelona’s 10-2 aggregate win over Bayern Leverkusen last night had most of the media diving for superlatives.
But it seems Messi had Leverkusen beaten even before a ball was kicked in their Champions League second leg tie at the Nou Camp, after it was revealed both Michal Kadlec and Manuel Friedrich fought it out for Messi’s shirt at half-time in the first leg in Germany.
Friedrich won the battle receiving the Messi shirt at half-time, however Kadlec not to be out done grabbed Messi’s shirt at full-time in their 3-1 home defeat to the Spanish champions.
However it seems both men look set to lose their priceless assets after Leverkusen Sports director and former German striker Rudi Voeller ordered the pair to auction the shirts for charity after their childish behaviour, not to mention the disastrous defeat at the hands of Messi and co which ended the German’s participation in this seasons Champions League.
Bayern Leverkusen’s chance’s of gaining a Champions League quarter final spot are all but impossible given the match facts, despite Barcelona’s injury list including defender Eric Abidal and double goalscorer in the first leg Alexis Sanchez.
MATCH STATS
These sides have met on seven occasions in European competition, with Barcelona winning the last four encounters.
Only two teams in Champions League history have reached the next round after losing the 1st leg of a knockout round at home (Ajax in 1995/96 and Internazionale last season).
The Blaugrana have allowed their opponents just 11 shots on target in this season’s competition, less than any other team.
Bayer have scored four headed goals this Champions League season, more than any other team.
Barcelona have dominated possession in all of their 45 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola’s management.
The Blaugrana have scored in each of their last 28 Champions League games (70 goals in total).
Leverkusen are without a win in their last 11 away games in the Champions League, losing eight of these. Their last win was a 2-0 victory at Maccabi Haifa back in October 2002.
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 13 Champions League games, winning 11 of them.
Leverkusen have only kept six clean sheets in their last 43 Champions League matches.
Barcelona have recorded the highest ball possession percentage (74%) and the highest passing accuracy (91%) in this season’s competition.
Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 28 goals in his last 29 Champions League starts, including seven in six this season.
Liverpool were the last side to dump Barcelona out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League, back in the 2006/07 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo just keeps banging in the goals in a Real Madrid jersey and continued his goal scoring exploits last night with this amazing back heeled goal from all of 10 yards against Rayo Vallecano.
Valencia keeper Diego Alves makes a great save from a Lionel Messi spot-kick to give his side a 1-1 draw to bring to the Nou Camp in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg.
Mallorca keeper Juan Calatayud could benefit with the New Euro 2012 ball for his control after this gaffe cost his side a 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao last week.
Arsenal’s on loan striker Carlos Vela must see an openining in the Gunner’s midfield, as an enforcer, whatch how he takes out the linesman with the minimum of fuss during Real Sociedad’s 5-1 win at the week-end, and applause must also go to the official for doing a Messi and not a Ronaldo.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores a brilliant free-kick during Milan’s 3-0 Serie A win over Cagliari last night.
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