2011/2012 Uefa - Champions League & Europa League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
1st leg on 21 Feb 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid

1st leg on 22 Feb 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich
Marseille vs Internazionale

2nd leg on 6 Mar 2012
Arsenal vs Milan (Milan won 4-0 in the 1st leg)
Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benfica (Zenit St. Petersburg won 3-2 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 7 Mar 2012
Lyon vs APOEL (Lyon won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona (Barca won 3-1 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 13 Mar 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich
Marseille vs Internazionale

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Europa League

2nd leg on 21 Feb 2012
Porto vs ManC (ManC won 2-1 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 23 Feb 2012
Ajax vs ManU (ManU won 2-0 in the 1st leg)
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Athletic Bilbao (Lokomotiv Moscow won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Red Bull Salzburg vs Metalist Kharkiv (Metalist Kharkiv won 4-0 in the 1st leg)
Stoke City vs Valencia (Valencia won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Rubin Kazan vs Olympiacos (Olympiacos won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
AZ vs Anderlecht (AZ won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Lazio vs Atlético Madrid (Atletico won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
Steaua București vs Twente (Twente won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Viktoria Plzeň vs Schalke 04 (1st leg finish 1-1)
Wisła Kraków vs Standard Liège (1st leg finish 1-1)
Braga vs Beşiktaş (Beşiktaş won 2-0 in the 1st leg)
Udinese vs PAOK (1st leg finish 0-0)
Trabzonspor vs PSV Eindhoven (PSV won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Hannover 96 vs Club Brugge (Hannover won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Legia Warsaw vs Sporting CP (1st leg finish 2-2)


Round of 16
1st leg - 8 March 2012
2nd leg - 15 March 2012
FC Salzburg/Metalist Kharkiv vs Rubin Kazan/Olympiakos
Legia Warsaw/Sporting vs Porto/ManC
Steaua Bucharest/FC Twente vs Viktoria Plzen/Schalke
Wisla Krakow/Standard Liege vs Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia vs Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar/Anderlecht vs Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atletico Madrid vs SC Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/ManU vs Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao


Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 29 March 2012
2nd leg - 5 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 19 April 2012
2nd leg - 26 April 2012

Final
9 May 2012 @ National Stadium, Bucharest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2..._Europa_League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
1st leg on 21 Feb 2012
Napoli 3-1 Chelsea
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid

1st leg on 22 Feb 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich
Marseille vs Internazionale

2nd leg on 6 Mar 2012
Arsenal vs Milan (Milan won 4-0 in the 1st leg)
Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benfica (Zenit St. Petersburg won 3-2 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 7 Mar 2012
Lyon vs APOEL (Lyon won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona (Barca won 3-1 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 13 Mar 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich
Marseille vs Internazionale

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea (Napoli won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid (the 1st leg ended 1-1)



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=334842&cc=4716

Moscow salvage late draw

Pontus Wernbloom made Real Madrid pay 4 a string of misses as CSKA Moscow pinched an improbable draw when they looked certain 2 head 2 the Bernabeu behind in the Champions League last-16 tie.

Wernbloom scored in the 3rd minute of stoppage time @ the end of the match, cancelling out Cristiano Ronaldo's 1st-half strike 4 Madrid.

There was a certain symmetry in how the equalising goal went in, as twins Vasili Berezutski & Aleksei Berezutski were both involved in the build-up, having both been @ fault 4 the opening goal.

Alan Dzagoev provided a cross fr the right, Vasili Berezutski headed the ball towards the back post & his brother nodded across goal 4 Swedish midfielder Wernbloom 2 lunge in & score.

CSKA had barely posed a serious threat all match, but they will head 2 the March 14 second leg in Spain on level terms.

At their Luzhniki Stadium, with its artificial pitch, it was the Russians who had the 1st noteworthy effort, as Dzagoev's athletic volley fr Georgi Schennikov's left-wing cross went wide of the left post.

Fr there, Madrid took charge. Gonzalo Higuain, on early as a substitute 4 the injured Karim Benzema, almost scored with a curling left-footed strike fr the edge of the penalty area, but Sergei Chepchugov was equal 2 the effort & surpassed tat save with another as Sami Khedira seized on the loose ball & drilled a fierce shot which the goalkeeper touched over.

Ronaldo opened the scoring aft 28 mins when hapless defending, 1st in giving the ball away in the right-back area & then when defending the cross tat followed, presented him with the opening.

Fabio Coentrao crossed fr the Madrid left, Vasili Berezutski could not jump 2 clear the ball or race out quickly enough 2 avert the danger & twin Aleksei managed only 2 tip the ball with his head 2 Ronaldo, 12 yards out beyond the far post.

The gift was happily accepted by Ronaldo, who powered a low shot underneath Chepchugov.

Mesut Ozil drew a save fr Chepchugov b4 half-time arrived with Madrid in charge.

The visitors poured pressure on the home defence in the early stages of the 2nd half, Ronaldo hoisting one shot 2 high as he looked 4 a 2nd goal.

Nigerian Ahmed Musa offered momentary threat 4 CSKA when he buzzed forward & shot straight @ Iker Casillas.

But there should hv been more Madrid goals 2 follow.

Ronaldo was clear on Chepchugov who won their 1-on-1 battle, & later he had a similarly clear opening aft the ball broke 2 him kindly on the edge of the penalty area, but placed a sidefooted shot wide of the left post.

Betw those strikes there was a faint threat fr CSKA, aft Coentrao gave away a free-kick on the home side's right flank, just outside the penalty area.

Keisuke Honda opted against crossing & tried 2 beat Casillas @ his near post. Although Casillas punched the ball, it looked 2 be an unnecessarily dramatic move fr the goalkeeper who could hv made an easy catch.

Madrid seemed 2 hv staved off any danger, so they were stunned when the leveller went in.

Dzagoev's cross was not the most menacing & Vasili Berezutski's header on was merely hopeful. But Aleksei Berezutski was smart in not going 4 the target, & b4 the Madrid defence reacted Wernbloom had smashed in the ball from 7 yards.



http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...moscow?cc=4716

Napoli in control, Madrid held

Napoli came back fr a goal behind 2 take a 3-1 lead into the 2nd leg of their Champions League 2nd-round tie against Chelsea.

Chelsea - who had started the match with Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard & Fernando Torres on the bench - had looked shaky in defence in the early stages of the match, but they took the lead on 27 mins thru Juan Mata.

The lead did not last long, Ezequiel Lavezzi curling the ball past Petr Cech 4 an equaliser 11 mins later, & Edinson Cavani put the hosts in front when he used his shoulder 2 divert home in 1st-half injury time.

Chelsea looked dangerous in the 2nd half & had numerous opportunities 2 get back on level terms, but a glaring error fr David Luiz allowed Lavezzi 2 make it 3-1 on 65 mins.

CSKA Moscow gave themselves hope aft rescuing a late 1-1 draw in their match @ home 2 Real Madrid.

Madrid, despite having 2 adapt 2 the freezing temperatures, had looked much the better side in the 1st half @ the Luzhniki Stadium & got their reward when Cristiano Ronaldo netted a potentially crucial away goal on the half-volley on 28 mins.

However, Moscow were much improved in the 2nd half & got their reward in the 93rd minute when debutant Pontus Wernbloom volleyed home fr close range.

Madrid host CSKA 4 the return leg @ the Santiago Bernabeu on March 14.

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Europa League

2nd leg on 22 Feb 2012
Porto 0-4 ManC (ManC won 6-1 over 2 legs)

2nd leg on 23 Feb 2012
Ajax vs ManU (ManU won 2-0 in the 1st leg)
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Athletic Bilbao (Lokomotiv Moscow won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Red Bull Salzburg vs Metalist Kharkiv (Metalist Kharkiv won 4-0 in the 1st leg)
Stoke City vs Valencia (Valencia won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Rubin Kazan vs Olympiacos (Olympiacos won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
AZ vs Anderlecht (AZ won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Lazio vs Atlético Madrid (Atletico won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
Steaua București vs Twente (Twente won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Viktoria Plzeň vs Schalke 04 (1st leg finish 1-1)
Wisła Kraków vs Standard Liège (1st leg finish 1-1)
Braga vs Beşiktaş (Beşiktaş won 2-0 in the 1st leg)
Udinese vs PAOK (1st leg finish 0-0)
Trabzonspor vs PSV Eindhoven (PSV won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Hannover 96 vs Club Brugge (Hannover won 2-1 in the 1st leg)
Legia Warsaw vs Sporting CP (1st leg finish 2-2)


Round of 16
1st leg on 8 March 2012 & 2nd leg on 15 March 2012
FC Salzburg/Metalist Kharkiv vs Rubin Kazan/Olympiakos
Legia Warsaw/Sporting vs ManC
Steaua Bucharest/FC Twente vs Viktoria Plzen/Schalke
Wisla Krakow/Standard Liege vs Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia vs Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar/Anderlecht vs Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atletico Madrid vs SC Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/ManU vs Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao


Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 29 March 2012
2nd leg - 5 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 19 April 2012
2nd leg - 26 April 2012

Final
9 May 2012 @ National Stadium, Bucharest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2..._Europa_League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
Basel 1-0 Bayern Munich
Marseille 1-0 Internazionale

2nd leg on 6 Mar 2012
Arsenal vs Milan (Milan won 4-0 in the 1st leg)
Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benfica (Zenit St. Petersburg won 3-2 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 7 Mar 2012
Lyon vs APOEL (Lyon won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona (Barca won 3-1 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 13 Mar 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich (Basel won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Marseille vs Internazionale (Marseille won 1-0 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea (Napoli won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid (the 1st leg ended 1-1)



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Europa League

2nd leg results
Porto 0-4 ManC (ManC won 6-1 over 2 legs)
Ajax 2-1 ManU (ManU won 3-2 over 2 legs)
Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 Athletic Bilbao (Athletic Bilbao won on 2-2 away goals over 2 legs)
Red Bull Salzburg 1-4 Metalist Kharkiv (Metalist Kharkiv won 8-1 over 2 legs)
Stoke City 0-1 Valencia (Valencia won 2-0 over 2 legs)
Rubin Kazan 0-1 Olympiacos (Olympiacos won 2-0 over 2 legs)
AZ 1-0 Anderlecht (AZ won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Lazio 0-1 Atlético Madrid (Atletico won 4-1 over 2 legs)
Steaua București 0-1 Twente (Twente won 2-0 over 2 legs)
Viktoria Plzeň 1-3 Schalke 04 (Schalke won 4-2 over 2 legs)
Wisła Kraków 0-0 Standard Liège (Standard Liège 1-1 on away goals over 2 legs)
Braga 1-0 Beşiktaş (Beşiktaş won 2-1 over 2 legs)
Udinese 3-0 PAOK (Udinese won 3-0 over 2 legs)
Trabzonspor 1-4 PSV Eindhoven (PSV won 6-2 over 2 legs)
Hannover 96 1-0 Club Brugge (Hannover won 3-1 over 2 legs)
Legia Warsaw 0-1 Sporting CP (Sporting CP won 3-2 over 2 legs)


Round of 16 1st leg - 8 March 2012 / 2nd leg - 15 March 2012
Metalist Kharkiv vs Olympiakos
Sporting vs ManC
FC Twente vs Schalke
Standard Liege vs Hannover
Valencia vs PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar vs Udinese
Atletico Madrid vs Besiktas
ManU vs Athletic Bilbao


Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 29 March 2012
2nd leg - 5 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 19 April 2012
2nd leg - 26 April 2012

Final
9 May 2012 @ National Stadium, Bucharest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2..._Europa_League

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
2nd leg : Arsenal 3-0 Milan (Milan won 4-3 over 2 legs)
2nd leg : Zenit St. Petersburg 0-2 Benfica (Benfica won 4-3 over 2 legs)

2nd leg on 7 Mar 2012
Lyon vs APOEL (Lyon won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona (Barca won 3-1 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 13 Mar 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich (Basel won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Marseille vs Internazionale (Marseille won 1-0 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea (Napoli won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid (the 1st leg ended 1-1)



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012

Teams thru 2 the QF r Benfica & AC Milan.


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ogress?cc=4716

Spirited Arsenal out, Benfica progress
March 6, 2012

Arsenal put up a spirited display in their Champions League last-16 2nd leg but were ultimately eliminated by AC Milan, while Benfica beat Zenit St Petersburg 4-3 on aggregate 2 advance.

At Emirates Stadium, it appeared Arsenal would need a miracle 2 become the 1st club to overturn a 4-0 1st leg deficit 2 progress against AC Milan.

The Gunners were determined 2 serve up an upset, though, & raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks 2 goals fr Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky & a Robin van Persie penalty.

However, Arsene Wenger's side tired in the 2nd half & try as they might could not find the decisive 4th goal 2 send the game into extra-time, with captain Van Persie guilty of missing their best chance as his attempted chip was saved by Christian Abbiati.

Milan looked a shadow of the side tat had demolished Arsenal @ the San Siro 2 weeks ago, but the Serie A leaders hung on 2 progress 2 the quarter-finals.

In Lisbon, Benfica's task against Zenit St Petersburg appeared considerably more achievable aft their 1st leg ended 3-2 in favour of the Russians.

And Jorge Jesus' side were left celebrating their place in the last 8 aft earning a 2-0 victory @ the Estadio da Luz.

Maxi Pereira set Benfica on their way as he lashed home the opening goal in 1st-half stoppage time, & substitute Nelson Miguel Castro Oliveira rounded things off late on with a breakaway strike in the 3rd minute of injury time.

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
2nd leg : Arsenal 3-0 Milan (Milan won 4-3 over 2 legs)
2nd leg : Zenit St. Petersburg 0-2 Benfica (Benfica won 4-3 over 2 legs)
2nd leg : Lyon 0-1 APOEL (It was 1-1 agg over 2 legs. APOEL won 4-3 on penalties)
2nd leg : Bayer Leverkusen 1-7 Barcelona (Barca won 10-2 over 2 legs)

2nd leg on 13 Mar 2012
Basel vs Bayern Munich (Basel won 1-0 in the 1st leg)
Marseille vs Internazionale (Marseille won 1-0 in the 1st leg)

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea (Napoli won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid (the 1st leg ended 1-1)



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012

Teams thru 2 the QF r Benfica, AC Milan, APOEL & Barcelona.


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...celona?cc=4716

Chiotis hopes to avoid Barcelona
March 8, 2012

APOEL Nicosia goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis is hoping 2 be rewarded 4 his penalty shoot-out heroics by avoiding a meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Chiotis saved spot-kicks fr Alexandre Lacazette & Michel Bastos as APOEL beat Lyon 4-3 in the shoot-out aft levelling the aggregate score thanks 2 a 1-0 win @ the GSP Stadium.

It is the 1st time a Cypriot side has reached the last 8 of Europe's premier club competition & Chiotis is hoping they can go even further - a task which would be made easier if they fail 2 draw Lionel Messi & Co in the last 8.

He said: ''We've achieved something no 1 would hv thought possible @ the start of the season. Things r getting serious now. We need 2 wait 2 see who else gets into the quarter-finals, but there isn't 1 team we would prefer 2 play - just let's not get Barcelona.''

Gustavo Manduca struck early 4 APOEL 2 set up the shoot-out.

''2day was an amazing night - it will live in our memories 4 many years,'' Manduca told UEFA.com. ''We've made history 4 tis country & we're proud of tat. We 1 2 enjoy tis moment.

''We knew we needed 2 score 2 stay in the competition & scoring in the 1st 10 minutes was very important - it was a gift fr God.

''A month & a half ago I had an operation on my groin & didn't expect 2 be back so soon. God blessed me & I got the goal 2 keep the team in the competition - wat happened 2night makes me proud.''

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Europa League

Round of 16
Metalist Kharkiv 0-1 Olympiakos
Sporting 1-0 ManC
FC Twente 1-0 Schalke
Standard Liege 2-2 Hannover
Valencia 4-2 PSV Eindhoven
AZ Alkmaar 2-0 Udinese
Atletico Madrid 3-1 Besiktas
ManU 2-3 Athletic Bilbao

2nd leg on 15 March 2012


Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 29 March 2012
2nd leg - 5 April 2012


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 19 April 2012
2nd leg - 26 April 2012

Final
9 May 2012 @ National Stadium, Bucharest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2..._Europa_League

[joew2005]

http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/hung...4--soccer.html

'Hungry' Bayern out to see off Basel

Bayern Munich host FC Basel on Tuesday needing 2 overturn a 1-0 deficit fr their Champions League round of 16 1st-leg match, while the Swiss side r looking 2 claim another major scalp.

Basel ended ManU's involvement in tis season's campaign when they beat SAF's side in Switzerland last December, then proved it was no fluke with victory over Bayern @ St Jakob Park stadium 3 weeks ago.

Although Bayern hv a 100% home record in 3 games against Swiss opposition in the Champions League, Basel bring a deserved 1-0 aggregate lead 2 Munich's Allianz Arena aft Valentin Stocker's 86th-minute winner.

Having won only 5 of their 10 matches since Christmas, Bayern enjoyed a confidence-boosting 7-1 hammering of Hoffenheim on Saturday in the Bundesliga, with Germany striker Mario Gomez netting a hat-trick in the rout.

"Tat will give us a boost. I m confident the squad has tat hunger again," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes. "Tat was important 4 Tuesday."

Make no mistake: Bayern's season will be deemed a failure by their bosses unless they reach the quarter-finals, especially with Munich 2 host the final on May 19, & defeat on Tuesday could hv profound consequences.

"Basel is a very important game 4 the way the rest of the season will run. We hv 2 do tat again against Basel," Munich president Uli Hoeness told German television channel ZDF aft the Hoffenheim win.

While Bayern may hv got their swagger back following last weekend's 2-0 defeat @ Bayer Leverkusen, Basel, under ex-Bayern youth coach Heiko Vogel, r currently dominating Swiss football.

They arrive in Munich on the back of a morale-boosting win aft a 2-0 victory @ Grasshoppers Zurich over the weekend tat put them 12 points clear @ the top of the Swiss Super league.

Basel were last beaten in the Swiss league in August & their opening goal in Zurich was scored by future Bayern midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, who will come 2 Munich @ the end of the summer.

Bayern hv plenty of experience & r appearing @ tis stage of the competition 4 the 4th consecutive campaign, while Basel r in the last 16 of the Champions League 4 only the 2nd time in their history.

Bayern Munich stars Arjen Robben, Mario Gomez & Jerome Boateng r all nursing knocks, but r expected 2 play.

Gomez, who netted his 11th hat-trick 4 the club in the Bundesliga against Hoffenheim, came off aft 57mins with a cut abv his ankle & Robben needed prolonged treatment aft scoring twice, but completed the 90 mins.

Defender Boateng came off in the 2nd half aft straining a leg muscle.

Bayern were buoyed, however, by the return of Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger 4 the final 20 mins against Hoffenheim, 31 days aft he tore ankle ligaments.

"I m glad tat I got some time on the pitch, I felt good," said Schweinsteiger.

"I'm ready (4 Basel)."

Bayern's midfield has lacked authority & purpose without their key playmaker & vice captain.

"4 me, it is very important tat he is back again," said Heynckes.



http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/inte...7--soccer.html

Inter will advance to quarters, says Ranieri

A bullish Claudio Ranieri insisted his Inter Milan side will overcome a 1-0 1st-leg deficit 2 Marseille & advance 2 the Champions League quarter-finals @ the expense of the French side.

Marseille visit the San Siro on Tuesday hoping 2 heap further pressure on Ranieri, who is reportedly fighting 4 his job following a recent run of 9 matches without a win.

The French, however, r no strangers to crisis either. A 1-0 league defeat 2 Ajaccio on Friday was their 4th in a row.

And Ranieri believes Marseille's poor streak, & home advantage, could help them find the spark they need 2 eliminate Didier Deschamps' side.

"B4 the 1st leg it was us who had suffered a few defeats while Marseille were coming off something of a positive streak, so the situation has been turned on its head," said the Italian.

"But with a full stadium, which will give us a boost, we r determined tis team won't fail.

"We know everything abt Marseille, tat they r dangerous & quick on the counter-attack... we also know their strengths & their weaknesses."

Inter head into tis game feeling buoyed by a last-gasp victory @ Chievo on Friday, their 1st in 10 matches in all competitions.

Ranieri believes tat kind of dogged determination will prove crucial against Marseille.

"Whatever we did, we were losing matches even when we had chances 2 win them," added Ranieri, referring 2 their recent poor run.

"But the fact we kept chipping away against Chievo until the very last minute is going 2 help us 2morrow (Tuesday)."

An away goal 4 Marseille would give Inter a mountain 2 climb, however, & the Italian admitted: "We can't afford 2 concede any goals, so we need 2 keep fully focused throughout."

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Round of 16
Arsenal 3-0 Milan (Milan won 4-3 over 2 legs)
Zenit St. Petersburg 0-2 Benfica (Benfica won 4-3 over 2 legs)
Lyon 0-1 APOEL (It was 1-1 agg over 2 legs. APOEL won 4-3 on penalties)
Bayer Leverkusen 1-7 Barcelona (Barca won 10-2 over 2 legs)
Basel 0-7 Bayern Munich (Bayern Munich won 7-1 over 2 legs)
Marseille 1-2 Internazionale (Marseille won on away goal over 2 legs, with the agg score @ 2-2)

2nd leg on 14 Mar 2012
Napoli vs Chelsea (Napoli won 3-1 in the 1st leg)
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid (the 1st leg ended 1-1)



Quarter-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 27/28 March 2012
2nd leg - 3/4 April 2012

Teams thru 2 the QF r Benfica, AC Milan, APOEL, Barcelona, Bayern Munich & Marseille.


Semi-finals Draw date - 16 March 2012
1st leg - 17/18 April 2012
2nd leg - 24/25 April 2012

Final
19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...n-rout?cc=4716

Inter out, Gomez leads Bayern rout
March 13, 2012

There was late drama in Italy as, despite netting a late penalty & winning 2-1, Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League on away goals by a 92nd minute effort fr Marseille's Brandao.

Inter spurned glorious early chances but Diego Milito's scrappy 75th-minute goal appeared enough 2 force extra-time @ least.

But Brandao then scored a goal fr nothing in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, & even though there was a further twist when Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda fouled Giampaolo Pazzini, earning a 2nd yellow card & allowing the Italy international 2 give Inter victory on the night, boss Ranieri's side went out on the away-goals rule.

Mario Gomez hit 4 goals as Bayern Munich swiftly eliminated the threat of a Champions League exit b4 humiliating FC Basel 7-0.

The German club, whose Allianz Arena will stage the European final in May, had been embarrassed by a 1-0 loss 2 Basel 3 weeks ago @ St Jakob Park.

But they warmed up 4 the game with a 7-1 victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday, a match in which Gomez hit 3, & the Germany striker went 1 better against the Swiss league leaders, profiting fr the superb promptings of team-mates Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben & Franck Ribery, an attacking midfield trident the envy of most coaches in tis competition.