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Champions League, round of 16, second leg

Barcelona 2 - Manchester City 1

Barcelona join Atlético Madrid in the last eight after beating Manchester City 4-1 on aggregate. Although two up from the first leg, Tata Martino was taking no chances, putting out a full strength line-up with Messi and Neymar up front. Referee Stephane Lannoy turned down an early penalty appeal from Messi and then disallowed a Neymar strike for a non-existent offside, and Neymar got through on goal only to shoot just wide of the post. Silva fired a shot just over the bar though and Nasri also found Valdés with another shot later in the first half, but Joe Hart had to save from Xavi, and with the first half coming to a close Fernandinho headed off the line from Neymar with the keeper beaten. Both teams exchanged chances after the restart, half time substitute Dzeko bring two good saves out of Valdés and Messi hitting the post, but midway through the second half Lescott failed to cut out a Fàbregas through ball, and Messi pounced on the rebound to turn a shot wide of Hart. With the game coming to a close the referee waved away a penalty claim by Dzeko after he was tripped by Piqué, Zabaleta getting himself sent off with a second booking for protesting, but even so City equalized, Kompany getting the last touch after Dzeko headed in Milner’s corner. As he had done in the first leg though, Dani Alves was in the right place to fire in the winner after Iniesta set him up just two minutes later, and Barça were in to the quarter finals for the seventh year in a row. (12.03.14)

Atlético Madrid 4 - AC Milan 1

Atlético Madrid cruised through to the quarter finals after thrashing AC Milan 4-1 in the second leg of their tie! A goal up from the San Siro, Diego Costa added to his side’s lead in only the fourth minute with an acrobatic karate-style kick from Koke’s cross. Kaká headed one back though from Poli’s cross some twenty minutes later, and the ex Real Madrid forward missed an opportunity to put the Italians in front when he headed another cross from Taarabt over the bar soon afterwards. With five minutes to go to the break however a shot by Turan from the edge of the area hit Rami and looped over Abbiati, and midway through the second half Raúl García got above the defence to head a long Gabi free kick past the keeper. Robinho hit the bar at the other end a few minutes later, but Costa wrapped things up with his second of the night, picking the ball up from Sosa and firing an angled shot in off the far post. A 5-1 aggregate scoreline against the seven times European champions, and Atlético are ready to face anyone in the next round. (11.03.14)