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News Archive

Champions League, quarter finals, first leg

Real Madrid 3 - Borussia Dortmund 0

Real Madrid are close to a place in the semi-finals after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund. The German side knocked Madrid out of the competition last season, and fresh in the minds was the memory of that 4-1 first leg result. However the man who got all the goals, Lewandowski, was suspended tonight, and several other big names had moved on since that fateful day. This time though Ancelotti’s side took an early lead, Bale latching on to Carvajal’s pass to poke a shot past Weidenfeller, and the visiting keeper had to save a couple of efforts from Ronaldo before Isco picked up a Xabi Alonso assist to make it two. Later in the first half Weidenfeller did well to tip a Bale free kick over the bar, and after the break Modric intercepted Piszczek’s pass and played the ball through for Ronaldo to dummy the keeper and score, his fourteenth of the competition this season equaling Messi’s all time record. An away goal by the visitors would have put them back in the game though, and only a couple of great tackles by Pepe prevented Mkhitaryan from scoring. Casillas had to make a couple of saves as well, in particular from Reus, and Jürgen Klopp’s side felt that English referee Mark Clattenberg should have given them a penalty or two. An important clean sheet though, and even that 4-1 scoreline would not be enough to overturn this one. (02.04.14)

Barcelona 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

For the fourth time this season there was nothing to choose between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, although Simeone’s side will be happier with the result as they take a score draw back to next week’s second leg in the Calderón stadium. As in the last three meetings between these two sides this season, it was an intense match, with Piqué and Diego Costa having to be substituted with less than half an hour gone. David Villa put the first chance just wide of the post and Messi fired a free kick at the defensive wall, and Godín made an important block as Iniesta advanced on goal. Neymar also went close a couple of times before the break, but ten minutes in to the second half substitute Diego picked up a short Godín free kick outside of the area and curled a shot inside Pinto’s near post. Soon afterwards Courtois had to be at his best to keep out a Busquets volley, but a few minutes later Iniesta slotted a ball through for Neymar to equalize from a wide angle. After that Barça pushed for the winner, but Courtois produced top class saves from a shot by Iniesta and a Messi free kick to give his side the advantage going in to next Wednesday’s return match. (01.04.14)