MATCH REPORT:
BAYERN MUNICH V ARSENAL
It was a very tough battle at the Alianz Arena on tuesday night as the game favourites Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 score draw.
Bayern Munich stayed on course to become the first side to retain
the Champions League by claiming 1-1 draw to ease past Arsenal.
The holders dominated much of Wednesday’s round-of-16 second leg at the Allianz Arena and, despite being unable to secure a deserved win on the night, they progressed 3-1 on aggregate following their first-leg victory in London.
It appeared to be only a matter of time before Guardiola’s team
went in front and the opening goal duly arrived 10 minutes after
the break when Ribery was afforded too much time to pick out
Schweinsteiger and the midfielder finished clinically.
Bayern were only in front for two minutes but had every right to
feel aggrieved with Podolski’s equaliser after their former player
appeared to push Germany team-mate Lahm before beating
Manuel Neuer at his near post with a vicious left-footed strike.
Mario Mandzukic was then too casual when presented with a
great chance to put Bayern back in front and Fabianski was alert to the danger.
Szczesny’s deputy then stopped Muller’s stoppage-time spot-kick
after Koscielny had brought down Robben but that was never going to prove costly as Bayern cruised through.
ATHLETICO MADRID V AC MILAN
Clarence Seedorf men were kicked out of the UEFA Champions League by an unbeatable Diego Simeone’s side at the Vicente Calderon.
Diego Costa’s brace sealed up the victory in grand style in the match that had a total number of five goals in the net.
Three minutes into the first-half was the first goal by Costa which Kaka’s goal which was the consolation of the Resoneri put things on the level before half time.
Raul Garcia and the Spain striker’s second added further gloss to
the scoreline inside the final 20 minutes, with the home side
good value for the win.
It took the hosts just three minutes to double their first-leg
advantage. Koke curled a sublime cross towards the far post and
Costa showed great athleticism to divert a side-footed volley past
Christian Abbiati.
Milan settled into the encounter after a lacklustre start and were
back in the tie on 27 minutes with the equaliser on the night.
The ball was spread wide to Andrea Poli and he stood up a pin-
point cross to the back post where Kaka headed home from close
range.
The Brazilian then missed a clear chance to put Milan ahead on
away goals, as he leapt to meet Adel Taarabt’s centre, but
succeeded only in heading over from six yards.
That miss proved costly as Turan restored Atletico’s lead in
fortuitous circumstances five minutes before the break. The
Turkey international’s volley took a huge deflection off Daniele
Bonera before looping over Abbiati and nestling in the bottom
corner.
Raul Garcia nearly made it three on the stroke of half-time with
an acrobatic free-kick that went just wide.
Atletico started the second half in the same swift fashion that
they had started the first and captain Gabi smashed a 20-yard
effort against the crossbar on 48 minutes.
Shortly after the hour mark, Costa held up a ball from the byline
and Miranda headed straight at Abbiati from eight yards.
The pressure finally told when the tie was put beyond all doubt
20 minutes from time, as Raul Garcia rose high to nod Gabi’s
free-kick into the bottom corner.
Robinho went close to reducing the deficit when he cracked an
effort against the crossbar, but there was still time for one last
piece of action as Costa fired across goal and into the bottom
corner in the 85th minute to seal a resounding win for Atletico.
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