How is it possible that Barcelona is so far ahead of the rest of Europe - and let us remember that despite the positions in the Spanish League, Barça has the advantage in one-on-one games with R. Madrid? The answer? Stability and a concentration of the football school system. APOEL is the first Cypriot team to go through to the Quarter-final stage.
Barcelona 7 v. Bayer Leverkusen 1
Messi 25,42,49,58,84 Bellarabi 90+1
Tello 55,62
First leg: 3-1 Aggregate : 10-2
FIVE goals from Messi says it all.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés, Daniel Alves, Piqué, Fàbregas, Xavi Hernández, Iniesta, Mascherano, Busquets, Adriano, Messi, Pedro Rodríguez SUBS: José Pinto, Marc Muniesa, Bartra, Keita, Sergi Roberto, Tello, Isaac Cuenca.
Leverkusen: Leno, Schwaab, Reinartz, Ömer Toprak, Michal Kadlec, Castro, Rolfes, Bender, Renato Augusto, Kiessling, Derdiyok SUBS: Giefer, Oczipka, Manuel Friedrich, Ortega, Zenga, Bellarabi, Schürrle.
APOEL 1 v. Olympique Lyonnais 0 (4 :3 pen.)
Manduca, 9
First leg : 0-1 Aggregate: 1-1 APOEL wins on penalties
Amazing game and result for APOEL, the first Cypriot side to get to the last 8 in any European competition, ever.
APOEL: Chiotis, Paulo Jorge, Oliveira, Poursaitides, Hélder Sousa, William Boaventura, Charalambides, Manduca, Nuno Morais, Aílton, Solari SUBS: Pardo, Kaká, Satsias, Alexandrou, Solomou, Marcinho, Tričkovski.
Lyon: Lloris, Cris, Koné, Réveillère, Cissokho, Källström, Ederson, Bastos, Gonalons, Lisandro, Briand SUBS: Vercoutre, Lovren, Dabo, Fofana, Grenier, Lacazette, Gomis.
Day One March 6
Zenit is eliminated by Benfica with goals late in each half, scored by Maxi Pereira and Nelson Oliveira. Arsenal tried the greatest comeback ever in European competitions, from 4-0 down. At the interval, 3-0 seemed viable but AC Milan knew how to stem the tide after the break. Arsene Wenger has a monster brewing...watch this space.
Tuesday March 6
Benfica 2 Zenit St. Petersburg 0
Maxi Pereira 45+1
Nelson Oliveira 90+3
First leg: 2-3 Aggregate: 4-3
Arsenal 3 AC Milan 0
Koscielny, 7; Rosický, 26; Van Persie, 43 (Penalty)
First leg: 0-4 Aggregate: 3-4
Next week
March 13
FC Bayern München - FC Basel 1893
First leg: 0-1
FC Internazionale Milano - Olympique de Marseille
First leg : 0-1
March 14
Chelsea FC v. Napoli
First leg: 1-3
Real Madrid v. CSKA Moskva
First leg: 1-1
Previous games
First Leg Tuesday February 21
SSC Napoli 3 - Chelsea FC 1
Lavezzi 39, 65 Juan Mata, 27
Cavani 45+2
PFC CSKA Moskva 1 - Real Madrid CF 1
Wernbloom 90+3 Cristiano Ronaldo 28
First Leg Wednesday February 15
AC Milan (ITA) 4 - Arsenal FC (ENG) 0
Boateng (15)
Robinho (38, 49)
Ibrahimovic (79, pen.)
FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 3 - SL Benfica (POR) 2
Shirokov (27) Maxi Pereira (20)
Semak (71) Óscar Cardozo (87)
Shirokov (88)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) 1 - APOEL FC (CYP) 0
Lacazette, 58
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) 1 - FC Barcelona (ESP) 3
M. Kadlec, 52 Alexis Sanchez 41, 55
Messi, 88
First Leg Wednesday February 22
FC Basel 1893 1 - FC Bayern München 0
Stocker 86
Olympique de Marseille 1 - FC Internazionale Milano 0
A. Ayew 90+3
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Pravda.Ru