Champions League: Three semi-finalists already known

Champions League: Three semi-finalists already known

After the (almost) guaranteed passage of Real Madrid and Schalke 04 to the Champions League semi-finals, Wednesday's matches produced another semi-finalist, even before the second leg is played: Barcelona thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to book a place for the second Spanish team in the competition. Man. United and Chelsea have it all to play for.

Chelsea FC (England) 0 Manchester United FC (England) 1

Rooney (24') broke the deadlock and takes Manchester United into the second leg one goal up. Chelsea had more of the play (54% to 46%) and had 13 shots, 7 on target, to United's 3. However, the more efficient side was the one that scored.

Barcelona FC (Spain) 5  Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) 1

Iniesta (2); Daniel Alves (34); Pique (53); Keita (61) and Xavi Hernández (86) scored for Barcelona, while Rakitskiy (60) scored the token goal for the visitors. The result speaks for itself. A massacre. Barça had 17 shots, 10 on target, against Shakhtar's 6 (2 on) and 64% of ball possession to 36%.

Tuesday April 5

Champions League Quarter-Finals, first leg - Real Madrid (Spain) 4 Tottenham Hotspur FC (England) 0; Inter Milan (Italy) 2  Schalke 04 (Germany) 5. Tottenham fought bravely but their campaign ends with their first presence in the last 8; Inter's first-minute goal failed to shake Schalke 04, who scored 5.

Real Madrid (Spain) 4 Tottenham Hotspur FC (England) 0

The Spanish side outclassed brave Tottenham Hotspur FC 4-0 with goals by Adebayor (4, 57), Di Maria (72) and Cristiano Ronaldo (87). The statistics say it all - Real had 11 shots on target against Spurs' 1, 14 off target against 3 and 64% to 36% of ball possession. Tottenham were not helped by a Peter Crouch sending-off on 15' Gareth Bale had his moments but the Real tide was relentless from start to finish.

The London team have to score 5 against Real in the second leg. Realistically, Spurs' campaign is over - but this was the first time the team had reached the Champions League quarter-finals. Full marks to Harry Redknapp.

Inter Milan (Italy) 2 Schalke 04 (Germany) 5

Inter got off to a flying start on 1' with a goal from Stankovic. Schalke replied on 17' (Matip). The Italian side went ahead on 34', goal from Milito, only for the Germans to enter the break level, the 2-2 coming from Edu on 40'.

After the interval, Schalke scored three more - Raúl Gonzalez scored after 53', Ranocchia scored an own goal on 57' and Edu got his second after 75'. Inter have a mountain to climb in the return leg in Germany, which Schalke needs to manage with a minimum of effort.

Real and Schalke are through already. Tomorrow: Chelsea FC v. Manchester United; Barcelona FC v. Shakhtar Donetsk

Aleksei Federov

Pravda.Ru