Navarro handball gifts Valencia win over Sevilla

A bizarre handball by Sevilla defender Fernando Navarro gave away a late penalty which helped Valencia to a 3-1 comeback home win in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

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David Villa: Scored from the spot

Sevilla were stubbornly hanging on for a 1-1 draw with 10 men, having lost Adriano Correia to a red card in the first half, when Navarro flung his arm up and handled an overhit cross at the back post in the 83rd minute.

Juan Mata dispatched his team's second penalty of the match, after David Villa had converted a spot kick just before the break to cancel out Julien Escude's early header.

Valencia substitute Pablo Hernandez wrapped up the scoring on a counter-attack in the dying minutes to make it four wins from four for the hosts.

Navarro was at a loss to explain the handball in quotes carried on the Sevilla website (www.sevillafc.es):

"I can't deny I touched the ball with my hand but it wasn't intentional," he said. "I don't know if I just miscalculated my jump or whether he (David Silva) pushed me, but it was a clear penalty. The game was decided by my error."

Unai Emery's side moved back up to fourth place and into the last Champions League qualification slot with 52 points, five behind third-placed Sevilla.

Barcelona continue to lead the standings by six points from champions Real Madrid after both sides won away on Saturday.

Barca have 78 points with seven games left after winning 1-0 at Getafe, while Real were 1-0 victors at Recreativo Huelva.

PENALTY MISS

Earlier, Villarreal's chances of returning to the Champions League suffered another setback when they were held 0-0 at Real Valladolid.

Manuel Pellegrini's side, dumped out of this season's competition at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal last week, were short on ideas in Valladolid.

The hosts lost defender Inaki Bea to a red card for a foul in the area early in the second half, but Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi put the penalty over the crossbar and they failed to make the extra man count.

It was Villarreal's third league match in a row without a win and they lie sixth with 49 points, behind Atletico Madrid who beat Numancia 3-0 on Saturday.

In the battle to avoid relegation, an Ivan Alonso header earned Espanyol a 1-0 win at home to Racing Santander which dragged them off the bottom.

They climbed one point above Numancia into 19th, one short of Recreativo and four points behind Sporting Gijon and safety.

Achille Emana scored twice as Real Betis secured a rare home win with victory over Sporting Gijon.

Betis had failed to win a league game at their Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium since downing Racing Santander 3-1 back in November and each of their last six competitive matches played there had finished in draws.

Emana finally gave the home fans something to cheer about, though, as he thumped home a sublime volley in the first half before doubling the lead with a tap-in midway through the second.

Alvaro Negredo struck twice, including an 89th-minute winner, to earn Almeria a potentially crucial 2-1 victory over fellow relegation battlers Osasuna.

Almeria left it late to take the points after Walter Pandiani had left them stunned with an 84th-minute leveller.

5-star Milan crush Torino

AC Milan surged up to joint second in Serie A thanks to Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick in a 5-1 home thrashing of lowly Torino on Sunday.

Inzaghi: Hat-trick hero

Carlo Ancelotti's in-form side moved level with Juventus on 64 points but are still 10 behind leaders Inter Milan with just six games left in the season.

Stuttering Juve drew 1-1 at home with Inter on Saturday and Milan quickly made sure they took advantage, Inzaghi nodding in David Beckham's corner after 13 minutes.

Beckham, returning to the starting lineup after two games on the bench, caused havoc and Inzaghi soon flicked in another of his crosses with fourth-bottom Torino completely powerless.

Inzaghi, 35, converted Ronaldinho's pass in the second half before Kaka netted a penalty, Ivan Franceschini grabbed a consolation and Massimo Ambrosini finished off a good move.

Ancelotti, linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid, had been warned by club bosses that third place was the minimum requirement after limping in fifth last season.

Second spot now looks a distinct possibility with the San Siro meeting with Juve on May 10 especially important given head-to-head records separate teams on the same points.

Fiorentina wasted the chance to climb into the fourth Champions League qualifying spot when they lost 3-1 at Udinese.

Fourth-placed Genoa's 1-0 defeat by Lazio on Saturday had opened the door for the Florence club but Udinese, knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday, secured a comfortable victory with midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino scoring twice.

Fiorentina in fifth stay two points adrift of Genoa.

Sixth-placed AS Roma moved five behind Genoa after beating second-bottom Lecce 3-2 thanks to Francesco Totti's brace.

Bologna remain third-bottom, two above Lecce, after succumbing 4-1 at Europa League hopefuls Palermo in a poor first game in charge for Giuseppe Papadopulo.

Bottom side Reggina though boosted their outside hopes of survival with a deserved 1-0 win at home specialists Atalanta.

Fabio Ceravolo struck in the first half for the Reggio Calabria side, who are four adrift of Torino and safety.

Inzaghi leads Milan upwards but Viola fall

Filippo Inzaghi has scored nine goals in six league matches

Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick inspired AC Milan to a 5-1 success against Torino FC that projected the Rossoneri up to second in Serie A, but ACF Fiorentina spurned the chance to move back into fourth spot with a 3-1 reverse away to Udinese Calcio.

Juve draw
Inzaghi struck twice in the first half and completed his treble on the hour mark to take his recent tally to nine goals in six league appearances as Milan took full advantage of Juventus's 1-1 draw against FC Internazionale Milano on Saturday to move level on points with the Bianconeri. Kaká's penalty made it 4-0 before Torino, just one place and point above the relegation zone, pulled a goal back through Ivan Franceschini, although there was still time for Massimo Ambrosini to add further gloss for the home side.

D'Agostino double
Defeat for Genoa CFC at home against S.S. Lazio on Saturday had presented the Viola with the perfect opportunity to bolster their European ambitions but they trailed within ten minutes at the Stadio Friuli to a Kwadwo Asamoah strike. The hosts doubled their lead when Alexis Sánchez was felled by Alessandro Gamberini and Gaetano D'Agostino scored the resultant penalty two minutes after the break. Despite Dario Dainelli heading in for Fiorentina on 67 minutes, D'Agostino rapidly added his second with a sumptuous free-kick.

Relegation battle
That left Cesare Prandelli's men two points shy of Genoa and three clear of AS Roma after the capital side's captain Francesco Totti struck twice in a 3-2 win against second-bottom US Lecce. Basement side Reggina Calcio fed their survival hopes by triumphing 1-0 at Atalanta BC, a result which moved them within four points of Torino. The other team in the bottom three, Bologna FC, succumbed 4-1 at US Città di Palermo while AC Chievo Verona won 2-0 at AC Siena and Cagliari Calcio and Calcio Catania enjoyed home victories by the same scoreline against SSC Napoli and UC Sampdoria respectively.

Man Utd 0-0 Everton

Everton win 4-2 on penalties

The Toffees celebrate at Wembley after beating United in a penalty shoot-out

Everton won a penalty shoot-out at Wembley to wreck Manchester United's hopes of an historic haul of five trophies and seal an FA Cup final date with Chelsea.

The Toffees reached the showpiece for the first time in 14 years - but Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be left fuming at referee Mike Riley.

Riley refused what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty when defender Phil Jagielka brought down Danny Welbeck in the second half, and United's disappointment will be felt more acutely after they cracked under the pressure of the spot-kick shoot-out.

Tim Cahill missed Everton's first penalty, but keeper Tim Howard saved United's first two efforts from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand.

Leighton Baines, Phil Neville and James Vaughan were then on target for Everton, with Nemanja Vidic and Anderson responding for United.

And with Everton's fans providing a deafening backdrop of expectation, Jagielka calmly slotted home the decisive penalty to send one half of Wembley wild.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright looked close to tears in the Wembley directors' box as boss David Moyes raced on to the turf to celebrate with his players.

For United and manager Ferguson, there was only disappointment and they must now turn their attentions back to the pursuit of the Premier League and Champions League.

As expected, Ferguson made wholesale changes to the side that secured a Champions League semi-final place with victory in Porto on Wednesday - with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Edwin van der Sar not even on the bench.

But United's revamped line-up acquitted itself well in a drab first 45 minutes that offered little in the way of quality or chances.

Marouane Fellaini sent Neville clear in a dangerous position inside the area after 10 minutes, but finishing has never been the Everton captain's strong point and he blazed well off target.

Carlos Tevez then shot wide for United before goalkeeper Ben Foster nearly gifted Everton an opener in the 20th minute, stumbling over an attempted clearance and almost allowing former United striker Louis Saha in to score.

Everton had a narrow escape two minutes later when Rafael's cross was touched on by Welbeck, before a deflection off defender Joleon Lescott diverted the ball on to an upright with Howard wrong-footed.

The Merseysiders almost had an opening goal to cheer minutes after the break, but Foster made a superb low save from Cahill's 25-yard drive.

Ji-Sung Park responded with a shot just wide before United made the first change of the semi-final, replacing the limping Fabio with Patrice Evra.

Ferguson was furious with the decision not to award Man Utd a penalty

Darron Gibson then tested Howard from long-range as the game finally showed signs of life.

United were then denied what looked the clearest of penalties when a breakdown in communications between Howard and Jagielka forced the defender to haul down Welbeck.

Riley, whose appointment had been been questioned by Moyes, waved away United's appeals as Ferguson was moved into a jig of fury in his technical area.

Welbeck had recovered from a nightmare first half, showing great character to emerge as a threat for United, curling a good effort just off target with seven minutes left.

United, who had already introduced Paul Scholes, brought on Berbatov for Federico Macheda at the end of 90 minutes, perhaps hoping a moment of quality from the Bulgarian would avoid the need for penalties.

Cahill, while not at his most prominent, was always a danger and he forced Foster into a save with his legs two minutes into extra-time.

And he was almost on the end of a miscued shot from substitute Vaughan - on for Fellaini - as Everton strived to break the deadlock.

But there was to be no breakthrough and the teams went into a penalty shoot-out, which would at least provide some drama on an afternoon that was hardly a glittering advert for the Premier League.

United keeper Foster was the hero in the Carling Cup win against Spurs, but there was to be no repeat as the Toffees kept their nerve to run out winners and book a return to Wembley to meet Chelsea on 30 May.

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Man Utd: Foster, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio Da Silva (Evra 63), Welbeck, Gibson, Anderson, Park (Scholes 67), Tevez, Macheda (Berbatov 91).

Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Nani, Evans.

Booked: Rafael Da Silva, Tevez, Scholes.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Fellaini (Vaughan 102), Pienaar, Cahill, Saha (Rodwell 70).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Gosling.

Booked: Fellaini, Cahill.

Everton win 4-2 on penalties

Att: 88,141

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Rocket Ronaldo launches United into Arsenal’s path

Sir Alex Ferguson was last night plotting how to beat his old adversary Arsène Wenger to a place in the Champions League final after his side rediscovered their defensive obduracy to prise out a win against the Portuguese champions.

An exquisite, dipping 40-yard effort from Cristiano Ronaldo saw United prevail in Porto despite a tense last half-hour of relentless pressure – but even greater obstacles are to come for Ferguson against Wenger, the man he described last week as his greatest challenger in the game, and whose side thumped Villarreal 3-0.

"Of course it's a different situation from normal situations we've had against Arsenal in recent years – a two-leg affair," Ferguson said. "Obviously I would be quite happy to win at Old Trafford 1-0 – that would be a perfect scoreline for me. Hopefully we can win the home leg and its something to build on. It won't be easy – a very difficult game."

But Wenger, who watched Theo Walcott score a goal to match Ronaldo's to set up last night's win at the Emirates, has precisely the same ambition for the semi-final first-leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday 29 May. "Always try and score in the first game," was the way Wenger put it. "Both teams like to go forward so it will be a promising semi-final, very interesting. It is difficult because of the quality of the teams. History always has a part to play but more important is the form on the day."

Wenger has the upper hand this season, after the scintillating 2-1 win over United last November which Ferguson was remembering last night. Now United's destiny is bound up tightly with Arsenal, a side they must play three times in the space of 18 days including a vital Old Trafford league clash.

Ferguson acknowledged the importance of the returning Rio Ferdinand, who, he said, had steadied the defence. But the United manager's decision to post Ronaldo into a centre-forward's role, from which he caused trouble for Porto's centre-backs early on, was also critical to United becoming the first British team in 42 years to beat Porto on their own soil.

"He is the quickest player we have," Ferguson said of Ronaldo, who had scored only one Champions League goal before last night. "I felt that by using him in that role we could stretch their centre-backs anyway. The goal was obviously sensational but he's always a threat." Ronaldo said: "The last five games we did not play great and we hope this [win] will change that."

Arsenal displayed more of their strong recent form by building on their 1-1 first-leg draw. "I said we would play to win and you could see that from the team we had out," Wenger said. "We have confidence. That is down to the slow progress we have accumulated from game to game in the championship. Confidence transfers from one competition to another." Theo Walcott scored the first goal, collecting a Cesc Fabregas flick before running clear and chipping in. Emmanuel Adebayor put the hosts firmly in charge, producing a neat finish with the outside of his right foot. Sebastian Eguren was then sent off for disputing an Arsenal penalty that Robin van Persie scored.

Porto 0-1 Manchester United: Stunning Cristiano Ronaldo strike sends champions through

Champions League quarter-final 2nd Leg: Porto vs Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo's astounding early goal left Sir Alex Ferguson to go head-to-head with old rival Arsene Wenger for a place in the Champions League Final.

The emergence of Chelsea and Liverpool may have taken the edge off battles between Manchester United and Arsenal over the past few years.

But the renewal of hostilities promises to be almost as spectacular as the Ronaldo strike that created it.

The sixth-minute effort was his 20th goal of the season and only his second in the Champions League since completing that astonishing haul of 42 in last year's final in Moscow.

There was certainly no doubting it was worthy of winning any game, and earning United the accolade of becoming the first English team to beat Porto on their own ground.

As almost a side issue, it also keeps the Red Devils on track to win the quintuple in a season they have brought back to life at just the right time.

In calling for the spirit of Turin '99, Ferguson also knew if that momentous evening was to be repeated, he would have to go through the agony of being two goals down before a famous victory could be achieved.

Ronaldo however, has his own history book to fill.

A repeat of last season's 42-goal tally was never likely to be repeated in a campaign delayed because of ankle surgery.

But the 24-year-old has still make a significant contribution to United's attempt to land an unprecedented quintuple, even if, like so many of his team-mates, he has looked a little off the pace in recent weeks.

There could have been no better stage to signal his renewed intent.

Apart from his beloved Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo is roundly jeered when he returns to one of the major clubs in his homeland, Porto being no exception.

They recognise his talent, though, even if no-one expected what followed when Ronaldo collected Anderson's short pass closer to the halfway line than the opposition goal.

Sensing a little trepidation in home ranks, Ronaldo let rip with a shot as brutally powerful as it was audacious in its intent.

Porto keeper Helton did not have a chance of keeping the ball out as it flashed past him to give United the start Ferguson could not have dreamed.

Had Nemanja Vidic been able to keep his close-range effort under the crossbar after John O'Shea had got the faintest of touches to a Ryan Giggs corner just before the interval, the Red Devils would surely have completed their task in half the time allotted.

Unfortunately, the Serbian missed, allowing Porto to nurse plenty of hope during a half-time team-talk delivered by Jose Gomes as banned coach Jesualdo Ferreira apparently watched on TV at a secret location outside the stadium.

After his major blunder last week, Bruno Alves was determined to make amends and threatened Edwin van der Sar's goal on three separate occasions during that opening period.

But this was United at their belligerent best. Their intent showed in the reaction of a normally phlegmatic Dimitar Berbatov to losing possession and, after a public rebuke from his manager last weekend for not doing enough for the team, an apologetic wave of regret from Ronaldo after a misplaced pass.

Just as Vidic spurred the chance of a second immediately before the break, so Berbatov did the same just afterwards when he wriggled his way into the Porto penalty area.

Porto took it as their cue to mount another offensive.

But with Rio Ferdinand back alongside Vidic after his recent groin strain there was an authority about United's defending that had not been in evidence since before they were dismantled by Liverpool five games ago.

There was experience too, with Ryan Giggs and Van der Sar taking just long enough over their set pieces not to incur the wrath of Swiss referee Massimo Busacca while eating up vital seconds.

The introduction of Nani for Berbatov midway through the second period hinted at a strategy of counter-attacking at pace.

It was certainly Porto carrying any threat that did exist and Rolando was too close for comfort with a far post header.

Yet this United were different to what has been almost the shadow side that has existed before now.

And while they did not exactly coast home, the visiting supporters were celebrating victory long before the final whistle confirmed it.

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal: Gunners romp past Spaniards to set up showdown with Man United

Champions League quarter-final 2nd Leg: Arsenal vs Villarreal

Arsenal have been portrayed as a club in crisis this season but they are now in the Champions League semi-final after sweeping past Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium.

Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie were on the scoresheet as Arsene Wenger's youngsters defied their injury worries in defence to wrap up the tie within an hour.

The Spaniards had Sebastian Eguren dismissed, and the hosts were then able to conserve energy for their FA Cup clash against Chelsea at the weekend.

If they win at Wembley there will be genuine hope of getting something out a season where many predicted them to slip out of the traditional top four in England.

Wenger himself admits he has been amazed by how his young players have gone 18 Barclays Premier League games without defeat - and this performance will have impressed him too.

But nothing has been easy at Arsenal this season. Earlier in the campaign William Gallas was stripped of the captaincy, now Wenger is desperately short on numbers in at the back.

Ahead of this clash, Bacary Sagna was taken ill, meaning an entire back four was missing as Arsenal protected their slender away-goals advantage.

Kolo Toure held together a defence that contained Emmanuel Eboue at right-back, Kieran Gibbs at left-back and inexperienced Lucasz Fabianski in goal.

Villarreal had problems of their own, with Marcos Senna, the cornerstone of their midfield, out injured.

They did have Robert Pires stationed on the left flank, meaning it was Arsenal's past versus the club's future, as Walcott was raiding down the right.

It was a fascinating clash, with Walcott almost putting the ball out of play early on when Pires picked up a knock, only to carry on with the ball to set up an attack.

The 20-year-old showed his ruthless side again when he netted the opener in the 10th minute.

Eboue slipped the ball forward from the right, Cesc Fabregas' flick allowed Walcott to run through on goal, with the England winger chipping home high over goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

It was reward for Arsenal's bright start after Van Persie went close with a header that cleared the crossbar and a long-range effort that Lopez gathered at the second attempt.

The hosts were inches from adding a second goal after Van Persie's powerful free-kick was saved by Lopez. Adebayor's follow-up header got deflected on target but Gonzalo Rodriguez hacked off the line.

All eyes were on the assistant referee but it would have been the tightest of calls if he had flagged for a goal.

The equation for Villarreal shifted only slightly - they still needed a goal.

Diego Godin had given Wenger's side an early scare when he got on the end of Giuseppe Rossi's free-kick and forced Fabianski into a save with his scissor-kick.

The visitors then caused some nervous moments in Arsenal's defence before the break, with Rossi getting sight of goal at the near post before the hosts scrambled clear.

Pires also had a shot blocked from the edge of the area, while Godin headed over from a corner in first-half stoppage-time.

Manuel Pellegrini's men sensed that it was their time to apply pressure on Arsenal's makeshift defence. It meant all hands on deck for Wenger's makeshift back line.

Arsenal's best option was to counter attack. Van Persie was making runs from deep to cause Villarreal problems, with Godin picking up a booking for stopping one run.

No opponent got close enough to Van Persie on the hour mark and he sent through Adebayor, who took one touch before finishing past Lopez with the outside of his boot.

The third came from Van Persie's penalty and also saw Eguran dismissed.

Godin took Walcott's legs away in the penalty area but escaped a second booking for the offence. Eguran, who got a yellow card in the first half, got another caution for dissent and then disgracefully put his hands on the referee while protesting more. Van Persie kept his nerve and fired in the spot-kick.

Wenger's goalscorers were then given a breather to rest for the battles ahead.

FC Porto v Man Utd

Ferdinand has been training at Porto's Estadio do Drag

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Rio Ferdinand will start Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Porto.

Ferdinand missed last week's 2-2 draw because of a groin injury.

"It gets us back the partnership between Rio and Nemanja Vidic, which has been the cornerstone of our great defensive performances," said Ferguson.

Anderson and full-back Rafael da Silva, who have both been carrying injuries, are also in United's squad.

The return of Ferdinand, who has also had to contend with a niggling back injury, is a welcome piece of good news for Ferguson.

United went 14 games without conceding a goal earlier in the season, but injuries and suspensions in defence have seen them let the opposition score in their last five matches.

"We think Rio is fit," said Ferguson.

"He trained on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and he will start (on Wednesday).

"There is a lot of quality in Rio's game, so he is obviously going to make a difference."

United are aiming to become the first English team to beat Porto on their own ground.

The Portuguese side, who are unbeaten in 20 matches and are closing in on a fourth domestic league title in a row, are missing just one player, defender Jorge Fucile.

But Porto will have coach Jesualdo Ferreira watching on from the stands at the Estadio do Dragao as he serves a touchline ban imposed by Uefa.

Ferreira was initially suspended for two matches after he gestured toward the referee when a Porto goal was disallowed during an earlier Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on 24 February.

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Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak; Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael, Fabio, O'Shea, J. Evans; Ronaldo, Anderson, Scholes, Gibson, Carrick, Park, Nani, Giggs; Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Macheda.

BIG MATCH STATS

If past history is anything to go by, holders Manchester United statistically have only a 16% chance of progressing to the semis, following their 2-2 draw against FC Porto at Old Trafford.

This is the fourth time FC Porto and Manchester United have been drawn against each other in European competition. Porto have prevailed on two occasions, knocking United out of the 1977-78 Cup Winners' Cup and the 2003-04 Champions League. United eliminated the Portuguese club at the quarter-final stage of the 1996-97 Champions League.

Porto have never lost at home to Manchester United , winning 4-0 in 1977, drawing 0-0 20 years later and winning 2-1 in 2004.

Current squad members Wes Brown, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes (who scored in the home leg), John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo all played for United during the second round matches with Porto in 2004. Porto's only survivor from those matches is Pedro Emanuel who came on in the 36th minute of the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Porto are unbeaten in 12 European home matches against English clubs, winning five and drawing seven.

Manchester United have visited Portugal nine times, winning four, drawing one and losing four. Their most recent visit resulted in a 1-0 win at Sporting during the 2007-08 CL group phase.

CLUB FORM

PORTO

Can become the first team from outside Spain, England and Italy to reach the Champions League semi-finals, since PSV in 2005.

Unbeaten away from home in the Champions League since their last visit to England; a 4-0 defeat by Arsenal in September last year.

Undefeated in six CL matches since losing 1-0 at home to Dynamo Kiev last October, but have not won in their last three.

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MANCHESTER UNITED

Playing in their 10th Champions League quarter-final, a record for the competition.

Played more matches in all competitions this season, than any of the other seven quarter-finalists. Their 54 games is 11 more than that of Porto.

Playing their 150th match in the competition.

Unbeaten in 22 Champions League matches. This is a record for all European competitions (excluding the Super League), eclipsing Juventus' record (20) which was set in 1972.

Unbeaten away from home in the competition for nearly two years since a 3-0 defeat by AC Milan. The 10-match unbeaten streak is the second longest in Champions League history, bettered only by Ajax's 14 match unbeaten streak away from home between 1994 and 1997.

Recorded goalless draws in both of their last two CL away matches and have not won in their last three away games in the competition.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

Seven Porto players have played in every match of their club's CL campaign this season with two - Bruno Alves and Rolando - playing every minute.

Cristian Rodriguez, Ionut Sapunaru and Hulk will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final, if Porto qualify.

Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Anderson played three matches for Porto in the 2006-07 Champions League.

Wayne Rooney is the only United player to have played in all nine of the club's matches in this season's Champions League.

He will be suspended for the first leg of the semi-final, if United get through.

Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool (agg 7-5)

Lampard scored twice to help set up a semi-final showdown with Barcelona

Chelsea survived a huge scare before drawing one of the most entertaining Champions League games of recent times to seal a 7-5 aggregate win over Liverpool and book a semi-final against Barcelona.

Guus Hiddink's team led 3-1 after the first leg at Anfield but Fabio Aurelio's free-kick after an awful misjudgement from Petr Cech and Xabi Alonso's penalty put Liverpool in control at the break.

Jose Reina fumbled Didier Drogba's deft touch into his own net and Alex's thunderbolt free-kick levelled the scores on the night with two goals in six dramatic second-half minutes.

The inspirational Frank Lampard put the Blues 3-2 ahead, slotting home Drogba's intelligent cross.

The tie looked finished but Liverpool were not done yet and Lucas Leiva's deflected strike was quickly followed by Dirk Kuyt's near-post header.

It was 4-3 to Liverpool with seven minutes of normal time remaining and Stamford Bridge was stunned, while the Reds required just one more goal to complete a sensational victory on away goals.

But Lampard converted Nicolas Anelka's pass to level at 4-4 in the final dramatic action of a truly memorable game of football.

Liverpool were without their skipper Steven Gerrard because of an injury but came close to pulling off a memorable victory without their inspirational leader.

Liverpool gave the hosts an early warning when a delightful touch from Yossi Benayoun after 13 minutes created a clear opening for Fernando Torres, who failed to hit the target with his left-foot strike.

It was a poor miss and Liverpool's slim hopes were almost completely extinguished a minute later but Lampard narrowly missed the target with a free-kick.

Then came the moment that embarrassed Cech and handed Liverpool a lifeline, as Aurelio smashed his free-kick into the bottom corner.

Alex celebrates with Michael Ballack after scoring Chelsea's second

Chelsea had only bothered to put one man in the wall and Cech was so focused on dealing with a floated ball into the congested area that he neglected the possibility of a low shot at goal.

Even so, it was a terrible error as the Czech keeper was caught completely out of position and scrambled across goal in vain.

Buoyed by their goal, Liverpool suddenly found an incisiveness and rhythm to their play, while Chelsea, with suspended skipper John Terry watching from the stands, looked uncharacteristically brittle.

Terry will be back for the semi-final first leg tie against 2006 champions Barcelona at the Nou Camp in two weeks, but left-back Ashley Cole will be absent after picking up a yellow card for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Blues defensive unit struggled to cope with the passing and movement of an attacking line that had struggled so manifestly at Anfield eight days earlier.

And the Reds doubled their lead through Alonso's unstoppable penalty after the Spaniard had been fouled by Chelsea's first-leg hero Branislav Ivanovic.

Chelsea boss Hiddink withdrew Salomon Kalou and brought on Anelka after 35 minutes.

And his bold decision was vindicated when the Frenchman's low cross from the right shortly after the restart was deflected by Drogba past Liverpool keeper Reina, who could only parry the ball into his own net.

Drogba was inches away with a free-kick as Chelsea found the attacking menace that had almost completely eluded them in the first-half and it came as no huge surprise when they did draw level, Alex drilling home his long-range free-kick.

Kuyt's goal gave Liverpool renewed hope of a famous result

Liverpool now needed to score twice more but Michael Ballack should have put the result beyond doubt after Drogba broke down the right and picked out the unmarked German with a precise low cross. Ballack, however, shot tamely and Reina dived to his left to save.

Torres, an increasingly marginal figure, went close from distance but it was Chelsea who were in control now and Lampard put his team ahead with a close-range finish from Drogba's cross.

The tie seemed to be dead and buried before Lucas' deflected strike after 81 minutes was quickly followed by Kuyt's bullet header from substitute Albert Riera's cross.

Suddenly it was only the visiting supporters who could be heard but the final goal of a pulsating match fell to Lampard, whose strike went in off both posts.

There was hardly any time remaining but the fragile Cech still managed to fumble a cross that David N'Gog drilled towards goal, forcing a superb headed clearance from Michael Essien.

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Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Anelka 36), Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 90).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mikel, Deco, Belletti, Mancienne.

Booked: Ivanovic, Carvalho, Ashley Cole.

Goals: Drogba 52, Alex 57, Lampard 76, 89.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Babel 85), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Mascherano (Riera 69), Alonso, Kuyt, Torres (Ngog 80), Benayoun.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger.

Booked: Benayoun, Arbeloa.

Goals: Aurelio 19, Alonso 28 pen, Lucas 81, Kuyt 82.

Agg (7-5)

Att: 38,286

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).

B Munich 1-1 Barcelona (agg 1-5)

Keita capped off a 17-pass move with an superb finish

Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals after drawing their last eight second leg with Bayern Munich to seal a comprehensive aggregate victory.

Facing a 4-0 first-leg deficit, Bayern made a strong start with Luca Toni and Franck Ribery going close early on.

Ribery rounded Victor Valdes to put the hosts ahead after half-time but they did little to extend their lead.

Seydou Keita produced an emphatic first-time finish to level and set up a last-four meeting against Chelsea.

The Premier League side drew 4-4 with Liverpool in the second leg of their tie to go through 7-5 on aggregate.

Barca and Chelsea will meet for the fourth time since 1999-2000, with the first leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday 28 April and the second at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday 6 May.

Josep Guardiola's men will be full of confidence going into that tie after seeing off Bayern so comfortably.

The damage was done six days earlier in Spain and under-pressure Bayern boss Jurgen Klinsmann admitted before the game it would be "unrealistic" to expect his side to progress to the semi-finals.

But the four-time champions began as if intent to do exactly that and, backed by a vociferous home crowd, they attacked Barcelona from the outset.

The orchestrator of Bayern's attacking play was Ribery, the Frenchman coming in from his position on the left to break forward at every opportunity.

But it was Jose Ernesto Sosa on the opposite flank who created the first meaningful chance as he crossed from the right to an unmarked Toni, who failed to connect sufficiently with his header from a glorious position six yards out.

Aware that an early goal was surely necessary if they were to stand any chance, the hosts continued to probe for a breakthrough and Ribery turned Barca captain Carles Puyol inside out before shooting narrowly over the bar.

Bayern had overturned seven of their previous 17 first-leg deficits in Europe's top club competition but all of those were by one goal and a four-goal first-leg deficit has never been overturned in the Champions League.

And their hopes began to fade as Barca weathered the early storm and gradually began to assert their authority.

Despite Guardiola having to watch the game from that stands after being sent off in the first leg, the visitors needed no prompting to impose their slick pass-and-move game on proceedings.

Ribery was the only Bayern player to threaten the Barca defence

Lionel Messi was, predictably, at the heart of their intricate patterns and caused the home defence no shortage of problems with his nimble dribbling and incisive through-balls.

But, apart from a blistering Daniel Alves drive that sailed marginally high and wide, chances were few and far between for Barca and two minutes after half-time they were behind.

Ze Roberto sidestepped Yaya Toure to slide Ribery through on goal and he neatly took the ball past goalkeeper Valdes before coolly slotting it high into the net.

But Klinsmann's men failed to capitalise on their momentum and it was Barca who took the initiative to ensure their would be no late drama.

The impressive Andres Iniesta put Messi through on goal, only for the Argentine to be incorrectly flagged offside when one-on-one with Hans Jorg Butt, and then Samuel Eto'o was denied by Lucio's perfectly timed sliding tackle after Messi's run and cross.

An equaliser seemed inevitable and it arrived when Keita pounced at the end of a mind-boggling 17-pass move, primarily involving Eto'o, Iniesta and Xavi.

Spain midfielder Xavi curled a free-kick inches wide just before the end but by that point Barca's passage into the last four had long since been secured.

---

Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann:
"We reacted well to the defeat in Barcelona. If we had scored early and if we had led 2-0, who knows what would have happened. Maybe they would have lost some confidence.

"We wanted an early goal, then anything could have been possible, but we have lacked the little bit of luck.

"The team gave a good account of themselves against one of the teams who are favourite to take the Champions League title."

Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanov:
"We are very happy to be back in the semi-finals. We still have a lot of time before we have to think about Chelsea but they are a great team. It would not have been an easier game if we had faced Liverpool.

"We played really well in defence and did a good job keeping Ribery and Toni in check.

"We have not reached our goals yet. We have to continue working."

---

Bayern Munich: Butt, Lell, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, Sosa (Altintop 78), Van Bommel, Ottl, Ze Roberto (Borowski 78), Ribery, Toni.
Subs Not Used: Rensing, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Breno.

Booked: Lucio, Demichelis, Borowski, Lell.

Goals: Ribery 47.

Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal, Xavi, Toure Yaya, Keita, Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta (Hleb 78).
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Caceres, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Sylvinho, Busquets.

Booked: Dani Alves, Puyol.

Goals: Keita 73.

Agg (1-5)

Att: 65,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

Macheda saves Man Utd again with late winner

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Federico Macheda saved Manchester United for the second week running on Saturday when the 17-year-old Italian got the decider in a 2-1 win at Sunderland with his first touch seconds after coming on.

Macheda, whose brilliant debut goal in stoppage time secured a 3-2 win over Aston Villa last weekend, made another enormous contribution to the Premier League title race in the 76th minute after Kenwyne Jones had cancelled out Paul Scholes's opener.

Liverpool had earlier piled on the pressure with a 4-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers, helped by two from Fernando Torres, and Chelsea also led Bolton Wanderers 4-0 but ended up hanging on for a 4-3 win.

United, who have a game in hand on the chasing pack, remain top on 71 points with Liverpool second on 70. Chelsea are third on 67 with Arsenal fourth on 61 after they came from behind to win 4-1 at Wigan Athletic.

Newcastle United secured their first point under temporary boss Alan Shearer with a 1-1 draw at Stoke City while Middlesbrough claimed only their second win in 20 league games by beating Hull City 3-1.

Both north-east clubs remain in the relegation zone, however, with six games remaining.

Manchester United, who had lost to Liverpool and Fulham before their late recovery against Villa, were below their best again despite leading through Scholes's early glancing header.

FRAGILE DEFENCE

Sunderland sensed the defensive uncertainty and got the equaliser their efforts deserved 10 minutes after halftime.

United hit back though as Macheda, on for Dimitar Berbatov, stuck out a foot to divert a Michael Carrick shot into the net.

"As soon as the ball came to him he opened his foot on it and that's the instinct of a striker," manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"He's got an eye for goal, he's got a change of pace. He involved himself today, he wasn't shy about being involved with such good players all around him," he said of the young striker signed from Lazio as a 15-year-old.

Chelsea, fresh from their 3-1 Champions League win at Liverpool, were on fire again at Stamford Bridge as Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba with two and a Frank Lampard penalty seemed to have settled the game after an hour.

However, their defence then crumbled under the weight of an aerial bombardment, conceded three goals in nine minutes to Andy O'Brien, Chris Basham and Matt Taylor and ended the game desperately keeping out a series of Bolton corners.

"We got rather sloppy all over the pitch and let them have three goals, that's impossible at this level," Hiddink said.

"We were not defending well, in midfield and up front - it's a good lesson."

Liverpool had a stroll in the spring sunshine on an emotional day at Anfield where next Wednesday's 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was marked with a minute's silence.

The hosts took the lead spectacularly after five minutes when Torres chested down a long ball before hooking in a fierce shot and the Spaniard headed the second in the 33rd.

A 25-metre drive by Daniel Agger and a David Ngog header late on completed the easy win.

Sir Alex Ferguson issues rare public criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo, chastising his behaviour in recent matches and telling the Manchester United winger: "You can't get everything your own way."

Ronaldo was an instrumental figure for United last season, scoring 42 goals as Ferguson's side clinched the Premier League and Champions League double and although the Portugal international remains United's leading goalscorer with 19 goals this campaign, his influence has waned this campaign.

Ronaldo has increasingly shown signs of frustration at his perceived rough treatment at the hands of opposition defenders and, after being guilty of giving the ball away in the lead-up to goals for Aston Villa and Porto last week, was dropped to the substitute's bench for Manchester United's 2-1 win at Sunderland yesterday. Ferguson also issued a rare public condemnation.

"I don't accept that he will give goals away because of the player he is," said Ferguson. "I speak to him about it. I don't accept that from anyone. In European football, if you give the ball away it takes a long time to get it back."

Ferguson said that Ronaldo had grown tired of some players trying everything they could to stop him, but the United manager believes that the World Player of the Year is allowing frustration to get the run of him.

"He always feels he's not getting the proper protection from referees and I think that, maybe, in quite a few cases he is right, and a few cases he is not right," said Ferguson. "It's hard when a player who wants to entertain doesn't get everything his own way. But you can't get everything your own way. He understands that and there's not a problem with that."

Ferguson, who brought Ronaldo on midway through the second half of his side's victory at the Stadium of Light, will hope that his rebuke gets the desired reaction from the 24-year-old – who has been linked with a £75m summer move to Real Madrid – at Porto on Wednesday, where United must become the first English side to win at the Estadio do Dragao if they are to stay in the Champions League.

"It's just a frustration that he feels he doesn't get the decision and he gets upset about it," added Ferguson. "I think, obviously, he doesn't enjoy that and he knows he's letting himself down more than anything. He holds his hands up. I have had to remind him about that but I'm not getting into what has been said."

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand to be fit for Porto Champions League clash

Rio Ferdinand is on course to be fit for Manchester United's must-win Champions League tie with Porto.

Ferdinand, who has missed United's last three games with a groin problem, is ready to reclaim his starting place for Wednesday's decisive return leg.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate for Ferdinand to return to shore up United's defence, which has shipped five goals in the England defender's absence.

Ferdinand could have played in United's 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday, but it was decided not to take the risk to ensure he is fit for Wednesday.

Ferdinand has been included in United's travelling party that leaves for Porto tomorrow and is ready to resume his successful central defensive partnership with Nemanja Vidic.

A source close to Ferdinand rated the 30-year-old's chances as "80-20" to start on Wednesday and said the defender was willing to undergo pain-killing injections to play.

"Rio could have played at Sunderland but the decision was taken by United to wrap him in cotton wool to make sure he's ready for Wednesday," said the source.

"That could be the defining game of United's season and Rio is determined to start so he can give everything he's got to ensure they make it through."

While his team-mates travelled to Sunderland, Ferdinand stayed behind at United's Carrington training ground at the weekend to continue his light training programme.

Ferdinand will step up his recovery programme by starting ball-work today and will join in full training with his team-mates at Porto's Estadio da Dragao tomorrow night.

The groin injury which has kept Ferdinand sidelined for United's last three games is related to the recurring back problem which has plagued him all season.

Although United's medical staff have sought to combat the back issue with rest and regular physiotherapy, Ferdinand may need to undergo an operation in the summer.

Aston Villa 3-3 Everton: Controversial Gareth Barry penalty earns Villa a point

Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry converted a controversial penalty to cap a second-half fightback and keep Martin O'Neill's side ahead of Everton in the battle for a European spot.

Villa trailed 2-0 and then 3-1 but refused to buckle and Barry earned them a share of the spoils after Joleon Lescott caught Stiliyan Petrov in the face with his boot when attempting to clear.

Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill put Everton in control and, after John Carew had reduced the arrears, Steven Pienaar put the Toffees back in command before James Milner and Barry rescued a point for Villa.

But the result did little for the chances of either side in their attempts to overhaul fourth-placed Arsenal.

Villa have now gone 10 games without a win in all competitions and Everton are still without an away league victory in 2009.

Everton played the better football for long periods with Leon Osman and skipper Phil Neville, in the 400th league appearance of his career, excellent in the centre of the park.

The Villa defence also looked at sixes and sevens and struggled to contain the threat of Fellaini, Jo and Cahill.

But the Everton rearguard were also severely tested in coping with Carew via the stream of high balls into their penalty box.

And Ashley Young was a constant source of danger with his trickery which earned him a series of free-kicks.

Villa did most of the early pressing and Tim Howard gathered a dipping centre from Milner after he had escaped the attention of Leighton Baines on the right flank.

But Brad Friedel had to be alert to tip over a rising fierce half-volley from Neville after a corner from Baines had only been half cleared.

Then after 20 minutes the Villa goalkeeper was powerless to stop Fellaini putting Everton ahead with his eighth goal of the campaign.

Jo was involved in the build-up before finding Baines and his low cross was tapped in at close range by Fellaini.

Villa looked shell-shocked by this setback and a low shot from Pienaar curled only a couple of feet away.

In a rare Villa reply, Milner stung the hands of Howard with a long range drive although it was straight at the Everton keeper.

David Moyes' side were soon back on the offensive and Friedel parried an effort from Cahill after being found in space by Jo.

But after 22 minutes, Cahill grabbed his ninth goal of the season to double Everton's lead.

Cahill thumped his header against the crossbar from a Pienaar corner and he was first to react to the rebound and headed past Friedel.

Villa tried to retaliate and Hibbert became the first player to be yellow-carded after 28 minutes for a touchline challenge on Agbonlahor.

The home side looked all over the place every time Everton ventured forward and Friedel saved bravely at the feet of Cahill.

But after 32 minutes Carew gave Villa a lifeline with his 13th goal of the campaign.

Milner's centre was deflected back across goal by Barry and then Agbonlahor also got a touch on the ball before Carew made no mistake from close range.

Everton still looked dangerous and Curtis Davies blocked a shot from Jo after Cahill had allowed the ball to run across the box into his path.

Hopes of a Villa revival suffered a setback after 53 minutes when a superb strike from Pienaar restored Everton's two-goal advantage.

Neville played the ball into Pienaar's feet and he turned past Luke Young and curled a 20-yard drive past Friedel into the corner of the net.

Villa boss O'Neill was forced into an immediate change when Agbonlahor limped out of the action to be replaced by Nathan Delfouneso.

And after 55 minutes, Milner brought Villa back into the game with a deadly piece of finishing. Lescott fouled Carew 20 yards out and Milner curled his free-kick past Howard and just inside the post.

Two minutes later the harsh penalty award allowed Barry to bring Villa back on level terms.

Lescott caught Stiliyan Petrov in the face trying to clear the ball but referee Webb pointed to the spot and Barry hammered the ball high and wide of Howard.

Young curled a low drive just wide after good play by Carew and in injury-time Howard denied Delfouneso.

It's Oba and out for Martins

OBAFEMI MARTINS’ Newcastle future is in the balance after his late withdrawal from the relegation clash at Stoke.

Fuming Toon boss Alan Shearer will read the riot act to the Nigerian striker this morning after he pulled out of the 1-1 draw with a groin injury.

Shearer said: “I wasn’t too happy I got the call at 11 o’clock, particularly after we trained all Thursday and Friday and had massages on Friday evening and there was no sign of it.”

He was particularly annoyed as the team had been working all week on a three-man attacking system which involved Martins, skipper Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi. But all that was thrown up in the air by Martins’ late pullout.

Shearer was clearly still angry after the game and added: “He said he’d woken with a sore groin and was unable to play.

“We got the doctors and physios to have a look at him and he couldn’t play. I’m not happy with the situation, to find out so late in the day.

“After working the last two or three days on a particular system it was disappointing and we had to reshuffle the pack.

“He didn’t sleep in that’s not true. I spoke to him and asked him and I’ll speak to him again.”

Toon coach Colin Calderwood was told to calm down after he got into an argument in the Stoke directors’ box over his relaying of instructions to the bench via a radio.

Kaka And Ancelotti Will Stay At Milan - Kaladze

The stopper feels both Kaka and Ancelotti will remain at San Siro for quite some time...

9 Apr 2009 13:11:57

Milan defender Kakhaber Kaladze believes Kaka will not move to Real Madrid this summer.

A number of reports have linked both the Brazilian, and coach Carlo Ancelotti, with lucrative exits to Los Merengues and Chelsea, respectively. Kaladze has stepped in to give his views on the situation at the club. The Georgian international doesn't believe either Kaka or Ancelotti will leave.

“It's normal for a great player to be linked with many teams,” Kaladze told the club's official website.

“All the talk is about Real Madrid, but I think the stories are there just to sell the papers.

"Look at what happened with Manchester City when Kaka said no to all that money. It's not just about money. Kaka was great to turn down such offers, and I value him as a man.”

Rumours have been rife over Ancelotti's future, with reports in England implying that he has already reserved his place on the Chelsea bench for life after Guus Hiddink. However, the defender believes his coach still has plenty to give to the Rossoneri.

“Ancelotti is a great coach and he has done so much for Milan,” added the stopper.

“I don't think his cycle here is finished.”

Barcelona 4 Bayern Munich 0: Can we play you every week?

Chelsea may have been swaggering around Anfield after their impressive victory but the result here will pull them up by their bootstraps.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was spot on when he asserted that Barcelona were the team he feared most in the competition.

While United disappointed at Old Trafford against Porto and now will need to be at their best to win in Portugal, Barca played Bayern off the park.

Barcelona will have their Champions League rivals quaking after an awesome display of first-half attacking football led by the dazzling Lionel Messi.

The mercurial Messi was living up to claims that he is the best player in the world this season as he led Barca’s starstudded forward line alongside Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o, scoring twice and setting up the other two as they ripped open Bayern’s injury-ravaged defence at the Nou Camp and moved into a commanding position in the quarter-final tie.

Under-pressure Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann, without his first-choice centre halves and Hans Butt in goal instead of Michael Rensing after he conceded five in their thrashing by Wolfsburg last weekend, saw his worst fears realised and his days could be numbered.

The signs were ominous from the start, though, as Henry saw the ball cleared off the line, having rounded the keeper after just five minutes.

The Bayern backline were not given a breather as Barca pressed forward in waves and Messi made the breakthrough, scoring his seventh goal in this year’s Champions League by slipping the ball into the corner.

Messi set up Eto’o for the second on a night when everything paid off for the home side.

Despite two early goals, the 98,000 capacity crowd were still eager for more and their full wrath descended on referee Howard Webb when Messi was booked for going down easily in the box. The emotion of the night also seemed to get the better of coach Pep Guardiola, who took his protests too far and was sent from the dug-out.

At the double: Lionel Messi celebrates his two goals

Messi couldn’t be tamed by the German defence and he got on the scoresheet again after 38 minutes, sliding home an Henry cross from in front of goal.

Henry, back to his Arsenal best this season, was more than a worthy accomplice for Messi, and got his landmark 50th Champions League goal shortly before half-time following a fine Messi dribble.

Having clearly been told to take their foot off the pedal at half-time, Barca went into cruise control but Bayern continued to struggle to get a touch.

Even having lowered the tempo, though, Messi was still a threat and, looking for his hat-trick, he drifted in from the right wing, went past a couple of challenges but saw his shot parried on to the bar by the keeper.

If the match was billed as Messi versus Franck Ribery, then there was only one winner, although the Frenchman will rightly claim he had a lack of support as Bayern found themselves chasing shadows.

The only real danger for the Barca defence came when Ribery slipped through a ball for Ze Roberto in front of goal, but the Brazilian was unable to take it in his stride.

After the game Barcelona’s former United defender Gerard Pique admitted the size of the victory was unexpected. ‘We were obviously confident before the game because we were playing well, but the way it turned out tonight was a surprise,’ he said.

‘Everything turned out right for us in the first half, Messi was fantastic and we got the perfect start. In the second half the rhythm dropped a bit, but we did what we had to before then and it was a great result.’

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Valdes; Alves, Marquez, Pique, Puyol; Xavi, Toure (Busquets 81), Iniesta; Messi, Eto’o (Krkic 89), Henry (Keita 74).

BAYERN MUNICH (4-5-1): Butt; Oddo, Demichelis, Breno, Lell; Altintop (Ottl 46), Schweinsteiger, Van Bommel, Ze Roberto (Sosa 77), Ribery; Toni.

Man of the match: Lionel Messi.

Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea: Guus Hiddink gives Rafa Benitez a tactical mauling

You wait five games for a goal at Anfield - and then three of them come along together.

But while the heroes of Chelsea's finest European night since they saw off Barcelona in 2005 were easy to identify, the man who made it possible was just as clear.

Rafa Benitez had mastered Jose Mourinho twice and sent Luis Felipe Scolari plunging over the abyss earlier this season.

Yet last night it was the Spaniard who was on the receiving end of a tactical mauling at the hands of Guus Hiddink, who did everything right from first minute to 90th.

Hiddink will be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer, with Carlo Ancelotti having verbally agreed to leave Milan for SW6 at the end of the season.

After an evening like this, though, the possibility of Hiddink bequeathing a side that has already finally brought Roman Abramovich his Holy Grail of the Champions League must be a realistic one.

Chelsea did not just beat Liverpool, did not merely slay the ghosts of Anfield. They simply annihilated Benitez's Reds and could justifiably have gone back to London last night bemoaning the fact they had scored scored six or seven.

Hiddink's gamble on asking Michael Essien to be the Krytonite in Superman Steven Gerrard's pocket worked brilliantly, neutralising the elemental force of the Liverpool side.

Trusting Florent Malouda, so often the weakest link in the Chelsea dressing room, paid off in spades, the French winger creating two of the goals that left Anfield stunned into disbelieving silence.

And most crucially of all, as Didier Drogba showed why no defender in the world would want to play him, the risk in playing Branislav Ivanovic at right back in place of the injured Jose Bosingwa brought the perfect reward.

What made it all the better, all the more joyful for the Blues, was the courage they showed in adversity after going behind after just six minutes.

Dirk Kuyt had already gone close with a snap-shot but when his heel-flick found the overlapping Alvaro Arbeloa, Fernando Torres matched the cross with a perfect instant finish, giving Petr Cech no chance.

Anfield erupted, yet where Chelsea have folded in the face of the Merseyside passion play, under Hiddink's calm instructions they simply stuck to the game-plan, first gaining parity and then, conclusively, control.

In fact, the only surprise was that it took as long as 38 minutes for Chelsea to go level as they carved out chance after chance.

Drogba, a constant threat on an evening where he left the histrionics behind, could, probably should have scored twice, first firing straight at Pepe Reina and then blazing over from a pass by the excellent Michael Ballack.

Malouda, too, went close, but it was from the Frenchman's inswinging corner that Ivanovic, who had never before scored for Chelsea and was nearly sold to Juventus in January, made his first mark of the night.

Xabi Alonso lost the Serb as he darted into the box, finding the space between Kuyt Martin Skrtel to head home and become the first Chelsea player to score at Anfield in this annual grudge-match.

No more than Chelsea deserved and while Torres remained a constant threat and Cech denied Kuyt straight after the equaliser, Hiddink's men were simply a class apart.

The Liverpool fans did all they could, imploring their man to change the game, but the course, steered so ably by the wily Hiddink, was set.

Drogba, for the third time, was thwarted after he exchanged passes with Frank Lampard, held off Skrtel and slipped past Reina, as Jamie Carragher brilliantly hooked off his own line.

Then what could have been a pivotal moment in the tie, as John Terry needlessly careered into Reina to pick up the booking that rules him out of the second leg, became the cause his team-mates rallied around.

Two minutes after Terry's booking, Ivanovic was incredibly again left unmarked by the Liverpool defence at a Lampard corner, heading powerfully back and beyond Reina as Gerrard looked behind him in horror.

And to Anfield's despair and desolation, they were undone again five minutes later as Drogba belatedly got the goal his display had deserved.

It was a belter of a goal too, with Ballack sending Malouda away down the left - possibly offside although it was a wafer-thin decision - and sliding across for Drogba to consign all the previous misses to oblivion with an unanswerable finish.

There could have been more, Malouda and Ballack both denied by Reina, who ended the game inside the Chelsea box as Liverpool desperately sought some glimmer of hope.

Nobody could quibble about this one though, equalling Liverpool's worst home defeat in 45 years of European football, giving Chelsea a night to remember after all the evenings to forget. Outstanding. Simply outstanding.

Recent Breaking News

• Serie A results

  Date Sun, Apr 5, 22:10

  Milan 2-0 Lecce; Udinese 0-1 Internazionale; Roma 2-1 Bologna; Cagliari 1-0 Catania; Juventus 3-3 Chievo; Reggina 0-1 Genoa; Siena 2-0 Lazio; Sampdoria 2-2 Napoli; Palermo 1-0 Torino; Atalanta 1-2 Fiorentina

• St Etienne 0-3 Marseille

  Date Sun, Apr 5, 21:59

  Mamadou Niang scores twice as Marseille keep the pressure on leaders Lyon with a 3-0 win at St Etienne.

• Valencia 4-1 Getafe

  Date Sun, Apr 5, 20:40

  David Villa scores twice from the penalty spot to help Valencia to a 4-1 victory at home to Getafe in La Liga putting them back in the hunt for a place in next season's Champions League.

• Udinese 0-1 Internazionale

  Date Sun, Apr 5, 20:05

  A Mauricio Isla own goal gave Internazionale a narrow 1-0 victory over Udinese at Stadio Friuli in Serie A.

• Liga results

  Date Sun, Apr 5, 18:11

  Liga results: Atletico Madrid 2 Osasuna 4; Espanyol 3 Deportivo Coruna 1

Juventus held to draw by Chievo

MILAN, Italy -- Inter Milan beat Udinese 1-0 to go nine points clear at the top of the Italian league on Sunday after title rival Juventus was held to a 3-3 draw at home by Chievo Verona.

An own goal by Udinese's Mauricio Isla in the 77th minute secured a win which puts Inter in sight of a fourth straight title with eight games remaining.

Juventus was denied victory when Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier scored an equalizer in the 90th minute to complete a hat trick.

Inter has 72 points, Juventus has 63 and AC Milan is third with 58 following a late 2-0 win over Lecce, with both its goals being scored in injury time.

"We still need 15 points and 15 points is a lot," Inter coach Jose Mourinho said. "It puts pressure on Juventus who won't be pleased they lost points at home. Still, we were lucky to win today."

Both Inter and Udinese were missing a key player. Inter's attacking fullback Maicon was ruled out for the rest of the season midweek after injuring a thigh whilst on international duty and Inter missed his direct running.

Udinese was without its leading scorer Antonio di Natale and the team also appeared to be thinking ahead to its UEFA Cup quarter-final against Werder Bremen on Thursday.

Before Inter scored, the nearest either side had come to finding the net was when Inter's Dejan Stankovic slid Zlatan Ibrahimovic's low cross wide midway through the second half.

Patrick Vieira was the catalyst for the goal, bursting into the Udinese penalty area following Ibrahimovic's pass. As he stumbled and fell, Isla stopped, expecting a freekick, but the ball bounced off him and rolled past goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi.

It was a key win after Juventus had seen its title hopes dented earlier in the day.

Pellissier scored twice in the first half, putting Chievo 1-0 up and then giving his side a 2-1 lead after Giorgio Chiellini had pulled a goal back for Juventus, which levelled soon after the break with an own goal by Mario Yepes.

Vincenzo Iaquinta then headed home in the 79th minute for Juventus, whose efforts were helped by a fine performance from Mauro Camoranesi. The midfielder was back to his best after an injury disrupted season and created all three of his side's goals.

However, Pellissier nodded in his ninth goal of the season at the very end to deny Juventus all three points after Antonio Langella took advantage of Olof Mellberg's lack of pace to get behind the Juventus defence and send over an inviting cross.

"I never thought I would score a hat trick in Juventus' home," said Pellissier, whose goals moved Chievo seven points above the relegation zone. "It was a great day and we had to win. They showed they are a great team by coming back twice, but we believe that we can save ourselves."

"It's two important points lost," coach Claudio Ranieri said. "We did the hard work by coming back from behind twice. In the first half we used up a lot of energy, while Chievo kept its shape and counterattacked. In the second half we played well, but it wasn't enough."

Milan needed late goals from Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi to see off a stubborn Lecce, which appeared set to earn a crucial point in its fight against relegation.

Even the return of Brazil's Kaka from injury failed to inspire Milan early on and it was his compatriot Alexandre Pato who posed his side's biggest threat.

For most of the match Lecce limited Milan to long-range shots, before Ronaldinho and Inzaghi made the breakthrough in the closing stages.

Genoa remains in fourth place on 54 points, but needed a late Thiago Motta goal to win 1-0 at Reggina. The Brazilian came off the bench and tapped in Raffaele Palladino's low cross in the 77th minute.

Genoa missed its injured striker Diego Milito and struggled to find any momentum until Motta was brought on to add energy and drive to the midfield.

"It is one game less and was an important victory against a Reggina side who are running out of chances," Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini said. "We played with personality and forced ourselves to create chances right to the end."

Fiorentina is two points behind Genoa in fifth after Cesare Prandelli's side beat Atalanta 2-1.

Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino struck a late winner, sweeping home Franco Semioli's low cross at the near post after a penalty converted by teammate Stevan Jovetic had cancelled out the opener by Gianvito Plasmati for the home side.

Also Sunday, it was: Cagliari 1, Catania 0; Palermo 1, Torino 0; AS Roma 2, Bologna 1; Sampdoria 2, Napoli 2; and Siena 2, Lazio 0.

Macheda hails Man Utd dream debut

Teenage substitute Federico Macheda says scoring the winner on his debut to return Manchester United to the top of the table was the best day of his life.

The 17-year-old striker's injury-time stunner clinched a 3-2 win over Aston Villa and moved United a point clear of Liverpool, with a game in hand.

Macheda said: "I have dreamed of a day like this.

"I just turned and shot and ran to my family. I was surprised to get a chance but now I just want to keep going."

The former Lazio trainee was supposed to be returning to Italy to play in a match but, with Wayne Rooney suspended and Dimitar Berbatov injured, he was given a place on the bench for the first time.

And United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted that his gamble paid off.

"I told him 'well done'," stated Ferguson. "It's important to keep his feet on the ground. He'll need to handle lots of publicity over the next few days.

Macheda impact impresses Phelan

"It was a gamble but we deserved our result today because we tried to win.

"We take risks but risks are a part of football. We didn't defend well but there's always a goal threat from us."

United staged a remarkable fightback as Villa were leading 2-1 with only 10 minutes to play after John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor had cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo's opener.

However, Ronaldo struck again to equalise and Macheda, who replaced Nani in the 61st minute, scored in the second minute of injury time with a brilliant curling shot to snatch all three points.

Ferguson revealed he urged his side to go for victory after they had brought themselves back to 2-2, rather than settle for a point.

"This club has been this way for a long, long time," he added.

"I love the thrill of it myself. I love to see that adventure. Yes, we take 'terrible' risks and we don't defend properly but there's always a chance we'll win the match.

"We've had our blip. We had seven, eight players missing today, four or five of the very top team but you can see that these young players are prepared to go right to the very end."

O'Neill praises 'terrific' Villa

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was understandably disappointed after seeing his side beaten by a last-gasp goal.

But he was full of praise for his players over the way he felt they took the game to the Champions.

He said: "I thought we were absolutely brilliant. We conceded an early goal but fought back to get ourselves in front .

"I do not think we deserved to lose the game.

"We will gain confidence from this performance. That might sound crazy because we are in the results business - but we were terrific today.

"We should have got something from the game and I actually think we should have won it.

"The defeat is a bitter pill to swallow because we came to Old Trafford and played so well. We took the game to them and I am very proud of my players.

"We will have to take this on the chin but we can definitely come back from this."