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sport round-up

Football: Champions League
Updated: 22-Mar-2004

Last week’s return matches between Europe’s elite decided the eight quarter final participants. Chelsea’s star-studded squad were once again very fortunate to have reached this stage of the competition. They were outplayed by Stuttgart in a 0–0 draw at Stanford Bridge. Only the German team’s first leg own goal allowed Chelsea to scrape through.

By contrast, Arsenal convincingly finished off Celta Vigo with two first half Henry strikes, to register a 5-2 aggregate scoreline. Manchester United seemed to have done enough against Porto, with a Paul Scholes’ header, only to be punished for their second-half complacency by a Costinha strike in the first minute of normal time. This means that the English champions are out of Europe before the quarter final stage for the first time in eight seasons, compounding Alex Ferguson’s difficult year. For Porto, however, it was a dream come true after last year’s UEFA Cup triumph in Seville.

Elsewhere, Madrid only did the absolute minimum necessary in defeating Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu Stadium with a Zidane goal in the 32nd minute. The World Footballer of the Year apart, the remainder of their star ensemble failed to shine. Juventus failed to make good a 1–0 first leg deficit against Coruna in Turin and went out by an identical scoreline, failing to score in either game. Monaco’s away goal against Lokomotiv Moscow proved invaluable, as a Prso strike levelled the scores and allowed the French League leaders to join compatriots Lyon, 1 – 0 winners over Sociedad, in the next round.

Defending Champions AC Milan thrashed Sparta Prague 4-1 at home to maintain their challenge, Shevchenko scoring twice. Friday’s quarter final draw could not have been crueller to England’s two contenders: Chelsea must face their nemesis, Arsenal, who have already ended their Premiership and FA Cup hopes this season, over two legs on March 24 and April 6. The eventual winner will face the victors of the Real Madrid/Monaco tie, by no means a foregone conclusion.

Porto have a real chance of staying in the competition against perhaps the weakest side remaining, Lyon. Should they prove successful, they will meet either AC Milan or Deportivo Coruna, who dispute the fourth quarter final.