A match that started with the hope that Galatasaray supporters would be given a one day sojourn from their nightmare season ended not with an awakening but a downward spiral. Two second half goals from the Yellow Canaries led Fenerbahçe to a comeback victory over their rivals, winning 2-1 at Türk Telekom Arena. The loss sends Galatasaray to a club record 12th league loss while giving Fener a temporary three point lead on Trabzonspor in the Süper Lig.

The match started promising for Galatasaray, who used the energy of their new arena's first derby to push their opponents on their heels. A strong opening from Lorik Cana neutralized Alex, cut-off the supply line to Mamadou Niang, while allowing Gala to execute Gheorge Hagi's plan, which appeared to center around attacking Fener left back Andre Santos.

The plan paid off in the 14th minute when Kazim Kazim, in his first appearance against his former club, overpowered the Brazilian along the byline, won the ball and played it back toward the middle of the area for Milan Baros. The Czech attacker's shot was saved by Volkan Demirel, but the rebound came out to the recovering Kazim, whose first touch shot the ball beaten Demirel's legs for the opening goal.

Even after the goal, it took Fener 20 more minutes to wake-up, the first half playing out as if the Canaries wanted to reach halftime so they could regroup. Yet by the end of the half, Fenerbahçe had put together 10 good minutes, finally creating a game that saw more room in the midfield for Alex, allowing their captain to spread the ball from flank-to-flank and through to Niang.

While the match would reach halftime with Gala up 1-0, Fener was able to maintain some of their momentum when the second half kicked-off. This, along with fitness issues, let to Hagi bringing Arda Turan off the bench, the attacker's swap for Kazim Kazim giving the home side a boost. Turan's fresh legs compounded the problems he would otherwise cause and bought Galatasaray 15 minutes where Fenerbahçe was forced to adjust.

At the end of that time, however, Fener was ready to come back into the match. But the Canaries needs some help from Gala's defense, who failed to mark Semih Senturk on a restart in the 75th minute, allowing the Turkey intentional to meet a Alex cross at the edge of the six, giving Robinson Zapata no chance to prevent the equalizer.

Near full time, it was a similar story. A ball worked from left-to-right allowed Gokhan Gonul to put a cross toward the spot from 30 yards out. The out-swinging ball met Alex, who leaned back to redirect the ball to the near post, scoring Fenerbahce's winning goal.

The win puts Fenerbahçe three points up at the top of the Süper Lig, pending weekend action. For Galatasaray, the mood could be summed up at match's end by Milan Baros. The Czech attacker after exchanging his jersey for one of his opponents', had to be restrained from going after the head referee post-match. Baros was already on a yellow yet was shown straight red, possibly excusing himself from Gala's next three matches.

Let's settle in for a record day in Istanbul, where Turk Telekom Arena is about to host it's first iteration of the biggest inner-city derby in the world: Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. The 52,695 seat arena opened in January and is ready for its first main event, where Gala is hoping the home fans set a world record for loudest crowd at a sporting event. Guinness is on notice.

Another mark that could be set tonight would be an unfortunate one: Galatasaray setting a new record for most losses during a league campaign, with their current total of 12 (in 25 matches) already earning a place in the history books. With league-leading Fener taking a nine-match winning streak into today's contest, Galatasaray is a shocking large underdog in today's match.

Stay with us after the 3:00 p.m. kickoff for our minute-by-minute coverage, the match now a mere moments from kickoff. The teams are on the pitch, singing the Turkish nation anthem.

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0:00 - Teams are shaking hand after the captains finish with their center circle salutations. Each team huddles up for some final words before breaking-up to prepare for kick-off. Some final words and then a moment to observe the ongoing tragedy in Japan. The shape whistles from the crowd that had dominated the pre-match atmosphere are silenced as if on mute. Moments later, the crowd murmurs as the ball's put down on the spot. Gala kicks-off, moving left to right on the screen.

1:00 - Fener doesn't want to exert much high pressure, but Gala's back line looks so uneasy on the ball that the Canaries might as well. Soon they've won the ball, and after giving it back, they've forced Gala to play it deep.

2:30 - Milan Baros is taken down along the right flank by Selcuk Sahin. Foul is called and no real threat to Fener, but you can see the threat the Czech striker poses. As imformative, if he's going to attack the right side, Andre Santos is going to have to play better defensively than we're accustomed.

4:30 - Gala again trying down the right, at Santos, this time with Kazim Kazim, making his first appearance against his former club. No threat comes from it, but most of this match is being played at the bottom of my screen, with Fener's left being tested.

5:30 - Gala first foray down their left is broken up by right back Gorkan Gonul, a convincing display that may discourage challenging down the left. As important, though, Gala is doing all the attacking, and while they haven't had any success getting the ball close to Volkan Demirel, they've kept Fener off the ball.

7:50 - Mamadou Niang is brought down near the center circle as Fener tries to break out of their own half. Later in the match, that's a card. Early in the match, it's a tone-setter. The tone: Gala can get away with this approach knowing they have an extra tool to use in breaking-up Fener's counter attacks.

9:15 - Joseph Yobo has to come across from his left-center-half position to deal with a ball that was slid behind Diego Lugano. Gala  still hasn't had a foray into the Fener box, but they sure are making progress.

10:15 - Relatively close call as a foul given on Gala's left leads to a dead ball chance. A ball in-swung toward Demirel's left post sees Lucas Neill try to run onto it. Unfortunately, he runs through Ugur Boral to try and get to the ball. Foul, and still no serious threats for Gala.

11:50 - Lorik Cana is controlling Alex de Souza early, but the midfield hard-man may have been given his first deterrent. Fould is called has be takes down the Fener star, giving Fener a restart just inside Gala's half. Poor defending by the Lions leads to a chance from the right side of the area.

13:15 - GOALLLLLLLL!!!! And It's Kazim Kazim! In his first start against his former team, the footballer formerly known as Colin Richards has scored, and for Gala, their hammering at Andree Santos has paid off. Kazim won and individual battle with Santos near touch on the right side. He played the ball back toward goal for Milan Baros, the Czech attacker seeing his shot saved by Demirel. The rebound came out to Kazim who fired Gala in front. Spectacular start for Gala!

16:00 - Turk Telekom Arena is very, very loud. I would be surprised if this is record-setting, though. Who knows. It could come down to the mics the broadcasters are using. The cameras they're using, however, is picking up the smoke from the flares, the home side celebrating their early lead.

18:00 - We're still seeing a lot of the action take place down Gala's left, but for the first time tonight, Fenerbahçe has seen some interplay between their stars: Niang and Alex. But there is still a feeling that the league-leaders are a bit overwhelmed by the occasion, atmosphere, and score. This might be a case of getting to half and regrouping.

19:50 - Fener is finally able to break out on a counter, drawing the Gala defense compact before swinging it out to the right. But their effort is unorganized, and Gonul's attempt to jump-in from the back leads to a turnover. Gala quickly resumes possession.

21:55 - Kazim Kazim almost had another. He should ahve had another, going wide right after cutting in from the flank to run onto a ball played to him to the right of goal. Andre Santos, having to collapse inside to help a defense that had broken down, got back in time to (seemingly) block the ball wide, but that could have been the second goal.

23:30 - Santos is against exploited down the right, though this is hardly his fault. Two-on-one against the left back leads to a cross from Emmanuel Culio, the Argentine's header going a foot wide of Demirel's left post.

25:15 - With so much of the game being played on Fener's left, Cristian Baroni is becoming a key to Fener's night. The Brazilian is going to have to be the man that moves the ball from left to middle, where Alex can work his magic. To this point, Baroni's giving the ball away too often, though not always out of pure negligence.

26:30 - First chance for Fenerbahçe sees Robinson Zapata have to lay-out at his right post to save a one-timer generated after Fener crossed in from the right. Two corners ensured with no addition chances, but it's the best threat the Canaries have posed tonight.

29:00 - Folly averted as a back pass for Zapata was nearly intercepted by Mamadou Niang. The Colombian plays the ball out to his right, beating the Senegalese by one step. Fener's bothering the Lions for the first time tonight.

31:00 - A through ball from Alex intended for Niang is swallowed up by Zapata, but Gorkan Zan is adjudicated to have pulled down Niang at the edge of the area. Replays show Niang exaggerated the contact, and the contact may have taken place in the box. Instead, the foul is gived inside the arc, forcing Gala to set-up a 10-man wall. Fener tries to beat the Lions to the 10-yard mark, and when shoving ensures, we get another reminder of this rivalry's intensity. When the kick is finally taken, Alex's left-footer drip a moment too late, going over the bar and out for a goal kick.

34:00 - With the game opening up, Fener is having little trouble finding Alex i the middle of the park. This leads to another Gala foul, with the Fener captain being brought down 30 yards from goal just as he'd picked-up a head of steam. Alex chips right for Diego Lugano, but it's a weak attempt. The ball we dead-on goal, giving the Canaries no angle to work with.

36:00 - Fenerbahce continues to be the better side. For the first time, Gala's defense looks disorganized. Fenerbahce just hasn't count the right combination. However, they have opened up the middle of the pitch (Cana's name hasn't been called in a while). They're working the ball from flank-t-flank, and as if having punched a bully in the mouth, they're no longer dealing with as much gala pressure. The Lions are relying on Milan Baros to lead them into counters.

39:00 - Throw-in deep in Fener's end leads to a long shot from Cana after a nice tackle at the edge of the box by Alex took the ball off Baros's feet. Cristian Baroni comes out to bother the shot, which is sent 10 meters over the bar.

41:00 - Something for the beginning of the match that we'd forgotten amidst Gala's hot start: their back line is terrible on the ball. Within a 30 second span, they give the ball away twice, and not on long passes. Balls played to the next level of their attack are intercepted with little effort.

42:00 - Ozer Hurmaci may have just gotten lucky. The Fener midfielder just ran up and bumped chests with the referee while protesting a call. Only a yellow card.

44:40 - For the first time in the match, Fener has Gala pushed back deep and is able to string together a series of touches at the edge of the attacking third. But a poor decision from Gokhan Gonul leads to the ball going out to Gala, at which point the whistle blows. No injury time. The match goes to half, 1-0 Galatasaray.

45:00 - We're back underway int eh second half. The crowd's spirits are high, having 15 minutes to think about the potential for an unlikely win. Fenerbahce, however, looks ready to carry over momentum from a first half that saw them close strong, if unsuccessfully.

48:00 - As the match goes on, you start to feel like Gala's early success was the product of home crowd, new area, and the underdog's prerogative. Since about the 35-minute mark, we've see why Fener has been the better team this season. If this trend continues, a goal could be coming soon.

49:50 - Another side things have changed from the match's opening: Santos is having no trouble with Kazim Kazim on Gala's right. Kazim, on the other hand, seems to have little interest in coming back to help as Mamadou Niang started to play more on the Fener left flank.

51:30 - Now Kazim is down. We'll have to wait for replays ... which show the Gala attacker came down with a straight left leg, the joint buckling slightly on impact. The broadcast takes time to replay the first half goal. Even if Kazim does nothing else tonight, that goal will make this a strong showing for him. As is, he's up.

52:30 - Gala is strong in the middle than they were at the end of the first half, though it seems as if they're playing their midfield deeper, with three central midfielders in a base position 12 yards in front of the back line, which is setting up at the edge of the area. Fener should see a lot of the ball this half. Oh, Kazim's down again.

55:45 - Demiral just had to push a 30-yard rocket from Lorik Cana over the bar. The chance came as a ball played in from the Gala left was cleared by Diego Lugano, clearance that eventually functioned as a lay-off from Cana. The shot looked very speculative, but that speculatoin came true. Demiral with the save. Gala with the corner.

56:45 - Gala retained possesion after their corner came to nothing, eventually swinging in a cross from the left. Servit Cetin - still in the box from the corner kick - dives onto the cross and beat Demirle, but the play is so clearly offside that the Turk Telekom crowd doesn't bother reacting.

59:45 - A through ball from Kazim rolled 30 yards for Baros forces Demirel off his line, but the Czech player fails to pull up and appears to take a knee to the face. For a moment, it seemed the `keeper had unintentionally put a knee to Baros's eye. Now, it seems he'll be fine.

60:30 - A nice ovation is given to Kazim Kazim as he's brought off. The attacker gingerly walks to the sideline, but injury or not, he wasn't ready to play 90 minutes. Arda Turan is on, which may both change Gala's shape and make them much more dangerous on the counter.

63:00 - An ambitious ball played from Gonul goes the length of the pitch on a diagonal, finding Andre Santos streaking behidn teh defense. Only an outstretched left arm from the left back keeps the pass from leading to a chance, though that doesn't stop the Brazilian from firing into the side netting after the whistle blows.

64:30 - Gala is settling deeper in deeper. Now, we see Baros coming back farther to pick up the ball, having little help when he turns upfield. Mehmet TOpuz chopping him down gives the Czech itnernational a chance to waste some time. Hopefully, this match isn't already coming to that.

65:20 - Arda Turan's influence is felt. He breaks through the right side of Fener's defense before winning a battle and playing the ball back for Bogdan Stancu, whose attempt doesn't bother Demirel. However, Turan's energy creates a chance, something that his fresh legs could do for the remainder of the match.

67:45 - A long ball over the back of the Gala line can't be tracked down by Niang, Goal kick for Gala, and Fener's first attempt at a next tactic is unsuccessful. Gheorge Hagi is making another change. Stancu is off. Harry Kewell is on.

69:10 - Turan generates another chance, this time to the right of goal. Nobody is there as Turan cuts a ball back to the spot from just before the byline, but based on how Baros reacts to the referee, the Czech attacker feels there was something nefarious about how he was kept from the ball. Yellow card, Baros. You happy?

70:45 - More yellow card magic, and again, it's to Gala. Emmanuel Culio - who has had a great match - is cautioned for a tackle. On the restart, Semih Senturk low bridges Robinson Zapata. That should be a card. It's not.

72:45 - Fener's making a change. Miro Stoch is on. A hoppling Mamdou Niang is on. This can't be good for Fener. Their second leading scorer is off, Senturk's been silent, and ever since Gala moved their midfield back, Alex has been a non-factor. I suppose Stoch can't hurt.

74:15 - Free kick given 35-yards out, something we're likely to see more as the match plays out. This one, however, is given after a 50-50 handball call. But it's from the same spot that the foul was given up toward the end of the first half - the middle ground where Alex can't shoot, yet he has not angle.The Brazilian chips it in and ...

74:50 - GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL! Horrible marking for Galatasaray allowed Semih Senturk to meet the ball at the edge of teh six, giving Robinson Zapata no change. That was training ground stuff. Completely breakdown by Gala.

76:50 - Another Gala goal is called back, and oh were they ever offside. Two Gala players are at least two meters off when Milan Baros gives the crowd something to regret.

78:00 - This is getting .. great. Alex chips a ball over the Gala line for an onrushing Santos, who puts a ball across the face of goal from the far left of the box. A Fener player - it looks like it's Hurmaci - is one step late getting to the ball at the far post. The shot goes a yard wide.

79:50 - For the first time in a while, Gala has possession and is able to try and break down the Fener defense. Turan is at the center of it, allowing Galatasaray to try and deflate some building Fenerbahçe momentum. Now Fener has a man down. The teams get a break to regroup for the final 10 minutes.

81:50 - Cana's presence reemerges, taking the ball off Alex's feet before the Brazilian has a chance to execute another cute little chip. Moments later Gala is breaking out, but their counter is wasted when a speculate shot it made into a souvenir.

84:00 - Hagi makes his final change. Yakta Kurtulus is off. Ayhan Akman is on - a like-for-like.

85:10 - Bringing on Turan continues to give benefits. Every time Gala breaks out, they're able to find him - most often on the left - where he can hold-up play and kill time while Fener regains their shape before closing him down.

86:50 - GOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL! Unbelievable! Fenerbahçe has done it! Working the ball from left flank to right, Gonul plays a cross in from 30 yards up pitch. Alex is there! His league-leading 19th goal of the season gives Fener their first lead of the match! Gala' is stunned. Gala 1, Fener 2!

88:00 - The captain give sup his armband as he comes off, Bekir Irtegun on to provide more defense

90:20 - A glass bottle comes from the stands, flying with a few feet of Wolkan Demirel in Fenerbahçe's goal. Play is stopped to take the bottle off the pitch.

90:30 - Foul given by Fenerbahce gives Turan a chance to drive a ball in from the left flank, near the byline. No danger, though from that position, Gala should have done more.

91:50 - Senturk has a break - a chance to seal the match for Fener - but the attacker pulls up from 20-yards out and hits a week shot right to Robinson Zapata.

93:15 - A beautiful cross from Arda Turan hangs in the air for Milan Baros, who elevates from the spot. But this isn't Baros's game. He never looks confident. The jump is mistimed. He doesn't even try to uncoil into the ball. What a waste. Only 45 second left.

94:20 - The whistle goes and Fenerbahçe has their 10th straight win, their first a Türk Telekom Arena. Two horrible pieces of defending have undone the Lions, though credit has to go to Fenerbahçe. For the first 35 minutes, they were terrible. The failed to match Gala's intensity, but they remained patient and got their goals.

Minutes after the match - Milan Baros sees red. The attacker had been complaining all match and decided to have a final word with the officials. If that doesn't sum up Gala's season - heart breaking loss compounded by a star losing his head.

When Schalke fired Felix Magath earlier this week, they became the club all other UEFA Champions League quarterfinalists wanted to draw. Well, in truth, they were already the club everybody wanted to draw. They came out of a weak group and did not face a titan in the Round of 16. Combined with their poor showing in the Bundesliga, Schalke has the worst resumé of any of the tournament's final eight. And as if to trying to becoming the most dubious quarterfinalist in the current format's history, Schalke decided to fire their coach.

Leonardo has to feel blessed, getting the Royal Blues, though his good fortune dates back a few months. When Rafa Benítez ran this Inter team into the ground, the former Milan coach was the obvious choice for the Nerazzurri, who enticed him to cross the San Siro after the Rossoneri icon was cast way by Silvio Berlusconi. Milan used January to go out and get Giampaolo Pazzini (cup-tied) and Andrea Ranocchia, addressing the depth issues left from Benítez's M.A.S.H. unit. In Champions League, Leonardo's luck was set to run out until Louis van Gaal's ill-timed faith in Daniel van Buyten, Breno, and Danijel Pranjic created an opening exploited by Wesley Sneijder, Goran Pandev and (the player that probably should have been listed first) Samuel Eto'o.

But despite making the quarterfinals and pulling themselves to the edge of another scudetto, Inter is nowhere near the team that won last year's title. Yet Barcelona is still out there. Real Madrid is looming. Manchester Untied or Chelsea will meet them in the next round, should the Nerazzurri advance. Inter has a month to find last year's form, if they are to make a serious play at retaining their title.

And that's the true beauty of this draw. Inter doesn't need to be their best to eliminate Schalke, especially if the Blues fall apart post-Magath, Leonardo can use the next month to tweak ahead of the semifinals. No, they can't completely disregard Schalke, but the gap between the two sides allows them to find out if Diego Milito or Goran Pandev should be in Leonardo's choice XI. It allows the coach to see if Yuto Nagatomo should be the choice left back, and if so, where does that leave Javier Zanetti. It allows the partnership of Lucio and Ranocchia to further gel, and it allows Júlio César to find where the hell Júlio César went.

And even if Leonardo can't find answers to those questions, there's still Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder. Schalke's counter? Raul and Jurado.

How They Got Here

Schalke finished first in a group that saw both Lyon and Benfica play below their standards. Benfica bared little resemblance to last year's juggernauts. Lyon was struggling at the bottom of Ligue Un. Despite Schalke also tempting relegation in Germany, they moved on.

In the Round of 16, the Blues gave two impressive performances against Valencia. A second half goal from Raúl got a 1-1 at the Mestalla, while Jefferson Farfán had two goals and an assist int he second, clinching leg.

Inter finished second to Tottenham in group play, earning them a tough Round of 16 match: a 2010 final rematch against Bayern Munich. After losing the first leg at the San Siro and being down 3-1 (aggregate) in the final half hour at the Allianz, Inter found two late goals to even the tie at three, advancing in away goals.

Recent Meetings

None.

Outlook

It's impossible to tell. We don't know much about Schalke, at this point. Ralf Rangnick would be wise to stay with Magath's system, but who knows? He might look at the Miners' personnel as see something completely different than what Magath built. With Schalke having yet to play since Magath was asked to move on, nothing but speculation informs our ... speculation.

Schedule

April 5: Internazionale vs. Schalke, San Siro, Milan

April 12: Schalke vs. Internazionale, Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen

So José Mourinho is special, not only moving Real Madrid over their Round of 16 hurdle but convincingly seeing Los Merengues past Lyon and into the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Now comes the truly difficult part. Whereas it was fairly ridiculous that Real Madrid failed to advance to the quarters for six straight years (despite being favored at the Round of 16 every single year), the quarterfinals is where some of the continents big clubs can't help be collide. That's why Manchester United and Arsenal went out at this point last year and United or Chelsea will go out this time.

One of Real Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur will also be out, though nobody would call Spurs one of UEFA's biggest clubs. Yet few would deny that Harry Redknapp's team is one of the continent's most talented teams, and with Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon providing the wide threat that could make Real's 4-2-3-1 into more 4-5-1 than 4-3-3, it's not difficult to see how a first time Champions League participant could take down Europe's most successful club. After all, how comfortable should José Mourinho be with Sergio Ramos and Marcelo asked to lock-down Spurs' wingers, with Ángel Di María and Cristiano Ronaldo providing support?

But Bale and Lennon won't be the most intriguing of Spurs' attackers when it comes to a match with Real Madrid. Rafael van der Vaart - sold by Madrid to Spurs in early fall - had openly said he would relish a chance to face his former team. Ask and ye shall receive. The Dutch playmaker was an early darling at Spurs, his ability to tap in Peter Crouch knockdowns at the edge of the six making him the fans' favorite import since David Ginola.

As those opportunities have faded and injuries have set in, van der Vaart has seemed more van der Vaart-ian, though that takes little away from the story of his Bernabeu return. He didn't want to leave, felt has was never given a chance after moving from Hamburg, and having become an important part of a side that could put Los Merengues out, the half-Spanish attacker would relish giving Jorge Valdano a reason to regret.

But while van der Vaart, Bale and Lennon are of obvious quality, there are still places within Spurs' XI that make you wonder if they're venturing beyond their depth. Can a Champions League contender feel secure with Gomes in net? Are Alan Hutton and Benoit Assou-Ekkoto better equipped to contend with Ronaldo and Di María than Real's fullbacks are to deal with their opposition? Can a team relying on Sandro or Wilson Palacios to anchor their midfield hope for something more than chance?

There is a reason why Spurs are fifth in England, and although they have had more success in Champions League, the reason why Tottenham stumbles behind Manchester United in league is also evident in their match-up with Madrid They don't have the same stable of horses. José Mourinho has Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso at the base of their midfield. Madrid's fullbacks are suspect, but Harry Redknapp would be right to envy a squad that has Ramos and Marcelo. Match-up Ronaldo and Di María with Bale and Lennon and few would be called crazy for picking the former pair. And that doesn't even cover the virtues or Iker Casillas, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Mesut Özil.

Real Madrid are rightfully favorites, but within their team you see the cracks that could allow Spurs to go through. Still, Tottenham are upstarts, and starting on April 5, their Champions League gets real.

How They Got Here

Tottenham embraced their first Champions League by winning the tournament's deepest group, finishing above holders (and fellow quarterfinalists) Inter Milan. Redknapp's charge put-up 18 goals along the way, tied (with Arsenal) for the highest total in group play.

In the knockout round, Spurs changed their tact in eliminating Milan. The first leg saw Tottenham get a late goal to take a commanding 1-0 lead back to White Hart Lane. One scoreless draw later, Spurs were moving beyond the seven-time champions.

Real Madrid's 16 points in group was the highest total in the tournament, Los Blancos allowing only two goals to a packet that included Milan and Ajax. In the knockout stage, Madrid snapped a seven-year slump by eliminating Lyon, their 4-1 victory achieving redemption against the club that saw them out of the last tournament.

Recent Meetings

None.

Outlook

José Mourinho has tried to play-down people's desires to celebrate the Lyon win. This is where Real Madrid is supposed to be, he's implied. There's no reason to celebrate, yet.

If Real Madrid defeats Tottenham Hotspur, the same attitude will apply. Though it wouldn't be a huge upset if Spurs reached the semifinals, Real Madrid should be expected to win. Even less cause for celebration: If Real wins, they likely confirm a meeting with Barcelona.

Schedule

April 5: Real Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

April 13: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Real Madrid, White Hart Lane, London

Barcelona fans are going to be happy to have drawn Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Champions League's quarterfinals. The feeling is not completely inappropriate. After all, they could have gotten Manchester United.

But Shakhtar is a team that just posted a lopsided victory over Roma, and while the Giallorossi were not a threat to win this competition, the Miners gave the type of convincing performance we saw from none of Chelsea, Manchester United, or even Barcelona. They got three road goals at the Stadio Olimpico and finished with a 6-2 aggregate victory. Couple that with winning their group (over Arsenal) and the distance they've put between themselves and Dynamo Kiev in league, and you see a CV that hints at a much stronger Ukraine representative than we're used seeing. Barcelona fans really shouldn't be that happy.

There's also the eye test, always important. Shakhtar looks the dark horse's part. They have a strong system in place, one where players have defined roles in which they've been allowed to excel, the type of combination that allowed expertise to transcend gaps in talent. They have a sprinkling of world class skills to go with a couple of players who are on the verge of reaching beyond the stature of a plucky Eastern European club.

And they also have naivete. This is their first trip to this point in the competition. It's the first time any team from the Ukraine has been here, and aside from Eduardo and Dmytro Chrygrynskiy, they don't have players who have been in clubs who have had this kind of success. Yet there are still players like Darijo Srna and Razvan Rat - veteran talents who've been overlooked for not playing closer to the Atlantic - who will give the side its grounding. There's also those six Brazilians, plauers any club in the world would like to have: Fernandinho, Jádson, Luiz Adriano, Willian, Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira. Any then there's the coach, Mircea Lucescu, who has been here before, guiding Galatasaray to the 2000-01 quarterfinals.

There, the Lions lost to Real Madrid. Will Barcelona be Lucescu's next Spanish conqueror, or is there something that the Romanian learned from that experience that he can bring to this tie? Even if there is, this Barcelona team is better than the Madrid team Lucescu vanquished in Instabul before succumbing to at the Bernabeu. It's become cliché though still necessary to note, it's not often that you see a team with all of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Alves, Puyol and Piqué.

But as we saw against Arsenal, Barcelona is not invincible, and when we compare results against that like opponent, Shakhtar and Barcelona don't seem a continent apart. Both clubs lost in North London. Both teams beat the Gunners at home.

How They Got Here

Barcelona's group was easy. Though they were drawn with Rubin Kazan, the Russians were much weaker than the team that had shocked them a year before. With two draws, Barcelona went through unbeaten, with FC Copenhagen snatching second place.

In the Round of 16, Barcelona lost 2-1 at Arsenal before having fortune shine on them at Camp Nou. Tied 3-3 and on pace to be eliminated, Arsenal's Robin van Persie controversially saw red. Barcelona would go on to win the tie 5-3.

Shakhtar accumulated more points than Barcelona in group stage (15 to 14) despite being in a more difficult quartet, their only loss coming via a 5-1 drubbing by Arsenal. Donetsk would only allow one other goal in the rest of the phase, advancing to face Roma in the Round of 16.

There, three goals in a 13-minute, first leg span at the Stadio Olimpico put the tie away. The Miners took a 3-2 lead back to Donetsk, where they'd ease to their first quarterfinal appearance.

Recent Meetings

The last time these sides met was the UEFA Super Cup a year-and-a-half ago. Shakhtar was coming off their UEFA Cup victory while Barcelona was celebrating their Champions League title. The match took extra time to settle, with Pedro Rodríguez's 115th minute goal serving as a type of springboard to a breakout season for the former Pedrito.

Outlook

We saw the 4-2-3-1 slow down Spain this summer. Barcelona's basically a better version of the Spanish national team, but employing a system that slowed La Roja this summer, can Shakhtar succeed where the Netherlands and Germany failed?

Of course they can, though over 180 (as opposed to 90) minutes, they're unlikely to replicate the 1-0 losses the Oranje and Nationalmannschaft achieved. But Shakhtar is good enough to where an injury, red card, or bad call at the right time could sway this tie. They're just as dangerous as Arsenal, particularly with the second leg in Donetsk.

Schedule

April 6: Barcelona vs. Shakhtar, Camp Nou, Barcelona

April 12: Shakhtar vs. Barcelona, Donbass Arena, Donetsk

If there was one club Manchester United didn't want to be drawn against in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, it was Chelsea. They're not going to admit it. When was the last time Alex Ferguson betrayed fear of anything? But they have to know Chelsea's got something over them. The Blues have won the clubs' last three meetings, each victory more testament to Chelsea will than physical or tactical superiority.

Unfortunately for United, will is the most ethereal of those three qualities. It's also an area where Manchester United is not used to dealing with deficiencies. They're is usually the side with mental edge. When circumstances that rouse blood pressures arise and the best embrace dreams as their opponents entertain failures, the Red Devils are typically the ones finding the late goal, drawing a late penalty, or holding out for an entire match without giving their opponents a sniff of goal.

Though United lost the 2009 final to Barcelona, they showed these qualities two years earlier, knocking Barça out at the semifinals. They were the last team to see Inter Milan out of the tournament and recently posted a record 21-match unbeaten streak in Champions League. And, of course, they beat Chelsea the last two times the teams met in Champions League, though finding hopes on a penalty kick win is no way to exercise a demon.

If any of those previous results effect the upcoming Chelsea-United tie, we can  discount what we've seen from the recent, English Premier League versions of this match-up. Champions League is different, we can argue, though for what reasons, we aren't exactly sure.

If Champions League is just another venue where you try to kick a round ball into a rectangle, we're forced to search for reasonx why either of these upcoming matches will be different than the results we've seen over the last year-and-a-half.

How They Got Here

After a disappointing Round of 16 elimination last year, Chelsea cruised through group play, a sixth round loss after first place had been secured the only thing keeping the Blues from Champions Leagues' first perfect group stage. In hindsight, the group seems only mildly challenging, with Marseille taking second in the quartet.

In the knockout stage, Chelsea drew the easiest club from the second place pool. As such, Carlo Ancelotti never had to push his team while easing past FC Copenhagen.

Likewise, Manchester United has never had to take the car out of neutral. The Red Devils allowed only one goal in six matches in winning a group that saw Valencia finish second. Against Marseille they allowed their second goal of the competition, a late own goal, progressing after a controlled 2-1 victory.

Recent Meetings

Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalty kicks in the 2008 final, denying Roman Abramovich his most coveted honor in a match played on the owner's home soil turf. The next year, the clubs split their Premier League matches. Since, Chelsea has posted 1-0, 2-1, and 2-1 wins, the last a come-from-behind effort. United did win defeat the Blues in the Community Shield in fall of 2010, but as a hint to how seriously the sides took that match, Michael Owen started for United.

Outlook

Over the course of a league campaign, Manchester United could lose twice to Chelsea and still contend they were the best team in the competition. In Champions League, however, they have to figure out the Blues. Else, they're out.

They have just over two weeks to find a way to get beyond this mental hurdle, though as we sit 19 days away from kick-off at Stamford Bridge, it's difficult to see how they will.

Schedule

April 6: Chelsea vs. Manchester United, Stamford Bridge

April 12: Manchester United vs. Chelsea, Old Trafford

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The last two champions got the fortunate draws on Friday, if there were fortunate draws to be had when the UEFA Champions League settled their quarterfinal match-ups. Inter Milan was the next-to-last team drawn out of the eight club pot, and with Schalke's get to be putted, the holders got the club everybody saw as the lesser of seven chores. Barcelona, having drawn quarterfinal neophytes Shakhtar Donetsk, got the other targeted match-up, starting their next round at home against Ukraine's champions.

That meant the English Premier League sides all got tough draws, with two of the country's clubs draw against each other. Last year's top two finishers in league and finalists in the 2007-08 tournament will start their tie at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea drawing league-leading Manchester United. And in the first tie drawn on Friday, Real Madrid will have the first leg at home as they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to their first ever Champions League quarterfinal.

The draw also finalized the bracket for the tournament, a process that put Barcelona and Real Madrid on a course to meeting in the semifinals. Should each club move past the quarters, they will meeting the last week or April and the first week of May, creating four match-ups in a three week span: April 16 (league), April 20 (Copa del Rey final), April 26-27 and May 3-4.

In the other half of the draw, the winner of Chelsea-Manchester United will face either Inter Milan or Schalke.

Quarterfinals start April 5-6, with the return legs held one week later.

UEFA Champions League, Quarterfinals

First team listed hosts the opening leg.

Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (England)

Barcelona (Spain) vs. Shaktar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Chelsea (England) vs. Manchester United (England)

Internazionale (Italy) vs. Schalke 04 (Germany)

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It's difficult to be forgotten while becoming a legend, but for Fenerbahçe captain Alex de Souza, that's started to happen. Before making the move to Turkey in 2004, the attacking midfielder commonly featured in the Brazilian national team. But when he moved from Cruziero to Fener his time with the Selecao started to fade. Shortly before the 2006 World Cup, he made his last appearance for this country despite the 27-year-old good for a goal every four games with his national team.

As Alex's international hopes dimmed his club life was coming to life. Having returned to Europe after a brief foray into the Italian Serie A, the man Fener started building their attack around was a crucial component to four Champions League campaigns, including the Yellow Canaries' run to the quarterfinals in 2007-08. And while Fenerbahçe's influence on the continent has faded, the Brazilian has maintained his effect on the club, notching double-digit goals and assists in each league season since moving to Istanbul.

But because of his age and his club's misfortunes, the Fenerbahçe captain has become overlooked. He is now the third most prominent Brazilan Alex in UEFA, behind the Chelsea defender and Spartak Moscow midfielder Given how few people know of Alex Meschini's exploits in the Russian Liga, the Alex who has been a dominant player at Palmeiras, Cruziero and Fener is an afterthought where he's remembered at all.

Ironically, Alex's production may actually be improving. With 18 goals, Alex leads the Turkish Süper Lig. His 10 assists have helped Mamadou Niang make a smooth transition from Marseille, the Senegalese striker's 14 goals second in league. The duo, along with Niang's partner Semih Senturk, have given Fenerbahçe the best attack in Turkey, the team's 60 goals eight more than any other club in league. As a result, Fenerbahçe is in first place, joint top with Trabzonspor, as they hope to end their three-year title drought.

Should they claim the league, it will be Fener's record 18th title, giving them one more than arch rivals Galatasaray. Gala last won the league in 2008, one year after Fener's 17th title, the fifth season in a row one of Turkey's two biggest clubs had taken the league. Not that such a run was remarkable, given the clubs had won seven in a row before fellow-Istanbul club Beşiktaş  claimed 2003's title.

Track back through the history of the Turkish first division and you see the same thing. Aside from Beşiktaş  in the early 90s and Ahmet Suat Özyazıcı's great Trabzonspor teams of the late 70s, there have only been two faces to Turkish football. As Real Madrid and Barcelona are to Spain, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray are to Turkey.

This year, however, Galatasaray has hit a low point. Their early season struggles saw them sitting at the periphery of European qualification, a status that led to manager Frank Rijkaard's departure. Romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi returned to the place he finished his playing career (where he managed the team to a domestic cup in 2005), but the team's only gotten worse, leading to fans to call for his dismissal. Galatasaray has set a club record for losses in a league season with 12.

Gala currently sits in 11th place, and although their talent is no longer keeping up with Fener's, this team is too good to be this bad. Lucas Neill, Emiliano Insua, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros are the internationals that catch eyes, though Turks Sabri Sarioglu, Servet Cetin, Hakan Balta, and Kazim Kazim (fresh from the other side of the Bosphorus) make this the second most recognizable team in the league. Arda Turan, the Lions' captain and best player, will also feature, but with the midfielder coming off a long-term injury, he is not match-fit.

Even if the squad was at full strength and in form, a derby win over Fenerbahçe would be the proverbial tall order. Gala has only one league win over Fener since 2004. The Yellow Canaries also carry a nine-match winning streak into Friday's meeting, and even with star midfielder Emre Belözoğlu a miss, Aykut Kocaman's side will be profound favorites to stay atop the league.

The profound nature of it is the diverging paths of these two clubs. The charm of Gala-Fener has always been buttressed by the teams' statures, the titans rarely beyond a title race - let alone in the bottom half of the table. But such is that state of affairs at Galatasaray that the club is closer to relegation (12 points) than to Fener (24).

That chasm has some around Gala setting different goals. This will be the first derby at Türk Telekom Arena, where the Lions moved earlier this year. Galatasaray has alerted the Guinness Book of World Records that a mark could be set for the loudest crowd at a sporting event. Guinness officials will be in attendance, but with the recent form of the respective sides, Galatasaray may stand a better chance of setting the mark if they gave their supporter's tickets to Fenerbahçe fans. Yellow Canaries' supporters are more likely to have something to cheer about.

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At least the match is over, as is those two hours of our lives, with both Chelsea and visiting Copenhagen getting victories in their UEFA Champions League match. The Danish champions' victory was moral, getting a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's victory was real, advancing to the quarterfinals after a 2-0 aggregate victory, though the match is bound to illicit criticism.

The Blues started slow thanks to a opening burst of energy from their opponents, but after 15 minutes the match settled to something like the context we saw on Copenhagen. Only tonight, with the Blues lacking the impetus of the first leg, there was a lack of cunning in those moments after the FCK defense was beaten, leaving Carlo Ancelotti's team without a goal at home against the smallest of the Round of 16's speed bumps.

Chelsea, however, are likely to look at this as a pedestrian day at the office. While this was nothing close to their best performance, the Blues never had the intention of giving their best. Nor did they have that intention in the first leg. The Blues approached this round as a warm-up - a tune-up - for the remainder to the tournament.

From here forward, Chelsea will have take this competition more seriously. Nothing about today's results hints they're incapable of doing so.

Hugo Lloris had been having a great half for Lyon before this moment of brilliance from Marcelo, mastery that started far up the pitch before the Real Madrid left back sees a Lyon defender go to his back, unloading from just within the penalty area for the first goal of the match. With it, Real Madrid went up 2-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie with Lyon, meaning a late, surprising goal (like the one that stung Los Blancos last year) would only force extra time.

But that's context. This is reality, video of Marcelo's goal:

The announcers may have exaggerated the importance of the goal, but it was still an important strike. Real Madrid had been the better side, though toward the middle of the half they had let Lyon come back into the match. Marcelo's goal not only cut open the Lyon defense, it also affirmed Madrid's place as the squad that was dictating the match.

Without the goal, the match was in danger of playing out last years, when Lyon advanced after a late goal.

A much improved Copenhagen team has played Chelsea on a much more even footing through 45 minutes, taking the second leg of the teams' UEFA Champions League scoreless into halftime, even coming closest to an opening goal when a Dame N'Doye struck the left upright in the 27th minute. But Chelsea has continuously threatened their guests to generate a series of near chances and are still firmly in control of this tie, leading 2-0 on aggregate.

The Blues have continuously been able to open-up the right side of Copenhagen's defense, with Ashley Cole overlapping Yuri Zhirkov drawing Copenhagen's right back (Oscar Wendt) wide, opening up the channel between him and Mathias Janka. Chelsea's been able to exploit the space to create chances to the right of Johan Wiland, though numerous attempts found the side netting.

For Copenhagen, it is a stark improvement on a first leg that saw them outplayed in their first knockout round appearance. Today, FCK started energetically, keeping Chelsea from settling into the match until the quarter hour mark. From there, however, Chelsea was able to roll passes beyond a high Copenhagen line, something that will need to be corrected by FCK is the Danish champions are going to have a chance at pulling the upset.

There was a lot of speculation regarding Carlo Ancelotti's selection, with the Chelsea manager carrying a safe 2-0 lead into Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match against FC Copenhagen. Arguably the weakest of the 16 sides to make the second phase, Copenhagen would be generously described as long shots to turn around that deficit at Stamford Bridge. As such, many thought Ancelotti was rest some veterans.

And he has, though not to the extent he could. Fernando Torres and Michael Essien will be rested, but other veterans that could have been sparred - Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole - are starting, but Ancelotti apparently set to stay with his 4-4-2.

Chelsea, Starting XI: Cech / Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole / Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Zhirkov / Anelka, Drogba

Bench: Turnbull, Ferreira, McEahran, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Torres

Copenhagen has gone back to the 4-4-1-1 they playing in group stage after using a 4-4-2 in the first leg. While FCK often uses that formation in league, it created a series of un-winnable match-ups against Chelsea. Today, Cesar Santin goes to the bench, with Martin Vingaard returning to the starting XI.

Copenhagen, Starting XI: Wiland / Wendt, Antonsson, Zanka, Bengtsson / Bolanos, Kvist, Claudemir, Vingaard / Gronkjaer, N'Doye

Bench: Delaney, Kristensen, Christensen, Zahore, Bergvold, Hooiveld, Santin

If you unaware of the special relationship pop music icon Michael Jackson had with Fulham Football Club, you're probably not the only one. The club's supporters may also be a bit murky on why Craven Cottage will soon feature a statue honoring the recently deceased legend, something that may have also furrowed the Jackson's brow. After all, the singer was an honorary chairman at Exeter City.

But Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed claims a special bond with Jackson. Though 25 years apart in age, the two were friends, so much so that the Egyptian businessman had originally planned to honor Jackson's memory with a piece outside Harrod's Department Store in Knightsbridge. But Al Fayed has since sold Harrod's, making Craven Cottage the natural fit.

Apparently.

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Chelsea's 2-0 win at Copenhagen in the first leg brings an unfortunate tinge of anticlimax to Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti has already admitted that he will be rotating his squad with an eye toward Sunday's match against Manchester City. That means Fernando Torres will not play, though that's the only decision the Italian would betray on Tuesday, most think Michael Essien will start on the bench.

But as you look at Chelsea's squad, there aren't a lot of places where changes seem probable. Perhaps we could see players like Salomon Kalou and Yuri Khirkov get rare starts, but David Luiz being cup-tied limits Ancelotti's options at the back. It's always difficult to imagine a healthy Frank Lampard being left out, and with Yossi Benayoun and Alex just returning from their long-term absences, the list of options is relatively thin. There aren't Manchester United or Arsenel-esque changes to be made.

Copenhagen are also unlikely to make significant changes, though one difference between Wednesday's match and the February 22 meeting will be preparedness. The first leg had the Danish champions playing their first meaningful match since December 7, a facet of the meeting that's since been overblown. Some hypothesized their poor showing against the Blues was a symptom of rust or lack of fitness, but Copenhagen had played six friendlies between the new year and the late February meeting. A better theory for the first leg's result: Chelsea is a better team.

Stale Solbakken, Copenhagen's manager, confesses his team needs something miraculous to happen. While the 43-year-old Norwegian is saying all the right things, cliches like (paraphrasing) the first goal will be crucial, there is a resignation to his tone - an implicit acknowledgment his team will need an element of luck.

Injuries and Suspensions

None of Chelsea's main contributors are dealing with injury concerns. Even the long-term absences of role players Yossi Benayoun and Alex have silver linings. Each could make the bench this weekend versus Manchester City. David Luiz is the only forced absence, cup-tied from this time with Benfica.

For Copenhagen, Zdenek Pospech will be suspended, meaning Solbakken may have to move Oscar Wendt to right back, bringing Pierre Bengtsson into the team on the left. Central defender Mikael Antonsson had been a doubt earlier this week, but the Swede is expected to start.

Possible Selections

Chelsea, Starting XI: Cech / Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole / Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Zhirkov / Kalou, Anelka; Bench: Turnbull, Ferriera, Sala, Malouda, McEachran, Essien, Drogba

Copenhagen, Starting XI: Wiland / Wendt, Antonsson, Hooiveld, Bengtsson / Bolanos, Claudemir, Kvist, Vingaard / Gronkjaer, N'Doye, Bench: Absalonsen, Bergvold, Kristensen, Zahore, Delaney, Christensen, Santin

Pick

No way to jazz this up: Chelsea 3, Copenhagen 0.

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Through three-quarters of José Mourinho's first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, it's been impossible to tell whether the club has progressed from the heights of Manuel Pellegrini's stewardship. The only point of clear improvement has been the Copa Del Rey, though the weight given to that competition renders it a footnote. Barça is still first in league, and with Los Merengues having lost 5-0 at the Nou Camp in November, Real Madrid appears to have made little meaningful progress.

On Wednesday, Mourinho has an opportunity to provide a clear example of his positive influence, and for a club that's won nine European titles, it's apropos the first sign of progress could come in UEFA Champions League. While another unjustifiably lopsided loss to Barcelona in league would make if difficult for to save face, The Special One will be able to claim a victory (if only moral) where he to lead Los Blancos past the club that eliminated them at the same stage last season.

Manuel Pellegrini was brought to the Santiago Bernabeu after a successful tenure at Villarreal, but his inability to break Real Madrid's run of Round of 16 exits precipitated José Mourinho's move from Inter Milan. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

But Real Madrid's troubles in Champions League extend far beyond last year and Olympique Lyonnais. In each of the last six tournaments, Real Madrid has made it out of group stage, and in each of the last six tournaments, Real Madrid has been eliminated in the Round of 16, having failed to make a quarterfinal appearance since eliminating Bayern Munich in 2003-04. In that time they've been shown out by Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern, Roma and Liverpool, though last year's loss to Lyon cast the streak in a new, more depressing context. OL had been dealing with their own Round of 16 bugaboo, losing in three consecutive tournaments before being drawn against Madrid. That Lyon exercised their demons at Madrid's expense all but sealed Pellegrini's fate.

Even though Madrid got a better result at Stade Gerland this year - getting a 1-1 where they lost 1-0 last tournament - there is still this eerie feeling of opportunism surrounding Lyon, the same opportunism that led to Miralem Pjanic's late winner that the Bernabeu last season. This season that spirit could be seen in Bafetimbi Gomis's response to Karim Benzema's first leg goal, quickly quelling the idea that Mourinho's presence had moved Madrid beyond being troubled anybody but Barcelona. As a result, the match moves back to the Bernabeu tied at one.

While that puts Lyon worse off than they were for last year's return leg, there are a number of reasons to be encouraged. First, the team is largely unchanged from the squad that advanced to last year's semifinals. Second, those changes that have been made can be seen as positives, with only the expendable Jean Makoun leaving the club. Third, Lisandro López is fit again, having scored four goals in Lyon's last two matches.

Real Madrid's main scoring threat, a young Portuguese named Cristiano Ronaldo, is also returning to health, though he hasn't seen time on the pitch like López. The Merengues attacker has been sidelined since March 6 with an ankle injury but is expected to be available for Mourinho from the outset. Still, in addition to being healthy, it would help if Ronaldo were able to carry over some of his league form into Wednesday's match. While he has been a near goal-per-game scorer throughout his La Liga career with Real Madrid, Ronaldo's mustered only one goal in these last three meetings with Lyon.

Regardless, Ronaldo will be the focus of Lyon's preparations, with right back Anthony Reveillere sure to get help from Jeremy Toulalan coming from the middle, Jimmy Briand tracking back from the wing. Unlikely last year, though - when Lyon carried a lead into Madrid - Claude Puel can't merely focus on limiting his hosts. Not only did it not work a year ago (Ronaldo scoring early), but this year, it will see OL eliminated. Thanks to Benzema's goal at Stade Gerland, Lyon must score on Wednesday.

Injuries and Suspensions

Lyon will be missing a number of key players. Michel Bastos is suspended while Cris will be missing from central defense. Yoann Gourcuff is a likely miss in attack, while Aly Cissohko looks set to recover from a thigh problem and start at left back. The players likely to benefit from the absences: Briand (at right wing), Pjanic (attacking midfield), and Pape Diakathé (in defense).

Real Madrid is relatively healthy. The big miss is Gonzalo Higuain, though he's been out for a while. Kaká is also a miss, but he has not been a factor this season. Pedro Leon and Fernando Gago will also miss the match.

Likely Selection

Real Madrid, Starting XI: Casillas / Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo / Khedira, Alonso / Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo / Adebayor; Bench: Duzek, Albiol, Arbeloa, Diarra, Granero, Canales, Benzema

Lyon, Starting XI: Lloris / Revelliere, Diakathé, Lovren, Cissohko / Toulalan, Kallstrom / Briand, Pjanic, Lopez / Gomis; Subs: Vercoutre, Gassama, Kolodziejcak, Gonalons, Grenier, Delgado, Pied

Pick

I can't doubt José Mourinho's ability to get a 0-0, particularly when it puts hit team through. Real Madrid 0, Lyon 0.

Last season, Bayern Munich came back from two goals down on the road in Champions League, using a late goal to pull even on the scoresheet while sending their club through on aggregate. This season, Inter Milan has done the same to them, sending FCB out of the competition on a 87th minute goal from Goran Pandev. Bayern, after having a two goal cushion for most of this match, is out of Champions League at the Round of 16, away goals deciding the 3-3, aggregate result.

Three minutes in, Inter had pulled-back the goal they gave up at the San Siro, Samuel Eto'o scoring after he beat the Bayern line to a Pandev pass, the assistant referee electing to keep his flag down though it looked like Eto'o had a head and a shoulder's advantage. Beating Thomas Kraft low, Eto'o evened the tie, 1-1.

By the time halftime came, Bayern has taken control of the match, scoring twice in a nine minute stretch in the middle of the period. In the 22nd minute, Mario Gómez took advantage of Júlio César mishandling a long shot from Arjen Robben, putting a shot back over his head into an undefended goal to give Bayern a 2-1 lead.

In the 30th minute, Thomas Müller made it 3-1, chipping the ball over an oncoming César, beating the Inter `keeper after he had been put in behind the Nerazzurri defense.

Bayern had two glorious chances to make it 4-1. Franck Ribéry was allowed an uncontested run on goal from 30 yards out thanks to a Lucio misread, but the Bayern winger failed to beat César, allowing the Brazilian to save over the bar. Minutes later, a ball rolled across the face of an unprotected goal by Mario Gomez almost saw Müller record his second goal, but a desperate lunge from Andrea Ranocchia saw the ball off the post in out, preserving Inter's two goal deficit.

The second half saw Bayern maintain control of play until the 66th minute. Then, a ball played in from the left by Coutinho allowed Samuel Eto'o to set up Wesley Sneijder for a one-time shot from 20 yards. The ball went straight into the lower left hand corner, making it 3-2 on aggregate.

It was a relatively similar set-up that led to Pandev's winner. Inter, having played seven minutes of desperate football, worked the play from their left flank toward the middle. There, Samuel Eto'o as given the ball, eventually laying-off into the space to the right of goal. Goran Pandev came into the ball, opening up his left foot to the shot. The ball was perfectly placed high and to his left, beating Kraft for what would be the tie-wining goal.

The shot left Bayern and supporters shocked, a surprise the home side could not shake off in time to threaten for a winner. Though they pressed over the last seven minutes, Bayern never threatened to reclaim their lead. In a fashion so similar to last year's match at Old Trafford as to render the defeat ironic, Bayern Munich was sent out of Champions League just after most had becomes accustomed to the idea of them going through.

With Goran Pandev's late goal, it's the holders that survive.

Inter Milan was able to hold out for the last seven minutes of play in Munich, preserving the 3-2 result that sends them through to the quarterfinals. The second leg score give the holders a 3-3, aggregate result, a final that sends them through on away goals.

The result has left the Allianz Arena and the home side shocked. For most of the match, Bayern played with a two goal lead. For only the last seven minutes, Inter was in a position to go through, but when the final whistle blew, almost every player on the pitch for the Bavarians collapsed on to their back and brought their hands to their head, eliminated for the second consecutive season by Inter Milan; this year, three steps before the final.

The defeat was so harsh that match's end saw a number of Inter players consoling their counterparts after their team's initial celebrations. The fans, after 10 minutes looking on in shock, slowly started leaving the Allianz, their side shockingly put out of Champions League.

The 80th minute sees Inter Milan approaching desperation, needing a goal to keep their Champions League alive. Whereas most of the match as seen Inter start to pressure as Bayern as brought to ball close to the center circle, the Nerazzurri is pressuring all the way up the pitch. After a few minutes of troubling Bayern this way, the home side has started to adjust, sit deeper, and create the dynamic we almost always see at the end of one goal matches: All-out attack versus all-out defense.

After a couple of Inter forays down their left were broken up at the edge of the attacking third, Bayern was able to break out and establish possession in the Inter half, wasting two minutes of time while the Nerazzurri collapsed in defense, set-up, and then tried to win the ball. Once the did, the holders broke into the Bayern end but quickly gave the ball away when a diagonal pass from the right was over-hit in trying to connect to Wesley Sneijder.

One minute later, the miraculous moment comes. Inter finds the equalizer - the goal that should send them through. Coutinho brings the ball in from the left and gives to Samuel Eto'o, whose nice work on the ball draw the defense before he lays a pass off to the right of the area. The ball rolls slowly, as if bowled out of somebody's arm, and waits for Goran Pandev to come from deep, hitting a perfect ball first time, the left-footed shot going into the upper left hand corner.

Inter Milan ties the match, 2-2. They draw even in the tie, 3-3, but now holding two away goals, the holders are set to survive, provided the can keep Bayern off the scoresheet until the 95th minute.

At halftime we speculated the likes of Anatoliy Tymoschuk and Holdger Badstuber would be used by Louis van Gaal to reinforce Bayern Munich's two goal, UEFA Champions League lead over defending champion Inter Milan. In the 68th minute, our speculation was proven wrong, with the Bayern coach turning to Hamit Altintop as his first option in reinforcing his defense. The Turkish veteran will play left wing, with Arjen Robben being sacrificed.

Early in his shift, Bayern generated a small chance, with Franck Ribery playing a ball in from the left. A decent ball found few targets in the middle of the area, with Bayern's lack of presence in the boss exemplifying the change in the match's tone. Whereas most of this match has been dictated by Bayern's tempo, Sneijder's goal has given Inter new life. It would be too much to say the Nerazzurri are controlling play, but their renewed ambition has made Bayern more conscious of giving up a tying goal.

Mario Gómez nearly put this match away. In the 62nd minute, his volley from 17 yards out was parried by Júlio César, keeping the score 2-1 (3-1), but a few feet to either side of the goalkeeper, and the German's well-struck ball would have ended Inter Milan's defense. Instead, Bayern maintains their lead.

The chance came on a ball played behind the defense to the left of goal, with a hard-working Franck Ribéry saving the ball. The winger chipped a ball back toward the middle, over Thomas Müller, to Mario Gómez at the edge of the penalty area. The striker got his knee above a ball just under knee-high, putting a bullet straight at César. The `keeper's punch kept Milan within two.

One minute later, Milan halved the lead. Coutinho, coming in from the left, played a ball to the right of the area. Samuel Eto'o took a touch and, rather than taking on Danijel Pranjic, laid a ball off for an oncoming Wesley Sneijder. The Dutch attacker's first shot was a perfect ball, finding Thomas Kraft's lower right hand corner from 20 yards out. With the first meaningful threat they had mounted since the match's third minute, the defending champions are within one goal of advancing.

We're now 10 minutes into the second half, and Inter Milan still looks incapable of defending their title. Bayern Munich is not only up two, 3-1, but they're dominating possession, and as the match progresses they seem more willing to play patiently, a slight change some a style that normally sees them aggressive they to utilize their star winger players.

In the 57th minute, however, Inter was granted a chance, with Breno earning a yellow card after he brought down Goran Pandev 38 yards from goal. Wesley Sneijder drove a ball toward the center of the area, hoping for some brilliant randomness. The ball came out to the right of goal, from where Inter eventually moved it back down and around to the left, play a ball into space near the left corner of the six-yard box. There, Thomas Kraft came out to cover the ball.

Since, Inter has been unable to build any positive momentum, with Lucio drawing a yellow card after he took down a Bayern player in midfield, preventing a break-out. As the hour approaches in Munich, the score remains 3-1, Bayern.

Leonardo makes the first change. After five minutes of the second half, the Brazilian has seen enough of this team. He looks to his countryman, Coutinho, while bringing Dejan Stankovic off. The veteran Serb was practically silent today. Now, he's giving way for a more attacking option.

In the 51st minute, we get a glimpse of something we had been unwittingly missing throughout the match. Arjen Robben is down, though when the referee comes over to inquire about the extent of his injury, Robben's pain dissipates and reforms as protest. Wesley Sneijder comes over an picks him up, knowing his countryman's tricks.

One minute later, Bayern is against looking dangerous, working the ball from left flank to the arc, almost hitting an oncoming Bastian Schweinsteiger. Andrea Ranocchia is able to put an outstretched foot to the ball before the FCB midfielder an latch onto a shot, breaking-up the attack.

Now in the 53rd minute, Inter is having a spell on the ball, though they have yet to give Thomas Kraft anything to consider. FCB is stil up, 3-1 on aggregate.

The second half has kicked-off at the Allianz Arena, and early Inter Milan is showing life. Thiago Motta, 20 seconds into the half, comes from his deep midfield position to take the ball off Franck Ribery, and while his foray into the final third is stood up by the back line, it's the type of aggression we saw from none of Motta, Esteban Cambiasso or Dejan Stankovic in the first half.

Soon Bayern is back on the ball, working it down their left flank. Danijel Pranjic is able to play a ball for Franck Ribery,  cutting in from the wing. From 25-yards out, Ribery is able to threat a ball through the channel to the right of Andrea Ranocchis, though the ball is a little too heavy for Mario Gómez to retrieve before Júlio César can swallow it up.

In the 48th minute, Bayern's going down their right, getting behind the Inter line before playing the ball back across the middle, and oncoming Bastian Schweinsteiger running into a 22-yard shot hit right at César.

Now in the 49th minute, Inter is still chasing two goals.

Two terrible defenses gave onlookers an exciting half of football, one that played against Leonardo's approach. Setting-up his team to absorb attacks and counter, the Inter Milan coach has been undone by a poor evening from central defenders Lucio and Andrea Ranocchia, with an error by Júlio César compounding problems. Despite an early goal from Samuel Eto'o that pulled his team even, Leonardo finds his team own two goals going into halftime, with Mario Gómez and Thomas Müller staking the hosts to a 3-1 lead.

The scoreline is no less than the Germans deserve, having gone close toward half-time through Frank Ribéry and Müller. Saves by César and Ranocchia have given Nerazzurri supporters hope of resuscitation, though with little to recommend the holders for a halftime comeback, we may be looking at the last 45 minutes of Italy's European campaign.

After three minutes, Inter looked set to vigorously defend their title. A through ball from Goran Pandev and some reticence on the part of the linesman to flag Samuel Eto'o for offside gave the Cameroonian license to make the tie 1-1. In the 22nd minute, however, Inter unintentional enacted a piece of social justice, with Júlio César's mishandling of some Arjen Robben speculation leading to a Mario Gómez goal. Eight minutes later, Robben and Müller combined to give the young German a 30th minute goal and give FCB a commanding 3-1 lead.

Looking to the Inter bench, there's scarce attacking talent ready to help. Coutinho could be brought in for Thiago Motta. Yuto Nagatomo could come in a left back for Cristian Chivu. But with Diego Milito out and Giampaolo Pazzini cut-tied, Leonardo is short on options.

On the other bench, Louis van Gaal has various ways he can sure-up his defense. Holger Badstuber was a surprise omission from the starting XI, while Anatoliy Tymoschuk could help in central defense or midfield.

With another near miss from Bayern Munich we're coming close to being able to say Inter Milan is lucky to still be in this match. They are down two - a daunting task against a quality opponent - but with two golden chances missed by Bayern in the last six minutes, Inter could easily be down more. Yet after Andrea Ranocchia denied Thomas Müller in the 40th minute, the game remains 2-1, Bayern, the Bavarians up two on aggregate.

The change came as Mario Gomez drew Júlio César off his line to the right of goal, putting along the line, across the face of goal. Ranocchia and Müller were in a foot race to get to the ball, a contest that nearly ended in a tie. Ranocchia, however, got there quickly enough to get the first touch, putting it off the toe of Müller's boot and onto the post, where the ball end out into the six yard box. Inter cleared and was saved from going down three, a deficit that would effectively end their tournament.

Minutes later, Inter had their best chance since the third minute, with Wesley Sneijder putting a direct kick just over the bar from 20 yards out. Arjen Robben was given a chance at the other end just moments later, a lax Inter defense giving the winger a chance to the left of goal, eight yards out. The Dutch attacker put his shot into the side netting, outside César's near post.