Champions League! (part one)

 Schalke 04   1 - 0  FC Porto

Kevin Kuranyi fired home an early goal and put the hosts up in their first trip to this stage ever. Porto were under the gun for awhile and while they had stretches when they turned the tide, they just couldn’t find the net. Shalke have to strategize well for the trip to Portugal in a fortnight. If they sit back and defend their aggregate lead they will open themselves up for Porto attackers Ricardo Quaresma and Lucho Gonzalez to make them pay. The German side tired at the end of the match and if Porto can run them earlier in the match they just may be able to turn this around.

 Roma   2 - 1   Real Madrid

If you look at the stats for this one the score line must be wrong. In fact when Raul netted early at the Stadio Olimpico it looked like it would be a long night for the hosts. Real made things rough on Roma as time and again they threatened the Italian side’s goal. A Ruud Van Nistelrooy death-stroke was disallowed for a clear offsides. David Pizarro gave the Roma fans hope when he knotted the score in the 24th minute and Alessandro Mancini finished off the Spanish champions and gave his side a slender lead for the return leg in the 58th. Roma gave up a critical away goal to Real Madrid and that could be bad unless they can return the favour in Madrid.

 Olympiacos   0 - 0   Chelsea

The Blues went to Athens and got what they needed. They didn’t lose. They had their opportunities to salt this tie away, coming close on a few occasions, but the couldn’t solve the Olympiacos defense. The Greek side rarely threatened Petr Cech’s goal and if they don’t step up the attack this tie will be over. I don’t see them holding off the Blues forever. But, if they force a shootout you might as well flip a coin.

 Liverpool   2 - 0   Inter Milan

I’m not a Liverpool fan at all, but they pounded Inter in this match. The goals came late in the game from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard to finish off what was a long night for the Serie A champions. The Reds had 70% of the possession and out shot Inter 25 to 4. The visitors went down a man when Marco Materazzi saw his second yellow card at the half hour mark. I would be shocked if Liverpool went to the San Siro in two weeks and got knocked out. This performance was strong throughout the line up. Where has this club been in the last couple of months? And does this mean that Barnsley is better than Inter Milan?????