Soccer: Champions League: Atletico Madrid knock-out Barcelona as it happened

Atletico is the first team to knock out Barcelona in Champions League quarter-finals since Juventus in 2003.

It was Koke's early goal that secured Atletico Madrid a first Champions League semi-final spot since 1974.

It could, and should, have been even more as the hosts hit the woodwork three times in a one-sided first-half. Barcelona improved slightly after the break but, except for a Neymar diving header, did little to threaten. A historic and deserved win.

Read more: BBC Sport - Champions League: Atletico Madrid v Barcelona as it happened

Soccer - European Champions League: Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben nets winner 2 against Borussia Dortmund 1 - by Daniel Taylor

Matchmaker Arjen Robben

It was a night of outstanding drama, fully reaffirming everything that has been said and written about the illuminating standards of German football, and when it was all done Bayern Munich had moved alongside Liverpool with their fifth European Cup and the Borussia Dortmund players were on their knees.

Jürgen Klopp's players had been quick to the ball, strong in the tackle, and utterly determined to show they should not feel inferior in any sense.

They played with drive and ambition and what a terrible pity it would be now if a side with this drive and ambition is now to be broken up.

Yet this is some Bayern team and the Bundesliga champions had been the more dangerous side when the goals arrived in the second half, culminating in that moment after 89 minutes when Arjen Robben (Dutch National Soccer Player) ran on to Franck Ribéry's half-blocked back-heel and clipped in the late, decisive winner.

They had taken the lead just before the hour when Robben set up Mario Mandzukic but Dortmund, so dignified in defeat, will probably always wonder what might have happened if Dante had been sent off for the challenge that gave Ilkay Gundogan the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Read more: Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich | Champions League final report | Football | The Observer

European Soccer: Bayern beat Netherlands 3-2 in friendly

Arjen Robben has been booed by many of his home Bayern Munich fans during an appearance for the Netherlands in a friendly three days after he missed a penalty in the Champions League final against Chelsea.

Bayern won 3-2 on Tuesday in a match that was part of the settlement to a long dispute between the club and the Dutch football federation after Robben returned injured from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and could not play for months. Bayern demanded and won compensation from the Dutch.

Robben came on for the Netherlands with 15 minutes remaining. While a large section of the crowd booed the winger every time he touched the ball, others chanted his name.

Read more: Bayern beat Netherlands 3-2 in friendly - The West Australian

Soccer: First the World Cup final, now the Champions League showpiece – Arjen Robben proves that he is a big-game choker - by Stefan Coerts

Very few will disagree with the notion that Arjen Robben has been one of the world's best attackers over the past half-decade. The Dutchman has won league titles with PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while lifting several more trophies at club level.

Additionally, the former Groningen star has been capped 54 times by the Netherlands, and at the age of 28 has already featured at two European Championships and two World Cups.

However, the fleet-footed winger has not enjoyed much luck on the biggest stage. Robben has lost the last four finals he has played in: Inter proved too strong for Bayern in the 2010 Champions League final, Spain beat Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup, Borussia Dortmund defeated FCB in this year's DFB Pokal final, and Chelsea emerged victorious in this season's final of European club football's elite tournament.

The Oranje international has, unfortunately, played a key role in a number of these big-game failures, and the outcome could often have been very different had Robben been more decisive at the critical moments. This has led to the ex-Real Madrid star being labelled by some as a big-game choker. 

For more: First the World Cup final, now the Champions League showpiece – Arjen Robben proves that he is a big-game choker - Goal.com

Soccer - UEFA Champions League: 10-man Chelsea dethrone Barcelona to enter final

 Lionel Messi missed a penalty as holders Barcelona were sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals after 10-man Chelsea battled to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou here on Tuesday.

Chelsea, leading 1-0 from the first leg, snatched a 3-2 aggregate win on a night of extraordinary drama which saw the Premier League side recover from 2-0 down and the dismissal of captain John Terry to reach next month's Munich final.

For more: Champions League: 10-man Chelsea dethrone Barcelona to enter final | News | NDTVSports.com

Soccer - European Champions League: Chelsea beats Barcelona 1-0

Didier Drogba grabbed the first-half winner as Chelsea produced a resilient display to beat Barcelona 1-0 on Wednesday to take a narrow lead into the second leg of their Champions League semifinal against the defending champions.

In one of Chelsea's few forays forward at Stamford Bridge, Drogba swept home a cross by Ramires in the second minute of first-half injury time to hand Barca a first loss in this season's competition and leave the contest delicately poised.

The Spanish giants were camped inside Chelsea's half for almost the entire match but were denied by a mixture of poor finishing and brave defending, with Gary Cahill outstanding alongside centre-back partner John Terry to repeatedly deny Lionel Messi.

The return leg is played at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on Tuesday.

EU-Digest

Soccer: Barcelona Beats Man United 3–1 in Final

Lionel Messi scored one goal and created another Saturday, leading Barcelona to a 3–1 victory over Manchester United and a third Champions League title in six years.

Barcelona dominated play at Wembley with trademark one-touch passing, but the Spanish champions needed the Argentine striker to conjure a 54th-minute solo strike from the edge of the penalty area to take the lead for the second time.

After a shaky opening, Barcelona simply outclassed the English champions. Xavi, standing in as captain for injured defender Carles Puyol, orchestrated play from in front of Sergio Busquets, while Andres Iniesta and Messi tormented United with the pinpoint accuracy of their passing.

 
For more: Barcelona Beats Man United 3–1 in Final - TIME

Soccer - Champions League Final: Manchester United ready for Barcelona in final, says Sir Alex Ferguson

Manchester United are ready for Barcelona in the Champions League final, says manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Sir Alex Ferguson does not believe Barcelona's status as favourites ahead of this weekend's Champions League final offers them any advantage, insisting his players "will be ready" regardless.

Manchester United find themselves in the rare position of being underdogs for Saturday's Wembley showpiece, even though they have just claimed a record 19th title. However, with memories of the one-sided encounter in Rome two years ago when the Catalans eased to victory, it is Barça who are still expected to win.

For more: Manchester United ready for Barcelona in final, says Sir Alex Ferguson | Football | guardian.co.uk

European Champions League: Field is set for European Champions League knockout stage - by Grahame L. Jones

Nearly six months after four dozen or so starry-eyed and hope-filled teams set out on the European Champions League trail, the final 16 survivors have been identified. By the end of May, Europe's new soccer champion will be known, just in time to start the process all over again in June.

England's Arsenal and Italy's AS Roma on Wednesday secured their places in the knockout rounds with a victory and a tie, respectively, in London and in the somewhat less salubrious surrounds of Cluj-Napoca in northwest Romania.

The Champions League final is in London on May 28, and two other London teams in the last 16, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, won their respective groups. Arsenal, on the other hand, made difficult going of it after a fast start to the group phase. It had lost its previous two games on the road and its game against Partizan was tied, 1-1, going into the final 20 minutes.

The knockout stages guarantee some great and spectacular games, with no fewer than seven former winners in the field, including reigning champion Inter Milan.

For more: Champions League: Field is set for European Champions League knockout stage - latimes.com

Barcelona wins European Champions Soccer League against Manchester 2-0

EU-Digest

Barcelona wins European Champions Soccer League against Manchester 2-0

In a match which Barcelona controlled throughout the game with perfect ball control Manchester was unable to get a grip on the game. Striker Samuel Eto'o made the first goal for Barcelona ten minutes into the game, with Manchester's Dutch goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, touching the ball but unable to stop it going in. Lionel Messi clinched the game for Barcelona with a brilliant second goal well into the second half. Barcelona has now wsold out crowd of about 83.000 people with some 350 million people watching the game on TV.

Google News: Tonight - Manchester Barcelona fight for Europe's top soccer title in Rome

For the complete video report from Google News click on this link

Tonight - Manchester Barcelona fight for Europe's top soccer title in Rome

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has called their Champions League showdown with Barcelona in Rome the "dream final". Barcelona duo Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta continued their respective bids to be fit for the Champions League final as they returned to squad training, albeit not at the same level as their team-mates. Following on the heels of the European Song Festival Final this will be another huge soccer event watched by millions all over the world. The soccer spectacle between Barcelona and Manchester starts tonight 20.30 CET at the Olympic stadium of Rome.

LA Times: Chelsea sees its dreams dashed by FC Barcelona - by Graham L.Jones

For the complete report by the Los Angeles Times click on this link

Chelsea sees its dreams dashed by FC Barcelona - by Graham L.Jones

There was anguish and outrage in London. In Barcelona, there was nothing but bedlam. What else to expect after FC Barcelona had plunged a Spanish dagger into Chelsea soccer hearts Wednesday night, scoring a goal 2:12 into stoppage time to earn a 1-1 tie in a nail-biting European Champions League semifinal at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium?The vital away goal, which under competition rules counts double in the event of a tie, was enough to propel Barcelona into the May 27 Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome. Chelsea had held Europe's highest-scoring team to a 0-0 tie in the first leg in Spain last week. The Blues then held Barcelona at bay for another 90 minutes Wednesday night. They were only 108 seconds away from what would have been a deserved 1-0 victory in the return match. Chelsea, having lost last season's final to Manchester United on penalty kicks in Moscow, was that close to having a chance to avenge that bitter defeat.

With the seconds ticking away and Barcelona desperately seeking a goal that had shown no sign of arriving, Chelsea's players scrambled to clear their lines. Messi, who had done nothing of note in the game to that point, found himself with the ball at his feet just to the left of Chelsea's penalty area. He knew exactly what to do. The Argentine forward slipped a square pass to the unmarked Iniesta and the Spanish international fired a swerving shot into the upper right corner of goalkeeper Petr Cech's net. It was Barcelona's only shot on target all night.Manchester United, the defending champion, defeated Barcelona in last season's semifinals and will be favored to win in Rome.

Seattle Times: Soccer: Manchester United reaches Champions League final

For the complete report from the Seattle Times click on this link

Soccer: Manchester United reaches Champions League final

Back in the UEFA Champions League final for the second consecutive year, Manchester United wants to add to titles it won in 1968, 1999 and last year. "I've said it many times, we should have won this cup more times than we have," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said after the defending champion defeated Arsenal 3-1 in an all-English semifinal Tuesday in London. "We've got the hunger and the quality." Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals and set up another. Park Ji-sung also scored for Manchester United, which won the home-and-home, total-goals series on 4-1 aggregate and will play in the May 27 final in Rome against Chelsea of England or Barcelona of Spain.

LA Times: Soccer - European Champions League: Barcelona can strike seemingly at will - Grahame L.Jones

For the complete report from the Los Angeles Times click on this link

Soccer - European Champions League: Barcelona can strike seemingly at will - Grahame L.Jones

Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o give the club a formidable attack and make it the favorite to win the European Champions League title. Messi, Henry and Eto'o have combined to make Barcelona the most dynamic and the most feared soccer team on the planet, never mind what Manchester United or Inter Milan or anyone else might say. Together, they have helped Barcelona score more goals than any other team in Europe this season. The three have scored more goals than any other top-flight team. Barcelona, however, is more than simply a trio of high-scoring strikers. Its midfield boasts the Spanish creative attacking duo of Xavi, the most valuable player at Euro 2008, and Andres Iniesta. Its defense features the world's top right back, attack-minded Daniel Alves of Brazil.

All of this suggests that Barcelona will hold aloft the Champions League trophy May 27 in Rome and bask in the club's third European Cup title after similar victories in 1992 and 2006. But, discounting Bayern Munich, there are six other teams still more or less alive in what is unquestionably soccer's most fixating club tournament. But as Henry said, that is looking too far ahead. "In the Champions League, one bad performance -- or even a bad 10 minutes -- can put you out," he said. "We've won nothing yet."

NYT - British Soccer Sweeps Across Europe Once Again - by Rob Hughes

For the complete report from the NYTimes.com click on this link

British Soccer Sweeps Across Europe Once Again - by Rob Hughes

"The spring brings absolute confirmation that the only soccer team in the rest of Europe left to compete with the power of England’s Premier League is Barcelona.This is the third season running that England has supplied three of the last four clubs in the competition. The final in Rome on May 27 is bound to have at least one English club for the fifth consecutive year. British soccer supremacy is, anyway, English in name only. The clubs are no longer owned by the British, the players most certainly belong to every continent and, just as Barcelona has the means to buy the best players on earth, so does Manchester and its London rivals.

Like it or loathe it, the Champions League is the global marketplace."