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A really Red-faced Madrid
Yossi Benayoun's header eight minutes from time earned Liverpool a 1-0 win away to Real Madrid in their Champions League last 16 first leg clash.
Yossi Benayoun's header eight minutes from time earned Liverpool a 1-0 win away to Real Madrid in their Champions League last 16 first leg clash on Wednesday.
The Israeli midfielder nodded in Fabio Aurelio's freekick from wide on the right, after a tight tactical battle between the two former European champions.
Liverpool had the best two efforts in the first half, and it was just when the Spanish champions looked to be applying the pressure towards the end when Liverpool scored.
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, out for three weeks with a hamstring strain, came on as a late substitute and should be able to play a more prominent role in the return leg at Anfield on March 10.
In a crackling atmosphere the home side dominated the early possession and were keen to get Dutch winger Arjen Robben into the action at every opportunity.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, a former player of Real's city rivals Atletico, was booed every time he touched the ball, but broke clear down the right for the visitors' first chance in the 21st minute, stinging Iker Casillas' hands with a fierce shot.
Real had a goal ruled out for offside after 30 minutes but again it was Liverpool who threatened when Xabi Alonso's speculative shot from just over the halfway line forced ever-watchful Casillas to scuttle back and push the ball over the bar.
But a clumsy foul from Gabriel Heinze wide on the right gave Liverpool their chance and Benayoun's powerful header gave Casillas no chance, as Real's nine-mach winning streak was brought to an end.
Bayern rout Sporting
Lisbon: Bayern Munich took a big step towards a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as Franck Ribery inspired them to a 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their last 16 tie in Portugal on Wednesday.
"The result is positive for us as it opens the road to the quarter-finals," Bayern manager Jurgen Klinnsmann said.
The Portuguese team created the first chance of the match after 11 minutes with Anderson Polga's shot cleared off the line by Martin Demichelis, but Bayern responded moments later with Ribery shooting wide.
The Frenchman did not waste his next chance, stealing the ball in Bayern's half, beating three defenders and scoring from inside the Sporting box on 42 minutes.
Sporting were unable to put Bayern under pressure at the start of the second half, and Miroslav Klose doubled the lead on 57 minutes from an assist by Luca Toni.
Winning start for Guus
London: Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a 1-0 home win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 meeting with Juventus on Wednesday but last year's runners-up might come to regret not finishing the tie off on the night.
Drogba shot home after 12 minutes but should have had at least two more as Chelsea passed the Italians off the field in the first half.
Juventus, managed by former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, grew in confidence as the game progressed and though they extended a lamentable away record against English clubs that now features 11 defeats and only two wins from 17 visits they will travel home knowing the tie remains very much alive.
"I'm satisfied with the win but overall I'm not satisfied," Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink said.
