Champions League round-up: Stalemate at Inter as Arsenal beat Roma
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Defending champions Manchester United set a Champions League record of 20 consecutive matches unbeaten with a 0-0 draw against Inter Milan at the San Siro.
United dominated the first half but were unable to make the breakthrough as a mixture of indecisive finishing and defiant goalkeeping from Júlio César means it goes all the way back to Old Trafford on March 11.
The hosts almost fell behind as early as the fifth minute when César only kept out a Cristiano Ronaldo header with an instinctive save to his left.
Dimitar Berbatov then headed past the far post, Ronaldo rattled the upright from a free-kick while César thwarted Ryan Giggs, who after outmuscling Nelson Rivas from the excellent Michael Carrick's pass could only find the Inter keeper's sprawling legs.
Inter played better in the second half and could have taken the lead in the 47th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimović’s dummy over Esteban Cambiasso's low cross wrong-footed the United defence, only for Adriano to screw horrendously wide.
United almost sealed victory with the last kick of the match but Ronaldo saw his free-kick bounce off César’s chest before being hacked away.
Arsenal were the only winners of the evening as they beat AS Roma 1-0 in a one-sided contest at Emirates Stadium.
The hosts were positive from the off and should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when Samir Nasri cut the ball back for Nicklas Bendtner, but it was just a yard behind him and the Dane's first touch was heavy, allowing the defenders to recover and block.
There was a warning for Arsenal when Marco Motta fired a 20-yard screamer, which was heading towards the top right corner before Manuel Almunia tipped it behind.
The Gunners went ahead eight minutes before half-time as Robin van Persie struck from the penalty spot after being brought down himself by Philippe Mexès.
But they were unsettled at the start of the second half when referee Claus Bo Larsen whistled for kick-off with only nine of the home side on the field. Defenders William Gallas and Kolo Touré eventually dashed from out of the tunnel, with the latter running straight on to the pitch - and was promptly booked by the referee for entering the field of play without permission.
Bendtner should then have made it 2-0 on 53 minutes but he blazed a great chance over from eight yards.
Emmanuel Eboue missed a great opening as well, blasting his shot the wrong side of the post with goalkeeper Doni beaten.
Arsenal almost paid for their wastefulness when former Liverpool defender John-Arne Riise was inches wide with one of his long-range specials.
Barcelona came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw against Olympique Lyon at Stade de Gerland.
Lyon took a surprise lead after seven minutes when Juninho floated in a free-kick from wide on the left which curled towards goal and dipped in over Víctor Valdés.
The hosts almost made it 2-0 immediately after the restart when Karim Benzema found himself one-on-one with Valdés but scuffed his shot.
Samuel Eto'o should have levelled on 14 minutes when he found himself alone in the box, but his shot cannoned back off the post and just eluded Thierry Henry on the rebound.
Pep Guardiola's men almost equalised shortly after the break when a free-kick from Daniel Alves took a wicked deflection off Fabio Grosso and only Hugo Lloris' fine reflexes stopped it from hitting the back of the net.
The scores were levelled on 67 minutes when Rafael Márquez flicked on Xavi's corner towards Henry at the back post, who steered a low header into the goal from point blank range.
Atlético Madrid twice threw away their lead and allowed FC Porto to claim a valuable 2-2 draw in an entertaining encounter at Vicente Calderón.
The home side went ahead after three minutes when Maxi Rodríguez latched onto Sergio Agüero's pass to sidefoot home from close range.
Porto striker Lisandro López had a goal disallowed for offside in the 17th minute with the call looking justified.
Lisandro drew Porto level five minutes later as he capitalised on a missed header from Pablo Ibáñez to shoot under goalkeeper Leo Franco.
Atlético regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Porto goalkeeper Helton fumbled Diego Forlán's speculative shot from distance into his own net.
But Lisandro steered home Aly Cissokho's left-wing cross in the 72nd minute to make it 2-2 and leave the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg in Portugal next month.
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Technorati tags:World soccer Soccer news Football news Champions League Manchester United Inter Milan Arsenal Barcelona
United dominated the first half but were unable to make the breakthrough as a mixture of indecisive finishing and defiant goalkeeping from Júlio César means it goes all the way back to Old Trafford on March 11.
The hosts almost fell behind as early as the fifth minute when César only kept out a Cristiano Ronaldo header with an instinctive save to his left.
Dimitar Berbatov then headed past the far post, Ronaldo rattled the upright from a free-kick while César thwarted Ryan Giggs, who after outmuscling Nelson Rivas from the excellent Michael Carrick's pass could only find the Inter keeper's sprawling legs.
Inter played better in the second half and could have taken the lead in the 47th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimović’s dummy over Esteban Cambiasso's low cross wrong-footed the United defence, only for Adriano to screw horrendously wide.
United almost sealed victory with the last kick of the match but Ronaldo saw his free-kick bounce off César’s chest before being hacked away.
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| Arsenal forward Robin van Persie celebrates his goal against AS Roma with teammate Bacary Sagna Photo: AP Photo/Carlo Baroncini |
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| Robin van Persie(pen) 37 |
Arsenal were the only winners of the evening as they beat AS Roma 1-0 in a one-sided contest at Emirates Stadium.
The hosts were positive from the off and should have opened the scoring after just six minutes when Samir Nasri cut the ball back for Nicklas Bendtner, but it was just a yard behind him and the Dane's first touch was heavy, allowing the defenders to recover and block.
There was a warning for Arsenal when Marco Motta fired a 20-yard screamer, which was heading towards the top right corner before Manuel Almunia tipped it behind.
The Gunners went ahead eight minutes before half-time as Robin van Persie struck from the penalty spot after being brought down himself by Philippe Mexès.
But they were unsettled at the start of the second half when referee Claus Bo Larsen whistled for kick-off with only nine of the home side on the field. Defenders William Gallas and Kolo Touré eventually dashed from out of the tunnel, with the latter running straight on to the pitch - and was promptly booked by the referee for entering the field of play without permission.
Bendtner should then have made it 2-0 on 53 minutes but he blazed a great chance over from eight yards.
Emmanuel Eboue missed a great opening as well, blasting his shot the wrong side of the post with goalkeeper Doni beaten.
Arsenal almost paid for their wastefulness when former Liverpool defender John-Arne Riise was inches wide with one of his long-range specials.
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| Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o challenges for the ball with Lyon's Fabio Grosso Photo: AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani |
| 1 - 1 |
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| Juninho 7 | Thierry Henry 67 |
Barcelona came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw against Olympique Lyon at Stade de Gerland.
Lyon took a surprise lead after seven minutes when Juninho floated in a free-kick from wide on the left which curled towards goal and dipped in over Víctor Valdés.
The hosts almost made it 2-0 immediately after the restart when Karim Benzema found himself one-on-one with Valdés but scuffed his shot.
Samuel Eto'o should have levelled on 14 minutes when he found himself alone in the box, but his shot cannoned back off the post and just eluded Thierry Henry on the rebound.
Pep Guardiola's men almost equalised shortly after the break when a free-kick from Daniel Alves took a wicked deflection off Fabio Grosso and only Hugo Lloris' fine reflexes stopped it from hitting the back of the net.
The scores were levelled on 67 minutes when Rafael Márquez flicked on Xavi's corner towards Henry at the back post, who steered a low header into the goal from point blank range.
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| Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aguero vies with FC Porto's Bruno Alves Photo: AFP/Pierre-Philippe Marcou |
| 2 - 2 |
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| Maxi 3 | Lisandro Lopez 22 | |||||||
| Diego Forlan 45 | Lisandro Lopez 72 |
Atlético Madrid twice threw away their lead and allowed FC Porto to claim a valuable 2-2 draw in an entertaining encounter at Vicente Calderón.
The home side went ahead after three minutes when Maxi Rodríguez latched onto Sergio Agüero's pass to sidefoot home from close range.
Porto striker Lisandro López had a goal disallowed for offside in the 17th minute with the call looking justified.
Lisandro drew Porto level five minutes later as he capitalised on a missed header from Pablo Ibáñez to shoot under goalkeeper Leo Franco.
Atlético regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Porto goalkeeper Helton fumbled Diego Forlán's speculative shot from distance into his own net.
But Lisandro steered home Aly Cissokho's left-wing cross in the 72nd minute to make it 2-2 and leave the tie in the balance ahead of the second leg in Portugal next month.
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Technorati tags:World soccer Soccer news Football news Champions League Manchester United Inter Milan Arsenal Barcelona
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