Champions League
Real Madrid 3 - Bayern Munich 2 (Champions League, Feb. 20, 2007) (Extended highlights here.) Ruud Van Nistlerooy played a great through ball for Raul to open the scoring at the Bernabeu. Lucio replied for Bayern following poor marking in the Real defence. Raul claimed the final touch for the second after a great header from Helguera. And Van Nistlerooy put Madrid in control of the tie from an excellent free-kick from David Beckham. (Three out of the four goals so far in this match have come from set-pieces.) With two minutes remaining Van Bommel changed the complexion of the tie with a poweful shot from outside the box.
PSV Eindhoven 1 - Arsenal 0 (Champions League, Feb. 20, 2007) With half-an-hour to play, PSV took the lead, a good strike from Edison Mendez. Half-time analysis of the game can be seen here. Thierry Henry was again guilty of some play acting in the second-half and the Frenchman appears to have some problems communicating with Baptista over who should take free-kicks. This was Arsenal’s first defeat of 2007, and only their second in 21 matches in all competitions.
Lille 0 - Manchester United 1 (Champions League, Feb. 20, 2007) (Extended highlights here.) Giggs scored a late controversial free-kick which left Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva stranded. Following the goal the French team huffed and threatened to walk off, but in true French tradition they surrendered and let their fans throw missiles at the United players instead. Lille were angered that this disallowed goal from Odemwingie had been ruled out for a foul on Vidic.
The post-match interview from a clearly irate Alex Ferguson can be seen here - the same video includes analysis from Andy Townsend who says Lille “should be thrown out of the competition.”
Compounding matters on a bad night for Lille is the manner in which the riot police seemed to treat the travelling fans, with claims emerging that they fired tear gas into an overcrowded section of United supporters.
An in-depth look at Christiano Ronaldo’s performance can be seen here.
(The Manchester United winner was very similar to this goal scored by Thierry Henry against Chelsea in December 2004.)
Celtic 0 - AC Milan 0 (Champions League, Feb. 20, 2007) (Extended highlights here.) Gilardino went close for Milan in the first-half. A quite ourageous dive from the Italian forward can be seen here.
(The stirring rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from before the game can be seen and heard here.)
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All the goals scored last night in the Champions League can be seen on this video.
