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Champions League Roundup, Feb. 23

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Updated Feb 23, 2011 6:19 PM ET
Mario Gomez's last-minute goal earned Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at defending champion Inter Milan and three-time champion Manchester United was held 0-0 at Marseille in first-leg matches in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Gomez hooked the loose ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Julio Cesar had failed to hold winger Arjen Robben's shot, giving the German side a measure of revenge for its 2-0 loss to Inter in the 2010 final in Madrid.
"I am very happy with our performance," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. "Inter played very well. It could have been a different result, but we deserved to win after the way we played in the second half."

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ​

Tue., Feb. 15​

AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham | Recap
Valencia 1-1 Schalke | Recap

Wed., Feb. 16​

Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona | Recap
AS Roma 2-3 Shakhtar | Recap

Tue., Feb. 22​

Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea | Recap
Lyon 1-1 Real Madrid | Recap

Wed., Feb. 23​

Marseille 0-0 Man Utd | Recap
Inter 0-1 Bayern Munich | Recap CL Scores | Tables | Fixtures

In a game of few chances at the Stade Velodrome, Marseille's Steve Mandanda was the busier of the two goalkeepers, keeping out shots by United midfielders Darren Fletcher and Nani.
"It was very important not to concede in the first game and we did it," Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said.
The second legs are played on March 15, with Bayern and United now favorites to go through to the quarterfinals.
Inter, which is third in Serie A but has been showing improved form under new coach Leonardo, will count itself unlucky to be going into the second leg behind.
"There is some bitterness that we conceded the goal at the point of the game when we did," Leonardo said.
Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft defied the hosts on a number of occasions, while Inter was denied what looked like a clear penalty when the lively Samuel Eto'o appeared to be brought down by Anatoliy Tymoshchuk in the box early on.
Later in the first half, Esteban Cambiasso's shot from close range was blocked by Kraft, who then came to Bayern's rescue to push away a shot by Eto'o.
Franck Ribery headed an effort onto the bar at the other end and fellow winger Robben picked out Thomas Mueller in the box shortly after halftime, but the Germany midfielder glanced a header wide.
Eto'o and Cambiasso then wasted decent chances one after the other before Gomez's dramatic winner, allowing the Germany international to join Eto'o and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka as the leading scorers in the Champions League this season with seven each.
"I don't think we need to make major changes before we go to Munich," Leonardo said.

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Man United manager Alex Ferguson rued his side's inability to score an away goal in France, even though Marseille struggled to create many chances of its own at home against the Premier League leaders.
"A goal away from home is always important - we didn't do that, that's a disappointment for me," Ferguson said. "At this stage of the competition, away goals count. But you have to say that Manchester United at home, we have a good chance."
Mandanda had to react late to keep out Fletcher's low shot in the first real chance of the match, before England striker Wayne Rooney - who played in a withdrawn role on the left side of the visitors' attack - was denied by a last-gasp tackle from Marseille center half Souleymane Diawara.
Brandao, Marseille's lone striker, had a weak header saved at the start of the second half and then just failed to get a touch on Andre Ayew's drive across the face of goal.
United's last opportunity fell to Nani, but Mandanda rushed off his line with five minutes left to dive quickly at the Portugal winger's feet.
"I'm proud of what my players did tonight because they rose to the challenge," Deschamps said. "It will be a different story in three weeks at Old Trafford, but we will have to go there without fear."

 

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Fergie expects English progress


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Updated Feb 23, 2011 7:42 AM ET
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would not be surprised if English clubs dominated the Champions League again this season.
After supplying three semi-finalists for three successive seasons, the Premier League endured a miserable time last term, when all four representatives bowed out before the last-four stage.
With this year's final taking place at Wembley, the pressure is on to deliver. And so far the omens look good.
Tottenham and Arsenal both recorded outstanding first-leg wins against AC Milan and Barcelona in the last 16 last week, while Chelsea followed suit on Tuesday night with a comfortable 2-0 success over Copenhagen.
Now Ferguson's Manchester United go into battle with Marseille in the Stade Velodrome on Wedneday, with the Red Devils chief optimistic about the chances of English glory on May 28.
"I'm not sure you could call it domination at the moment because we are only just into the last 16," said Ferguson.
"But in the last four years English teams have been very powerful. The success rate for getting through to the latter stages is very good and it could happen again.
"The Premier League is very tough, with a lot of talented players. That has created a level over the last seven or eight years that is very difficult to match."
United's chances of success in France are not helped by the absence of seven senior players though.
Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs are among that number, which will mean a central defensive berth for Chris Smalling and a wide role for Wayne Rooney as Ferguson sticks to a preference for a lone striker in European games.
Giggs' absence means Paul Scholes will assume the mantel of old stager, with Ferguson insisting the 36-year-old is worthy of a new contract, even if the player himself is not entirely convinced.
"I am more than hopeful about Paul signing another contract," said Ferguson.
"I think he should. His fitness isn't in question. I think Paul feels he has to play all the games.
"It is not a bad thing to be that way but at his age, that is impossible. But he can still play a big part for Manchester United, this season and next."
Wednesday's game marks the start of an intense period for United.
Between the first and second legs they must tackle Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool away from home in successive games before entertaining either Arsenal or Leyton Orient in the FA Cup on March 12.
"We have an important few weeks coming, there is no question about that," said Ferguson.
"We are just starting four away games on the run, which is a great challenge for us.
"They are all fantastic matches but it is a time we should enjoy. They are big games and in that situation, the players don't let us down often."

 

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Sevilla wins but Porto advances in Europa League

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Updated Feb 23, 2011 3:56 PM ET
FC Porto advanced to the last 16 of the Europa League despite losing 1-0 at home to Sevilla from substitute Luis Fabiano's 71st-minute goal on Wednesday.
Porto won 2-1 in Spain last week to go through on the away goal rule.
Sevilla brought on Brazilian striker Fabiano in the 55th, taking off defender Sergio Sanchez in a bid to break the deadlock. Fabiano picked up a pass from Alvaro Negredo, muscled past Fernando and hit a low shot into the far corner.

EUROPA LEAGUE ​

EL Scores | Tables | Fixtures

Porto defender Alvaro Pereira was sent off for a dangerous tackle two minutes after Fabiano's strike, but then Sevilla's Alexis was shown a second yellow card to leave both teams with 10 men.
Porto had most of the chances in a lively game at the Stadium of the Dragon and appeared to be heading comfortably for the next round before Fabiano struck to set up a nervous finish.
Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas made a half-dozen impressive saves to deny Porto, while Falcao headed against the woodwork.
Sevilla started the encounter strongly and Frederic Kanoute, who got his team's goal in Spain, hit a curling short just wide in the third minute.
But from then on it was mostly one-way traffic as Fernando Belluschi and Alvaro Pereira tested Varas.
On Tuesday, Sergei Ignashevich scored a late equalizer to give CSKA Moscow a 1-1 draw against PAOK Thessaloniki to put the Russian club through to the last 16.
CSKA won the first leg 1-0 away, and advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Zlatan Muslimovic put PAOK in the lead in the 67th after a mistake by CSKA substitute goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov. But PAOK goalkeeper Dario Kresic then fouled Tomas Tosic in the area in the 80th to give CSKA a decisive penalty. Kresic stopped Brazilian striker Vagner Love's spot kick, but Ignashevich slotted in the rebound.
Thursday's matches include Liverpool against Sparta Prague, Manchester City versus Aris and Villarreal against Napoli