WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH BARCELONA?!

According to manager Luis Enrique, his team's downturn is a simple case of bad luck.
That, at least, was his explanation for their latest setback, Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Valencia, when he claimed he was happy with the performance and that "we only lacked the necessary fortune to win the game".
The local media agreed, with newspaper Mundo Deportivo's front page on Monday featuring a headline which lamented: "1-2. How unfair!"
It is true that Barca created plenty of chances to claim three points: Suarez headed over from close range, Gerard Pique dragged a golden chance wide and visiting keeper Diego Alves made excellent saves from Messi (twice), Ivan Rakitic and Neymar. In addition, Valencia's opener was a freak own goal as Rakitic deflected a cross into the net.

Similarly, Barca's other recent defeats have contained moments of ill fortune.
In the home defeat by Real Madrid that started the rot, for example, Barca flew out of the blocks and should have taken the lead when Suarez inexplicably mis-kicked in front of an open goal. Bad finishing rather than bad luck, true, but the outcome may have been very different if he had scored.
And in stoppage time at the end of their decisive Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, Barca were denied a penalty when home captain Gabi blocked Andres Iniesta's goalbound shot with his arm clearly inside the area, only for referee Nicola Rizzoli to judge wrongly that the offence had taken place outside the box.

So things have gone against them - but they have benefited from the rub of the green too. Gareth Bale had a goal disallowed harshly in the Clasico defeat, while Iniesta was lucky to avoid a red card for a deliberate handball at Atletico.
Bad luck, then, is not the only answer to Barca's malaise. So what is?

Uefa champions league team of the week

GK
Buffon - Juventus

DEFENDERS
Florenzi - AS Roma
Pivaric - Dynamo Zagreb
Bonucci - Juventus
Dante - Wolfsburg

MIDFIELDERS
Hakan - Bayer Leverkusen
Gaitan - Benfica
Di Maria - PSG

ATTACKERS
Griezmann - Atl Madrid
Hulk - Zenith St Petersburg
Ronaldo - Real Madrid

FC Porto vs FC Bayern München - match details and review

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FC Porto
3
V
Bayern Mun
1
FT 90' +4
HT 2-1
Date: Wednesday, 15th April
Kick off: 19:45
Venue: Estadio do Dragão
Key events:
FC Porto
Penalty
Quaresma 3' (pen)
FC Porto
Goal
Quaresma 10'
Bayern Munich
Goal
Thiago Alcántara 28'
FC Porto
Goal
J. Martínez 65'

Match details :
▪ Quaresma scored two in first nine minutes.

▪ Bayern's unbeaten run on Portuguese soil ends.

▪ Three defensive mistakes cost Bayern.

▪ FC Porto are the only unbeaten side left in the competition.

▪ Porto have not reached semi-finals since 2004, where they won it.

One of defensive blunders by Bayern on the night led to a penalty caused by Manuel Neuer -Ricardo Quaresma scored from the spot and added a second minutes later, after capitalising on Dante's mistake.
Thiago Alcántara scored a consolation on the 28th minute before Jackson Martínez added the 3rd on the night for Porto.

"We always want to build up from the back and this style can be dangerous," he conceded. "We can't make any accusations though. Mistakes happen.

"We were looking good when pulled a goal back, but when Porto made it 3-1, that really hurt us. Nevertheless, there is everything to play for in the
second leg," said Bayern captain Phillip Lahm.

Lahm has warned Porto that the tie is not over yet.

March stats :
Possession
FC Porto
31%
Bayern Mun
69%
Shots
FC Porto
6
Bayern Mun
5
Shots on target
FC Porto
4
Bayern Mun
3
Corners
FC Porto
3
Bayern Mun
6
Fouls
FC Porto
16
Bayern Mun
22

PSG Vs Barcelona - match details and review

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
Paris St G
1
V
Barcelona
3
FT 90' +4
HT 0-1
Date: Wednesday, 15th April
Kick off: 19:45
Venue: Parc des Princes

Barcelona
Goal
Neymar 18'
Barcelona
Goal
Suárez 67'
Barcelona
Goal
Suárez 79'
Paris Saint Germain
Goal
Mathieu 82' (og)

Match details :
▪Paris St Germain loss for the first time at home in UEFA champions league since 2006.

▪ Barca on course for seventh semi in eight seasons.

▪ Luis Suarez has 13 goals in last 15 matches.

▪ PSG lose unbeaten home record this season.

▪ Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed the tie but will be back for second leg.

▪ Paris St Germain skipper, Tiago Silva limped off after Neymar opened the scoring.

▪ Lionel Messi couldn't break uefa champions league scoring record after hitting the post in the first 45 minutes.

▪ Paris St Germain played without a number of key players - Ibrahimovic (suspended ), Thiago Motta ( thigh ), Verratti ( suspended ),

Match Stats :
Possession
Paris St G
34%
Barcelona
66%
Shots
Paris St G
8
Barcelona
11
Shots on target
Paris St G
4
Barcelona
6
Corners
Paris St G
4
Barcelona
4
Fouls
Paris St G
10
Barcelona
12

Porto Vs Bayern - match news and previews

Uefa champions league
FC Porto
V
Bayern Mun
Date: Wednesday, 15th April
Kick off: 19:45 BST
Venue: Estadio do Dragão

Match news :
• Winger Franck Ribery has an ankle problem, while midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out with flu.

• FC Porto come into this game as underdogs though they have caused an upset to the beverians once in an European Champions Club's Cup final in 1987.

• Both FC Porto and Bayern face each other after an impressive last 16 wins, 5-1 and 7-0 on aggregate respectively.

• FC Porto last reached the quarter-final stage six years ago.

• Bayern are unbeaten on Portuguese soil - 11 games without a loss against FC Porto.

Possible lineups:
Porto :
Fabiano; Danilo, Maicon, Martins Indi, Alex Sandro; Casemiro,
Herrera, Óliver Torres; Quaresma, Brahimi, Aboubakar.
• Out: Tello (hamstring), Marcano (suspended)
• Doubtful: Jackson Martínez (hamstring)

Bayern :
Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Bernat; Xabi Alonso, Lahm;
Müller, Thiago, Götze; Lewandowski.
• Out: Starke (ankle), Javi Martínez (knee), Benatia (thigh), Alaba (knee),
Robben (stomach), Schweinsteiger (illness), Ribéry (ankle)

Paris St Germain V Barca - Match news and previews

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Paris St Germain
V
Barcelona
Date: Wednesday, 15th April
Kick off: 19:45 BST
Venue: Parc des Princes

Match news:
• Lionel Messi has scored 45 goals in 44 games for Barcelona this season.

• Paris St Germain are chasing a quadruple this season after winning the coupe de France last weekend.

• Paris will miss star defender David Luiz to injury.

• Laurent Blanc says September's 3-2 win against Barcelona is the benchmark for Paris.

• Luis Enrique acknowledges Barcelona have had "many difficulties against Paris recently".

• Including the final fixture of last season, Paris are unbeaten in 24 home matches.

• Zlatan Ibrahimović among three suspended for Paris, who also have injuries.

• Barcelona are in the quarter-finals for a record eighth successive season.

Possible lineups
Paris :
Sirigu; Van der Wiel, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Rabiot,
Cabaye, Matuidi; Lavezzi, Cavani, Pastore.
• Out: Ibrahimović (suspended), Verratti (suspended), Aurier (suspended),
Thiago Motta (thigh) Doubtful: Luiz (thigh)

Barcelona:
Ter Stegen; Adriano/Bartra, Piqué, Mathieu/Busquets, Alba;
Rakitić, Mascherano, Iniesta; Suárez, Messi, Neymar.
• Out: Alves (suspended), Vermaelen (hamstring)

Juventus Vs Monaco - match details and preview

Uefa champions league
Juventus
1
V
Monaco
0
FT 90' +4
Date: Tuesday, 14th April
Kick off: 19:45
Venue: Juventus Stadium
Goal-Vidal 57' (pen)

Match details :
Arturo Vidal scored from the spot after Morata was tripped by Ricardo Carvalho.

Juventus hoping for first semifinal since 2003.

Juventus recovered from a league upset against relegation battling side Parma over the weekend.

Monaco's record of never having won in Italy extends to a seventh game.

Monaco hoping to win the 2nd leg.

Juventus have lost away to Club Atlético Madrid and Olympiacos FC this term.

The second leg will take place at Stade Louis II next Wednesday.

Match Stats:
Possession
Juventus
64%
Monaco
36%
Shots
Juventus
13
Monaco
16
Shots on target
Juventus
5
Monaco
4
Corners
Juventus
6
Monaco
7
Fouls
Juventus
7
Monaco
15

Atletico Vs Madrid - Match details and review

Uefa Championship League
Atlético Madrid
0
V
Real Madrid
0
FT 90' +4
Date: Tuesday, 14th April
Kick off: 19:45 BST
Venue: Vicente Calderó

Match news:
Ronaldo fails to break scoring record with Messi yet to play.

Goalkeeper Iker Casillas surpassed Barcelona's Xavi to become the competition's highest appearance maker with 147 games.

Atletico are unbeaten against Real in seven games.

Madrid couldnt find way passed Atletico Goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

The decider of the tie will be in the second leg which will take place at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu next Wednesday.

Match details:
Possession
Atl Madrid
38%
Real Madrid
62%
Shots
Atl Madrid
8
Real Madrid
17
Shots on target
Atl Madrid
2
Real Madrid
8
Corners
Atl Madrid
7
Real Madrid
5
Fouls
Atl Madrid
19
Real Madrid
11

Cristiano Ronaldo not efficient enough - UEFA averaged goals per game

Top scorer in UEFA club competitions with 78 - Ronaldo

When it comes to Europe's club competition, the current top goal scorers have had the opportunity to score more goals than their predecessors due to their participation in many continental matches.
But when it comes to average goals per game, the 'oldies' top the chart with pure and more goals in their matches played.

Real Madrid and Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed former club mate Raul Gonzalez in the all time scorers in UEFA club competitions with 78 goals. 

Ronaldo has 74 goals in 116 UEFA club matches.

However, the world's best player doesn't fall in the all time list of goals per game.
He lags behind some great and unexpected names.

Top goals per game averages in all UEFA club competitions
0.90: Radamel Falcao (FC Porto, Club Atlético de Madrid) – 38 goals in 42 games.
0.87: Gerd Müller (FC Bayern München) – 62 goals in 71 games.
0.86: Stéphane Guivarc'h (AJ Auxerre, Stade Rennais FC, Newcastle United FC) – 24 goals in 28 games.
0.82: Ivan Mráz (ŠK Slovan Bratislava, AC Sparta Praha, FK Dukla Praha) – 18 goals in 22 games.
0.86: Ferenc Puskás (Budapest Honvéd FC, Real Madrid CF) – 37 goals in 43 games.
0.83: Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF) – 50 goals in 60 games.
0.81: Jupp Heynckes (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach) – 45 goals in 55 games.
0.80: Kees Kist (AZ Alkmaar, Paris Saint Germain) – 20 goals in 25 games.
0.80: Denis Law (Manchester United FC) – 20 goals in 25 games.
0.80: Kevin Hector (Derby County FC) – 16 goals in 20 games.

List of Top goals per game averages in UEFA champions league/ European Champions club's cup
0.97: Gerd Müller (FC Bayern München) – 34 goals in 35 games.
0.86: José Altafini (AC Milan, Juventus) – 24 goals in 28 games.
0.85: Ferenc Puskás (Budapest Honvéd FC, Real Madrid CF) – 35 goals in 41 games.
0.84: Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF) – 49 goals in 58 games.
0.82: José Águas (SL Benfica) – 18 goals in 22 games.
0.80: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) – 75 goals in 94 games.
0.76: Jean-Pierre Papin (Olympique de Marseille, AC Milan) – 28 goals in 37 games.
0.75: Eusébio (SL Benfica) – 47 goals in 63 games
0.74: Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF) – 60 goals in 81 games.
0.68: Marco van Basten (AFC Ajax, AC Milan) – 19 goals in 28 games.

Champions League Draw - Madrid Derby in Champions league Quarters

Full draw:
Paris St-Germain v Barcelona

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid

Porto v Bayern Munich

Juventus v Monaco


10 time Champions Real Madrid will meet city rivals Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, in a repeat of last season's final.

Monaco, who edged past Arsenal on away goals, play Juventus, while German champions Bayern Munich face Porto.

Paris St-Germain's reward for beating Chelsea in the last 16 is a tie against Barcelona, the conquerors of English champions Manchester City.

The first legs are on 14-15 April, with the return matches on 21-22 April.

Real Madrid won their 10th European Cup as they ultimately overwhelmed Spanish champions Atletico in a compelling 4-1 win in Lisbon after extra time last season.

PSG Serge Aurier banned for 3 European matches

Serge Aurier - PSG

Ivorian full back Serge Aurier has been banned by UEFA for three European games.

The Paris Saint-Germain Player will miss both legs of their quarter-final tie next month.

The player who didn't take part of the Champions League 2nd leg round of 16 encounter against Chelsea on the 11th of March, took to his Facebook page to make "insults comments" about the referee Bjorn Kuipers on Ibrahimovic's sending off.

The 22-year-old will miss both legs of PSG's quarter-final games and should PSG qualify to the semifinal, he will miss the 1st Leg.

PSG knocked out Chelsea on away goals.
2-2, the match ended.

Juventus ease through against Dortmund

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Dortmund V Juventus
Date: Wednesday, 18th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Signal Iduna Park
               FT 90' +2
                Agg 1-5
                      Tévez 3'
                      Morata 70'
                      Tévez 79'

MATCH DETAILS :

▪ Carlos Tevez scored twice - the opening and last goals.

▪ Alvaro Morata gave the visitors their second.

▪ Pogba was taken off with injury in first half.

▪ Dortmund have never beaten Juve at home.

Champions League last eight
Atletico Madrid - knocked out Bayer Leverkusen on penalties.
Barcelona - beat Man City 3-1.
Bayern Munich - beat Shakhtar Donetsk 7-0.
Juventus - beat Borussia Dortmund 5-1.
Monaco - beat Arsenal on away goals.
Real Madrid - beat Schalke 5-4.
Paris St-Germain - beat Chelsea on away goals.
Porto - beat Basel 5-1.

LINEUPS
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Weidenfeller 1
Papastathopoulos 25
Subotic 4
Hummels 15
Schmelzer (Kirch 45') 29
Bender (Ramos 63') 6
Gündogan 8
Kampl 23
Reus 11
Mkhitaryan (Blaszczykowski 63') 10
Aubameyang 17

Substitutes
Kehl 5
Kagawa 7
Immobile 9
Blaszczykowski 16
Ramos 20
Kirch 21
Langerak 22

JUVENTUS
Buffon 1
Lichtsteiner 26
Bonucci 19
Chiellini 3
Evra 33
Vidal 23
Marchisio 8
Pereyra 37
Pogba (Barzagli 27') 6
Morata (Matri 78') 9
Tévez (Pepe 81') 10

Substitutes
Ogbonna 5
Pepe 7
Llorente 14
Barzagli 15
Padoin 20
Storari 30
Matri 32

Juventus ease through against Dortmund

Juventus ease their way through 

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Dortmund V Juventus
Date: Wednesday, 18th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Signal Iduna Park
              FT 90' +2
               Agg 1-5
                       Tévez 3'
                       Morata 70'
                       Tévez 79'

MATCH DETAILS :
▪ Carlos Tevez scored twice - the opening and last goals and assisted Alvaro Morata's goal.

▪ Alvaro Morata gave the visitors their second.

▪ Pogba was taken off with injury in first half.

▪ Dortmund have never beaten Juve at home.

▪ Carlos Tevez now has 23 goals in all competitions this season.

▪ Borussia Dortmund lifted the 1997 champions league trophy after beating Juventus.

▪ Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon made just two saves all night.

▪ THE FINAL EIGHT
Monaco
Real Madrid
Bayern München
Barcelona
Porto
Atletico Madrid
Paris St-Germain
Juventus

LINEUPS
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Weidenfeller 1
Papastathopoulos 25
Subotic 4
Hummels 15
Schmelzer (Kirch 45') 29
Bender (Ramos 63') 6
Gündogan 8
Kampl 23
Reus 11
Mkhitaryan (Blaszczykowski 63') 10
Aubameyang 17

Substitutes
Kehl 5
Kagawa 7
Immobile 9
Blaszczykowski 16
Ramos 20
Kirch 21
Langerak 22

JUVENTUS
Buffon 1
Lichtsteiner 26
Bonucci 19
Chiellini 3
Evra 33
Vidal 23
Marchisio 8
Pereyra 37
Pogba (Barzagli 27') 6
Morata (Matri 78') 9
Tévez (Pepe 81') 10

Substitutes
Ogbonna 5
Pepe 7
Llorente 14
Barzagli 15
Padoin 20
Storari 30
Matri 32

Barca knock out Manchester City

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Barcelona V Man City
Date : Wednesday, 18th March
Kick off : 19 : 45 GMT
Venue : Estadio de Camp Nou
             Agg : 3-1
 Rakitić 31'

MATCH DETAILS :
▪ Aguero penalty saved by Barca keeper Ter Stegen.

▪ Manchester City out of Champions league last 16 for the second year running.

▪ Mascherano had brought down Aguero on 77 minutes.

▪ Rakitic lobs Hart after sublime Messi pass to score the only goal of the match.

▪ Joe Hart made 10 saves in the game.

▪ Barca had 23 efforts on goal, while City managed 15.

▪ Barcelona reach the quarter-finals for a record eighth successive season

▪ Ivan Rakitić scores first UEFA Champions League goal after 19 games.

▪ Dani Alves will miss the first leg of Barcelona's quarter-final due to suspension.

Cristiano Ronaldo owes Joe Hart a hug - as the all-time record Champions League goalscorer, remains his. Thanks to a very impressive Joe Hart performance.

▪ THE FINAL EIGHT
Monaco
Real Madrid
Bayern München
Barcelona
Porto
Atletico Madrid
Paris St-Germain
Juventus

Draw comes off on Friday 20th March, 2015 at 12 : 00 CET at Nyon.

Barcelona V Man City (match news and previews )

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Barcelona V Man City
Date: Wednesday, 18th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Estadio de Camp Nou
1st Leg : 2-1

Form guide (all competitions)
Barcelona: LWWWWW
Manchester City: WWLLWL

MATCH NEWS

Yaya Touré available after a three-match ban but Gaël Clichy will miss the tie due to a suspension.

Barcelona bidding to reach quarter-finals for record eighth successive season.

Barcelona have won 16 of their last 17 games whilst the English Champions City have lost three of their last four.

Barcelona face Real Madrid in a potential Spanish league decider on Sunday 22nd March 2015 at the Camp Nou but manager Luis Enrique is looking no further than the 2nd leg tie against English Champions Manchester City.

The Clásico is coming up for FC Barcelona but Luis Enrique is looking no further
than the second leg against a Manchester City FC side confident they can compete
with 11 men.

Possible lineups
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Rakitić, Iniesta;
Suárez, Messi, Neymar.

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov,Fernando,
Fernandinho, Milner, Touré, Silva; Agüero.

Dortmund V Juventus (match news and previews)

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Borussia Dortmund V Juventus
Date: Wednesday, 18th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Signal Iduna Park
1st Leg : 1-2



Form guide (all competitions)
Dortmund: WLWWDD
Juventus: WWDLWW

MATCH NEWS:
Italian club Juventus, who won the first-leg in Turin 2-1, are unbeaten in 18 league games and currently sit on top of the Serie A log.

After a poor of run of form in the beginning of the season, Dortmund are now looking to be back on track with the Germans having gone six games unbeaten in the German Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund despite their shambolic performances in their domestic league - which left them in the relegation zone, were able to find their feet in Europe

However, Borussia Dortmund have failed to score in their last two domestic games.

"Juventus are a clever side, but they are not invincible. We know we need an
exceptional game,"  - Jorgen Klopp 

''They are unbeaten at home in Europe this season, "We face the greatest challenge there is in football, to score against an Italian team which will
advance with a 0-0 draw.

Possible lineups
Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Kirch, Subotić, Hummels, Schmelzer; S Bender, Gündoğan; Błaszczykowski, Kampl, Reus; Aubameyang.

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Marchisio, Pogba, Vidal; Pereyra; Tévez, Morata.

Atlético Madrid through on Penalties

Atlético celebrate win

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Atletico Madrid V Bayer Leverkusen
Date: Tuesday, 17th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Vicente Calderón
FT 120'
HT 1-0
Agg 1-1
Suárez 27'

MATCH DETAILS :
Atlético Madrid's Mario Suarez scored on the 27th minute to bring the tie back on level terms.

After 120 minutes of football, the match still couldn't be separated and it was down to penalty kicks

Stefan Kießling, Hakan Calhanoglu and Toprak all missed for Leverkusen as Atletico Madrid won 3-2 in the shootout.

It was a disappointing finish for Leverkusen, who were hoping to reach the last eight for the first time since reaching the final in 2002.

Raul Garcia missed the first penalty kick for the host before his mate Koke had his penalty saved.

Lineups
ATLÉTICO MADRID
Moyá Rumbo (Oblak 23') 1
Juanfran 20
Giménez de Vargas 24
Miranda 23
Gámez 18
Turan 10
Koke 6
Suárez 4
Gracia Calmache (Raúl García 45')22
Mandzukic (Torres 83' ) 9
Griezmann 7

Substitutes
Raúl García 8
Jiménez 11
Oblak 13
Gabi 14
Ansaldi 15
Torres 19
Hernández 28

BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Leno 1
Hilbert 13
Toprak 21
Spahic 5
Nascimento Borges 18
Bellarabi 38
Castro 27
Bender (Papadopoulos 104' ) 8
Son Heung-min (Rolfes 77') 7
Calhanoglu 10
Drmic (Kießling 69' ) 9

Substitutes
Reinartz 3
Rolfes 6
Kießling 11
Papadopoulos 14
Boenisch 17
Brandt 19
Kresic 25

Viliant Arsenal go out on Away Goals

Triumphant Monaco

Champions League
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Monaco V Arsenal
Date: Tuesday, 17th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stade Louis II
FT 90' +6
Agg 3-3
Giroud 36'
Ramsey 79'

MATCH DETAILS
Impressive Arsenal eliminated on away goals rule.

The Gunners pay for poor first leg.

Monaco reach last eight for first time since 2004-
Their last time, they were able to reach the final against FC Porto.

Olivier Giroud's goal was his seventh goal in eight games.

The striker was one of those hugely mocked in the first leg after missing couple of golden opportunities.

Arsenal failed to make the Champions League quarter-final for the fifth consecutive season despite beating Monaco in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

Recap:
Monaco defender Geoffrey
Kondogbia and Arsenal's Mesut
Ozil swapped shirts at half-time.

Lineups
MONACO
Subasic 1
Tavares 2
Fortuna dos Santos 13
Abdennour 5
Kurzawa 3
Dirar (Echiéjilé 86') 7
Toulalan 28
Kondogbia 22
Martial (Ferreira-Carrasco 60') 23
João Moutinho 8
Berbatov (Silva 70') 9

Substitutes
Carvalho 6
de Carvalho 12
Silva 15
Stekelenburg 16
Ferreira-Carrasco 17
Echiéjilé 21
Touré 38

ARSENAL
Ospina 13
Bellerin 39
Mertesacker 4
Koscielny 6
Monreal (Gibbs 83') 18
Coquelin (Ramsey 63') 34
Cazorla 19
Sánchez 17
Özil 11
Welbeck (Walcott 72') 23
Giroud 12

Substitutes
Szczesny 1
Gibbs 3
Gabriel 5
Walcott 14
Ramsey 16
Flamini 20
Chambers 21

Atletico Madrid V Bayer Leverkusen (match news and previews)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Atletico Madrid V Bayer Leverkusen
Date: Tuesday, 17th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Vicente Calderón
1st Leg
0 - 1

MATCH NEWS

Atlético Madrid, last season's beaten finalists, have one win in six matches, must overturn a 1-0 last-16 first-leg deficit against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday at the Calderon.

Diego Simeone says hard work is the only way Atletico can end their poor run of form and battle to stay in the Champions League.
Atlético Madrid will miss suspended Tiago Mendes after being sent off in the first leg against Leverkusen and Uruguay defender Diego Godin is also banned, having picked up his third Champions League yellow card of the season in the same game.

Atlético Madrid, after picking up three successive draws now trail log leaders Barcelona by 9 points with 11 games to go.

Atlético Madrid won the Spanish League last season.

"We're going into this game with great confidence."
- Bayer Leverkusen Schmidt said.

"We're still the underdogs, but an underdog in with a good chance,"

Form guide :
Atlético: LWLDDD
Leverkusen: DWWDWW

Monaco V Arsenal ( match news and previews )

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Monaco V Arsenal
Date: Tuesday, 17th March
Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stade Louis II

Referee: S. Moen
Assistants: K. Haglund
F. Andås
Fourth official: S. Midthjell

Preview :
MATCH NEWS

ARSENAL
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger - "We have experience, the desire and belief we can do it,"

"We want to give everything to have the greatest performance on the pitch."

"If we did not believe we could do it, we would not be here. The statistics are against us. The result in the first leg is against us. We are conscious about that.

"But no matter how big the percentage (chance) is, we have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie, that is our desire and belief that we can do it."

Arsène Wenger faces former club, Monaco where he coached them from 1987 - 1994.

Arsenal need to score at least a minimum of three goals without conceding.

No team in the Champions League have ever overturned a two-goal deficit away from home in the second leg. Ajax, in 1969, were the last to achieve the feat in the European Cup.

MONACO

Monaco have not conceded in the Champions League this season and are unbeaten in 16 games at Stade Louis II in all competitions.

"We played a dream game, our perfect game, which is why the result ended up like this." - Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim.

"However, we will approach the game the same way as all others - we are not thinking about result itself, just playing the game.

"Everyone knows this will be one of the most difficult challenges we have had for
years."

The message from Leonardo Jardim is that AS Monaco have won nothing yet as confident Arsenal arrive eyeing a piece of UEFA Champions League history.

Monaco are unbeaten at home since 2005.

Form guide :
Monaco: WWDLWW
Arsenal: WLWWWW