Programme du mois d'Avril -> football européen

Voici le programme du mois prochain.

D'abord pour la coupe UEFA

Les quarts de finale se passeront en matchs aller et retour les 3 et 10 avril 2008.
1. Bayer Leverkusen vs Zénith St-Petersbourg

2. Glasgow Rangers vs Sporting Portugal

3. Bayern Munich vs Getafe

4. Fiorentina vs PSV Eindhoven

Enfin, la crème de la crème: la ligue des Champions

Les quarts de finale se passeront en matchs aller et retour les 1-2 et 8-9 avril 2008.
1. FC Barcelone vs Schalke 04

2. Fenerbahce vs Chelsea

3. Arsenal vs Liverpool FC

4. AS Roma vs Manchester United


Il est mathématiquement assuré de retrouver un club anglais en demi-finale. Il est aussi possible d'avoir une finale 100% anglaise.

AC Milan, belle performance

Quelques résultats des matchs de ce weekend en Italie.
Eliminé de la Ligue des champions mardi par Arsenal, l'AC Milan s'est rapproché dimanche d'une nouvelle qualification dans l'épreuve reine du continent. Victorieux à Empoli (3-1), les Lombards ont désormais en ligne de mire la quatrième place de la Serie A, synonyme de tour préliminaire de la C1. Ils profitent de la défaite (1-0) de la Fiorentina à Sienne pour se rapprocher à un petit point de l'équipe de Florence, actuelle titulaire du précieux sésame. Ce fut moins évident que la largesse du score ne peut le laisser penser. Alors que Pato avait ouvert la marque (19e), les Azzurri ont égalisé par Buscé (25e) avant de tenir la dragée haute à leurs visiteurs. Jusqu'aux dernières minutes qui ont vu Ambrosini (85e) puis Kaka (89e) emporter la décision. La bonne opération des Milanais arrive aussi à point nommé avant leur déplacement la semaine prochaine sur la pelouse de l'AS Roma, plus que jamais dauphine de l'Inter Milan.

Grâce un but d'entrée de Perrotta (2e) et un penalty de l'inévitable Totti (49e), la Louve a fait, dimanche sur la pelouse de Naples (2-0), aussi bien que le leader, vainqueur de la Reggina sur le même score, samedi. La manière en plus. Face à des Napolitains qui avaient fait tomber l'Inter la semaine dernière pour la première fois de la saison, les Romains ont livré une prestation dans la lignée de leur exploit de Bernabeu, mercredi, en Ligue des champions contre le Real Madrid. Leur retard sur l'Internazionale reste de six points .

Avant le match de la Juventus Turin dimanche soir (20h30) chez Genoa, le grand perdant de la 27e journée est la Fiorentina, battue (1-0) dans le derby toscan chez son voisin de Sienne.

The Gunners: Above the champion

AC Milan simply do not lose to English clubs at home. Not until last night, anyway.

Arsenal’s masterclass in Milan was marvellous. When you consider that on 12 previous occasions the Rossoneri had avoided defeat against English opposition at Stadia Giuseppe Meazza , the Gunners’ achievement seems all the more impressive.

Their 2-0 victory completed an illustrious hat-trick for Arsenal following two other famous firsts on foreign soil.

In 1980, the Gunners became the first English club to win at Juventus. After an ill-tempered 1-1 draw in the first leg of their European Cup Winners' Cup Semi-Final at Highbury, Terry Neill took his charges to the Stadio Communale. With the scores deadlocked and time running out, Neill went for broke and threw on 18-year-old striker, Paul Vaessen. Two minutes from time, the gamble paid off. Graham Rix went on a mazy dribble into the box, pulled the ball back, and Vaessen guided a header past Dino Zoff. Arsenal were through to the Final, a match they lost on penalties against Valencia.

The second of Arsenal’s prestigious treble came in 2006. The location was the Santiago Bernabeu and home to Real Madrid. The much-fancied Spanish outfit boasted a wealth of world stars while Arsenal, with a crippling injury list, were struggling to find top-gear on the domestic front.

However, with Thierry Henry in their ranks, anything was possible. A virtuoso goal from the Frenchman two minutes after the interval was enough to secure a famous victory. Cesc Fabregas fed Henry in the centre circle and the striker held off Ronaldo, skipped past Alvaro Mejia and Guti before racing into the area and muscling past Sergio Ramos. He planted an angled shot past Casillas and into the far corner of the net. It was stunning even by Henry’s high standards.

Fifteen days later a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Highbury saw Arsenal into the last eight of the Champions League.

Barca: First defeat of the year

Barça falls victim in the Vicente Calderon in a game in which they had gone ahead with an incredible goal from Ronaldinho. An unfortunate move by Puyol, resulted in the draw and a change of rhythm for the home side bringing them back into the game.

There were two very different games played tonight in the Vicente Calderon. The first was played during the first half hour, when Barça went ahead with an incredible overhead kick by Ronaldinho and where Barça were by far superior, especially in midfield.

The second game began with Aguirre’s goal to draw even, where they made the most of an unfortunate move by Puyol, which ended in a goal. From then on the home team made the most of their fast counterattacks led by a decisive Agüero. So much so, that in the 71st minute, the score was already 4-1. Barça, despite the adverse circumstances, never dropped their heads and always had faith in turning the game around – even more achievable after Eto’o’s goal (73rd min.) right to the last minute. In the end, however, a defeat, which leaves Barça five points behind Madrid, who beat Huelva.

Incredible goal by Ronaldinho

Dominating the game from the kick-off, the blue and reds managed to close down the “mattress makers” in their own half for the first half hour. A disallowed goal by Eto’o (10th min.) and a wild long shot by Edmilson (22nd min.) were the warning shots from Barça, who didn’t forgive with the third: Xavi centres from the right wing and Ronaldinho, in the penalty box, rockets it home with a perfect overhead kick, one for the video collection.

They pull it back in six minutes

Athletico seemed broken by the away goal and the clear superiority of Barcelona, but found themselves with a lucky goal from ‘Kun’ Agüero (36th min.), a shot which deflected unwillingly off Puyol. The misfortune caught up with the blue and reds who, without time to react, saw how Maxi scored the 2-1 with a crossing shot after a triangulation on the right wing. Even though superior in possession, Rijkaard’s men made it to half time losing by the minimum.

Number three by Forlán

From the beginning of the second half the dynamics continued from the end of the first half. Athletico was the one breaking through more dangerously and Barça’s game was quickly breaking down. It was then that Agüero, a real nightmare for the red and blue defence forces a penalty, which Forlan puts away (61st min.)

Another goal each

The Argentine Agüero, though would still have time to show his worth with another goalafter leaving behind three Barcelona players. Twenty minutes to go and the score 4-1, it seemed impossible to win back the game. Only two minutes later, though, a goal by Eto’o cut back the defecit. It seemed the goals would never cease in a game which went crazy after the first half hoiur

Fight to the end

The fact is that, even with another great chance for Eto’o (91st min.) and the insistence of the red and blues, who never let their heads go down , no more goals came in the last quarter hour and Barça lost 4-2. This result combined with the Madrid victory in Huelva (2-3), leaves Rijkaard’s boys five points adrift of the leader.

--> now heading to FC.Barcelona vs Celtic Glasgow on March the 4th 2008