Saudi FM meets President Aoun in historic visit to Lebanon "Saudi Arabia stands by Lebanon and is optimistic about its future"    Saudi crown prince and US secretary of state discuss over phone ways to enhance cooperation    NMC: Most Saudi regions to witness rain of varying intensity until Monday    Alkhorayef meets global executives at WEF to boost Saudi industrial growth    Advancing Saudi Vision 2030: Technology as a Cornerstone for Growth    WEF 2025: Saudi delegation calls for global cooperation, climate action, and AI-driven innovation    GASTAT: Non-oil exports surge 19.7% in November 2024    Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Israeli attack on Jenin in West Bank    Why do athletes earn such high incomes?    Ukrainian soldiers on Donetsk frontlines call for more weapons    Flights canceled for refugees who were slated to travel to US    1.4 billion people traveled internationally in 2024 as tourism returns to pre-pandemic highs    Julian Quinones' brace secures Al Qadsiah's 2-0 win over Al Orobah    Al Ittihad defeats Al Shabab 2-1 to stay in title race with Al Hilal    Tina Turner's lost Private Dancer song rediscovered    Comeback queens, blockbusters and Succession stars: The Oscar nominations previewed    Thousands evacuated as new fast-growing fire ignites near Los Angeles    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    France issues health warning as tons 'aphrodisiac honey' seized    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Real and Chelsea move into quarters
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 18 - 03 - 2011

Real Madrid's Marcelo (C) celebrates his goal with Pepe (L) and Sami Khedira (R) against Lyon in Madrid Wednesday. (AP)LONDON: Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in seven years by sweeping aside Lyon Wednesday, and Chelsea relied on its first-leg goals to oust FC Copenhagen.
Karim Benzema scored against his former club to help Madrid beat Lyon 3-0 and send Jose Mourinho's side through 4-1 on aggregate. Marcelo and Angel Di Maria also found the net.
“I'm relaxed rather than euphoric because for me this is normal,” Mourinho said. “Madrid is too big a club not to be there.”
Not only does the victory end Madrid's miserable record, but it keeps Mourinho on course to become the first coach to win the competition with three different clubs, having led Inter Milan to the trophy last season and FC Porto to the 2004 title.
While Madrid is a nine-time European champion, Chelsea has yet to conquer the continent.
Having won 2-0 in the away leg at Copenhagen, Chelsea was held to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge by the Danish champions. “We needed to be careful at the back, any goal would have given them belief,” Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech said. “The job was done, we kept a clean sheet. The only thing missing was converting our chances.”
Chelsea and Madrid will join Inter Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk in Friday's draw for the last eight.
“I prefer to avoid Inter and Chelsea because emotionally it's difficult to play against your people, your friends,” Mourinho said.
It is a draw Madrid hasn't been in since 2004, but now Mourinho will be hoping to deliver the club's 10th European title. The away goal from the 1-1 draw in the first leg gave Madrid a slight advantage, and Marcelo made it 2-1 in the 37th minute.
The Brazilian defender played a one-two with Cristiano Ronaldo before cutting inside defender Dejan Lovren and powering a shot past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Benzema found the back of the net with a header soon after but he was ruled offside. However, the France striker scored in the 66th, latching onto Marcelo's long pass upfield and slotting the ball through Lloris' legs.
Madrid's 25th successive home win in all competitions was sealed 10 minutes later by Angel Di Maria, who chipped the ball over Lloris after being released by Mesut Oezil's header. “We couldn't match them tonight. We came up against a very good team that closed us down from the outset,” Lyon coach Claude Puel said.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea never looked troubled thanks to Nicolas Anelka's first-leg double, but Carlo Ancelotti's side was overly relaxed against Copenhagen at times. Anelka was too casual with his flicked finish after 20 minutes, with goalkeeper Johan Wiland easily blocking the effort. And Chelsea nearly paid for it five minutes later when Dame N'Doye hit the post with a free kick that had beaten Cech.


Clic here to read the story from its source.