UEFA Champions League Round-Up

Tonight Lionel Messi showed the World who were watching why he deserves the accolade of being World Player of the Year as he tore apart Arsenal single handily with four goals.

Barcelona will now face Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan as they beat CSKA Moscow 1-0 away from home.

Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal (Agg 6-3)

Both teams went into this match knowing it was going to be difficult as both missed key players. It was Arsenal who took the lead as Walcott played Bendtner in on goal who saw his shot saved but his quick reactions saw him fire in the first goal from close range.

It didn’t take long for Messi to get his first goal as within 4 minutes he skipped past 2 players and fired the ball past Almunia from 20 yards out. Messi got his second of the evening as Barcelona saw the ball whipped into the box, the ball was flicked back to Messi who ran past Clichy and smashed the ball past Almunia.

Messi got his hat-trick just before half time as a fantastic through ball was made and Messi broke the offside trap and the winger managed to chip the ball over the advancing Almunia.

The game looked over at half time and Messi made sure it was late on in the second half as his rebounded shot fell back to him only for him to slot it in between Almuina’s legs.

Arsenal had a few chances in the second half but they seemed beaten by Lionel Messi’s brilliance.

CSKA Moscow 0-1 Inter Milan (Agg 0-2)

Inter Milan realistically only needed 1 goal to advance as CSKA would need 3 goals just to progress. It didn’t take long for Inter to get the lead as Wesley Sneijder scored from a free-kick after 6 minutes.

CSKA now needed 3 goals to qualify, but never looked like scoring. Their hopes of progressing dashed and pretty much sealed when Odiah was sent off for the home side.

Barcelona will now play Inter Milan in the semi finals, and although Jose Mourinho in considered to be one of the best managers out there, I cant look past Barcelona in this match with Messi being in the form that he is currently in and with Iniesta, Puyol ,Pique and Ibrahimovic all set to return in the next game.

The match will also see former players Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic facing their old employers after switching clubs in the same deal in the summer of 2009.

David Osterland