All thanks to Diego Milito who scored two superb goals, Inter won 2-0 over Bayern Munich in the final held on Saturday.

Man of the Moment- Diego Milito

Inter completed a treble of Serie A Cup, Italian league and now the Champions League. Most of the praise goes to coach Jose Mourinho who became only the third man to win the European Cup with two clubs.

Milito has had a tremendous season, achieving 22 goals, he also scored to win the Italians the Seria A Cup and most importantly got the winner in the Italian Cup final.

The estatic Milito commented:

“It’s a joy I’ve never experienced. Incredible. I am so happy for Inter because we wanted this so badly. We are so happy and it’s a unique sensation.”

Mourinho has had a long list of achievements and has followed Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as the only man to win the European Cup with two different sides following his success with Porto in 2004. The Portuguese has been sought out by Spanish giants- Real Madrid.

Pedro drew first blood for Barcelona but the visitors were left behind by a fascinating performance from the home team.

Pedro Rodriguez of Barcelona scores the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro on April 20, 2010.

Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito helped Inter steal the match away from the Spanish giants.

Ex-Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was booed by the Inter fans. Inter’s defence can give themselves a huge pat on the back for keeping the goal scoring machine- Lionel Messi, quiet.

Barcelona didn’t give up and kept trying to get back into the match, but the Inter defence proved too strong for them. Barca may want to blame their subdued performance on the Icelandic volcano which had them travel for 14 hours by bus.

Arjen Robben and his Bayern team mates celebrate his second goal at the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final, April 7th, 2010

The ten-man United squad couldn’t manage to hold on. Bayern Munich’s Robben helped his team through to the semi-finals with a beautiful volley. Earlier, United opened the scoring through Darren Gibson (3′), which was followed by Nani’s (7′) back heel goal. Nani added another in the 41st minute, United looked like they could sail through into the next round. However, Olic pulled one back two minutes after Nani had scored his second.

After the interval, United defender- Rafael was sent-off for his second bookable offence. Ferguson reacted by taking Rooney off and strengthened the back line with John O’Shea. Nani nearly scored his hat-trick through one of Valencia’s fantastic break, but it wasn’t meant to be.

It took a phenomenal goal from Robben (71′), that flew past Van der Sar into the far corner, to beat the hosts.

Messi celebrates his goal against Arsenal, Barcelona V Arsenal on 6th April, 2010

The little wonder scored 4 goals to help Barcelona into the next round.

Messi shows his skills in front of goal once again, he scored all four goals for Barca. Arsenal opened up the scoring through Bendtnerin the 18th minute. However, from then on the Gunners had to comply with ‘the Messi’ force.

Messi truly had an amazing match, his player rating would surely be 10. Messi scored the first with a left footer, the second with awesome control with his right foot, chipped the third in audaciously to complete his fourth hat-trick of the season.  He later scored his fourth near the end of the game after having his initial shot blocked by Almunia; the Argentina international then raced to get the ball back before burying the ball into the back of the net through Almunia’s legs.

Check all the goals from the match here.

AC Milan had a dream start when David Beckham’s free kick was struck by Ronaldinho, which took a deflection into the goal. Manchester United came onto the score sheets with a strange goal from Paul Scholes in the 35th minute.

After the break United came out all guns ablaze and took the challenge to the opposition. Sub Antonio Valencia’s cross allowed Rooney to jump in between the centerbacks to head home his first for the night and United’s second. Roo added another 8 minutes later, this was also scored from a header.

Rooney heads in his first goal

With 6 minutes remaining in the match, Clarence Seedorf scored an amazing back-heel. Milan ended with two goals. The score read 3-2 in United’s favour.

The Reds have allowed late goals in both their Champions League matches against Lyon and now Fiorentina, which has damaged their chances of qualifying to the knockout stage. Both Lyon and Fiorentina have made it to the next round.
In the post match conference Rafael Benitez said:

“The result and the way it happened just about sums up our Champions League campaign. Another last minute goal, and we are disappointed with that for the third time in this group. Now we must be ready for the next game at home to Arsenal on Sunday. We worked so hard, we had chances, so they are the only positive that we can take from the game.”

Although there were positives that Liverpool can take from this match, Torres returned from a groin injury and Aquiliani made his full debut for the club.

Benitez commented:

“Aquilani showed his quality, his touch was good. His vision and passing were good, but obviously he will have to work on his match fitness.”

“Everyone is available for Sunday, if he trains well he could well be involved against Arsenal. We are still trying to see the positives, we are playing better and we must now must take that into a very important game. It is the beginning of a new season for us now, I hope.”

Liverpool have also learnt that they will not be seeded in the Europa League next season.

“We will not be seeded in the Europa League, we must cope with that and be strong to handle what ever comes our way now,”

Benitez added.

Already goals have been scored in the five games out of eight games with the most thrilling match being that of Marseille versus Real Madrid.

Marseille 1-3 Real Madrid

Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo opened the score for the visitors in the 5th minute. However, six minutes later Lucho equalized for the French team. Raul Albiol gives his team the lead right on the hour mark!

Ronaldo adds another for Madrid.

Chelsea 2-2 Apoel Nicosia

Apoel Nicosia scored through Marcin Zewlakow in the 6th minute. The home team levelled in the 19th minute through Michael Essien and later took the lead from a Drogba(26′) goal. Apoel level in the dying minutes from a Nenad Mirosavljevic goal.

Juventus 1-4 Bayern Munich

Like the other matches played in the Champions League, Juventus took the lead in the 19th minute after Trezeguet scored. The Germans came from a goal down to level from a 30th minute penalty, converted by Jans-Jorg Butt.

After the break Olic gives Munich the lead.

Munich have gone back to their winning ways, after being 1-0 down they made a comeback to finish with four.

Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Bordeaux

Jussie brought Bordeaux on the scoreboard with a 13th minute goal.

Besiktas 1-2 CSKA Moscow

Milos Krasic netted a goal right before half time to give his team an advantage before the break. The final minutes of the match got interesting after Bobo(86′) equalized for Besiktas but Evgeni Aldonin scored the winner for CSKA Moscow in the 90th minute of the match. A very close finish for Moscow.

VfL Wolfsburg 1-3 Manchester United

Michael Owen helped Man U secure the lead minutes before the break.

Manchester United and Arsenal’s transfer target- Edin Dzeko scores for Wolfsburg, to get them level with United.

Michael Owen scores a hatrick and secures a comfortable lead for Man U.

Atletico Madrid 0-3 FC Porto

Bruno Alves has become a scoring defender, netting one for his country in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers and now getting one in the second minute of the match. His goal was followed by Falcao in the 14th minute.

Chelsea target Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan need to come to the party.

Hulk adds the third for Porto.

Zurich 1-1 AC Milan

Milan trail Zurich after Milan Gajic gets a goal.

A 64th minute Ronaldinho penalty saved Milan.

Barcelona 2-0 Inter Milan

Pique puts Barca ahead in the 10th minute and Pedro added another in the 26th minute.

Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool

David N’gog nudges in the ball from Fabio Aurelio’s corner, in the 4th minute.

Liverpool won’t be too thrilled even after leading at half-time, since Fiorentina have taken the lead against Lyon. This squanders “The Reds” chances of going to the next round.

Fiorentina 1-0 Lyon

Juan Manuel Vargas smashes in a penalty at Stadio Artemio Franchi. The score is now 1 – 0.

AZ 0-0 Olympiacos

The score remains all square at half-time.

Arsenal 2-0 Standard

The Gunners take the lead at home through Samir Nasri, followed by Denilson, to extend their lead.

Sevilla 0-1 Unirea

Sevilla’s Ivica Dragutinovic heads into his own goal.

Rangers 0-2 VfB Stuttgart

Sebastian Rudy(16′) scores for Stuttgart.  Zdravko Kuzmanovic heads in to extend VfB Stuttgart’s lead at Ibrox.

Late goals from Paul Scholes(84′) and Antonio Valencia(90′+2′) helped United progress into the knockout stage of the competition. CSKA’s Deividas Šemberas earned  a red card but the team held on for a well-earned point on a remarkable tournament debut for new coach Leonid Slutski.

Earlier, Alan Dzagoev, Miloš Krasi? and Vasili Berezutski gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage, Owen had scored early in the first half. United dropped quite a few chances, Owen missed his kick when teed up by Valencia, then Darren Fletcher and Federico Macheda. Akinfeev made a string of saves to keep his side in the game, but couldn’t prevent United from salvaging a draw.

AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

The honours were shared at San Siro after Karim Benzema’s 29th-minute strike for an enterprising Real Madrid CF was cancelled out by Ronaldinho’s penalty six minutes later.

The visitors started off strongly having loads of chances and Benzema gave them the lead, but minutes later as Zambrotta attempted a cross the the ball struck the arm of the  sliding Pepe and referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot. Ronaldinho blasted the equalizer into the roof of the net.

Milan could have snatched the lead on 58 minutes when Massimo Ambrosini headed Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick over from four metres out and Pirlo almost picked out Marco Borriello soon afterwards before Xabi Alonso came to the rescue. Real, meanwhile, were now shooting from distance, but neither Kaká or Marcelo’s strikes seriously threatened Dida. Milan substitute- Inzaghi miscued a glorious chance from close range on 83 minutes, while his counterpart, Raúl González, saw his 88th-minute strike spectacularly turned over by Dida to ensure the contest finished all-square.

Chelsea  2-2 Atletico Madrid

Like Manchester United, their Premier League counterparts Chelsea FC reached the Champions League knockout round with two Group D games to spare despite a spirited display by now eliminated Club Atlético de Madrid, Didier Drogba’s double proving enough for the visitors.

Atlético put in an improved performance under new coach Quique Sánchez Flores and two spectacular Sergio Agüero goals. Atlético set the early pace with quick and neat passing. Diego Forlán came closest to opening the scoring when he let fly a left-footer from distance that zipped wide.

Drogba returning from a three-game suspension showed his eagerness to mark his return with a goal. In the 82nd minute, Drogba headed in Florent Malouda’s cross, Juanito’s slip allowed the Ivorian to score at the second attempt.

Other Results:

Marseille 6-1 FC Zurich
Maccabi Hafia 0-1 Juventus
Bayern Munich 0-2 Bordeaux
Bseiktas 0-3 Wolfsburg
APOEL 0-1 Porto

4th November Fixtures:

ACF Fiorentina    V   Debreceni VSC
Olympique Lyonnais    V    Liverpool FC
FC Rubin Kazan   V    FC Barcelona
FC Dynamo Kyiv   V    FC Internazionale Milano
FC Unirea Urziceni   V   Rangers FC
Sevilla FC    V   VfB Stuttgart
Arsenal FC    V    AZ Alkmaar
R. Standard de Liège    V   Olympiacos FC

All the major teams didn’t manage to secure a win in today’s Champions League clashes.

Barcelona 1-2 Rubin

The away team scored in the 2nd minute of play through Ryazantsev. The scoreline remained undisturbed till the 48th minute, Ibra moved past two Rubin defenders to net in the ball from a Xavi forward pass. Later in the 73rd minute Rubin were put ahead with Karadeniz’s shot which went across Valades.

Liverpool 1-2 Lyon

Gerrard started the match but was substituted in the 25th minute with Fabio Aurelio. Liverpool took the lead right before half-time, Aurelio’s cross reached Benayoun at the back post who fired it in to the roof of the net. Lyon began the second half well, having three tries within three minutes. Lyon finally equalized, with Gonalons receiving the ball right at his feet after Reina had made an initial save. Liverpool fans stood still as Delgado scored the winner in injury time from a Govou cross.

Inter 2-2 Dynamo

Inter went a goal down early on (5′) when the ball fell into Mikhalik’s path after a free-kick. Inter looked wobbly at the back, nevertheless, Dejan Stankovic leveled in the 35th minute. Minutes later Lucio scored an own goal to give Dynamo the lead once again. Inter came back with Walter Samuel scoring the header from Sneijder’s corner.

AZ 1-1 Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas put the Gunners ahead in the 36th minute after a typical Arsenal move also involving Arshavin and Van Persie. Arsenal almost had victory until Mendes da Silva snatched it with a close range volley in injury time.

Other results:
Debrecen 3-4 Fiorentina
Rangers 1-4 Unirea
Stuttgart 1-3 Sevilla
Olympiacos 2-1 Standard