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The knockout stage of the Champions League is on the way today. All the fixtures seem to be real exciting encounters.

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.

Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley

Bottom placed Portsmouth played well to earn a victory over Burnley. It was the first match for Avram Grant as Portsmouth manager, and it was a delightful welcome for him.

Brunley squandered quite a few opportunities to go ahead and will surely regret the missed chances.

Portsmouth didn’t give up and kept pushing forward. Portsmouth had a great chance to go one-up from a penalty but Dindane managed to miss it. However, later in the game he scored adding to the lead given to the home team through Hermann Hreidarsson’s brilliant left-footer.

Portsmouth are now temporarily off the bottom place.

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool earn another frustrating draw. The first half had nothing interesting happening. Both teams evenly matched up until the break.

At the start of the second half Blackburn had some great opportunities, through Chelesa’s loan signing- Di Santo. The youngster played well.

Liverpool also had decent opportunites, the most tlling one being a terrific run by Glenn Johnson to put N’gog on goal, but N’gog somehow skewed the shot on the top-bar. The rebound was hit off target.

Liverpool surely looked like they were missing Torres, The Reds were just unable to put the ball in the back of the net.

Wonder why Benitez wasn’t looking to bring Aquiliani on as a substitute, Nabil El Zhar was brought in as a late substitute.

Blackburn were also suffering from some kind of jitters in front of goal, like their counterparts. They also had numerous opportunities to seal the deal, but were unsuccessful.

Although Blackburn will be happy to gain a point after a rigorous mid-week game.

West Ham 0-4 Manchester United

It was a thumping win for the defending champions. Scholes opened the score just before half-time.

Wonder kid- Darron Gibbson scored another glorious strike just over the hour mark and added to the lead.

The Hammers had decent chances as well but couldn’t convert. Diamanti had an awesome shot on goal, but Kuzczak pulled an even better save.

Two quick goals were scored by Valencia and Rooney which took the match away from the home team.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City

Prior to the match Arshavin had stated that Arsenal were missing Van Persie upfront and also some tall statured players(Arshavin himself being around 5′ 8″).

Arshavin looked lively on the field and managed to win a penalty after forcing an error from Delap. Skipper Fabregas came up to take the spot-kick but Sorensen saved it.

Arshavin scored another brilliant goal from a Fabregas cross.

Ramsey scored the second to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Wigan 2-3 Birmingham

Wigan took the lead in the first half through N’Zogbia’s 33rd minute strike.

Sebastian Larsson equalized for the visitors in the 61st minute and five minutes later Christian Benitez gave Birmingham the lead. Later Larsson extended the lead by scoring his second goal in the game.

Jordi Gomez pulled one back late in the match, but it was just too late for the homeside.

Until today’s loss, Wigan were undefeated at home after leading 1-0.

Aston Villa 3-0 Hull

Villa scored early in the game through Richard Dunne from a Milner assist. 15 minutes later Milner celebrated his own strike and also Villa’s 2-0 lead.

Aston Villa kept attacking Hull City, they won a penalty which was taken by Carew.

Wolves 2-1 Bolton

The fastest goal of the day was scored by Wolverhampton’s Jody Carddock in the 3rd minute.

Nenad Milijas added to the lead. Bolton struck a late goal through Johan Elmander.

Both sides looked to attack but the game ended 2-1 to Wolves.

Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea

The final match of the day was the most exhilirating encounter. Both sides were looking to attack from kick-off.

Chelsea took the lead when Anelka’s shot could have been saved by Given, but unfortunately the ball bounced into the net off Adebayor back. Adebayor took revenge later in the half, scoring from a corner.

The second half got into a high-tempo mode. Both sides were driving players forward and referee came into action many-a-times producing yellow cards and giving free-kicks. Chelsea and Man City had good chances, Chelsea didn’t manage to capitilize. City were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, which was wonderfully converted by Tevez to give City the lead.

Drogba won a penalty for Chelsea after drawing a foul from Onuoha, late in the game. Given came to City’s rescue by saving Lampard’s penalty and thus ensuring a win for Man City.

Shay Given saves Lampard's penalty

City’s Micah Richards and Wayne Bridge both seemed to be injured, Bridge was carried off on a stretcher after a sliding tackle from Belletti. Chelsea’s Terry also limped off late in the second half.

Catch all the goal highlights here

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.

Arsenal v Tottenham

Tottenham Skipper - Robbie Keane

Robbie Keane made a bold statement- that Tottenham have a squad that is at least the equal of Arsenal’s. Tottenham have not defeated Arsenal in almost a decade, a run of 19 matches without a win.

Last season Arsenal 4 Tottenham 4

Interesting Facts

• Tottenham have not beaten the hosts in the Premier League since November 1999 and have not won a league encounter at Arsenal since May 1993

• Arsenal have conceded 13 goals so far this season, their worst ever defensive record in the Premier League after nine matches

• David Bentley has not scored a league goal since opening the scoring for Tottenham against his old club in this fixture last season

• If the hosts win this match they will claim their 1,000th Premier League point with Arsène Wenger as manager

Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia could be set for a recall to the starting line-up for the derby with Tottenham. Several changes will be made from the young side who beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup. Lukasz Fabianski (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott (both knee) miss out. Samir Nasri is likely to be on the bench tomorrow, he had earlier started in the mid-week League Cup clash against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg.

Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe serves the final part of his three-match suspension and will miss the match. Aaron Lennon (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (ankle) and Luka Modric (fractured leg) are also out but Peter Crouch has recovered from a groin problem. Carlo Cudicini (knee) and centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate (head) and Ledley King (illness) should be available and Niko Kranjcar is back after being cup-tied.

Arsenal (possible team): Mannone, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Eboué, Song, Fábregas, Diaby, Arshavin, Van Persie, Almunia, Eduardo, Vela, Gibbs, Silvestre, Wilshere, Ramsey, Bendtner.

Tottenham (possible team) : Gomes, Cudicini, Button, Hutton, Naughton, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Woodgate, King, Bassong, Dawson, Huddlestone, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Bentley, Keane, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko.

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According to the Daily Mail, Barcelona’s Carlos Puyol could move to the Premier League. Both Arsenal and Man City have shown interest in the Spanish defender, whose contract at the Nou Camp ends next summer.

Puyol thinks its time to test himself abroad and what better place to do so than the Premier League. The veteran has admitted that he admires the pace and physical nature of the League and believes it is a perfect fit with his style.