Posts Tagged ‘Arsenal’

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals Draw (2008-09): It’s Liverpool vs. Chelsea Again!

Friday, March 20th, 2009

UEFA Champions League

The draw for the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Champions League took place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, today at 12:00 CET (I liveblogged the event on Soccerlens).

No Serie A teams were involved alas, and most of us will be watching the next rounds sighing in sadness and regret. Yup. No Juve, no Inter, no Roma… sad sad sad. But while we cry, there’s no reason not to enjoy the best football action European football still has to offer.

I’ll try to make a more elaborate analysis later in the day, but for now here are the draw results.

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2008/09 UEFA Champions League
Quarter-Finals
to be played April 7/8 and 14/15

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Villareal
Villarreal
vs.
Arsenal
Arsenal
Man Utd
Manchester Utd
vs.
Porto
FC Porto
Liverpool
Liverpool
vs.
Chelsea
Chelsea
Barcelona
Barcelona
vs.
Bayern
Bayern Munich


.

2008/09 UEFA Champions League
Semi-Finals
to be played April 28/29 and May 5/6

.

Man Utd/Porto
vs.
Villarreal/Arsenal
Barcelona/Bayern
vs.
Liverpool/Chelsea


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Roma 1-0 Arsenal: Hero-Mode Isn’t Enough, Giallorossi Beaten on Penalties (UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg)

Friday, March 13th, 2009

AS Roma defender Max Tonetto, left reacts after missing to score as Arsenal players celebrate during the penalties shootout of the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between AS Roma and Arsenal at Rome's Olympic stadium, Wednesday, March 11, 2009. Arsenal beat AS Roma 7-6 in a penalty shootout to reach the Champions League quarterfinals. (AP Photo)

Compared to their Italian rivals, Roma‘s stay in the UEFA Champions League lasted just a little bit longer: 30 extra minutes + a peanuts for spot kicks. Not a whole lot to be proud of, for at sundown the end result is the same: like Juve and Inter, the Giallorossi are leaving Europe and going home.

Unlike Bianconeri and Nerazzurri however (and all things considered), Roma are those who had the biggest chance of qualification ultimately, and also those who perhaps will have the most regrets at the end of the night. To quote Gazzetta, “they put their hearts, their bandages, their minds and their will into this match… everything they had.” It wasn’t enough. Once again this year the English “evil” proved to be stronger: it wasn’t a colossal 7-1 slap at the Theatre of Dreams, it was a penalty elimination at the hands of Arsenal. Same difference.

Once again, it’s Italian football as a whole that’s taken a beating.

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Arsenal vs. Roma: The PLAYERS

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

arsenal-roma_cl-gazzetta

Continuing to surf on La Gazzetta‘s “Serie A vs. EPL” wave, here are ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champions League’s Arsenal vs. Roma.

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Make or Break Time for Serie A Teams (UEFA Champions League R16 Return Legs Preview)

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

It really is make or break time for the Italian sides in the UEFA Champions League. All three teams face uphill struggles against their English opponents, and it will be tricky for any of them to progress. Roma and Juve both have a one-goal deficit to recover, while Inter travel to Manchester on level terms.

Chelsea's Jose Bosingwa, left, battles for the ball with Juventus' Pavel Nedved during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Chelsea and Juventus at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. (AP Photo)

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Arsenal 1-0 Roma: Van Persie Gives Gunners a Slim Lead, Giallorossi Quite Fortunate in the End (UEFA Champions League Round of 16, First Leg)

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

UEFA Champions League 2008-09 - Arsenal vs. Roma

It may not have been a 7-1 thumping like at the Old Trafford and it may still keep their chances alive for the second leg, but Tuesday’s Arsenal vs. Roma confirmed one thing for Luciano Spalletti: winning in England is still taboo.

In truth, Giallorossi supporters can find themselves lucky their team leaves the Emirates with only a 1-goal deficit: based on the 90 minutes of action yesterday, the bill to pay could have been far more expensive (the misses of Bendtner and Eboué come to mind). But all excuses for their poor performance aside (the important absences of Juan and Vucinic, coupled with the OMG moments of Simone Loria), the Roma manager will have to do a hell of a lot better at the Olimpico if he hopes continuing his team’s European adventure.

Arsenal's Robin van Persie celebrates after scoring with a penalty shot against AS Roma during their Champions League soccer match at the Emirates stadium in London February 24, 2009. (REUTERS)

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