Tonight draw conclusion to the first legs of the Champions League, with four teams yet to play their first game in their knock out stage. The four teams in action tonight were Turkish champions Galatasaray who were home to Group B table toppers and one of the three German sides all to remain in the competition, Schalke. Many people were keen to keep an eye on the Turkish outfit due to some business they managed to coup during the January transfer window bringing in key big named signings. Most notably are the Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan and Didier Drogba.
However, the tie of the night was at the ever-packed San Siro were an electrifying crowd were to see Italian giants AC Milan entertain Spanish giants and pre match tournament favourites Barcelona. What looks like a forgone conclusion in La Liga see’s Barca having the league all but wrapped up meaning that they were able to have full focus on tonight’s game. Despite being tournament favourites, if Barca were to repeat fate from 2011 in going all the way to Wembley and lifting the trophy it would be a very impressive debut season in management for Tito Vilanova.
Galatasaray 1:1 Schalke
As the two games kicked off it wasn’t long before the first goal of the night came, yet it may not of been the one most would have expected. The goal was scored by Galatasaray. However, it wasn’t Drogba who got the goal, but another striker who is grabbing headlines lately, Burak Yilmaz. The Turkish striker has been in top form for Galatasaray this season and his 12th minute goal tonight made him the tournaments leading top scorer, joint on 7 with Cristiano Ronaldo. After taking the lead, they were doing so well to see the half out at 1-0 until Schalke replied with a crucial away goal through Jermaine Jones on the stroke of half time levelling the score at 1-1. And 1-1 it stayed with no more goals in the second half leaving the tie all in the balance with Schalke having the slight edge going into the second leg.
AC Milan 2:0 Barcelona
Back at the San Siro it had been a much disappointing first half as the two sides went in at half time goalless, but that was all about to change. Just over 10 minutes into the second half and the dead lock was finally broken. By AC Milan! After the officials failed to see what seemed to be an obvious handball in the build-up to the goal, Kevin Prince-Boateng wasted no time in waiting around and lashed on to the ricocheted ball on the half volley giving Victor Valdes no chance of saving it. The shock was on as Milan took a controversial lead. Barcelona’s response never really came. They pushed forward more but never really looked like scoring at any point nor did they put Abbiati under any real threat. Therefore with Barca seemingly running out of idea’s when a second goal came with 9 minutes from time it was always going to be an AC Milan goal – and it was. Sulley Muntari, like Boateng, a former Premier League player for Portsmouth scored the second goal and wrapped up the game causing a huge shock across Europe. Barcelona have it all to play for now when they take AC back to the Nou Camp if they are to remain in the competition and are to complete a dream double for Vilanoa
