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Gomis spoils Benzema’s homecoming

Bafetimbi Gomis struck a late equaliser for Lyon but Real Madrid will be favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years thanks to Karim Benzema’s away goal.

Benzema, who joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009, scored just seconds after coming on as a 64th-minute substitute to put Madrid ahead in tonight’s last-16, first leg tie.

Madrid could not hold onto that advantage with Gomis volleying home in the 83rd minute, but Jose Mourinho’s men will fancy their chances in the second leg at the Bernabeu, where they have won their last 22 competitive games.

Madrid have been knocked out at this stage of the competition in each of the last six seasons, including at the hands of Lyon last year.

That exit was particularly painful for Madrid as last season’s final was held at the Bernabeu, but they are on course to take revenge over the French outfit under Mourinho.

Mourinho, who last May led Inter Milan to the Champions League title to become only the third coach to conquer Europe with two separate clubs, opted for an attacking line-up with Emmanuel Adebayor up front in place of Benzema.

However, it was the home side which started the better, captain Cris sending an overhead kick wide early on before Kim Kallstrom fired a 25-yard drive wide.

Madrid’s first serious effort came from Angel Di Maria’s long-range drive on the half-hour mark, but that was saved relatively comfortably by Hugo Lloris despite bouncing awkwardly just in front of the Lyon goalkeeper.

Lloris was given a tougher test moments later when Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck with a free-kick, the goalkeeper diving to his right to parry.

The best chance of the opening period arrived in the 35th minute when Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas pushed out a cross and Gomis latched onto the loose ball inside the area, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Madrid might not have been in top gear in the first half, but they started the second period in devastating fashion and hit the woodwork twice within five minutes of the restart.

Ronaldo’s free-kick from the side of the area beat Lloris before coming back off the far post and Sergio Ramos’ looping header from Mesut Ozil’s corner then struck the bar with Lloris again beaten.

Madrid felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 64th minute for handball after another Ronaldo free-kick had been blocked, but that was waved away by the referee.

Soon after that Mourinho sent on Benzema for Adebayor, a move which paid immediate dividends as the France international scored just moments later.

Ozil and Ronaldo combined on the edge of the area to put in Benzema, who powered his away across the centre of the box before squeezing his shot through Lloris’ legs.

That looked set to be the winner, but Lyon fought back and equalised with seven minutes to go.

A free-kick was deflected up into air and Cris climbed highest to head the ball into the path of the unmarked Gomis, who volleyed past Casillas to earn his side a draw.

Credit By : espn.go.com

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Anelka doubles soothes Chelsea

Chelsea proved they were very much alive and kicking tonight as Nicolas Anelka fired them to within touching distance of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Anelka ensured the faltering Blues stayed in the hunt for silverware this season and eased the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti with a deadly double at FC Copenhagen, extending his remarkable scoring record in the competition to seven goals in six games.

Ancelotti defiantly declared yesterday, “Chelsea has not died”, and Copenhagen proved the perfect opponents for a side who arrived in freezing Denmark with their season in danger of unravelling completely, the hosts clearly showing the effects of having not played a competitive match for two and a half months.

So while tonight’s victory was much-needed, the Blues will need to repeat it against Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League next week to demonstrate they are back on track.

They will also be concerned at another night to forget in front of goal for the recalled Fernando Torres, whose overall performance improved but who fluffed his chances against a side who were tailor-made for him to break his duck.

The home side’s ring-rustiness was evident from the first minute, Torres too easily allowed to cross for Florent Malouda, who volleyed high and wide.

The heavy touch that dogged Torres at Fulham last week cost him an early chance to break his duck after Mathias Zanka was booked for wrestling him to the ground, Johan Wiland saving well at the striker’s feet.

The £50million man began to settle, playing in Anelka for a shot that was blocked behind and showing more good touches.

There was minor panic in the Chelsea defence when Zdenek Pospech burst forward and saw a shot blocked and ricochet around the area.

But any nerves were calmed when their opponents gifted them a 17th-minute lead, former Stamford Bridge winger Jesper Gronkjaer of all people misplacing a pass straight to Anelka, who bore down on goal and calmly slotted past Wiland.

Torres lacked conviction when he tried to beat the last man and was again closed down by Wiland and also made a mess of a Frank Lampard through ball, while Anelka headed Malouda’s cross over as Chelsea maintained their stranglehold.

The visitors were queuing up to score at times, Ashley Cole mis-controlling the ball on his chest when in acres of space six yards out and Anelka miscuing a left-foot strike straight into Wiland’s arms.

Having wasted a hatful of chances in their previous two games, Chelsea knew a second goal could be crucial.

Torres was cautioned 10 minutes from half-time for tripping Cristian Bolanos before Anelka drilled over another decent opportunity.

Copenhagen tried to wrest the momentum by bringing on Martin Vingaard for Santin during the interval.

The new man made an immediate impact by forcing the first significant save from Petr Cech with a long-range strike.

He then curled straight into Cech’s arms as the hosts began to show a determination almost completely absent during the first half.

But they were hit by a sucker-punch goal nine minutes in when a delightful first-time through ball from Lampard released Anelka, who drilled low across Wiland into the far corner.

Torres’ misery in front of goal continued when he magnificently turned two defenders but sent his left-foot finish too close to Wiland.

Copenhagen’s fans screamed for a penalty when Gronkjaer threw himself to the ground after turning Branislav Ivanovic but the flag was already up for offside.

The hosts’ frustration boiled over when Pospech was booked bringing down Torres, ruling the defender out of the second leg.

Anelka left the field to a standing ovation from the visiting fans 16 minutes from time, as Drogba resumed his partnership with Torres.

The latter was again denied after superb skill from Malouda, his scuffed finish cleared off the line by Oscar Wendt, who was immediately withdrawn for Pierre Bengtsson.

N’Doye drilled wide from 25 yards and Vingaard and Claudemir fired straight at Cech from similar range as Copenhagen became increasingly desperate.

Malouda picked up a needless booking for time-wasting while leaving the field five minutes from time, Yury Zhirkov the substitute.

John Terry immediately followed for an unnecessary foul before Kenneth Zohore came on for Gronkjaer.

Michael Essien almost added a third Chelsea goal in the closing moments before Torres was replaced in stoppage-time by Salomon Kalou.

Credit By: ESPNsoccernet staff, espn.go.com

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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola will sign his one-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday, the Primera Division leaders have said.

It had initially been announced earlier this month that Guardiola would pen his new deal on Tuesday, but that has now been moved back 24 hours.

Barca said on their website: “For reasons of agenda, the signing of Josep Guardiola’s contract renewal, scheduled for this Tuesday, February 22, will finally take place on Wednesday, February 23, after first-team training, around 1300 (local time), in the club offices.

“The coach of Barcelona will sign for one more season, until June 30, 2012, as announced on February 8.”

Guardiola, 40, took charge of the Catalan giants in 2008 and has already led the club to eight titles. He stated his intention in January to continue at the club, and Barca confirmed as much earlier this month.

“For a coach, after a certain time, things can become routine for him and when that time comes one must get away from it,” Guardiola said. “But there’s still a lot of time left in the contract and the club knows I will never abandon them, so please let me do my job in peace.”

Barca are currently five points clear at the top of La Liga, through to the final of the Copa del Rey and in the last-16 of the Champions League, where they trail 2-1 to Arsenal after the away leg.

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Claudio Ranieri has offered his resignation as coach of Roma, following his side’s surrendering of a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 at Genoa, their third straight Serie A defeat.

The club are yet to accept Ranieri’s resignation, with an announcement expected within the next 24 hours.

“We will pause for reflection,” said director Gian Paolo Montali. “We need to examine things carefully, but we will decide everything in between tonight and tomorrow [Monday].”

Recent reports have suggested Ranieri has fallen out with key players amid Roma’s lengthy slide, which has left them down in eighth place. Defensive problems have been the key to the Roma collapse this season as they have conceded 11 goals in their last three games, including a 5-3 defeat to Inter Milan.

The latest calamity prompted Ranieri to announce that he has tendered his resignation.

“I’ve always thought about the good of Roma and after a game such as today’s I believe it’s right to give a signal,” he said. “After the final whistle I went into the changing rooms to thank the team and I decided to hand in my resignation.

“Today we began with the desire to fight for the victory for all those who love this shirt and this city. Every minute of my day is dedicated to Roma and I’ve always said that for me a defeat is especially painful. But seeing my lads fighting to the end and losing shook me to the core.

“I want to thank all the fans and the president [Rosella] Sensi. Together, despite the difficulties, we did a great job last year and this year.

“I am and always will be a man of the pitch and after a game such as today’s I believe it’s right to give a signal for the love of these colours and I hope that my decision will help spur on the team. Sport and football have values that for me and for those work hard and with passion are life itself.”

If this proves to be the end of Ranieri’s reign, it will be a sad finish to something that started so promisingly. Having managed 10 clubs in Italy, Spain, and England, Ranieri returned to his spiritual home – his childhood club and where he began his playing career – in September 2009 and quickly improved their performances.

They got themselves back into the title race and eventually finished only two points behind Jose Mourinho’s Inter last season. Hopes were high that Roma could challenge this season with Mourinho gone, but things have rarely gone right for Ranieri second time around.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has labelled Ranieri’s offer to step down as ”an act of great responsibility and dignity”.

”Ranieri’s resignation is an act of great responsibility and dignity,” said Prandelli. ”I don’t know the dynamics of the team so I cannot enter into specifics.

”But we all remember last year’s Roma that managed to keep up with Inter until the end of the season. The Italian league is very difficult and you have to have the right mentality and continuity in form to do well. I think that when something breaks, the responsibility is not just of one person.”

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0-1 Benzema 65’

1-1 Gomis 83’

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