Barça and Arsenal show mutual respect

Arsène Wenger is respectful about but unworried by FC Barcelona's strength after the 2006 finalists were paired in the last eight, leaving Gerard Piqué praising the Gunners' style and ability.

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final between FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC not only rematches the participants in the memorable 2006 decider in Paris, it also brings together two teams who produced stunning displays in the first knockout round.

Holders Barcelona underlined their intent to become the first team to win the UEFA Champions League two years running with their 4-0 defeat of VfB Stuttgart two days ago; Arsenal went one better the previous week, beating FC Porto 5-0 to overturn a first-leg deficit.

In the final four years ago, Barcelona recovered from conceding a Sol Campbell goal to win 2-1. In their previous meeting in the 1999/2000 first group stage, Barça were held 1-1 at Camp Nou but triumphed 4-2 at the Gunners' temporary European home of Wembley, Josep Guardiola captaining the eventual semi-finalists in both games. Thierry Henry was on the Arsenal side in those three encounters but is now with Barcelona, who once had Cesc Fàbregas on their books.

Arsène Wenger, who has tasted victory in two of his five UEFA Champions League quarter-finals as Arsenal manager, said: ""We respect what Barcelona have done but this competition is about what you do tomorrow". I believe what is important is that on the day everyone sees a good game and we win it. We are focused on us, not our opponents. In the quarter-finals you are bound to meet a good team and Barça are a good team."

Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué has met Arsenal once before at the top level, helping Manchester United FC win a league encounter 2-1 at Old Trafford on 13 April 2008, his last appearance for the club before rejoining Guardiola's squad the following month. ""I really like the way Arsenal play"," said the Spain defender.

"They got to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before falling to Manchester United. In the Premier League this season they have a chance of winning the title so you can tell from those factors that Arsenal are a really good side and they'll demand that we be at our very best when we meet them. Cesc Fàbregas is the main man in their team. It's true that Arsenal have some good players in their side but he's probably their most important one."

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Champions League Draw: Barcelona Face Arsenal, Bayern Munich Draw Manchester United

The path to Madrid has been blazed.

The Champions League quarter-final draw has been completed in Nyon, with Arsenal against Barcelona the undoubted tie of the round.

Elsewhere, there is an all French clash as Lyon will play Bordeaux, Bayern Munich will tackle Manchester United, while Inter will pit their wits against CSKA Moscow.

The path to the final at the Santiago Bernabeu was all mapped out, with the draw also made for the two semi finals.

The winner of Bayern and Man Utd will play the victor of Lyon and Bordeaux in one semi, while the other last four clash will feature the winner of Inter and CSKA Moscow versus the winner of Arsenal and Barcelona.

CL Draw

Olympique Lyon - Bordeaux
Bayern Munich - Manchester United
Arsenal - Barcelona
Inter - CSKA Moscow

The first leg of each quarter final tie will be played on March 30-31, while the second leg will take place on April 6-7.

Stay tuned with Goal.com today as we will have all the news reaction, as well as editorial pieces on each of the remaining eight Champions League teams.

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David Beckham: My World Cup Place Is Not Assured

Former England skipper fearful he will not go to South Africa

AC Milan midfielder David Beckham is fearful that he might not be chosen to represent England at this summer’s World Cup.

Beckham recently returned to Old Trafford in Milan’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of his former club, Manchester United in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie, and the former captain of the Three Lions is afraid he might not make it a onto England’s final squad..

“I am not guaranteed to go to South Africa at all,” he told the Daily Mail.

“I'm going to have to work hard and hopefully win my place. There are a good few months left.”

If Beckham goes to South Africa he would become the first player in the country’s history to go to four straight World Cups, beating Bobby Moore and Peter Shilton who both went to three in a row.

Beckham has had a tough history at the World Cup, getting sent-off in a Round of 16 penalty shoot-out defeat against Argentina in 1998, and two successive quarter-final eliminations at the hands of Brazil and Portugal.

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CR9 To CR7 Again?

Sir Alex Ferguson: Cristiano Ronaldo Coming Back To Manchester United Not Out Of The Question

The Portuguese star moved to Real Madrid last summer

Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the door is not closed for a possible return to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was transferred to Real Madrid in the summer window for a record £80million.

Real Madrid crashed in the Round of 16 of the Champions League for the sixth consecutive season when they lost out to Lyon 2-1 on aggregate, and there is a lot of pressure from the Spanish press to see the Real Madrid player live up to their transfer price tags.

Ferguson is aware that playing for the Spanish giants is a lot more difficult than playing for Manchester United.

“Cristiano knows the value of Manchester United. That’s the thing. What the players have got here is protection. They come to training every day and there is nobody here to disturb them," he told The Sunday Express.

“I don’t think Real Madrid is an easy club to play for. There is a circus attached to it. There are often loads of fans and an intensive media always filming them.”

Even though the Portuguese winger has only been in Madrid for a little under a year, Ferguson will not rule out Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford in the future.

“You would like to think that one day he will come back, but you never know. I don’t think he will stay at Real Madrid for life or anything like that.

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Lyon send Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid packing

Florentino Pérez did not spend £240m for this. The second galácticos era has opened as the first closed – with failure. This season was always going to be defined by the European Cup, the tournament Real Madrid consider their own. The final will be held at the Bernabéu but Madrid will not be there, except as frustrated hosts at someone else's party. For the sixth successive season they have been eliminated at the first knockout stage. "We'll be back," declared the banner at the south end of the stadium. Not this season they won't. When it comes to European competition it turns out that the biggest club of them all is not really a big club at all.

Whistles and white hankies followed the defeat and few supporters imagined Manuel Pellegrini surviving as the coach but he was adamant afterwards that he expected the club to keep faith with him. "I have said it before that I will not resign," he said. "I think it's absurd to leave this behind when this is only just beginning. We are very disappointed about this and it really hurts. But I don't think this is a one year project, far from it."

Jorge Valdano, the club's director general, said he was "suffering like all Real fans" but gave Pellegrini his support and asked for patience. "It's a sad night but it's time for institutional calm. The plan is for him to continue being our coach."

A second-half goal by Miralem Pjanic had brought them to this. Cristiano Ronaldo's early opener had promised to clear an easy passage into the quarter-final. Instead, Madrid were beaten yet again. When Pjanic hit the ball past Iker Casillas in the 75th minute, the score was levelled at 1-1, leaving the French side 2-1 up on aggregate and Madrid needing two goals in quarter of an hour. They didn't get one.

It had started so well, too. Ronaldo steamed beyond Anthony Réveillère and Cris and with his left foot struck a diagonal shot between the legs of the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Madrid still needed another but it felt like it was just a matter of time – as if, for all the talk of epic comebacks and a Bernabéu inferno, there would be no drama after all.

Events, though, did not go to script but there was certainly drama. Ronaldo had frightened Lyon but at the interval, Madrid were still waiting. A sharp save, a shot against the post, and a penalty claim turned down were responsible. Gonzalo Higuaín had spurned the best opportunity, stepping beyond Lloris only to hit the post from the right corner of the area confronted with an open goal.

As if suddenly frightened by the limitations of the scoreline, Madrid struggled as the second half began. Inside the first 10 minutes Sidney Govou's shot flew over and Casillas saved from Lisandro Lopez. Lyon were finding their feet and finding men, the introduction of Maxime Gonalons providing greater presence.

The Bernabéu went quiet. Kaká disappeared, so did Guti, and Madrid were bereft of ideas. After 70 minutes they had barely built a move, still less created any chances. And then it happened. Lisandro, with his back to goal, hit a first-time pass into Pjanic's path and when the ball sat up he hit it on the bounce. Madrid could scarcely believe it.

Pellegrini had insisted before the game that Madrid did not need an epic fight back. Now, they did. Raúl was sent on for Kaká. It was a symbol of Madrid's desperation. They not only failed to find a way through but never looked like mounting even a show of defiance. In fact, the best chances went the other way.

Pérez has not accepted failure in the past and that is exactly what this was. For him and his side the feeling was nothing new.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.

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