Inter 2 Villareal 1

On a night when Europe's top soccer leagues announced they want a bigger share of revenue from the Champions League from 2009 on, one Champions League newcomer took the European stage:
namely Spanish side Villareal from the East of Spain. They play in yellow, are nicknamed the yellow submarines and have caused the Spanish media to go into raptures: they call them the modest among the European greats and the team who are writing the history books in letters of gold.
The Spaniards faced the mighty Inter Milan at the San Siro.
And it was Villareal who took the lead as early as the first minute when Uruguayan Diego Forlan put them 1 up. But Inter have Adriano, arguably the best centre forward in the world and it was the Brazilian who equalised. In the second half Nigerian Obafemi Martins scored Inters winner with a sensational goal.

Lyon 0 Milan 0
In Wednesdays other match Olympique Lyon of France survived a torrid first half in their 0-0 draw against last years finalists AC Milan, who are always among the favourites . The return legs will be played next week.

Although no German team is left in this seasons Champions League some 5 million German television viewers watched Arsenals match against Juventus live on German TV on Tuesday with German goalie Jens Lehmann, the only German left in this years Champions League His side Arsenal performed well on Tuesday beating Italian giants Juventus 2-0 at Highbury. But Lehmann says he is aware that the return leg in Turin will be still be difficult

Tuesday`s match reports

All all eyes were on Arsenal‘s goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, the sole German survivor in Europe’s top football competition.

And with Germany’s national coach still undecided about who should be in goal at the World Cup, this was another chance for Lehmann to score points against his bitter rival Oliver Kahn.

The Bayern keeper says he expects to be Germany's No.1 when the finals kick off in June, edging out Jens Lehmann to settle a long-running feud between the two men.

A final decision will be taken by Klinsmann in May.

Arsenal went into match having won their last 8 Champions League encounters – winning the last without having a goal scored against them. So if Lehmann could keep a clean sheet against Juventus it would be a new record in European football.

Arsenal 2 Juventus 0

But even the football pundits were surprised at the way Arsenal dominated. 2-Nil the final score, But Lehmann knew that a third goal would have all but guaranteed the London team a place in the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s illustrious history.

“We’re not too bothered about the history, said Lehman. We just wanted to win. Of course we know that the club hasn’t ever won the Champions League. We play for ourselves, we play for the club and of course we play for the coach, who as you can see has developed a very attractive playing style at the club, which is why the fans keep coming back.“

Fabregas gave the Gunners the lead five minutes before halftime and Henry finished off a slick Arsenal move for the second in the 69th. The Italian champions finished the game with nine players after Mauro Camoranesi Jonathan Zebina were sent off in the last four minutes, both for a second yellow card.

But it was a disappointing return to the Highbury football ground for former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. He was unable to recreate the form that has given Juventus an eight-point lead in the Serie A Italian league. He’ll miss next week's return leg in Turin after being shown the yellow card.

Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff told SAT 1 television why Arsenal deserved to win.

“A well-earned victory. Juventus hardly had any real chance at scoring, said Bierhoff. Arsenal were clever, always trying to win possession and then on the quick offensive and they converted their two chances of scoring.“

So a great night for Arsenal.

Benfica Lisbon 0 Barcelona 0

Meanwhile giant-killers Benfica Lisbon, who knocked out last year‘s winner Liverpool were now going for a bigger scalp – Barcelona. They did well to hold Ronaldinho’s side to a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Benfica coach Ronald Koeman could be content with the fact that his defence which did not concede an away goal to keep the Portuguese in with a shout in the return leg.

And Benfica's Brazilian keeper Moretto will be delighted with his clean sheet after half a dozen or so chances including good ones from Ronaldinho, Swedish striker Larsson and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o.

Barcelona kept up the pressure after the break and hit the woodwork twice within a minute with Larsson shooting on to the right hand post after being fed by Ronaldinho. Then, from a Ronaldinho corner, Motta rose to head on to the left hand post.

Quarter Finals first legs
Arsenal 2 Juventus Turin 0
Benfica 0 Barcelona 0
Lyon 0 AC Milan 0
Inter Milan 2 Villareal 1