UEFA Champions League: Chelsea, Madrid Progress To Quarterfinals

Chelsea looked like forcing extra time in the ensuing minutes, but did not find the aggregate equalizer until the 75th minute. It was, in some way, gifted to them. Dossena handled the ball on a header by Branislav Ivanovic, causing referee Felix Brych to point to the spot. Lampard stepped up and converted, leveling the tie at 4-4 and on away goals. Both teams had plenty of chances to score in the final 15 minutes of regulation, but improbably failed to do so.

Ivanovic’s winner came at the very end of the first half of extra time, following a set piece opportunity. The initial delivery by Lampard was poor and Chelsea’s second ball into the box wasn’t much better, but they regained possession and kept their defenders forward in the penalty area. Drogba set it up with a brilliant cutback and Ivanovic finished into the roof of the net.

Because goals scored in extra time still count as away goals and the away goals tiebreaker is still in effect, this game cannot go to penalty kicks. If Napoli scores to make it 5-5 or if the match ends with any level scoreline (does anyone think 7-7 is impossible?), they will progress on away goals.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

A 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie might not have impressed many people (most of which don’t watch the Russian Premier League and know how good CSKA is), but it did put them in a good position going to the second leg. They got to head back to the Bernabeu needing any sort of win to advance, which surely would not be a problem, and it wasn’t. Madrid easily disposed of CSKA, 4-1, in the second leg to grab a 5-2 win on aggregate and book their spot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The final 10 minutes were frantic, with both teams having plenty of chances to net a winner, but to no avail. It would be quite stunning if both of these these teams found a way to not score or concede for the next 30 minutes and force penalties.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

If Roberto Di Matteo was going to change his team’s tactics, Chelsea didn’t have any time to settle into them. Just seven minutes after Terry’s header, Gökhan Inler struck with an absolutely spectacular half-volley, and Napoli are back in front on aggregate, 4-3.

VIDEO: Gökhan Inler scores a stunner to put Napoli ahead

This is very bad news for Napoli, and not just because they’re currently not going through. They struggle to score when their opposition isn’t giving them space to counter into.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

VIDEO: Didier Drogba scores for Chelsea to make it 1-0 over Napoli.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

Whatever Roberto Di Matteo has his players doing, it’s working. They look like a team that is determined to overturn their bad result in Naples, and they could have more goals than they do. Napoli are still looking dangerous on the counter, but Walter Mazzarri will be praying his team doesn’t concede again before halftime.

For more on the Blues, head over to Chelsea blog We Ain’t Got No History and The Offside Chelsea. For more on the Azzurri, head over to The Offside Napoli.

Real Madrid Lineup (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa; Khedira, Alonso; Özil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Higuain

CSKA Moscow Lineup (4-2-3-1): Chepchugov; Schennikov, A. Berezutski, V. Berezutski, Ignashevich; Aldonin, Wernbloom; Musa, Dzagoev, Tosic; Doumbia

Napoli Lineup (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis; Aronica, Cannavaro, Campagnaro; Zuñiga, Gargano, Inler, Maggio; Lavezzi, Hamsik; Cavani

Kickoff is at 3:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local time from Stamford Bridge. You can catch the game on FOX Soccer Channel in the USA, Sportsnet regional affiliates in Canada and ITV1 in the UK.

Real Madrid did something very strange three weeks ago in Moscow. They failed to win. After cruising through the Champions League group stages with a perfect record, Real put in an indifferent performance - not particularly unusual in and of itself - but looked to be on course for a fairly routine 1-0 away win. Then a 90th minute strike by the brilliantly monikered Pontus Wernbloom gave CSKA Moscow a sliver of hope for their return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It’s only a sliver, mind. Real still have the advantage thanks to their away goal. They need a win or a scoreless draw to make it through, and you’d have to fancy them to get it. Even CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky is playing down his team’s chances:

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, March 14, 3:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, England