Manchester United Closing in on Benfica Defender Ezequiel Garay - Report

Manchester United are closing in on Ezequiel Garay as David Moyes looks to spruce up his side's defence, according to the Mirror.
The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the Argentina defender and are looking to finally complete the transfer following the departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter Milan.
United are looking to close a deal with the defender before the World Cup and the Portuguese club are expected to sell Garay, with only one year left in his current contract.
The player has a release clause in the range of £17m but United are looking to get him for much less owing to his contract situation.
United are in need of a defensive reshuffle with Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are also seen moving out of the club.
Garay has been a rock in the defence for Benfica, helping his side go top of the league and overcome the likes of Tottenham Hotspur to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Europa League. His agent Rafael Bray refused to comment on his situation but insisted there would be development in the summer.
"In the summer he will be entering the final year of his contract with Benfica, so logically there will be news. But at this moment, I insist, Garay is only thinking about Benfica," Rafael said.
Meanwhile, Moyes is under immense pressure after United's 3-0 loss to arch rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford but the supporters are riled after the Scotsman said the home side should be trying to replicate City in the way they play.
"I think we've played a very good side and it's the sort of standard and level we need to try and aspire to get ourselves to at this moment in time. I think we need to play better. We're needing to come up a couple of levels at the moment and we're not quite there," Moyes said.

Bale puts his £86m foot in it! Real star is changing his boots as Sevilla score... and then he's given a rollicking for taking free kick instead of Ronaldo

Frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo let rip at Gareth Bale as Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in four days and slipped behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the La Liga title race
With Real trailing 2-1 in the closing moments at Sevilla, Ronaldo could not hide his frustration after £86million record signing Bale decided to take a free kick, instead of leaving it for the Portuguese forward, and lashed his effort over the bar.
Ronaldo was caught by TV cameras aiming a verbal volley at Bale. 

It capped a dismal night for the Welshman, who was off the pitch changing his boots, leaving Real temporarily down to 10 men, as Carlos Bacca scored the winner in the 73rd minute.
Madrid's loss at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium came four days after they squandered a chance to effectively end Barcelona's title defence, with Lionel Messi out-dueling Ronaldo by scoring a hat trick for a thrilling 4-3 win in the Spanish capital.

MATCH REPORTS

Atletico Madrid 1 Granada 0
Barcelona 3 Celta Vigo 0
Sevilla 2 Real Madrid 1 

These consecutive losses came after Carlo Ancelotti's side had gone undefeated for 31 straight matches.
'We have to keep working, fighting and ask our fans for forgiveness,' said Madrid full back Marcelo.
'It's tough to do what we did, to keep winning for so many games. We have lost two games. They aren't more important, but they are critical. Now everything is much more difficult.' 
Bacca was collecting tickets on local buses in his home town in his early twenties before he finally got his career on the right road.
The Colombian striker arrived at Sevilla for just £6m in the summer and has now scored 18 goals in all competitions this season.
He was the second-half hero scoring after a superb piece of skill from Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian midfielder flicked the ball over Pepe’s head and sent Bacca through. Pepe recovered to pursue the Sevilla forward but he was quicker to the loose ball and sent his shot through the legs of Diego Lopez to put his side 2-1 in front.
With Atletico Madrid beating Granada and Barcelona winning against Celta the result left Diego Simeone’s side top and Real Madrid third.
It was a particularly frustrating night for Bale who picked up his fourth booking of the season and squandered several chances either side of half-time with wayward shooting.
Atletico lead the way at the top of the league on 73 points after Diego Costa's 63rd minute header was enough to give them all three points at home against Granada.
Barcelona are second on 72 points, with Madrid third on 70, but Barca's victory was marred by a serious injury to goalkeeper Victor Valdes which has likely ended his career with the club and ruled him out of the World Cup.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who has long planned to leave the Nou Camp at the end of his contract in June, fell awkwardly while saving a free-kick from Fabian Orellana in the 22nd minute of the match, and could be seen crying as he left the pitch on a cart.
Barca confirmed an anterior cruciate ligament tear after the match.
'Victor Valdes suffered an ACL tear on 22 minutes after saving a free-kick,' the club said on their website. 'The club's medical services confirm that he will need surgery.'
In Seville, Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid in front with a 15th minute deflected free-kick after he had been fouled by Andujar Coke, but Sevilla replied almost immediately through Carlos Bacca, and in the 72nd minute some superb skill from Ivan Rakitic set up Bacca for the second.
It was a record sixth straight win for Sevilla, lifting them up to fifth, six points behind Athletic Bilbao in fourth.

Arsenal plan for life without Wenger with French boss yet to sign new contract

Arsenal still expect Arsene Wenger to sign a new contract but they have started planning for life without their manager.
Wenger, whose deal expires at the end of the season, has given the Gunners his word that he will stay on.
Talks initially centred around a three-year deal worth £8million a season but it is understood a two-year extension is now more likely. 
 
Plenty to ponder: Arsene Wenger on the training ground at Arsenal's London Colney base on Monday
Wenger still enjoys the unequivocal backing of Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, who is in no doubt Wenger will sign a contract that has been on the table for months.
But Saturday’s humiliating 6-0 defeat at title rivals Chelsea has nonetheless sparked uncertainty about the Frenchman’s future.
And Arsenal have started looking at contingency strategies should Wenger make a last-minute U-turn and quit the Emirates. A long-term plan for life after Wenger is also in the club’s thoughts, with a new-look management structure likely.
Roberto Martinez’s work in his first season at Everton has impressed the Gunners, as has Jurgen Klopp’s reign at last season’s Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund. 
Implementing a two-tier structure, which would see a head coach working under a director of football, is under consideration and would represent a huge shift in ethos. Wenger currently has the final say on all football decisions.
Victory over Swansea would help draw a line under Saturday’s embarrassing loss but the Gunners go into the game without key defender Laurent Koscielny, who sustained a calf injury at Stamford Bridge.
It is feared the France centre back could miss around two weeks, ruling him out of the crunch match against Manchester City on Saturday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs will be available, however, after the FA upheld Arsenal’s appeal over the latter’s controversial sending-off against Chelsea. Gibbs was shown the red card in a case of mistaken identity by referee Andre Marriner. Oxlade-Chamberlain, not his team-mate, had committed handball in the six-yard box.
Arsenal’s claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain had not prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity, because Eden Hazard’s shot was going wide, was also upheld by the FA.
Referee Marriner stays on the Premier League match list this weekend and will take charge of Newcastle’s visit to Southampton.
Marriner was expected to be dropped for the next round of fixtures following his high-profile blunder but referees chiefs decided to stand by their man.


 

No punishment for Chamberlain or Gibbs after Arsenal's appeal to FA is successful

Arsenal will have both defender Kieran Gibbs and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain available against Swansea on Tuesday night after appeals to the Football Association.
Full-back Gibbs was shown a red card in a case of mistaken identity during the first half of Saturday's 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea by referee Andre Marriner, instead of Oxlade-Chamberlain - who had committed the handball in the six-yard box and indeed admitted his guilt at the time, but was waved away.
The FA confirmed on Monday evening the sanction against Gibbs had been removed, and instead transferred onto Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, Arsenal then subsequently moved to have that offence downgraded on appeal, claiming the England midfielder had not in fact technically prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity as the shot from Chelsea's Eden Hazard looked to be going just wide
 
Mistaken identity: Kieran Gibbs (left) was shown a red card despite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball
That claim was also upheld, meaning both Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be able to face Swansea.
A statement from the FA read: 'An Independent Regulatory Commission today heard two claims from Arsenal, one of mistaken identity and the other of wrongful dismissal, both in relation to Saturday's game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
'The commission ruled that the dismissal of Kieran Gibbs was a case of mistaken identity and transferred this to his team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
'Subsequent to deciding this matter, the commission then considered Arsenal's claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Oxlade-Chamberlain. This claim was upheld, meaning Oxlade-Chamberlain will not serve any suspension with the standard punishment withdrawn with immediate effect.'
The heavy defeat on Saturday lunchtime ruined manager Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge and severely dented any Barclays Premier League title ambitions, with the Gunners now down in fourth place, albeit still with a match in hand on the leaders.
Wenger - who cancelled Monday morning's scheduled pre-match press conference - has been left puzzled by his side once again failing to turn up in a big game; Arsenal found themselves 3-0 down by 17 minutes, and played out the rest of the match with 10 men after Gibbs' sending off.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta has issued a public apology on behalf of the Arsenal players for the 'unacceptable' and 'embarrassing' humiliation - and vowed they will get things right against Swansea.
Arsenal will be without defender Laurent Koscielny because of a calf problem.
Captain Thomas Vermaelen is likely to play at centre-half alongside Per Mertesacker, while 19-year-old Spaniard Hector Bellerin, who was on loan at Watford, has been drafted into the squad as cover.

 

United are only ever one defeat away from a fresh disaster... but Moyes's side can land killer blow on neighbour's title chances

After last September’s derby defeat, Manchester United manager David Moyes resorted to boxing metaphors.
‘I can take the punches and I am sure there will be more,’ said Moyes in the wake of a 4-1 loss  at the Etihad Stadium that gave the first indication of how difficult his debut season at United was going to be.
What nobody expected back then was just how punch-drunk Moyes and United would look at times over the ensuing weeks and months.

If he hasn’t quite been on the canvas this season then he has certainly leant heavily on the ropes. On Tuesday night at Old Trafford one senses he must drag a match-winning performance from his team if United and their supporters are to take anything from a wretched season.
‘The punches have definitely hurt,’ said Moyes on Monday when invited to return to the theme.
 
Three points: Ashley Young, Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa and Rooney celebrate the win over West Ham
 
Rivals: United could scupper Manchester City's title charge, which would no doubt delight the fans
‘They’ve hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations, that I’m coming to the winning football club.

‘I’ve got a winning mentality and that’s what I wanted to do.
'So I’m disappointed with myself and I’m disappointed that we’ve been unable to win more. It’s not for the want of trying, that’s for sure.’
Given that Manchester City are deep into a Barclays Premier League title race, Tuesday night’s meeting is more important to them than it is to a team whose domestic aspirations now amount to little more than a salvation of pride.
Such is United’s profile, though, such has been the unending drama of their season, the focus once again seems centred on the defending champions.
Victories over Olympiacos and West Ham — the second more impressive than the first — have leant United a slightly more settled air, given the trauma of the preceding home defeat by Liverpool.
The trouble with the current United, however, is that they only ever look one defeat away from fresh disaster and it’s hard to escape the feeling that if City arrive with the throttle open they may just burn the house down.
Victors on enemy territory in each of the last two seasons, Manuel Pellegrini’s team also have memories of September’s mauling to buoy them.
Asked if he was surprised how poor United were, City midfielder Fernandinho said: ‘Yes, of course I was. It was the first time I’d played them after joining City.
‘It’s a club with a lot of history, with very good players, they were the champions — so yes, I was surprised at how badly they played that day and how easily we won.
‘The situation is different now because we are fighting for the title and they are not, they are maybe just fighting for honour now. It’s been a bad time for them but I saw their game against Olympiacos and they played very well.’
Pellegrini neatly sidestepped a question about how many United players would get into his team.
Nevertheless, it was a moot point. There does seem to be a widening gap between the teams and United’s cause is not helped by a defensive crisis that will only be partially eased by the return of Rio Ferdinand and by a clear imbalance between the two midfields.
More than 20 goals have sprung from the centre of City’s midfield this season, for example, while United can boast only one each for Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley.
Pellegrini would only say that ‘maybe United are more stronger and we are more technical’ in that area, while Moyes did his best to counter suggestions that his team had essentially been blown away in midfield by teams like Liverpool, City and Chelsea this season.
Whatever the case, United will have to find a way to stop the marauding Yaya Toure before they can even think about imposing themselves.
 
Big loss: Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring in the return fixture earlier this season

Asked yesterday if he had questioned himself this season, Moyes was candid.
‘I don’t actually blame myself,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t be right to say there are things you wouldn’t maybe look at in a different way. But I’ve looked back at many things and most of the things we’ve carried out we would continue to do.’
Moyes’s self-belief will either encourage or baffle United fans, depending on their point of view. Certainly Tuesday night he needs to give them something to cling to.
To return to the boxing theme, United’s domestic title belt is already surrendered. To land one final punch this evening, though, would at least indicate some champion spirit remains
 

Tottenham 3-2 Southampton: Sherwood's switch is the spark for Spurs last gasp Sigurdsson strike clinches victory

To his detractors he has become known as ‘Tactics Tim’. After this performance, even the cynics will pay grudging respect.
At White Hart Lane, when Tim Sherwood’s team were threatening yet another implosion, he made the changes that altered the course in Tottenham’s favour.
It was bold and brassy, in keeping with his character, as he shuttled between a seat high up in the directors’ box and a place alongside his assistants on the bench. At times it was hard to keep track of him.
Let no one be in any doubt that Tottenham were heading for another scandalous home defeat after Southampton had raced into a two-goal lead after 28 minutes. In the opening half-hour Spurs evoked memories of chastening losses against Liverpool (5-0) and Manchester City (5-1).
 
Last gasp: Gylfi Sigurdsson hits a late winner to give Tottenham all three points against Southampton
 
Level: Christian Eriksen (left) and Roberto Soldado celebrate after the midfielder scores his second goal
 
Nice one! Rodriguez (9) is congratulated Lallana after his strike in the first half
‘It needed a tweak,’ admitted Sherwood afterwards and it was a subtle change in midfield that turned this game.
At the break he replaced Mousa Dembele, stifled in the first half by Jack Cork and the excellent James Ward-Prowse, with the attacking thrust of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Within 44 seconds Tottenham were level, when a rejuvenated Roberto Soldado bundled Dejan Lovren off the ball to set up Christian Eriksen.
The Dane equalised and Sigurdsson went on to score Tottenham’s dramatic winner deep into injury time. White Hart Lane erupted.
Spurs were over-run in midfield in the first half and picked apart by Adam Lallana.
Southampton were already ahead after Kyle Naughton’s elementary mistake had allowed Jay Rodriguez to arc his finish beyond the outstretched left arm of Hugo Lloris.
Then it was the turn of Lallana, racing on to Rickie Lambert’s delicate lay-off to score Southampton’s second after another error by Naughton. It felt as though Mauricio Pochettino’s team could score at will.
England manager Roy Hodgson, watching in the stands, would have been impressed ahead of his squad announcement on May 13 for the World Cup. Back to domestic matters, though.
Error-strewn Tottenham allowed Southampton an extraordinary head start which, at this level, for a team with their ambitions, is unforgivable.
They are choking too often at the start of games, as they did last week against Arsenal when Tomas Rosicky’s rocket ended up in the back of Lloris’s net inside two  minutes. A few days earlier it had been Benfica.
As Lallana celebrated with his team-mates, Sherwood flew down several flights of stairs and was in the technical area in time for Eriksen’s first goal. It was the start of a memorable comeback.
Eriksen was enterprising and energetic, his performance laced with the touches that come off the boots of those schooled at Ajax, who boast one of the world’s best academies. He was magnificent. In time he will flourish at White Hart Lane, reverting to the player he was in Holland when his performance in the Champions League last season shredded Manchester City.
There are big plans for him if Sherwood keeps this job and his goals — one in each half — lifted the atmosphere at White Hart Lane. After four games without a win, the place needed something.
To their credit, the supporters got behind the team, willing them on to a win after Andros Townsend had come off the bench to replace the fading Aaron Lennon.
When Sigurdsson scored Tottenham’s third, they made you want to believe that the good times are about to roll. That’s what this place can do to you.
It was rocking at the end, inspired by Sherwood’s celebratory run down the touchline to pump his fists in front of the fans celebrating in the West Stand.
Instead of more disenchantment, the 36,000 who fill this stadium at every home game walked down Tottenham High Road towards Seven Sisters with Arsenal in  their sights.
Fourth place will surely be beyond this Tottenham team, but the vibrant and enterprising second-half display stirred the emotions.
When they want it as badly as Tactics Tim, they are capable of retrieving even the most desperate situation.
 
Pace: Luke Shaw (right) and Kyle Naughton race down the wing as the assistant referee watches on

This had been Pochettino’s audition for the Tottenham job, the Southampton manager one of the four men on the radar of Daniel Levy and owner Joe Lewis as they contemplate next season.
Instead, this victory, coupled with the Keystone Cops win at St Mary’s in Sherwood’s first league game in charge of Tottenham, has surely put Pochettino away.
He is a fine young manager in the making, but Levy will not turn to a man who has been beaten twice by Sherwood in the space of four months.
There will be those who argue that this win was streaky, but the same could be said of Liverpool after they twice went behind at Cardiff.
Anfield is Tottenham’s next destination and it will not be easy to stop Luis Suarez and Co. The memories of their last meeting, when Liverpool scored five at  White Hart Lane in December, still burn away.
Next time Sherwood’s tactics must be spot-on from the start.
 
On the ball: Lallana (left) Bentaleb (right) battle for the ball during the Premier League clash

 

Manchester derby doesn't matter! Carrick insists beating City 'cannot repair damage' done at United this season

At the end of a week that saw Manchester United secure a Champions League quarter-final against holders Bayern Munich and Wayne Rooney score a goal that will be remembered long after this most difficult of seasons draws to a close, you could forgive David Moyes and his players for thinking that victory in Tuesday's Old Trafford derby could be the next step on the road to redemption.

No-one around Old Trafford is getting carried away, however. There have been too many ups and downs this season, too many false dawns for that.

No sooner had Moyes declared after a promising victory at Upton Park that ‘I’m not going to shout about it and say we’re starting to pick up’ than Michael Carrick stood beneath darkening East End skies and delivered an even more sombre verdict: victory over Manchester City won’t begin to make up for the failures of this season
 
Upton spark: United returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over West Ham
 
From downtown: Wayne Rooney lines up an audacious lob from just within West Ham's half of the pitch
‘I don’t think it matters,’ said the England midfielder who was forced to fill in as an emergency centre-back. ‘It’s just another game for us. A big game but it’s not going to repair any of the damage that’s been done in recent months by us losing games.
‘Beating City would help us in terms of keeping our run going. We understand the fans and the result they want, and for us as players it’s exactly the same, but we’re still not getting carried away because of the season we’ve had.’ 
Usually it’s United gearing up for a title run-in at this stage of the season. Instead, the best they can hope for is to dent City’s Premier League challenge tomorrow night.

Coming so soon after a humiliating Old Trafford defeat by their other great rivals Liverpool, it’s understandable that no-one at United is making any bold statements.

‘Losing against Liverpool at home hurts badly and it’s not a nice thing to go through,’ added Carrick. ‘It’s horrible after a game like that. You don’t watch the telly or leave the house for a couple of days if you can help it.
 
Demolition derby: United host City on Tuesday hoping to avenge defeat earlier in the season
 When you’re at this club and things aren’t going well it’s not always a nice place but mentally you have to deal with it. I think we’ve all had a tough time this season.

‘Again, Tuesday is a big game but we can’t go into that game thinking about previous weeks. We have to think we can get a good result, like we did against Olympiacos and West Ham.’

Rooney will quite rightly steal the limelight for his spectacular strike and United’s captain was also on target with the second goal.

But Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, new signings who have not enjoyed the best of starts at Old Trafford, both delivered their best performances yet for United.
 
Special Juan: New signing Mata gave one of his best performances against West Ham after moving from Chelsea
 
Hair raising: Marouane Fellaini was another criticised player to put in an improved display in east London 
Fellaini was instrumental in helping Carrick and Phil Jones deal with West Ham’s aerial threat on a night when the champions arrived without four centre-backs, while Mata prospered in a central role behind Rooney. With Shinji Kagawa also to the fore, you wonder if Robin van Persie’s knee injury lay-off might actually benefit some of his teammates.

However, Fellaini angered Hammers boss Sam Allardyce who thought that the Belgian should have been sent off for his second-half challenge on James Tomkins. Referee Lee Mason took not action at the time and it remains to be seen if the FA have a closer look today.

‘I thought Fellaini was lucky not to get sent off,’ said Allardyce. ‘But you’ve got to be absolutely certain if you’re the referee that you’ve seen what’s happened. Hopefully, James will be okay for Hull for Wednesday.’ 
 

Pellegrini tells City to forget the derby and focus on earning the points to win the title

Manuel Pellegrini perhaps made his first impression on the hearts and minds of Manchester City supporters when his team dismantled neighbours United at the Etihad Stadium last September.
The 4-1 scoreline actually flattered the Barclays Premier League champions that day and another victory for City when teams reconvene at Old Trafford on Tuesday would only deepen Pellegrini’s popularity on his side of town.
The City manager, though, did his best to feign relative indifference after Saturday’s defeat of Fulham. United manager David Moyes may have rested some players ahead of Tuesday’s game as his own team won at West Ham but Pellegrini is already looking beyond Tuesday night to a run of games that he hopes will prove themselves to be just as important.
 
Five star: Manchester City players celebrate Yaya Toure's goal
‘We have 30 points from now until the end of the season to play for and we’ll try to win the most amount of points we can,’ said Pellegrini.
‘Maybe we can win at Manchester United and then lose here against Southampton and the title is gone so every game has the same importance and we must start against Manchester United and hope we do as well as we did against Fulham.
‘It’s always important for a new manager in his first season here in the Premier League to win the derby.
‘Maybe if you don’t win here at home [against United] the fans are not so happy so that first was one of the important games of the season. I know for the fans to beat United is special.’
Last autumn’s game proved a reliable — if unexpected — indicator for the season. City were rampant at times while United’s defensive impotence served as a warning of what was to follow for the next six months of Moyes’ debut season.
Pellegrini will have watched United’s relative improvement over the last few days with interest but warned on Saturday that he has the players to hurt City’s neighbours at a time of the season when he expected the champions to be on his team’s shoulder.
City’s victory over an impoverished Fulham came thanks to a hat-trick from YaYa Toure and featured impressive performances from fellow midfield players Fernandinho and James Milner.
‘I think that with those kind of midfielders who are so good technically we can do damage to any team,’ he said.
‘We’ll see the way we play against United but we will continue playing with the same philosophy.
‘It’s an important game - a derby - for us, it’s one of the three postponed matches, so three points more are very important. The best way is to continue what we’re doing so far.

SUPER STAT

Yaya Toure has scored 16 Premier League goals this season, three more than in 2011-12 and 2012-13 combined.

‘Knowing that United were the last champions of course I expected to play against them here and at Old Trafford fighting against them for the title.
‘Maybe the year for Manchester United has not gone as well as last season but they’re always a very important team with good players and I’m sure on Tuesday they’ll want to win and we’ll have a tough game.

‘We always expect to win. But we must understand also that we play against a very good team.

‘Maybe he [Moyes] is thinking about the game [with his selection] against West Ham.

Coach Felix Magath said: ‘It was too easy for them in the end. The last 30 minutes were poor because we lacked fight.
‘We still had 10 players on the field and I wasn’t happy with the last 30 minutes. We had started well but we stopped playing. There was a lack of fight.
‘I’m not happy about the lack of fight and I will be talking to the players about what happened in the last half hour. What happened was not correct. Our home games could save us.’

 

Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona: Messi scores hat-trick in thrilling El Clasico encounter

When a match is already dubbed El Clasico, where to go for the superlatives? El Magnifico? El Supremo? Nothing seems to do it justice.
Suffice to say that, even by the mighty standards of European football’s greatest domestic fixture, this was, well, a classic. It had everything including, ultimately, a winner.
Barcelona took the team award, Lionel Messi, with a hat-trick, the individual. There is now one point separating these clubs plus the one at the top of the table, Atletico Madrid, making this season’s La Liga a bit of a Clasico, too. These games always have the Messi-Ronaldo sub-plot, and there was no doubting the victor in that contest.
 
From the spot: Lionel Messi strokes the ball home to clinch a 4-3 victory for Barcelona against Madrid
The muted noise that greeted Messi’s three goals came against a backdrop of records shattering. He is now the second highest scorer in La Liga history, overtaking Hugo Sanchez, and the highest scorer in El Clasico fixtures, usurping Alfredo Di Stefano.
To do that at the Bernabeu must have been doubly sweet. There has been a lot of talk of Barcelona on the slide of late, but it seems to have been overstated. Messi was injured, that was all. This was his second consecutive hat-trick. Tiki-taka is not dead yet.
Any downside on such a remarkable night? Only that, like much great art, the second half of the piece could not quite live up to the pure creative fury of the first.
The opening 45 minutes ended 2-2 and contained some of the finest football of the season in open play. The match concluded 4-3 to visiting Barcelona and the final three goals were penalties.
Ignore conspiracy theories that will no doubt circulate, however. Barcelona’s spot kicks were deserved. Only Madrid’s came as a result of a mistake by referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco.
It was a foul by Dani Alves on Cristiano Ronaldo in the 54th minute, but it was outside the area. Ronaldo fell inside and Mallenco was convinced.
Ronaldo took the kick himself and could not have positioned his shot better. Madrid then led 3-2.
The next penalty was perhaps the most significant, though, because it resulted in the sending-off of Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. To combat this, his coach Carlo Ancelotti removed striker Karim Benzema, meaning Madrid played with less abandon and tried to settle for a draw.
The winner was a direct result of the panic that sets in when a team play Barcelona with 10 men. It would perhaps have been more satisfactory had they won fair and square, with the shot from Alves that hit a post in the 75th minute, but it was not to be. 
 
The two world best 
 

Instead, the comeback came from two Messi penalties, falsely allowing Madrid to feel cheated.
Sadly, with players so willing to fall, penalties invariably add controversy where before there had been purity. The best that can be said is Mallenco got his calls right, even if the 19th dismissal of  Ramos’s career seemed harsh.
Without doubt the defender got on the wrong side of Neymar in the 64th minute and without doubt he gave the Brazilian a little tug to cover his error. Yet whether his foul deserved a red card as well as a penalty is another matter. It was hardly dangerous or violent. Messi’s penalty was as accurate as Ronaldo’s, and his next, his final flourish, was a carbon copy.
It was clumsiness that cost Real in the end, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Carvajal combining to bundle over Andres Iniesta with six minutes remaining. Messi as cool as you like, same spot, same outcome, master of his domain, even in the lair of his greatest rivals.
So that was the drama. What about the beauty? The first half delivered that, a fiesta of football that finished 2-2 but could have been 6-4 to Real Madrid.
Ten goalscoring opportunities in 45 minutes, four converted, five cheaply missed, another quite brilliantly cleared off the line. Business as usual? Not entirely. One had the feeling that, studying the reactions of Spanish nationals, even by Clasico standards this was a match of an exceptional standard. Among the games of the season, in any competition.
To prevent confusion, let’s take these events in chronological order. In the fourth minute, Ronaldo was dispossessed on the edge of the Barcelona area, and the Catalan side broke, swiftly. Messi found Neymar, who surged clear but aimed a weak shot straight at Diego Lopez in the Madrid goal.
A minute later a tackle on the right ran to Benzema, who snatched at a low shot and directed it wide.
After seven minutes, the first goal. It was a stunning exhibition of passes, almost archetypal for the inventors of tiki-taka, ending with Messi slipping the ball to Iniesta on the overlap to rifle his shot into the roof of the net.
The Bernabeu became strangely subdued, a mood not helped six minutes later when Angel Di Maria delivered a lovely cross which fell to Benzema in a must-score position. He didn’t, sending the ball high over the bar. Emotional Castilians despaired.
Then what should have been Barcelona two goals clear. Messi, put through by Sergio Busquets with only Lopez to beat, scuffed his shot wide to the puzzlement of all.
Next, the punishment for such profligacy. Gareth Bale made a great crossfield run that ended with a ball out to Di Maria, who replicated the accuracy of his previous cross, but this time to Benzema’s head. Victor Valdes in the Barcelona goal got a hand to the ball but to no avail. Madrid were back in the game and back on top of the league.
Just four minutes later Marcelo fed Di Maria and his cross eluded Javier Mascherano - a taller centre half would have got it, the traditionalists will argue - and fell to Benzema unmarked. He brought the ball under control with one touch and finished smartly with the next.
It could have been three in the 27th minute when Di Maria again - this was shaping up to be a ‘Taxi for Alves’ match - found Benzema, only for Gerard Pique to block on the line.
Barcelona were lucky to be in touch but in the 42nd minute they drew level. A pass from Messi to Neymar begged for a return and, as the Argentine sprinted diagonally across the area, he got it. The finish was perfect.
In the squabble that followed, Pepe and Cesc Fabregas squared up, pushed their heads into each other, then both sprung back and fell to the floor as if butted. It wouldn’t be a Clasico without at least one piece of nonsense.
All done? Hell, no. In added time a Carvajal cross found Benzema again, although this time his header was narrowly off target. Madrid would live to rue those misses, regrets that may be no less painful come May.



Altercation: Neymar looks on as Pepe lets his anger show by shouting into the face of Fabregas

Marriner was wrong to send anyone off because Oxlade-Chamberlain didn't deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity... again, we NEED video replays to help referees

Andre Marriner said he was wrong to send Kieran Gibbs off as it was a case of mistaken identity - replays confirmed what most observers saw at full speed as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the Arsenal man who handled the ball.
However, with the ball seemingly going wide I do not think either player should have been dismissed as there was no denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. 
 
Admission: Oxlade-Chamberlain even approached Marriner to tell him it was he who handled the ball
Marriner did well to detect the devious handball as Oxlade-Chamberlain dived full length and tried to head the ball.
He stated that it was his decision and his alone and while I would accept that from where assistant Marc Perry was standing it was very difficult to see the handball I would expect him to keep his eye on the player and let the referee know who it was to ensure the correct player was dismissed.
It was good to see that Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted to Marriner that he had handled the ball in an attempt to get the Midlands referee to change the red card shown wrongly to Gibbs, but unless one of the other officials tells the referee of his error he will stick to the original decision.
 

Boost for Barcelona and Real with Pique and Benzema set to return for El Clasico

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been handed boosts ahead of Sunday's El Clasico with the news Gerard Pique and Karim Benzema should be available for selection.
Defender Pique missed Barca's 7-0 win over Osasuna as a precaution to rest his right ankle but returned to training on Monday.
However, Carles Puyol, who is set to leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season, will miss what would have been his final clash against Real with a knee injury.
 
Comeback: Defender Gerard Pique is set to return to the Barcelona team after recovering from an ankle injury
 
Jokers: Neymar and Jordi Alba lark around during Barcelona's training session on Saturday
Meanwhile, France international Karim Benzema looks set to return to the Los Blancos line-up having missed his side's 3-1 victory over Schalke in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The former Lyon striker returned to Carlo Ancelotti's squad on Saturday after injuring himself during Madrid's 1-0 victory away at Malaga.
La Liga leaders Real go into Sunday's match four points clear of third-placed Barcelona while local rivals Atletico trail by three points in second.
 
He's in fashion: Cristiano Ronaldo, wearing rather usual head gear, trains with Gareth Bale

Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal: Gunners hit for SIX by rampant Blues on Wenger's 1,000th game as Gibbs is mistakenly sent off after Oxlade-Chamberlain's handball on the line

There was a bizarre case of mistaken identity as Arsenal embarrassingly capitulated in Arsene Wenger's 1,000th match in charge in a 6-0 loss to Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Wenger was last month called 'a specialist in failure' by Jose Mourinho and remains without a victory in 11 attempts against his nemesis after a spectacular implosion and an horrendous mistake by referee Andre Marriner.
The Frenchman watched on helplessly after two goals in three first-half minutes from Samuel Eto'o and Andre Schurrle gave Chelsea a handsome lead inside the first 10 minutes before Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs for a handball committed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Eden Hazard's shot was handled in the area and, despite Oxlade-Chamberlain appearing to approach the official to admit wrongdoing, Gibbs was shown a red card in a decision which continues the debate over the use of television replays.
 
Thumping: Chelsea ran riot over a hapless Arsenal in the first-half at Stamford Bridge
 
Not needed: The handball was intentional but not necessary, with the ball going wide
Hazard converted the penalty to give the Blues a 3-0 advantage after 17 minutes as once against the Gunners imploded at the home of a title rival following the heavy losses at Manchester City and Liverpool.
Oscar added a fourth before the interval, a fifth after 66 minutes and his replacement Mohamed Salah struck his first Chelsea goal as the Blues responded from the controversial loss at Aston Villa in emphatic fashion.
Stamford Bridge revelled in the success, roaring 'Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay' and 'specialist in failure'.
Marriner has previous at Stamford Bridge this season, awarding Chelsea a controversial last-gasp penalty against West Brom in November when it appeared Ramires dived.
Hazard scored on that occasion to earn a draw in a result which preserved Mourinho's unbeaten Premier League record at home, which now stands at 76 matches.
The only saving grace on this occasion was that the decision did not appear to impact on the result and it is likely that Oxlade-Chamberlain will serve the suspension if Arsenal appeal or the Football Association intervene.
With eight games remaining, Chelsea top the standings having played more matches than their three rivals, but Wenger's title chance seems to have slipped and regaining the FA Cup won in 2005 appears to be the Gunners' only opportunity of ending their silverware search.
 
Bow down: Salah celebrates after scoring his first goal for Chelsea in the win

Mourinho made his 'failure' barb - referring to Wenger's eight-year trophy drought - after the Frenchman suggested anyone playing down their team's title chances was doing so for fear of falling short.

GRAHAM POLL ON MARRINER

Read the former referee's view on the Kieran Gibbs sending off HERE

It ended the truce which had broken out in Mourinho's absence from the Premier League and, ahead of their third meeting of the season, Mourinho stopped short of joining those paying tribute to Wenger ahead of his landmark match.
Wenger's 500th game was a loss to Chelsea in August 2006 and there were warnings in the opening skirmishes of a repeat as Schurrle and Eto'o exposed gaping holes in the Gunners defence.
Petr Cech was at full stretch to turn away an Olivier Giroud effort before a direct run from Schurrle led to the opening goal.
Schurrle fed Eto'o, who turned Oxlade-Chamberlain outside and then in before curling left-footed across Wojciech Szczesny for his 11th goal of the season, all of which have come at home.
Soon after it was two after Nemanja Matic dispossessed Tomas Rosicky and found Schurrle, whose shot through three bodies found the corner of the net.
After the 6-3 loss at the Etihad Stadium and 5-1 defeat at Anfield, the sinking feeling on a Saturday lunchtime was familiar for the Gunners.

RECORDS TUMBLING

The win was Jose Mourinho's biggest as Chelsea boss, and the Blues' heaviest win over Arsenal

Worse was to follow when Hazard's shot beat Szczesny and Oxlade-Chamberlain dived to his left to handle the shot, which was going wide.
Marriner awarded a penalty and thought the offender was Gibbs, seemingly refusing to be persuaded otherwise by Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Hazard converted the spot-kick after the mayhem had subsided.
Thomas Vermaelen went on for Lukas Podolski, but the Gunners leaked a fourth three minutes before half-time when Fernando Torres, on for the injured Eto'o, crossed for Oscar to tap in.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Laurent Koscielny did not reappear for the second half as Wenger made two further substitutions in an effort to stop the rot.
Torres had a mazy run halted by Per Mertesacker and the ball broke for David Luiz, whose shot was saved by Szczesny, while there was a rare Arsenal attack which saw Santi Cazorla flash a shot across goal after 60 minutes.
Arsenal's miserable afternoon continued when the defence backed off and allowed Oscar to shoot from the edge of the area, with Szczesny less than convincing in being beaten for a fifth time.
Salah replaced Oscar and soon after netted under Szczesny after racing on to Matic's lofted pass, completing the rout.

Van Persie ruled out for up to six weeks as Manchester United lose striker for Champions League clashes with Bayern

Manchester United’s hopes of rescuing their season with Champions League glory were dealt a hammer blow when Robin van Persie was ruled out of both legs of the quarter-final with Bayern Munich.
The striker, whose hat-trick against Olympiacos on Wednesday set up the tie with the European champions, will be out for up to six weeks — meaning he may not be fit until United’s final Premier League game on May 11.
After a day of tests on the injury he suffered near the end of the Olympiacos game, United’s medical staff confirmed that Van Persie had a strained knee.
 
Unhappy ending: Robin van Persie was carried off on a stretcher after scoring three against Olympiacos
At one time there were even fears in Holland that the 30-year-old’s problem might be serious enough to rule him out of the World Cup.
The diagnosis was good news for the Dutch, but was a huge blow for United and their manager David Moyes as he looks to revive a season which looks increasingly likely to end with the club failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 19 years.
United play Bayern at home on April 1, then travel to Munich eight days later. That gives Van Persie no chance of taking part.
Bayern have knocked United out of the competition twice since Sir Alex Ferguson’s side famously beat them with two late goals to win the Champions League final in 1999, and will be firm favourites when they meet next month.
However, Moyes, fresh from another meeting with chief executive Edward Woodward to discuss his summer transfer targets, has watched Bayern several times this season and believes that he has spotted weaknesses United can exploit.

Games RVP could miss

Mar 23: West Ham (A)
Mar 25: Man City (H)
Mar 29: Aston Villa (H)
Apr 1: Bayern Munich (H)
Apr 5: Newcastle (A)
Apr 9: Bayern Munich (A)
Apr 20: Everton (A)
Apr 26: Norwich (H)
 
Hat-trick hero: Van Persie's three goals sealed the victory over Olympiacos and United's place in the last eight

 

Aguero misses Manchester derby... and City's star striker faces fitness race to make crunch clash with Arsenal

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is out of Tuesday's derby clash with United and manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted his top scorer is a doubt to face Arsenal next weekend.
Aguero has been troubled with hamstring problems this season and picked up the latest injury in last week's Champions League defeat by Barcelona.
City trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by six points but have three games in hand. 
 
Sidelined: Sergio Aguero (right) damaged his hamstring during City's loss at Barcelona
After Fulham at the Etihad on Saturday, it's the short trip to Old Trafford before Arsenal away.
Pellegrini would love to have his 26-goal man available but said: 'We don't know yet. Maybe next week he will start working with the squad. But I don't think that it will be the whole week. Maybe at end of the week he can be with the squad starting training. For United? No chance.'
There was some good news for City fans concerned about Aguero as Pellegrini dismissed talk of him heading to Barcelona.
'Aguero is a Manchester City player, he is very happy here and we are very happy with Aguero,' said the City manager.
Pellegrini will, however, be boosted by the return of forward Stevan Jovetic, who has struggled to stay fit for much of the season, although Matija Nastasic remains some away from from returning from a knee problem.
The Chilean meanwhile, insisted that City would not take relegation-battling Fulham lightly ahead of the rather more glamorous games that lie on the horizon and warned his players to learn the lessons of the FA Cup defeat at home to Wigan and the struggles that City encountered in only narrow victories at home to Stoke and Crystal Palace.
Pellegrini added: 'We are just thinking about Fulham, we are not thinking about Manchester United. It is a very tough game, the teams in the bottom of the table try to add points everywhere. With Felix Magath, he has a team that will play with a lot of intensity. We have to work very hard to win. We have experience from Wigan, Palace, Stoke, where it was very difficult to score a goal.'
Pellegrini also had words of praise for Arsene Wenger, who this weekend takes charge of his 1,000th competitive game as Arsenal manager.
'It is not easy,' the City boss reflected, 'It is really for a special manager. He has had a wonderful, beautiful career. I think that winning three Premier League titles is a great achievement, so congratulations to him.
'I think the most important thing is to continue working so long at the same club.It is very difficult to do for any manager.'


 

United face daunting task of knocking out holders Bayern Munich as Chelsea draw PSG in Champions League quarters

Manchester United face the daunting challenge of knocking out Champions League holders Bayern Munich after being drawn against the German giants in the quarter-finals.
The only other remaining Premier League team, Chelsea, face French champions Paris Saint-Germain after the balls were drawn by Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo in Nyon, Switzerland.
Elsewhere, in an all-Spanish tie, Barcelona take on surprise package Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will play Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund to complete the draw.
 
Up close and personal: Manchester United were drawn against old enemy Bayern Munich
 
Holy grail: The Champions League trophy in Nyon, Switzerland ahead of the draw
David Moyes' United side turned around a two-goal deficit against Olympiacos at Old Trafford to progress, but have a far tougher task if they are to reach the semi-finals.
Moyes, who has come under increasing pressure after a 3-0 thumping by Liverpool last weekend, will pit his wits against former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena in the second leg.
Bayern, who knocked United out of the competition the last time the two sides met in 2010 through a sensational volley from Arjen Robben, progressed top of a group containing Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.
 
In the mix: Wayne Rooney and Manchester United are outsiders for the competition after scraping through

They then went on to ease past Arsenal over two legs in the round of 16.
The Germans have a sensational record in Europe in recent years. Beaten finallists in 2012 by Chelsea, they went on to win the competition last season by beating Dortmund in the Wembley final.
Former manager Jupp Heynckes led his side to a treble and thumped Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in last season's semi-final.
Ominously for Moyes and United, Bayern dominated Italian giants Juventus at the same stage last season, winning 4-0 on aggregate.
But United fans will fondly remember one of the most glorious nights in their rich history came when they beat Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999 to snatch Sir Alex Ferguson's first Champions League crown. But the Treble-winning United 15 years ago look a far-cry from Moyes' team now, who sit seventh in the Barclays Premier League.
 
Meanwhile, Chelsea travel to Paris for their first-leg clash with PSG. A one-on-one showdown already earmarked as a must-see is the duel between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Blues defender John Terry.
Chelsea have faced the French side twice in the competition before, both games coming in the same season 10 years ago.
In 2004, Chelsea travelled to Paris and won 3-0 in the group-stage game and drew 0-0 in the corresponding game at Stamford Bridge.
The tie will also see Jose Mourinho come up against his former striker Ibrahimovic, who he managed while at Inter Milan.
Ibrahimovic has spoken of his admiration for Mourinho, saying in his autobiography that he 'was basically willing to die for' the Portuguese.
The Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain tie is the battle of two of the wealthiest clubs in Europe, and the Qatar-based PSG owners will reportedly pay their players a whopping £820,000 bonus if they overcome the London club and win the Champions League.
'It's a massive game,' Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said. 'We have a good balance between young and experienced players and, in our eye, the top coach in the world.
'We have a top quality side but we know we'll be playing a Paris Saint-Germain side that has some big individual players.'
Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp believes United will struggle to overcome Bayern to reach the next stage.
'It is the toughest draw you could wish to have,' Redknapp said of the holders on Sky Sports News.
'Anybody's beatable but at the moment are Man United capable of doing that? I don't think so.
'Arsenal have proved that teams can go there (to the Allianz Arena) and get results but this year, they just look a better side.
'Listen, they've got nothing to lose. They are going to go there and all the pressure is on Bayern Munich now.'
The first batch of fixtures take place on April 1 and 2 with the second-leg matches coming the following week (April 8 and 9).

BARCELONA

MEET THE BOSS: Gerardo 'Tata' Martino
To many the former Paraguay boss was a surprise appointment at the Nou Camp in the summer but he still loves his teams to attack and press high up the pitch and doesn't mind a bit of 'tiki-taka' either.
STAR MAN: Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo may have stolen his thunder but the diminutive Argentine is getting back to his best after niggling injuries.
UNSUNG HERO: Sergio Busquets
While Xavi gets the passing plaudits, Busquets keeps the ball and wins it back as well as anybody.
STORY OF THE SEASON
Rocky by their own exacting standard with Martino trying to put his own stamp on things. But they remain well and truly in the hunt for honours both domestically and in Europe.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
European Cup/Champions League. Winners (4): 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011. Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (4): 1979, 1982, 1989, 1997. Fairs Cup. Winners (3): 1958, 1960, 1966.
DANGER RATING: 4/5.
STATS AMAZING: 818 - Xavi has completed the most passes in this season's competition with a 92 per cent completion rate. 

ATLETICO MADRID

MEET THE BOSS: Diego Simeone
He's come a long way since getting David Beckham sent off, taking his side out of the shadow of Real Madrid by winning the Europa League, the European Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and contenders for La Liga.
STAR MAN: Diego Costa
Rapidly becoming the most coveted striker in Europe after Falcao's departure.
UNSUNG HERO: Diego Godin
Helped get Villarreal to the Champions League before becoming a mainstay in Atletico's defence. England will need to get past the Uruguayan this summer.
STORY OF THE SEASON
One of remarkable success in which Atletico can still break the La Liga title stranglehold held by Real Madrid and Barcelona and could even win the Champions League for the first time
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
Europa League: Winners (2) 2010, 2012. Cup Winners' Cup: Winners (1) 1962.
DANGER RATING: 3/5
STATS AMAZING: 21 - midfielder Gabi is joint top of the charts when it comes to fouls committed by any player still left in the competition. 

REAL MADRID

MEET THE BOSS: Carlo Ancelotti. Won it as a player and coach, Champions League pedigree through and through and the manager Real president Florentino Perez chased after for years.
STAR MAN: Cristiano Ronaldo.
The greatest player on the planet just keeps on getting better and better. In the Champions League categories that count, he tops the charts this season.
UNSUNG HERO: Luka Modric.
OK, so we all know him but the former Spurs star makes Real tick from the centre of the park. Earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as the star names.
STORY OF THE SEASON
It's starting to look like Real have timed their run to perfection after hitting the top of La Liga just at the right time while this season is surely their best chance of winning their 10th European Cup for many a year – an all-consuming task for fans, players and press alike.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
European Cup/Champions League. Winners (9): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002. UEFA Cup. Winners (2): 1985, 1986.
DANGER RATING: 4/5.
STATS AMAZING:  3.63. Real Madrid  have easily the best goals to games ratio in this season's Champions League with 29 from eight games.  

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

MEET THE BOSS: Jurgen Klopp.
Touted by many as the man who should have got the Manchester United job instead of David Moyes, Klopp may have been overshadowed by Guardiola this season but last season's beaten finalist are in the hat once more and remain Bayern's nearest challengers.
STAR MAN: Robert Lewandowski.
The Poland striker has carried his team in a disappointing campaign and will be sorely missed in the quarter-final first leg after picking up a yellow card against Zenit. He will be even more sorely missed when he moves to Bayern this summer.
UNSUNG HERO: Kevin Grosskreutz.
A lifelong Dortmund supporter, Grosskreutz ability to fill a variety of roles in midfield and defence has been a vital asset in a difficult season.
STORY OF THE SEASON
Injuries to key players means Dortmund have failed to hit the heights of the previous campaign while the departure of Mario Gotze to Bayern has not helped either. But they are starting to find some form and could yet spring a surprise on Europe.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE: Champions League. Winners (1): 1997. Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (1): 1966.
DANGER RATING 2/5.
STATS AMAZING: 96507m - Nuri Sahin has covered more ground than any other player in the Champions League this season. 

MANCHESTER UNITED

MEET THE BOSS: David Moyes.
Replacing Sir Alex Ferguson was always going to be tough, but this tough? The jury is well and truly out on Moyes but Europe could be his salvation. Was Robin van Persie's hat-trick against Olympiacos his Mark Robins moment?
STAR MAN: Wayne Rooney.
Goodness only knows where Manchester United would be if they had not had Rooney to rely on this season. With Van Persie blowing more cold than hot, Rooney is a shining light in a squad that needs a major overhaul.
UNSUNG HERO: David de Gea
There is still the odd gaffe but his double save against Olympiacos showed just what a good keeper De Gea is on his day.
STORY OF THE SEASON
Disastrous domestically but in Europe there remains hope, albeit slim, of redemption in the Champions League. It remains to be seen whether Moyes will be trusted to revamp the playing staff in the summer and further progress in Europe is a must.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
European Cup/Champions League. Winners (3): 1968, 1999, 2008. Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (1): 1991.
DANGER RATING: 2/5.
STATS AMAZING: Seven - Wayne Rooney is topping the assist  charts in the Champions League this season.

BAYERN MUNICH

MEET THE BOSS: Pep Guardiola
The former Barcelona coach has taken to the Bundesliga like a duck to water marrying Latin flair with Teutonic tenacity to enhance their reputation as the best side in Europe.
STAR MAN: Arjen Robben
A new lease of life at Bayern after being cast aside by Real Madrid. Still likes to take a tumble but the trickery, goal threat and delivery are unblemished. Man of the match in last season's final.
UNSUNG HERO: Manuel Neuer
They don't need him that often but when called upon Bayern have the best keeper in Europe between the sticks.
STORY OF THE SEASON
One of complete domination in the Bundesliga in which they hold a 23 point advantage over Borussia Dortmund. The defeat to Manchester City is their only loss in the Champions League so far.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
European Cup/Champions League. Winners (5): 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013. UEFA Cup/Europa League. Winners (1): 1996. Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (1): 1967.
DANGER RATING: 5/5.
STATS AMAZING 73 per cent - In their 2-0 win over Arsenal at The Emirates, Bayern registered the best possession stats of the competition so far.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

MEET THE BOSS: Laurent Blanc.
Stepping into the breach after Carlo Ancelotti, Blanc is well on course to steering oil-rich PSG to the defence of their league crown. He has matched his predecessor's performance in Europe and are many a pundits outside bet to progress much further.
STAR MAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Never short on confidence, Ibrahimovic has the talent to win matches on his own. No defence will fancy coming up against him.
UNSUNG HERO: Blaise Matuidi.
They know a thing about water carriers in France and Matuidi is following in the footsteps of the likes of Deschamps and Makelele.
STORY OF THE SEASON
PSG are certain to retain their league crown and no one will fancy pulling them out of the hat in Europe. They made it out of a hard fought group as winners before dismantling Bayer Leverkusen 6-1 on aggregate.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (1): 1996.
DANGER RATING 3/5.
STATS AMAZING: Five - Watch them in the air, PSG have scored more headers than any other in this season's Champions League. 

CHELSEA

MEET THE BOSS: Jose Mourinho.
'The Special One' has unfinished business at Stamford Bridge having not lifted the Champions League with his beloved Chelsea – not that he'll admit they have a chance.
STAR MAN: Eden Hazard.
Under Mourinho Chelsea fans are starting to see the best of the Belgium international. Mourinho rates him as the best young player in Europe and it is hard to argue.
UNSUNG HERO: Gary Cahill.
John Terry is revitalised under Mourinho but Cahill's performances at the back have been just as important to Chelsea this season.
STORY OF THE SEASON.
The little horse is picking up speed but still prone to the occasional loss of footing. They may not be the finished article but they are still contenders for the double.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE: European Cup/Champions League. Winners (1): 2012. UEFA Cup/Europa League. Winners (1): 2013. Cup Winners' Cup. Winners (2): 1971, 1998.
DANGER RATING: 3/5.
STATS AMAZING: 4 - Oscar has assisted twice as many goals in the Champions League this season as he has in the Premier League.

Wenger strikes philosophical note after receiving golden cannon to mark 1,000 matches in charge of Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has been presented with a golden cannon to mark 1,000 matches in charge of Arsenal.
The Frenchman reaches the milestone when the Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.
To mark the achievement, Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick presented Wenger with a memento before the gathered media at the club's training ground on Friday morning.

 
Landmark: Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick presented Arsene Wenger with a golden cannon to mark 1,000 matches in charge
Reflecting on the ups and downs of a period that has seen Wenger guide the club to three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, he struck a philosophical note.
'Every defeat is a scar on the heart you never forget and every win is forgotten because you find it normal.
'There has been a lot of suffering in 1,000 games. What I want is the next moment of happiness.
'I'm an idealist but no fool. I'm at a stage in my career where I am extremely passionate, maybe more than ever to do more for this club. But I have to accept the next thousand may be difficult.'
He added: 'I've shown loyalty and turned many things down and agreed to work with restricted potential. I could rate what I had at this club.
'We have been through difficult and fantastic periods but we are always focused on being united as a club, that's why I always acted with three things in my mind.
'First every decision I make like I own the club. Second in a job where you need a clear perception of ideas and the courage to transform it into action.
'And third to make this club grow and make sure it is bigger when I leave than when I arrived. Time will tell if I managed that.'
When awarding him his trophy, Keswick said: 'A thousands games is a rite of passage. This cannon was designed 125 years ago by the workers in the factory in Woolwich.
'You've transformed the beautiful game back into the beautiful game.'
Speaking at his press conference ahead of the Chelsea match, Wenger said: 'It is a huge privilege to manage 1,000 games at one club.
'From the moment I met David Dein and he introduced me to Peter Hill-Wood, a lot has happened at this club.'
Wenger added: 'I had the freedom to work and the trust of people. The most important thing is to wake up and be happy to go to your job.
'We are human and I have made mistakes but we have achieved incredible consistency.
'Today we can fight again with the top clubs financially. I'm not in a position to judge my achievements. I'll leave that to other people.'
League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan presented Wenger with a crystal vase in honour of the achievement.
In a statement, Bevan said: 'On behalf of everyone at the LMA, I congratulate Arsene on reaching such a momentous milestone as manager of Arsenal.
'When you consider there are just 23 managers in the very select group to have reached the landmark of 1000 matches in English football, this feat is even more impressive as he is one of just four men to have accomplished it at one club, and with Arsenal being one of the world’s most prestigious clubs.
'Arsene has enjoyed a hugely successful career as the manager of Arsenal and is rightly renowned as a true footballing innovator, not just in England but worldwide.
 
The winning days are over?

‘This achievement is a remarkable celebration of success and longevity. In a profession where time can often be an all too rare commodity, 1000 matches at one club exhibits an enduring quality, which can only serve as an inspiration to all current as well as all aspiring managers and coaches.’
Old adversary and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson issued his own tribute to mark the occasion.
He said: ‘I congratulate Arsene in reaching this momentous landmark. Having also reached the same milestone at one club, I cannot emphasise enough the level of dedication, resilience as well as sacrifice required and for that I have for the utmost admiration.
'Over the years we enjoyed some fantastic battles and you could say we had survived together and respected each other’s efforts to play good football. 
'I always enjoy watching Arsene’s sides – Arsenal play the right way. Playing against them always presented special challenges that I burned many hours over the years thinking about.
'He has always been a conscientious member of our trade who makes it his business to help other managers.
'Perhaps the biggest compliment I could give Arsene is that I could never be anything other than competitive with my rival for 17 years.
'Overall this achievement once again shows what stability can bring to a football club and without doubt he has created a permanent legacy during his 1000 matches with the Club.’
More to follow