The first bout of the deciding games in the eighth round of the Champions League kicked off last night with lots of goals and drama.
The first match in the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence saw
Bayern Munich makes it through to the quarter-finals, but only by virtue of the away goals ruling, as they lost 3-2 to Fiorentina. After their narrow
2-1 first-leg victory Bayern looked to be in for a tough test, and their fears were rapidly confirmed as Vargas put the home into the lead, which meant that the Germans were on their way out on the away goals rule. Things went from bad to worse for Bayern at the start of the second half as midfield star Stevan Jovetic put Fiorentina two goals ahead, with a crisp drive from 12 yards.
However the Germans never give up easily and when Mark van Bommel shot home for twenty yards in the sixtieth minute, then the tie was a complete draw and extra time seemed more than likely. However that particular possibility was nipped in the bud, as Jovetic popped up a few minutes later to put Fiorentina 3-1 ahead on the night and, on paper at least, through to the next round. No sooner had the celebrations died down, when Bayern again demonstrated why that have remained at the forefront of European soccer for so many years, with their highly experienced and super talented smashed in a long range shot to put Bayern through to the next round, despite some frantic efforts by the purple soccer uniforms of Fiorentina to decide the tie yet again with a late winner. What made the difference at the end of the day was
Bayern's impressive Champions League record of scoring in away ties, with no less than 18 of their last 19 goals coming away from home. .
Bayern's defeat was their first in 19 games in all competitions.
In the other tie in London Arsenal swept Porto aside with an impressive 5-0 win against former European Champions, Porto. Arsenal also had to overcome a 2-1 defeat on the first round, and home fans were skeptical of their chances, especially as midfield powerhouse and team Captain Cesc Fabregas was out with a hamstring injury and Swiss striker Nicklas Bendtner was playing. The reason for the fan's cynicisms was that Bendtner had had an absolute howler of a game on Saturday against lowly Burney in the Premier League. The word was Bendtner should have scored about five, but missed them all, eventually being substituted to cries of relief from the home fans. Something must have hit home because Bendtner was a different player last night at the Emirates, putting Arsenal ahead as early as the sixth minute, and through on the night. He went on to confirm the gunners ascendancy with another well-taken strike before the break, with Porto finding it difficult to keep track of Arsenal's typically slick passing play and looking already down and out.
The goal of the night was not from Bendtner but from Frenchman
Samir Nasri, playing in Cesc Fabregas' midfield role, who notched up a fine goal after a beautiful solo run, and substitute Emmanuel Eboue made it four just a few minutes later after a counter-attack with the ever impressive Arshavin providing the final pass. To put the icing on the cake for Arsenal and for Nikolas Bendtner in particular was converting a very late penalty and completing his hattrick. The crowd roared in appreciation as the man who looked like he couldn't hit a barn door from three yards just three days ago stepped up and slotted the ball home with complete professionalism.
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