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| March 30, 2006 | Thursday | Safar 29, 1427 |
Champions League: Arsenal down Juve, Barcelona held by gutsy Benfica
Arsenal 2…………Juventus 0
Benfica 0…………Barcelona 0
LONDON, March 29: Arsenal produced another mighty European performance to overwhelm Juventus 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday as the Italian champions ended in disarray with two late red cards.
Arsenal, who knocked out Real Madrid in the last round, were totally dominant and should have had more than the two goals scored by Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry in each half.
The night’s other tie in Lisbon somehow ended goalless as Barcelona made, and missed, a dozen good chances and Benfica too should have broken the deadlock.
The second two quarterfinals take place on Wednesday when Inter Milan host Villarreal, who are enjoying a dream debut season in the competition, while Olympique Lyon are at home to last year’s runners-up AC Milan.
The chances of all three Italian clubs reaching the last four receded on Tuesday as Juventus were outclassed by an energetic young Arsenal team who are emerging as a real threat in the competition.
Fabregas, the 18-year-old Spaniard who has inherited the tough job of replacing Patrick Vieira, overshadowed the former Arsenal captain on a memorable Highbury night.
Vieira, who moved to Juve last year, was robbed by Robert Pires in the build-up to the first goal and a later booking rules him out of the return leg in Turin.
Pires fed Henry who set up Fabregas to fire home the first goal five minutes before halftime.
Arsenal poured on the pressure after the break and, following several near misses, got the second goal when Fabregas squared for Henry to sweep home in the 69th minute.
Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina were sent off for second yellow cards in the last five minutes to complete a wretched night for the Italians, who were unrecognisable from the team firmly on course to retain their Serie A title.
Competition favourites Barcelona should have been celebrating at least as good a result as Arsenal’s but will still expect to advance.
Midfielder Deco and striker Samuel Eto’o missed sitters as Benfica’s Brazilian keeper Marcelo Moretto was busy all night.
The Spaniards also hit both posts within a minute in the second half but were lucky to survive a penalty appeal when the ball struck the arm of defender Thiago Motta.
Benfica substitute Fabrizio Miccoli also forced Victor Valdes into the best of several smart saves.
The winners after the Nou Camp return play either Milan or Lyon in the semifinals while Arsenal or Juventus will face Inter or Villarreal.—Agencies
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