Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez left Roma ruing a host of missed chances as Real Madrid moved into the quarter-finals of the Champions League 4-0 on aggregate with a 2-0 win on Tuesday (Mar 8).

Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah were the culprits in front of goal for the visitors before two goals in four second-half minutes ensured Madrid’s first win in a two-legged tie over Italian opposition in Europe for 29 years.

Ronaldo swept home Lucas Vazquez’s cross 26 minutes from time before turning provider for Rodriguez to smash home the second.

“I am happy with the way we attacked and I think defensively we improved a lot in the second-half,” said Real boss Zinedine Zidane. “Everyone dreams of winning the Champions League and we are in the hunt.”

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti criticised his side’s mental strength after letting Madrid off the hook. “We have to point out that we had more chances than them and if we’d taken them then the psychology of the game changes,” said Spalletti. “Right now on a mental level perhaps we are a bit fragile. It’s a big game, big games make us nervous and we have to change this.”

Gareth Bale started for Madrid for the first time in over six weeks due to a calf injury and the Welshman began brightly as he got a rare chance to start on the left with Ronaldo through the middle in the absence of the injured Karim Benzema.

Bale’s cut-back was sliced wide by Marcelo as Real threatened early on. However, it was Roma who enjoyed the best of the chances before half-time to get back into the tie.

Former Manchester City striker Dzeko failed to repay Luciano Spalletti’s faith by handing him a start up front when he fired into the side-netting after Salah’s pace tore through the Madrid defence.

Salah had a great chance himself as he too could only find the side-netting when clean through on Keylor Navas just before the half-hour mark. Yet, the hosts could also easily have been ahead by the break as former Arsenal ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny was put to work in the Roma goal.

The Polish international’s palms were stung by Luka Modric’s long-range drive before Szczesny got down well to turn Ronaldo’s low shot to safety.

Ronaldo then had Madrid’s best chance of the half when he was played in by Bale, but Szczesny again scurried from his line to block the three-time World Player of the Year’s effort. Szczesny was forced into action once more at the start of the second period to parry Rodriguez’s volley.

INSTANT IMPACT

However, the pattern of the first half was repeated as the Italians then passed up a host of chances to put themselves ahead on the night.

Salah again failed to hit the target with just Navas to beat as the Egyptian continued to find acres of space in behind the Madrid defence. Navas then had to make two smart saves from Alessandro Florenzi and Kostas Manolas as Roma finally at least hit the target.

Bale was replaced on the hour mark by Vazquez and the Spanish winger made an instant impact to tee up Ronaldo’s 13th Champions League goal of the season. Vazquez got to the byline and Ronaldo beat his marker and Szczesny to his cross to fire into the roof of the net.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo led a Madrid counter-attack and teed up Rodriguez to lash between Szczesny’s legs.

Ronaldo missed a glorious chance for his second of the night 20 minutes from time when he slotted just wide after a brilliant Real break involving Marcelo, Rodriguez and Vazquez from a Roma corner.

Spalletti then put his recent spat with club legend Francesco Totti behind him to introduce the 39-year-old for the closing stages to a standing ovation by the home fans.

And Roma were denied at least the goal their performance deserved when Navas flew to his right to claw away Diego Perotti’s effort and ensure he still hasn’t conceded a goal in the Champions League this season.

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Juan Mata apologised to Manchester United fans on Monday (Mar 7) after the first red card of his career proved costly in a 1-0 defeat at West Brom on Sunday.

The Spaniard collected two yellow cards in just 158 seconds at the Hawthorns, as United were left to play with only 10 men for over an hour.

Mata was shown his first yellow for needlessly blocking a Darren Fletcher free-kick, and was sent off for a late tackle on the former United midfielder.

Louis van Gaal’s men are now three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the race for the Champions League, who also have a game in hand.

Their best chance of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition now looks to be by winning the Europa League.

They play Liverpool for the first time in Europe in the last 16 of that competition on Thursday, with Mata set to play as his ban only covers domestic football.

“After almost 500 games as a professional player, this Sunday I was sent off for the first time in my career. As you can imagine, it’s not easy for me to write these lines,” Spain midfielder Mata wrote on his blog.

“The truth is this is a new and strange situation for me, not easy to assimilate, but we learn from everything. I know that, in football, we see things like these every week, but obviously what hurts more is that my team-mates had to fight with 10 men for a long time.

“I have the feeling that both decisions were rigorous; that, in many occasions, we see more serious fouls that are not penalised in such a way, but at the same time I could have avoided them and I take responsibility.

“It also leaves me with a bad taste for the supporters who travelled to the stadium, and for those who were watching the game from home, but I must carry on as always and from now on I’m already focused on the next game, the derby against Liverpool in the Europa League.”

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A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday (Mar 6).

Atletico Madrid stayed eight points back of Barca with 10 games remaining as Fernando Torres came off the bench to score in a 3-1 win at Gary Neville’s Valencia.

Munir El Haddadi tapped home the opener from Luis Suarez’s cross before Messi doubled Barca’s advantage with a brilliant individual effort just before half-time. Messi doubled his tally from the penalty spot before Suarez lashed home the fourth six minutes from time.

Barca’s 11th consecutive league win also stretches their record unbeaten run to 36 games. Real Madrid remain 12 points adrift of Barca in third despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s four-goal show in a 7-1 demolition of Celta Vigo on Saturday.

“It is evident we are well-positioned in the league, but there are plenty of points to play for and meetings with direct rivals to come,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. “I am very happy to see the team evolve and improve without ever losing their ambition.”

El Haddadi made the most of his rare chance to start in the absence of the suspended Neymar with a simple finish at the back post eight minutes in after Messi’s brilliant pass had played in Suarez behind the Eibar defence.

Eibar then enjoyed a concerted period of pressure and were desperately unlucky not to level when Borja Baston’s cross hit Sergio Busquets and flew inches past the far post.

Yet, just when Eibar looked the most likely to score, Messi killed the game as a contest as he intercepted the ball in midfield and drove towards the Eibar goal before firing into the far corner for his 20th league goal of the season.

The second-half was far shorter on goalmouth action, but there was time for Messi to put Barca’s recent troubles from the penalty spot behind him when Ivan Ramis blocked the Argentine’s cross with his hand.

Messi took responsibility after Suarez had missed from the spot against Rayo Vallecano in midweek and coolly dispatched the penalty for his 35th goal of the season.

And Suarez finally got the goal he craved to move back to within one of Ronaldo in the scoring charts with a brilliant nutmeg of Capa before smashing the ball into the far corner. That goal also took Suarez, Messi and Neymar’s combined tally for the season to 100.

At Mestalla, Atletico rounded off a perfect week after wins over Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to inflict Neville’s sixth La Liga defeat.

“I’m probably the most disappointed I’ve been after a game,” said Neville. “We were in the game and in the last 20 it went away from us. I don’t like repeat mistakes – and it feels the same as last week. I felt we could have got something out of the game.”

Griezmann was Atletico’s hero with the only goal in the Madrid derby last weekend and the French international arrowed home his 22nd goal of the season from outside the box after 24 minutes.

Atletico were without inspirational central defender Diego Godin due to injury and the Uruguayan’s presence was missed as the visitors conceded for the first time in six games four minutes later.

Paco Alcacer’s headed layoff was perfectly weighted for the run of Denis Cheryshev and the on-loan Real Madrid winger drilled home his third Valencia goal.

Both sides had chances after the break as Atletico opened up in search of the winner to keep themselves in the title race.

Alcacer’s effort from a narrow angle was well saved by Jan Oblak, whilst at the other end Luciano Vietto’s fiercely struck volley was brilliantly turned onto the bar by Diego Alves.

Valencia’s weakness at set-pieces has been a feature of Neville’s reign and they were undone once more 18 minutes from time as Torres stretched to turn home Jose Maria Gimenez’s flick-on at the back post.

“Barcelona are well ahead and we don’t want to look at them, but anything can happen in football,” Torres said of Atletico’s title chances.

The hosts were then reduced to 10 men when Aderlan Santos saw a second yellow card for chopping down Torres. And Yannick Carrasco sealed all three points when his low effort embarrassed Alves.

Spanish La Liga results:

Real Betis 2 Granada 0

Eibar 0 Barcelona 4

Sporting Gijon 0 Athletic Bilbao 2

Real Sociedad 1 Levante 1

Valencia 1 Atletico Madrid 3

A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday (Mar 6).

Atletico Madrid stayed eight points back of Barca with 10 games remaining as Fernando Torres came off the bench to score in a 3-1 win at Gary Neville’s Valencia.

Munir El Haddadi tapped home the opener from Luis Suarez’s cross before Messi doubled Barca’s advantage with a brilliant individual effort just before half-time. Messi doubled his tally from the penalty spot before Suarez lashed home the fourth six minutes from time.

Barca’s 11th consecutive league win also stretches their record unbeaten run to 36 games. Real Madrid remain 12 points adrift of Barca in third despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s four-goal show in a 7-1 demolition of Celta Vigo on Saturday.

“It is evident we are well-positioned in the league, but there are plenty of points to play for and meetings with direct rivals to come,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. “I am very happy to see the team evolve and improve without ever losing their ambition.”

El Haddadi made the most of his rare chance to start in the absence of the suspended Neymar with a simple finish at the back post eight minutes in after Messi’s brilliant pass had played in Suarez behind the Eibar defence.

Eibar then enjoyed a concerted period of pressure and were desperately unlucky not to level when Borja Baston’s cross hit Sergio Busquets and flew inches past the far post.

Yet, just when Eibar looked the most likely to score, Messi killed the game as a contest as he intercepted the ball in midfield and drove towards the Eibar goal before firing into the far corner for his 20th league goal of the season.

The second-half was far shorter on goalmouth action, but there was time for Messi to put Barca’s recent troubles from the penalty spot behind him when Ivan Ramis blocked the Argentine’s cross with his hand.

Messi took responsibility after Suarez had missed from the spot against Rayo Vallecano in midweek and coolly dispatched the penalty for his 35th goal of the season.

And Suarez finally got the goal he craved to move back to within one of Ronaldo in the scoring charts with a brilliant nutmeg of Capa before smashing the ball into the far corner. That goal also took Suarez, Messi and Neymar’s combined tally for the season to 100.

At Mestalla, Atletico rounded off a perfect week after wins over Real Madrid and Real Sociedad to inflict Neville’s sixth La Liga defeat.

“I’m probably the most disappointed I’ve been after a game,” said Neville. “We were in the game and in the last 20 it went away from us. I don’t like repeat mistakes – and it feels the same as last week. I felt we could have got something out of the game.”

Griezmann was Atletico’s hero with the only goal in the Madrid derby last weekend and the French international arrowed home his 22nd goal of the season from outside the box after 24 minutes.

Atletico were without inspirational central defender Diego Godin due to injury and the Uruguayan’s presence was missed as the visitors conceded for the first time in six games four minutes later.

Paco Alcacer’s headed layoff was perfectly weighted for the run of Denis Cheryshev and the on-loan Real Madrid winger drilled home his third Valencia goal.

Both sides had chances after the break as Atletico opened up in search of the winner to keep themselves in the title race.

Alcacer’s effort from a narrow angle was well saved by Jan Oblak, whilst at the other end Luciano Vietto’s fiercely struck volley was brilliantly turned onto the bar by Diego Alves.

Valencia’s weakness at set-pieces has been a feature of Neville’s reign and they were undone once more 18 minutes from time as Torres stretched to turn home Jose Maria Gimenez’s flick-on at the back post.

“Barcelona are well ahead and we don’t want to look at them, but anything can happen in football,” Torres said of Atletico’s title chances.

The hosts were then reduced to 10 men when Aderlan Santos saw a second yellow card for chopping down Torres. And Yannick Carrasco sealed all three points when his low effort embarrassed Alves.

Spanish La Liga results:

Real Betis 2 Granada 0

Eibar 0 Barcelona 4

Sporting Gijon 0 Athletic Bilbao 2

Real Sociedad 1 Levante 1

Valencia 1 Atletico Madrid 3

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Substitute Christian Benteke won and scored a 96th-minute penalty as 10-man Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday (Mar 6).

Joe Ledley’s 48th-minute strike and Liverpool midfielder James Milner’s second-half dismissal for two bookable offences looked to have set Palace on course for a first win in 12 league matches.

But a slip by Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gifted Roberto Firmino a 72nd-minute equaliser, before Damien Delaney’s rash challenge on Benteke enabled the Belgium striker to net the winner with a last-gasp penalty.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who host Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday, climb two places to seventh after recording a third successive league win for the first time in a year. It was a fifth consecutive home league defeat for Alan Pardew’s Palace, who remain nine points above the relegation zone in 15th place.

A thigh injury cost Palace the services of in-form striker Connor Wickham, who had scored four goals in his previous two games, but Emmanuel Adebayor quickly set about proving himself a capable deputy.

He created the game’s first clear chance in the seventh minute with a square pass for Yannick Bolasie, only for Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to slide out bravely and save.

The Togo international then went close twice in as many minutes, first working Mignolet with a disguised shot towards the near post and then clattering the bar with a header from Pape Souare’s left-wing cross.

Liverpool’s carelessness in possession repeatedly gave Palace chances to attack them and in the 25th minute Yohan Cabaye rippled the side-netting from Wilfried Zaha’s pass after Divock Origi had lost the ball.

MCCARTHY’S ERROR

Preferred up front to Benteke and Daniel Sturridge, Origi curled the ball onto the roof of the net from just outside the box in Liverpool’s only opening of the first half.

Any hopes that the half-time break would give Liverpool time to clear their heads evaporated within three minutes of the restart as Ledley slammed in after Mile Jedinak and Souare had seen shots blocked. It was the Wales international’s first club goal in over a year.

Klopp reacted by introducing Philippe Coutinho for right-back Jon Flanagan, but within a minute his side were down to 10 men as Milner was shown a second yellow card for sliding in from behind on the fleeing Zaha.

However, while McCarthy had no trouble fielding Liverpool’s first shot on target in the 65th minute, comfortably gathering a skidding effort from Firmino, seven minutes later his error allowed the visitors to level.

The 26-year-old slipped as he attempted to send the ball downfield, sending the ball straight to Firmino, and the Brazilian took a touch before gratefully slotting home his eighth goal of the league campaign.

For all their efforts in the latter stages, it seemed victory would elude Liverpool, with McCarthy saving twice from Benteke, an 80th-minute replacement for Origi, and Alberto Moreno hitting the post from range.

But in the dying seconds of the fourth and final minute of stoppage time, Delaney unwisely slid in on Benteke as he chased Jordan Henderson’s pass down the inside-right channel.

The Ireland international pulled out of the challenge at the last moment, but his right knee clipped Benteke’s left foot and shortly after the substitute coolly sent McCarthy the wrong way from the spot.

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The inquiry maintains it cannot be ruled out that Germany had bought their FIFA votes to host the 2006 World Cup.

Key witnesses have “hampered” FIFA’s inquiry into Germany’s bid to host the 2006 World Cup by refusing to give evidence, football’s world governing body said Friday (Mar 4).

FIFA said it welcomed a German inquiry into the German campaign which said it could not rule out that FIFA votes were bought.

“However, many questions still remain to be answered. FIFA’s investigation has been hampered by the fact that key witnesses were not willing to answer questions or provide documents,” said a FIFA statement, which did not give names.

FIFA said it was still cooperating with German and Swiss authorities in their investigations into various World Cup bids.

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