Napoli 3 – Chelsea 1 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 21, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.)There was a brilliant moment as the teams lined up as a mascot in front of the Napoli players dished out kisses to Lavezzi and Gargano before kick-off. But it was the Pensioners who had the first laugh once the game got underway as a terrible error by last defender Cannavaro (aided by a funny bounce) gifted possession to Juan Mata in front of goal and the Spaniard applied the killer finish. Napoli equalised witha  super goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 37th minute as the playmaker ghosted past Meireles on the edge of the Chelsea area before curling a sweet shot into Cech’s far post. The Blues fell 2-1 behind on the stroke of halftime as a deep cross to the far post caught out Ivanovic and Edinson Cavani scored with his shoulder. After playing well after the break the match imploded for Chelse in the 65th minute as David Luiz lost out to Cavani when challenging a long ball, and Ezequiel Lavezzi was the beneficiary as he claim the hosts third.

Post match interviews: Andre Villas-Boas & Juan Mata.

More mental Italian commentary from Napoli 3 – Chelsea 1.

CSKA Moscow 1 – Real Madrid 1 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 21, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.) The Muscovites defence was breached in the 28th minute as the Russian failed to deal with Coentrao’s left-wing cross, and Cristiano Ronaldo buried the loose ball for his 35th goal in 36 games this season. Jose Mourinho enjoyed Ronaldo’s goal with a double-fingered celebration on the touchline. Just as it looked like Real would close out the win, deep into stoppage time CSKA throw the kitchen sink at the Spaniards and debutant Pontus Wernbloom was able to slice home a volley for a dramatic equaliser.

Pst match interviews: Jose Mourinho (to Russian TV).

Individual highlights: Keisuke Honda.

AC Milan 4 – Arsenal 0 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 15, 2012) (Longer highlights & Extended highlights.) Clarence Seedorf dragged a shot wide, as did Urby Emanuelson, as Milan probed the Arsenal net early on. The Rossoneri unlocked the Gunners backline on the quarter hour when a chipped pass from Nocerino was hammered home on the half volley by Kevin Prince Boateng. The Gunners were facing a long evening when they went 2-behind in the 38th; with Robinho offside but ‘not interfering,’ Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled onside as he broke down the Milan left, where the Swede’s final delivery was headed home by his Brazilian counterpart. Arsenal’s misery increased in the 49th minute as a slip from Vermaelen on the edge of the box gifted acres of space to Robinho and the forward buried his shot into Szczesny’s near post. Arsenal’s first major attacking moment arrived in the 65th minute when a Robin van Persie volley was pushed aside by Abbiati. Milan put a giant foot into the quarters after Djourou was adjudged to have brought down Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the box (or was it a dive?) in the 78th and the Swede converted from the spot.

Post match interviews: Arsene Wenger, Wojciech Szczesny & Thiago Silva.

Thierry Henry & Zlatan Ibrahimovic share a few laughs post AC Milan 4 – Arsenal 0.

ITV (Keano & Southgate) analysis of AC Milan 4 – Arsenal 0.

Novak Djokovic post AC Milan 4 – Arsenal 0: “I had a great time here tonight”.

Related link: Tiziano Crudeli’s mental commentary for AC Milan 4 – Arsenal 0.

Zenit St. Petersburg 3 – Benfica 2 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 15, 2012) (Longer highlights.) Benfica took the lead in the 20th minute in freezing Russia as a Cardozo free-kick wasn’t dealt with by keeper Zhevnov and Maxi Pereira was able to gobble up the spoils from close range. Zenit appeared to wake up after conceding and they levelled in the 26th through a fabulous, guided volley from Roman Shirokov. With twenty minutes on the clock Zenit conjured up a brilliant second that involved a brilliant flick from Kerzhakov before Sergei Semak applied a final backheel kick on the swivel. Just as it looked like Zenit would see out the win, a terrible fumble from keeper Zhevnov in not stopping a Gaitan shot gifted Oscar Cardoso a late leveller for 2-2. Yet there was an incredible twist as Zenit refused to give up the winning mantle, and the impressive Roman Shirokov netted his 5th Champions League goal of the season for the winner.

Bayer Leverkusen 1 – Barcelona 3 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 14, 2012) (Longer highlights.) With Bayer playing bunker football from kick off, the Germans were finally prised open in the 41st minute when Messi freed Alexis Sanchez and the Chilean finished with aplomb. After their miserable first half display Bayer looked a team revived after the interval, and they eaqualised in the 51st minute through a Michal Kadlec header following a period of sustained pressure. The Germans were level for just three minutes when a lovely slid pass from Cesc released Alexis Sanchez and the forward bagged his second of the night. Lionel Messi almost made it 1-3 in the 72nd when he hit the post after nutmegging a Bayer defender. In the 88th minute Barcelona killed the match (and probably the tie) when Dani Alves burst through the middle and crossed for Lionel Messi to claim his 38th goal in 39 matches this season.

Post match interview: Pep Guardiola’s presser & Pep Guardiola with Sky.

Individual highlights: Thiago Alcantara.

Lyon 1 – APOEL Nicosia 0 (Champions League last-16 1st leg, February 14, 2012) (Longer highlights.) Lyon threatened the APOEL net early on courtesy of Ederson’s low shot. OL broke the ice in the 58th minute when Alexandre Lacazette saw his shot take a big deflection to leave the Cypriots’ keeper with no chance.

Post-match interview: Remi Garde.

Basel 2 – Manchester United 1 (Champions League, December 7, 2011) (Longer Highlights.)  Manchester United suffered a terrible concentration lapse in the 9th minute as a Shaqiri cross wasn’t dealt with by David De Gea and Marco Streller was on hand to smash in the opener. The nightmare scenario appeared locked against United in the 84th minute when Shaqiri again produced the quality delivery for Alex Frei to stoop Basel into a 2-goal lead at the back post. With less than 120 seconds of the 90 to play, Phil Jones bundled in a lifeline for United that allowed every commentator on the planet the chance to talk about that Bayern Munich final.

Post-match interview: Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester City 2 – Bayern Munich 0 (Champions League, December 7, 2011) (Longer highlights.) Manchester City netted a crucial opener after 36 minutes as Dzeko flicked to ball onto the onrushing David Silva, and the special Spaniard spanked home a cracker from 20-yards. City scored a sublime second after the break as a beautiful, incisive passing attack was finished by Yaya Toure.

Post match interview: Roberto Mancini & Gareth Barry.

Dinamo Zagreb 1 – Lyon 7 (Champions League, December 7, 2011) Dinamo Zagreb shook off Jerko Leko’s dismissal midway through the first half when Mateo Kovacic powered the Croatians ahead in the 40th. Lyon – who needed a goalscoring avalanche to have a chance of qualification – levelled the match before the break  as Bafetimbi Gomis converted a Cissokho cross from the left. Lyon stormed into the lead early in the second period as Maxime Gonalons blasted in the Frenchmen’s second. Bafetimbi Gomis soon made it 3-1 in the 49th, and Bafetimbi Gomis claimed his hat-trick goal minutes later as Dinamo were dead and buired. Dinamo’s humiliation continued when Lisandro Lopez claimed a fifth, and Bafetimbi Gomis began to home in on a Champions League record when he claimed his sixth for the Ligue 1 side – to amazingly overhaul Ajax into second in the group on goal difference. One of the great Champions League results was certified when Jimmy Briand claimed an amazing seventh for Lyon in the 76th.

Related links: Does Dinamo Zagreb defender Domagoj Vida’s wink prove the Lyon game was fixed?

Dinamo Zagreb 1 – Lyon 7 stinks: Breakdown of the controversial goals.

Ajax 0 – Real Madrid 3 (Champions League, December 7, 2011) (Longer highlights.) Jose Callejon fired Real Madrid 1-up after 14 minutes at Ajax following a fine ball-over-the-top from Kaka. The Amsterdammers felt they had been robbed in the 36th minute as a stunning Anita golazo from 35-yards was chalked off for a controversial offside call. Los Blancos left Ajax in a deep hole at the break as Gonzalo Higuain slammed home a second in the 42nd. Jose Callejon wrapped up Real’s win with a third in injury time following a tidy Alonso assist.

Post-match interviews: Jose Mourinho & Gonzalo Higuain.

Individual match highlights: Kaka.