Jose Mourinho has suddenly found the secret formula to beating team full of high quality, big-impact stars who play at a higher level than his own side, just in time for a similar test against Manchester City in the Premier League.

Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings over Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card against Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

European heavyweights Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the big-hitters in today’s Champions League semi-final draw in Nyon (12pm midday )but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not under-estimate surprise package Roma.

Zinedine Zidane believes Cristiano Ronaldo will leave a lasting legacy at Real Madrid like Alfredo Di Stefano has.

European football writers Paul Little, Dermot Corrigan and Emanuele Giulianelli preview the Champions League final.

European football writers Paul Little, Dermot Corrigan and Emanuele Giulianelli preview the Champions League final.

Once again, Juventus are out to prove themselves on the European stage, says Daniella Matar.

Ireland’s task at Euro 2016 was made a little easier yesterday after Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio was ruled out of the competition.

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique remained upbeat after his side threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Villarreal and said: “We’re one point closer to our objective.”

Former Republic of Ireland and Liverpool defender Jim Beglin believes Raheem Sterling is doing the team a favour by missing training.

Luis Suarez made it a perfect ending to Barcelona’s astonishing season with the Champions League final winner against Juventus.

Borussia Dortmund 0 Juventus 3 (Juventus win 5-1 on aggregate): Carlos Tevez scored two and set up another as Juventus cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Diego Costa looks set to finally get his dream move to Chelsea after the Barclays Premier League club met the buy-out clause in the Atletico Madrid striker’s contract.

Having witnessed some of the finest midfielders in the modern game play this week in the Champions League quarter-finals, it made me think about how the central midfield position has changed over the years.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis is confident manager Arsene Wenger still has the desire to drive the Gunners on to success once more – and is in it for “the long term”.

Georgios Samaras is looking for Turkish referee Firat Aydinus to ensure Celtic get a “fair” crack of the whip against Juventus tomorrow night as they try to rescue their Champions League campaign.

This week we saw the Champions League resume after its winter break with some mouth-watering fixtures as the competition came down to the last 16 teams.

Lionel Messi celebrated another goalscoring milestone with four more last night as Barcelona demolished 10-man Osasuna 5-1 at the Nou Camp.

Avram Grant has ruled out returning to Chelsea to either replace or work alongside beleaguered interim manager Rafael Benitez.

Chelsea 6 FC Nordsjaelland 1

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Chelsea 1

Chelsea 2 Juventus 2

Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been named on the short list for UEFA’s Best Player in Europe award.

The Republic of Ireland will have one less superstar to thwart at Euro 2012 next month after Spain striker David Villa was last night ruled out of the competition.

Real Madrid sealed a first La Liga title in four years last night after cruising to a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.

GERMANY star Miroslav Klose struck a 90th minute winner as Lazio beat Roma 2-1 in a fiery Eternal City derby last night at the Stadio Olimpico.

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has warned Chelsea fans they may have to wait until after the international break to see Juan Mata in action for the club.

Corinthians president Andres Sanchez claims Juventus have entered the race to sign Carlos Tevez but insists his own club will not increase their offer for the want-away Argentinian.

Switzerland international Reto Ziegler is set to become Juventus’ second summer signing following the arrival of ex-AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo, according to reports in Italy.

MANCHESTER CITY survived a late scare to collect a point from their high-profile Europa League clash with Juventus last night.

Manchester City 1 Juventus 1

STRIKER Fernando Torres is staying at Liverpool as he wants to write his place in the history books by bringing a long-awaited league title back to Anfield.

JUVENTUS boss Luigi del Neri and Alessandro Del Piero swept into Tallaght Stadium yesterday afternoon with the cameras rolling and the paparazzi snapping.

Fulham 4 Juventus 1 (Agg: 5-4)

DAVID BECKHAM has been ruled out of the World Cup after tearing his achilles tendon during AC Milan’s Serie A game with Chievo last night.

ALBERTO Zaccheroni has warned his Juventus side to avoid complacency against Fulham as he looks to put one over on his old adversary Roy Hodgson in tomorrow’s Europa League last 16 first leg contest.

Liverpool 2 Bolton 0

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has stressed he is committed to the club but admits he is flattered by the charm offensive being undertaken by Juventus.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes Leeds could return to the Premier League within two seasons.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or.

Juventus’ perfect start to the new season continued tonight as they posted a 2-0 win at Lazio to jump to the top of the Serie A standings.

SACKING Claudio Ranieri was the “last resort” in a bid to halt Juventus’ slide down the Serie A table, according to general manager Jean Claude Blanc.

WHEN Michael Essien smiles, and he smiles a lot, it feels like an extra floodlight has just been switched on.

Gianluca Vialli believes the appointment of Guus Hiddink as Chelsea coach makes Juventus’ Champions League last-16 clash even more difficult.