Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova has defended his decision to include Lionel Messi in last night's Champions League game against Benfica after the Argentina star suffered a knee injury.

Benfica 2 Celtic 1

Celtic 0 Benefica 0

David Luiz has overcome an ankle injury to start Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Benfica tonight.

There can be little doubt that Frank Lampard was right when he said that Chelsea are no longer the force of old, but they still have the knack of winning games they don’t deserve to.

Benfica produced a dynamic performance to overturn a first-leg deficit against Zenit St Petersburg and earn a place in the last eight of the Champions League last night.

Benfica 2 Zenit St Petersburg 0 (Benfica win 4-3 on aggregate)

Zenit St Petersburg secured a narrow advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie against Benfica as Roman Shirokov’s brace helped the hosts to a hard-fought win at a frigid Stadion Petrovskiy last night.

MANCHESTER UNITED’S Achilles’ heel, a defence that has displayed uncharacteristic flaws in Europe and at home so far this season, again cost Alex Ferguson dear following 80 potentially disastrous seconds that leaves them facing the possibility of Champions League elimination.

Wayne Rooney was missing from Manchester United’s squad for this evening’s Champions League Group C clash with Benfica at Old Trafford.

ALEX FERGUSON praised goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard’s performance in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Benfica as United came from behind to salvage a point.

Benfica v Man Utd

BENFICA will take a slight advantage into the second leg of their all-Portuguese Europa League semi-final following a deserved victory over Braga at the Estadio da Luz.

THE dream of Liverpool gracing Dublin’s Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium in May was shattered last night as the Reds bowed out after an uninspiring goalless draw last night.

Liverpool’s record signing Andy Carroll has been named on the bench and is set to make his Europa League debut for the Reds in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Braga.

Braga v Arsenal