Newcastle manager Alan Pardew conceded his side faced a tough ask to qualify for the last four of the Europa League after a 3-1 defeat in their quarter-final first leg in Benfica.

Benfica 3 Newcastle 1

Benfica 2 Celtic 1

Bayern Munich surged to the top of Champions League Group F with a 6-1 hammering of pointless Lille.

Celtic 0 Benfica 0

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (Chelsea win 3-1 on aggregate)

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 0 Chelsea 1

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.

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.

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 1 Man Utd 1

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.

ANDRES INIESTA insists Spain’s Euro 2008 final victory over Germany will give them no psychological advantage when the sides meet in the last four of the World Cup.

Andres Iniesta insists Spain’s Euro 2008 final victory over Germany will give them no psychological advantage when the sides meet in the last four of the World Cup.

PARAGUAY coach Gerardo Martino revealed his side were in party mood following their historic victory over Japan last night, although he admitted the full impact of their success has not yet sunk in.

NEW ZEALAND’S World Cup fairytale came to an end in Polokwane after a goalless draw with Paraguay but they return home better for the experience.

Paraguay 0 New Zealand 0

DEFENDING champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town last night.

Italy 1 Paraguay 1

Paraguay have dismissed suggestions that Oscar Cardozo could be out of the World Cup through injury and declared the striker could yet make next week's opening match against Italy.

Oscar Cardozo is a fitness worry for Paraguay with just four days to go before their World Cup opener against Italy in Cape Town.

Liverpool 4 Benfica 1 (Liverpool win 5-3 on aggregate)

TEN-MAN Liverpool were undone by two harsh penalty decisions and an at-times shambolic refereeing display as they lost 2-1 to Benfica in a hostile Europa League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon last night.

Benfica 2 Liverpool 1

EVERTON’S hopes of making progress in the Europa League were dealt a bitter blow at Goodison Park last night.

Everton 0 Benfica 2

EVERTON slumped to a record defeat in Europe but manager David Moyes refused to condemn his depleted side after a 5-0 thrashing by Benfica at the Estadio da Luz last night.

Benfica 5 Everton 0

Celtic 1 Benfica 0

Celtic welcomed Benfica to Parkhead for tonight’s Champions League game in desperate need of a win to boost their Group D hopes.

John Kennedy admits Celtic may have to depend on their home form to get them out of the group stages of the Champions League for the second season in succession.

CELTIC’S dismal away record in the Champions League was extended as they lost to a late Oscar Cardozo goal against Benfica in Lisbon last night.

Benfica 1 Celtic 0

STRIKER Jose Cardozo has been forced out of Paraguay’s World Cup squad through injury and replaced by Dante Lopez. Cardozo, aged 35, sustained a knock in the friendly with German regional side Bavaria last Saturday.

A judge ordered the immediate release of nearly 500 protesters just hours before President George Bush was to speak tonight at the Republican National Convention – then fined the city of New York for refusing to comply with his order.

Oliver Neuville struck with just two minutes remaining to send Germany through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Oliver Neuville struck with just two minutes remaining to send Germany through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Paraguay 3 Slovenia 1

Paraguay 3 Slovenia 1

Paraguay 0 Slovenia 1