ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC’S second-half equaliser earned Champions League holders Barcelona a hard- fought draw from the first leg of their last-16 tie against Stuttgart last night.

Stuttgart 1 Barcelona 1

BARCELONA captain Carles Puyol admits his side could be in for a bad night if they underestimate the threat posed by in-form Stuttgart in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie tonight.

IN Liverpool’s group, Mamadou Niang grabbed a second-half brace as Marseille got their Group D campaign up and running with a comprehensive 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven at the Stade Velodrome.

BARCELONA coach Josep Guardiola has reprimanded Lionel Messi ahead of their Champions League clash with Basle after the Argentine striker appeared in TV images to have spat at Portuguese midfielder Duda during his side’s 4-1 win at Malaga over the weekend.

As the tension evaporated with our equaliser we were transformed into the Arsenal side that is no less an irresistible force than either of our two main rivals

IT was painful enough for Juande Ramos to find himself adrift at the foot of the league following this toothless defeat. But the agony was compounded by seeing the striker he discarded last season causing most of the damage.

Manchester City this morning revealed the transfer of Portsmouth striker Benjani to the Blues was unsuccessful – because it could not be completed before the end of the January transfer window.

Manchester City have beaten the transfer deadline to sign teenage striker Felipe Caicedo from FC Basel.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey has been given the proverbial vote of confidence by the Board and he’s back for yet another week to adjudicate over the views and opinions of readers and contributors.

Celtic 1 Basle 0

Celtic have been told to increase their bid if they want to sign Swiss youngster Zdravko Kuzmanovic.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes paid tribute to a pair of veteran campaigners as his side moved closer to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

Middlesbrough 4 Basle 1 (Middlesbrough win 4-3 on aggregate)

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren is backing his in-form strikers to rescue the club’s UEFA Cup dream.

Middlesbrough will face Basle in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals after the draw in Eindhoven today.

NEWCASTLE manager Bobby Robson has warned his players to remember the pain of their Champions League nightmare as they attempt to extend their stay in the UEFA Cup.

Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1

BASEL coach Christian Gross will name the same side that earned a creditable 1-1 draw at Manchester United last week for tonight’s meeting with Juventus, as the Swiss go in search of the near-miracle they need to reach the quarter-finals.

Man Utd 1 Basle 1

REAL Madrid may have been less than impressive in the Champions League, yet they are still strong favourites going into tonight’s clash with Borussia Dortmund, according to midfielder Santiago Solari.

AC MILAN’S Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko has been ruled out of tonight’s Group C Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow because of a thigh strain, the club has confirmed.

BRIAN KERR will look to Spurs coach and former Irish defender Chris Hughton to spearhead his backroom team if named the next Republic of Ireland coach.

Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are beginning to show the kind of form which wins titles.

Liverpool were today warned by Basle goal hero Julio Hernan Rossi that the Swiss side will go all out for victory in next week’s must-win Champions League clash for the Reds.

EMILE HESKEY has warned his Liverpool team-mates they face a tricky task to reach the second group phase of the Champions League after their disappointing 1-1 Anfield draw with Basle and insisted: “There’s no margin for error now.”

Liverpool v Basle

Gerard Houllier has warned against underestimating Group B opponents Basel as Liverpool prepare to open their home Champions League campaign against the Swiss double winners tonight.

CHRISTIAN GROSS brings Swiss champions Basle to Anfield with a glowing tribute from Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier ringing in his ears.

GERARD HOULLIER will make just one concession to Michael Owen’s goal drought — he will ask the Liverpool star whether he wants to continue taking penalties.

ALL four English clubs in the Champions League have cause for cautious optimism after yesterday’s draw in Monaco.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is hoping underdogs Basle do not produce another upset in the Champions League.

Robert Douglas and his Celtic team-mates were devastated by their failure to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

Celtic have urged FC Basle to provide guarantees of safety ahead of the crucial second leg of the Champions League qualifier in Switzerland.

A heavy downpour prior to kick-off could not dampen the spirits of an expectant Parkhead crowd - who were hell-bent on spurring their heroes on to the Champions League group stages tonight.

John Gregory will adopt an all-guns-blazing approach in a fortnight when Aston Villa aim to secure their place in this season's Uefa Cup.

Aston Villa boss John Gregory has made just one change to the team which beat French side Rennes 1-0 last Wednesday to set up the Intertoto Cup final against Basle.