On a day where Manchester United hosted Chelsea and Barcelona visited Shaktar Donetsk in the return leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League, the two familiar sides advanced to the final four. However, they will only be able to meet in the prestigious finale of the competition.
Manchester United defeated Chelsea 2-1 at home thanks to goals by Javier Hernandez and Park Ji Sung. Chelsea sole goal of the tie was scored by Ivorian international Didier Drogba. Manchester took the first game 1-0 a week ago in Chelsea's stadium winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Elsewhere in the Ukraine, Barcelona handed Shaktar Donetsk their first ever home defeat in European competition thanks to a single goal by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. A week ago Barcelona demolished Shaktar's dreams winning the match by a score of 5-1. With today's 1-0 victory the aggregate score of the two matches was 6-1.
Tomorrow real Madrid will visit Tottenham Hotspur looking to defend or even extend their 4-0 home victory from a week ago. Schalke 04 will look to defend their surprising 5-2 away victory against current European champions Inter Milan at home.
If Real Madrid and Schalke 04 advance through to the semi-finals, Schalke 04 will meet Manchester United and Real Madrid will meet Barcelona in a mouth watering "El Clasico" encounter.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are the best two teams to come out of Spain and they hold the world's most competitive and heated rivalry. The two sides met earlier in the season in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium with the home side prevailing to a 5-0 victory. They will meet this Saturday in their second and final match aginst one another in the La Liga season. Then four days later on Wednesday, the two sides will meet again in the Spanish Cup (Copa Del rey) finale. If they do end up meeting in the Champions league semis, we will be treated to four "El Clasico" fixtures. We are truly in for a treat.
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