NEYMAR DOUBLE SEES OFF PSG, BAYERN THRASH PORTO, JUVE HOLD ON AND CHICHARITO SETTLES MADRID DERBY.
So we have our line up for the last four of the Champions League, La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid who just saw off their city rivals alongside the Bavarian's Bayern Munich and Serie A runaway leaders Juventus occupy the semi-final slots.
At this point you can't pick a favorite really, Barcelona look a far better outfit than the side that were walloped by Bayern a couple of seasons ago. They are playing remarkably well and with a strike force of Neymar, Suarez and Messi, they won't fear anyone at this stage.
Real Madrid haven't really got going, but they probably have the strongest eleven when compared with the teams that are left, but Bayern fans would definitely disagree with me on that. Ancelotti will be hoping to have Bale, Benzema and Modric for the semi-final clash.
Bayern were absolutely ruthless against a Porto side that in all honesty set up very poorly against the Bavarians. Pep set his boys' well and by halftime the tie was already over. With Robben and Ribery in their ranks, Munich will be looking to steam roll their way into the final.
The Old Lady held on to their first leg advantage to progress. They'll now be facing one of Europe's top three teams. We are all aware Italians are the masters of defending and Juve will really need to be defensively stout if they are to progress to the final.
BARCELONA 2 - 0 PSG (5 - 1)
Barca needed just 14 minutes to break the deadlock thanks to a piece of brilliance from Iniesta.
The Spain star jinked his way beyond three players and played an expertly placed pass into the path of Neymar, who coolly rounded Salvatore Sirigu and tapped the ball into the empty net.
PSG responded well to going behind but only the reflexes of Sirigu prevented Barca from extending their lead soon after. The goalkeeper palmed a long-range strike from Dani Alves away and then kept out Neymar's header on the rebound.
But Sirigu could do nothing to stop Neymar from doubling his tally in the 34th minute as he was given the simple task of nodding home Dani Alves' excellent in-swinging right-wing cross.
Iniesta was withdrawn and replaced by Xavi at half-time and Barca did lose some of their attacking impetus in a low-key second half.
Yet they were rarely threatened by a PSG team, who never looked like they believed they could reverse last week's demoralising defeat at home.
Verratti lashed wide from the edge of the area and Ibrahimovic stung the palms of Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but that was all the visitors could muster as Barca - who nearly added a third through Lionel Messi in injury time - marched on in ominous fashion.
The Spain star jinked his way beyond three players and played an expertly placed pass into the path of Neymar, who coolly rounded Salvatore Sirigu and tapped the ball into the empty net.
PSG responded well to going behind but only the reflexes of Sirigu prevented Barca from extending their lead soon after. The goalkeeper palmed a long-range strike from Dani Alves away and then kept out Neymar's header on the rebound.
But Sirigu could do nothing to stop Neymar from doubling his tally in the 34th minute as he was given the simple task of nodding home Dani Alves' excellent in-swinging right-wing cross.
Iniesta was withdrawn and replaced by Xavi at half-time and Barca did lose some of their attacking impetus in a low-key second half.
Yet they were rarely threatened by a PSG team, who never looked like they believed they could reverse last week's demoralising defeat at home.
Verratti lashed wide from the edge of the area and Ibrahimovic stung the palms of Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but that was all the visitors could muster as Barca - who nearly added a third through Lionel Messi in injury time - marched on in ominous fashion.
BAYERN MUNICH 6 - 1 PORTO (7 - 4)
Two goals from Robert Lewandowski helped rouse Bayern Munich to an astounding 6-1 whipping of Porto and seal their spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
Trailing 3-1 from the quarter-final first leg, Pep Guardiola's side delivered an overwhelming first-half show, scoring five times in the opening 40 minutes to leave the guests shell-stunned.
Cautious mistakes had cost Bayern dear in the opening clash, yet it was their incomparable assaulting quality that went to the fore at the Allianz Arena.
Club specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt surrendered in the wake of a week ago's converse, asserting his therapeutic group had been rebuked for the thrashing, yet even without the truant trio of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, Guardiola's group essentially had excessively for the 2004 champs.
Thiago Alcantara - who netted Bayern's away goal at the Estadio do Dragao - opened the scoring inside quarter of an hour and it was 3-0 preceding the 30th minute because of further goals from Jerome Boateng and Robert Lewandowski.
Thomas Muller's diverted effort made it four, preceding Lewandowski multiplied his count with a clinical finish as Porto neglected to live with Bayern's movement and sharpness.
With the task accomplished for the Bundesliga champions, the second half demonstrated a relaxed issue, Jackson Martinez's goal 17 minutes from time demonstrating just relief, particularly as there was still time for Xabi Alonso to twist home a late free kick after a tackle that saw Ivan Marcano sent off for his second booking.
Trailing 3-1 from the quarter-final first leg, Pep Guardiola's side delivered an overwhelming first-half show, scoring five times in the opening 40 minutes to leave the guests shell-stunned.
Cautious mistakes had cost Bayern dear in the opening clash, yet it was their incomparable assaulting quality that went to the fore at the Allianz Arena.
Club specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt surrendered in the wake of a week ago's converse, asserting his therapeutic group had been rebuked for the thrashing, yet even without the truant trio of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, Guardiola's group essentially had excessively for the 2004 champs.
Thiago Alcantara - who netted Bayern's away goal at the Estadio do Dragao - opened the scoring inside quarter of an hour and it was 3-0 preceding the 30th minute because of further goals from Jerome Boateng and Robert Lewandowski.
Thomas Muller's diverted effort made it four, preceding Lewandowski multiplied his count with a clinical finish as Porto neglected to live with Bayern's movement and sharpness.
With the task accomplished for the Bundesliga champions, the second half demonstrated a relaxed issue, Jackson Martinez's goal 17 minutes from time demonstrating just relief, particularly as there was still time for Xabi Alonso to twist home a late free kick after a tackle that saw Ivan Marcano sent off for his second booking.
REAL MADRID 1 - 0 ATLETICO MADRID (1 - 0)
Real Madrid kept their Champions League defence alive as Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored in the 88th minute to seal a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Chicharito was just playing because of the injury emergency at Madrid at the same time, in the wake of missing a few chances, the striker ended up being the European champions' match-victor as he settled a feisty experience at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Mexico international was available to apply a straightforward finish in the wake of being set up by Cristiano Ronaldo to guarantee Real beat Diego Simeone's side for the first time since winning the Champions League final last May.
Spanish champions Atletico had not lost to their neighbors in seven matches this season, however were made to pay for demonstrating an absence of desire more than two legs and their errand was not helped when Arda Turan recieved a second yellow card 14 minutes from time.
The tie was bound for extra time until Chicharito took focal point of the audience, at long last appearing with the singular objective more than two legs as Real stayed in the chase for a Champions League and Liga twofold.
Chicharito was just playing because of the injury emergency at Madrid at the same time, in the wake of missing a few chances, the striker ended up being the European champions' match-victor as he settled a feisty experience at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Mexico international was available to apply a straightforward finish in the wake of being set up by Cristiano Ronaldo to guarantee Real beat Diego Simeone's side for the first time since winning the Champions League final last May.
Spanish champions Atletico had not lost to their neighbors in seven matches this season, however were made to pay for demonstrating an absence of desire more than two legs and their errand was not helped when Arda Turan recieved a second yellow card 14 minutes from time.
The tie was bound for extra time until Chicharito took focal point of the audience, at long last appearing with the singular objective more than two legs as Real stayed in the chase for a Champions League and Liga twofold.
MONACO 0 - 0 JUVENTUS (0 - 1)
Juventus are through to the Champions League semi-finals after their 0-0 draw with Monaco on Wednesday secured a 1-0 win.
Arturo Vidal's first-leg spot kick demonstrated vital in the tie as Massimiliano Allegri's men booked a slippery semi-final compartment, having missed the mark at the quarters three times subsequent to their run to the final 12 years prior.
Allegri's men were made to buckle down for their movement by a Monaco side that had stunned Arsenal in the past round and surrendered only twice at home in this season's competition.
Geoffrey Kondogbia went close twice before the break while Leonardo Jardim's side saw penalty claims turned down when the midfielder went down in the box.
That pressure proceeded after the break with Juventus shockingly drowsy on the counterattack in their offer to slaughter off the tie.
Monaco at last used up steam towards the end of a serene second leg as Juve showed high quality defensive work as expected from Italians to remain on course for a domestic and continental treble.
Arturo Vidal's first-leg spot kick demonstrated vital in the tie as Massimiliano Allegri's men booked a slippery semi-final compartment, having missed the mark at the quarters three times subsequent to their run to the final 12 years prior.
Allegri's men were made to buckle down for their movement by a Monaco side that had stunned Arsenal in the past round and surrendered only twice at home in this season's competition.
Geoffrey Kondogbia went close twice before the break while Leonardo Jardim's side saw penalty claims turned down when the midfielder went down in the box.
That pressure proceeded after the break with Juventus shockingly drowsy on the counterattack in their offer to slaughter off the tie.
Monaco at last used up steam towards the end of a serene second leg as Juve showed high quality defensive work as expected from Italians to remain on course for a domestic and continental treble.
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