Dazzling duo raise the stakes

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw threw up sequels to two recent finals but it is the exploits of Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney that should really set pulses racing.

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final lineup rekindles happy memories for FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC as they come up against rivals from two of their most famous triumphs.
Holders Barcelona meet Arsenal FC in a rematch of their 2006 final victory while United take on FC Bayern München, so reviving that dramatic 1999 Camp Nou success. It is the exploits of current players, though, that should set pulses racing as Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney blaze a trail across Europe.
Messi, who missed the 2006 final through injury, has been in phenomenal form for the Blaugrana, his two goals in the 4-0 rout of VfB Stuttgart sandwiched by a pair of Liga hat-tricks. Arsenal, too, are hitting form when it matters most with their captain Cesc Fàbregas out to impress against the club with whom he began his career.
Fàbregas and Messi played together at youth level and who makes the greater impact on 31 March and 6 April could determine which club advances. Another intriguing sub-plot will see long-time Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry face his former team for the first time in London, when two of the continent's most free-flowing forces collide.After knocking five past FC Porto in their round of 16 second leg, Arsenal are the competition's 17-goal top scorers, with United one behind. Like Messi, Rooney has registered 32 goals so far this term with four in the UEFA Champions League, all against AC Milan.
If United are an ominous prospect for Bayern, the Bundesliga outfit can at least feel they have already exorcised the demons of 1999, having knocked out United in 2000/01 en route to claiming their last European title. They have match-winners of their own as Arjen Robben proved with his breathtaking strike at ACF Fiorentina, and winger Franck Ribéry should be available after injury.French eyes, though, will be on 'le quart de finale 100% français' as Olympique Lyonnais host FC Girondins de Bordeaux. While Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux are one of the season's surprise packages, Lyon achieved one of the biggest upsets in eliminating Real Madrid CF. Les Gones will hope to repeat the feat as these domestic rivals vie to become the first French semi-finalists since AS Monaco FC in 2003/04. Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux, though, are the form team having won seven straight UEFA Champions League games, and they boast the meanest defence with three goals conceded.
For the first time since 1998/99, six nations are represented in the last eight, with PFC CSKA Moskva entering uncharted territory as Russia's first quarter-finalists of the UEFA Champions League era. Tests do not get much tougher than against an FC Internazionale Milano side high on confidence after scalping Chelsea FC.
José Mourinho rose to the challenge against his old club, but the real target is to emulate legendary Inter coach Helenio Herrera and lift the trophy for the first time in 45 years.

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Thigh injury robs Inter of Milito

FC Internazionale Milano have been dealt a blow with the news that striker Diego Milito could be sidelined for at least a month because of a thigh strain suffered in the Nerazzurri's 2-1 victory against Udinese Calcio on Saturday.

The 30-year-old was replaced by Mario Balotelli 25 minutes into the Serie A fixture at San Siro and scans on Sunday revealed the player has a "first degree strain in his right thigh". Milito, who has scored five goals in seven league appearances this term, is thus a major doubt for Inter's UEFA Champions League Group F encounter with FC Dynamo Kyiv on 20 October. Lucio was also substituted with a similar problem but the club's medical staff revealed the centre-back has only strained the adductor muscle in his thigh, meaning the Brazilian is likely to recover in time for the visit of the Ukrainian side.

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Pjanić steps up to fill Juninho void

Juninho Pernambucano left some big shoes to fill when he departed Olympique Lyonnais in the summer having won seven Ligue 1 titles in eight years, but in 19-year-old Miralem Pjanić the French club may have found the ideal replacement.
Pjanić scored the only goal in Lyon's Group E opener against ACF Fiorentina last Wednesday and also made a telling contribution in the previous round when his free-kick broke the deadlock against RSC Anderlecht, paving the way for a comfortable 5-1 first-leg win.

Of course I'm happy to have scored and played a decisive part. I am playing more now, but it is only thanks to the team that I can make the difference. I have tried to do so since the beginning of the season, and it has worked well up to now.

Pjanić watches his words carefully when he speaks to the press, but on the pitch everything he does comes naturally. Against Fiorentina he was quickest to react on 78 minutes when Sébastien Frey could only parry Kim Källström's strike and stole in to fire in the rebound. Then again, Pjanić is used to doing things quickly on the football field. After the war had driven his family from Tuzla, they settled in Luxemburg and Miralem joined FC Metz.
Aged 14 he made an immediate impression at youth level and by 2007/08 had established himself in the first team. He made 27 appearances that season and caught the eye for his control on the ball, set-pieces and knack for delivering when it mattered most. Enough certainly for Lyon to think that paying €7.5m for his services in June 2008 was a sound investment. That is exactly what it has proven to be. Pjanić started just five league games in his first season at the Stade de Gerland – not unusual for an 18-year-old – but having found his feet he has thrived since being handed Juninho's old No8 shirt.

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Ibrahimović to Barça, Eto'o to Inter

FC Barcelona have signed Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović from FC Internazionale Milano with fellow forward Samuel Eto'o plus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb going in the other direction and the UEFA Champions League holders also paying the Italian side €46m.
Ibrahimović, 27, has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona, while the 28-year-old Eto'o also agreed a deal until 2014 at Inter, with Hleb on loan until the end of the season. Signed by Inter from Juventus in 2006, Ibrahimović won Serie A in all his seasons in Milan and the former Malmö FF forward was last season's top scorer in the league with 25 goals. That took his tally with the Nerazzurri to 57 in 88 top-flight games, and he has struck 21 times in 58 appearances for Sweden.
Ibrahimović said:

Every player wants to come to Barça but not everybody can. It's hard to express how I feel at the moment; I'm the happiest man in the world. There are winners in every facet of this team and I want to learn from everybody here.

While Ibrahimović was unable to end Inter's 44-year wait to win the European Champions Clubs' Cup during his time in Milan, Eto'o has helped Barcelona lift the trophy twice, scoring in the 2006 and 2009 final wins against Arsenal FC and Manchester United FC respectively. The former Real Madrid CF player joined Barça from RCD Mallorca in 2004 and has won three Liga titles at Camp Nou and struck 130 goals in 200 appearances.
Eto'o also aided Cameroon to two African Cup of Nations titles and 2000 Olympic gold. He is expected to play alongside Diego Milito at Inter, newly signed from Genoa CFC.
Eto'o said:

I'm extremely happy to join Inter. I'm here to work hard and win the Champions League. I want to thank Inter president Massimo Moratti. He is a person with a great heart.

Belarus midfielder Hleb, meanwhile, moved to Barcelona in 2008 after three seasons with Arsenal FC. The 28-year-old former FC BATE Borisov and VfB Stuttgart player is under contract at Barcelona until 2012 and appeared 35 times in their treble-winning campaign. Inter have the option to make the deal permanent next summer for €10m.

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Barça invest in Palmeiras prodigy

UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona have agreed to sign Keirrison from Brazilian side SE Palmeiras for a fee which could rise to €16m, with the striker likely to be loaned out for the coming season.
The 20-year-old will sign a five-year contract at the Spanish and European champions on Friday provided he passes medical tests. Keirrison started his career at Coritiba FC, helping the club win promotion to the Brazilian top division and finishing 2008 as the league's joint top scorer with 20 goals in 31 appearances. He joined Palmeiras in January and has scored five league goals in six starts for the Sao Paulo side. Barça, who have also added Brazilian full-back Maxwell to their ranks, will begin this season's UEFA Champions League in the group stage.

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