Barcelona 0-0 AC Milan, Final Score

AC Milan are currently somehow being able to keep a clean sheet against Barcelona. Some suspected that this marquee UEFA Champions League quarterfinal could turn into a complete mismatch with Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate on the sidelines injured, but it's gone well so far. Barcelona look significantly better side, but Milan are able to hold their time of the first leg with a 0-0 draw.

Barcelona had a massive penalty shout in the 16th minute and they were unlucky not to get it. Alexis Sanchez was brought down by Abbiati as he extended for the ball, but the referee waived play on. Abbiati did make significant contact but found no good judgement from refree. Judge for yourself, a penalty should have been given.

Messi set up Xavi Hernandez with a spectacular one-touch give-and-go move in the 26th minute, but Xavi's shot goes straight to the hand of Abbiati. In the 35th minute, Alexis Sanchez found himself one-on-one with Abbiati after a clearance over the top of the defense turned into a scoring opportunity for the Chilean, but Luca Antonini recovered with lucky last tackle.

Barca have all of the possession as expected.

                                       

Arsenal’s 26-year-old striker caused a stir in South Korea

South Korean legend Cha Bum-Kun has apologised after his defence of Park Chu-Young’s decision to delay his military service were criticised. Arsenal’s 26-year-old striker caused a stir in South Korea recently when he confirmed he would avoid his mandatory military service thanks to a 10-year residency visa for Monaco. Fans and journalists have been critical of Park’s decision to defer his service, claiming he had found a loophole and it set a bad example. 

Korean national team coach Choi Kang-Hee opted last week not to comment on the situation either. However, 121-time Korea international and former Bundesliga star Cha backed Park in a personal blog earlier this week. Cha’s statement was criticised and he has now decided to say sorry for his comments. He said he realised the discussion was about the ‘inequality of society in general’. Park’s former national team-mate Lee Young-Pyo has been most vocal in support of the Arsenal man.

QPR continue their battle for English Premier League survival

QPR continue their battle for English Premier League survival with a visit from in-form Arsenal on Saturday. Rangers have been mired in relegation trouble for most of the season, and with eight games left they remain in 18th spot with 25 points. Mark Hughes’ side face a daunting run home as well, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City all still to come after the Gunners’ visit to Loftus Road this week.

QPR have leaked goals this season, keeping just three clean sheets, and have conceded three goals or more on seven occasions. This does not bode well for them as they prepare to face an Arsenal team who have only failed to score four times in 30 matches this season and boasts the league’s top scorer – Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman has scored 26 times in the Premier League this season, just seven goals fewer than QPR’s entire tally, and scored the winner the last time the two sides met at the Emirates Stadium on New Year’s Eve. Another blow for QPR is the four-match ban handed to striker Djibril Cisse after his ugly tackle on Fraizer Campbell in last week’s 3-1 loss to Sunderland.

However, in a spot of good news for Mark Hughes, top scorer Heidar Helguson is hoping to be fit in time to face Arsenal after recovering from a groin injury. The Iceland striker, who has scored eight goals this season, has been out since January and hopes he can make an impact off the bench on his return to the squad.

Arsenal, who are unbeaten in eight matches in the Premier League, will be without defenders Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, while Jack Wilshere remains on course to return from his ankle injury next month.

On Wednesday May 11, 2011, FC Barcelona drew with Levante and clinched the Spanish Primera Division of La Liga. They celebrated on Levante's home field after the game. It was their third straight Spanish league title. They finished just ahead of rival Real Madrid, who finished in second place for the third year in a row. Barcelona won the title this season in dominating fashion.

After winning the season opener at Racing Santander 3 '" 0, Barcelona was shocked by Hercules at home 0 '" 2. Hercules was promoted to the Primera Division just this season. They will finish near the bottom of the La Liga standings. But this was a memorable win for the newly promoted club. Barcelona fans left the game early. Those who remained expressed their displeasure at the end of the match.

Barcelona have won La Liga, again.

But Barcelona rebounded. They went on a tear, going undefeated in the next 31 games. This included a stretch of 16 straight wins. One of those wins was in Barcelona against powerhouse Real Madrid. In front of 98,000, Barcelona defeated Real 5-0 in a rout. Real entered that match undefeated. There were plenty of highlights in the game, but most of them were for Barcelona. The game turned ugly in the 30th minute when Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo shoved Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. Ronaldo was shown the yellow card for his actions. The win put Barcelona on top of the standings. They never relinquished the top spot after that.

This is Barcelona's fifth title in the last seven seasons. They have a current record of 29 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses. Winning their last two games will give them 98 points in the standings. Barcelona set a record last season with 99 points. No team has ever earned 100 points in a season. This is their 21st title overall. Barcelona have the second most titles next to Real who have 31 titles.

Barcelona now have their eyes on the UEFA Champions League title. They will play Manchester United in the finals on May 28, 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Manchester United wins its 19th English Championship

Manchester United rallied to tie Blackburn 1-1 and claimed its record 19th English championship on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Wayne Rooney scored the title-clinching goal on a penalty kick in the 73rd minute.

The title victory surpassed arch rival Liverpool's 18 championships, and it fulfilled Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's 1986 vow to knock Liverpool.

In the title-clinching match, they fell behind 1-0, but kept up the pressure on Blackburn and finally broke through for the goal in the 73rd minute by keeping pressure on the Rovers and causing the foul. That's what separated Manchester United from the rest of the Premier League this year. Chelsea, Arsenal, and maybe even Manchester City, were more talented, but United never gave up. That's why the Red Devils won their 19th title; they never quit.