AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi struck twice against Bayern Munich yesterday. - REUTERS
LONDON (AP):
AC MILAN, Arsenal, Lyon and Benfica reached the Champions League quarter-finals yesterday.
Defending champions Liverpool and nine-time champions Real Madrid are out, however.
Three other clubs advanced on Tuesday, FC Barcelona, Villarreal and Juventus. The eighth club will be decided next Tuesday in Milan with Ajax and Inter Milan level at 2-2 heading into the second leg.
AC Milan, six-time champions and finalists last year against Liverpool, ripped through Bayern Munich 4-1 to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals, including the opener in the eighth minute, with Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka getting the others. Valerien Ismael scored for Bayern, a four-time European champion.
"It was a great night," Inzaghi said. "I'm feeling good. Everything is coming easily for me right now."
Milan led Liverpool 3-0 at halftime in last year's final, but wound up losing on penalties after the Reds scored three second-half goals.
"Now we have to be careful not to lose sight of our goal," Club Vice President Adriano Galliani said.
Arsenal, who are yet to win Europe's top club prize, reached the quarter-finals for the third time in six seasons and are the only English team left in the competition.
The Gunners, who have never been beyond the final eight, held Real Madrid to a scoreless draw at Highbury and advanced 1-0.
"It's amazing," Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said. "Once again we are going to go though to the quarter-finals and now we can relax a bit."
OUSTED
Real Madrid were also ousted at this stage last season and haven't won a trophy in three seasons. Earlier this month, Club President Florentino Perez resigned, replaced a week ago by Fernando Martin.
"I don't think we could have thrown any more at them," Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham said.
The Englishman suggested there will be changes in Madrid.
"There will always be big questions asked of a team as big as us," he said.
Asked if Madrid would finish another season without a trophy, Beckham said: "It looks like it's going to happen."
Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger saluted his defence, which shut out the Spaniards in two straight games.
"Football is always full of surprises," Wenger said. "It shows you how remarkable the defence has been."
Meanehile, Lyon got their revenge.
Ousted from the quarter-finals last season by PSV Eindhoven, the French champions prevailed 4-0 - and 5-0 on aggregate. Tiago scored two goals and Sylvain Wiltord and Fred added the others.
Liverpool were the shock winners in 2005.
This time the surprise quarter-finalists are Benfica, who defeated the Reds 2-0 to advance 3-0. Simao Sabrosa scored the first goal and Fabrizio Miccoli added the other.
Benfica, two-time European champions, are in third place in the Portuguese league, five points behind FC Porto.
"We can still surprise big teams, but maybe after today, when we win against Liverpool, I think the rest of the teams will be more attentive to Benfica," coach Ronald Koeman said. "It's a great day for the people of Benfica and it's a little surprise but you just have to believe in it."
The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals is tomorrow in Paris. The first leg of the semi-finals is set for March 28-29.
