Barcha pep talk for Ibrahimovich
FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola was pleased to see Zlatan Ibrahimovich silence his critics after the striker helped the UEFA Champions League holders to a first knockout round first-leg draw away to VfB Stuttgart.
Ibrahimovich's 52nd-minute strike cancelled out Cacau's 25th-minute opener and gave Guardiola opportunity to rebuff any recent criticism of the 28-year-old Swedish international. "Strikers are judged by goals and he scored again, so surely that has to be good for everyone," said Guardiola. "The goal gave him the impetus he needed, and at the end of the day it's goals that count in football."
Stuttgart performed admirably in the opening period, defending stoutly against the Barcelona passing machine early on before seizing the initiative and creating a host of chances as the half progressed. Gerard Pique insisted it was no surprise that the home side handed Barcelona such a stern test despite the visitors' billing as favourites.
With Barcelona on course to become the first club to successfully defend the UEFA Champions League title, Guardiola has full confidence in his star ensemble. "No team has managed to do it yet, but I think we performed well enough," added the 39-year-old. "Stuttgart are a good side, but we're confident of a result on home turf."

Greek pride spurs Stoltidis
Midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis said Olympiacos FC have not given up hope of turning around their first knockout round tie with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, but conceded that the Greek champions were left to reflect on the "bad side of football" after a 1-0 home defeat.
Bozidar Bandovich's side went down to Michael Ciani's headed goal in first-half added time at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium despite having the lion's share of chances. The result means Laurent Blanc's in-form team are the overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals. "We still have hopes," Stoltidis said. "It is very difficult now for the return match but we have to go there with the same application, concentration and decisiveness."
Olympiacos, who were roared on by a typically passionate crowd in Piraeus, created several opportunites in the latter stages of the second half, but failed to make a breakthrough as Enzo Maresca and Lomana LuaLua both missed their cue.
Raul Bravo, who enjoyed one of his more productive displays at left-back, said the players could take heart from the second-half performance which almost yielded a vital equaliser and perhaps something more. "If we play like we did in the second half then for sure we will have a chance of taking something from the game in France," he told UEFA.com.

Gonzalez comes to CSKA's rescue
Mark Gonzalez fired a memorable equaliser to earn PFC CSKA Moskva a deserved draw against Sevilla FC in the first leg of a cagey first knockout round tie.
The game looked to be going away from Leonid Slutski's tiring men midway through the second half when the hitherto quiet Gonzalez unleashed an unstoppable effort from distance. It was little more than the hosts deserved, having dominated before and after Alvaro Negredo's 25th-minute opener for Sevilla, and CSKA's night might have been better, too, had Andres Palop not denied Tomas Necid with full time approaching.
Like Negredo, it was his first goal in the UEFA Champions League proper, and after Necid had been denied the match was also destined to finish honours even. It is all to play for in the warmer climes of Andalusia on 16 March.

Cambiasso edges Inter in front
FC Internazionale Milano's hopes of avoiding a fourth consecutive UEFA Champions League first knockout round defeat are alive after a goal in each half from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso earned a spirited win against Chelsea FC in a gripping first leg.
Milito's goal came in Inter's first attack, when Samuel Eto'o ran at the centre of the visitors' defence and poked a clever pass to Wesley Sneijder. The Dutchman allowed the ball to roll to the 30-year-old Milito, who struck with clinical precision, cutting inside John Terry before beating Chech right-footed at his near post. The hosts drew strength from their start with Javier Zanetti and Thiago Motta exuding authority, although Motta's second foul on Ballack gave Drogba a shooting chance and only the underside of the Inter crossbar kept out the Ivorian's thunderous free-kick from 30 metres.
Chelsea were determined to find a crucial second equaliser but Inter battled hard to thwart their every attack. Lucio in particular stood out with his tigerish tackling to stop the powerful Drogba and his forays forward out of the Nerazzurri defence, with Cambiasso on hand to cover, helped to take the pressure off his side. Carlo Ancelotti's charges were unable to find a way through and the tie is delicately poised for the return leg at Stamford Bridge on 16 March.