Will Tidey - Lionel Messi unlocks the door to greatness

Despite his undisputed genius, there was still a question mark over Lionel Messi's pedigree for greatness ahead of last night's Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.

Messi might be a twice world footballer of the year, and still only 23 years old, but was his mesmeric talent applying itself when it really mattered?

The little maestro had scored a record 50 times for Barcelona this season before he stepped on the field, but not once in six previous matches at this stage of Europe's biggest club competition.

Europe League: Benfica v Braga Preview

Benfica have spent much of this season living in the shadow of Porto, but for all their failings in the Premeira Liga know that Europa League success will just about appease their discontented support.

The Eagles secured a third successive Portuguese League Cup on Saturday, beating minnows Pacos de Ferreriera 2-1 at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra, but the celebrations were muted to say the least.

Braga hold off Dynamo Kyiv to book all-Portuguese semi-final

Sporting Braga capped a historic night for Portugal in the Europa League as all three Primeira Liga teams went through to the semi-finals. Starting the night level after a 1-1 draw away to Dynamo Kyiv last week, Braga survived the 28th-minute dismissal of Paulo César to earn a goalless draw which saw them through on away goals.

Skrtel eyes bright future for young Reds

Martin Skrtel believes Liverpool's academy players have shown they can play a major role in the club's future.

Kenny Dalglish gave 18-year-old John Flanagan his senior debut when he started at right-back in the 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday, due to injuries to Glen Johnson and fellow academy graduate Martin Kelly.

Denilson urges Shakhtar star to sign

Arsenal midfielder Denilson has told Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Willian to snub a move to Chelsea, saying his style of play would be better suited to the Gunners.

Willian celebrates a goal against Roma in the Champions League

GettyImagesWillian celebrates a goal against Roma in the Champions League.

Miracles can happen - Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is confident that his players are capable of creating history by pulling off a "miraculous" comeback against Real Madrid tomorrow.

A ruthless 4-0 hammering in the Bernabeu last week left Tottenham facing a huge task to overcome Jose Mourinho's side and make the Champions League semi-finals. No team in the history of the competition has been able to overturn a four-goal margin from a first leg defeat.

Porto face Falcao dilemma in Europa League

Porto face a growing Europa League dilemma over their Colombian striker Radamel Falcao as the more goals he scores, the harder it will be for the Portuguese champions to hang on to him at the end of the season.

Falcao, whose price tag seems to go up with every goal, notched a hat-trick as last week's 5-1 quarter-final first leg win over Spartak Moscow virtually guaranteed Porto a place in the last four, provided they avoid disaster in Thursday's return in Russia.

Mourinho Tactical Board

Taking advantage of the best tools that technology has to offer this days, we designed an application that allow the coaching staff to save all the information about the team, the players, the way that the team plays but also allows to save all the information about our opponents and the way they play.

McLeish delays new deals

Alex McLeish is to delay contract talks with several Birmingham players until the summer.

The current deals of Sebastian Larsson, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Stuart Parnaby, James McFadden, Martin Jiranek, Stephen Carr and Maik Taylor all expire this summer but Blues can take up an option on the contracts of McFadden, Jiranek, Carr and Taylor if they so desire.

In addition, the future of loan players Obafemi Martins, David Bentley, Alexander Hleb and Matt Derbyshire has also to be sorted out, but McLeish said: "Everything is on hold in relation to contracts. Nothing like that will be getting addressed just now."

Mourinho Tactical Board

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