New Delhi: Liverpool triumphed 2-1 at Barcelona to upset the odds while three other Champions League ties ended in draws.
Barcelona imposed themselves immediately, as Saviola, Messi and Ronaldinho ran rings around the Liverpool defence. Zambrotta slipped past Gerrard to cross in for Deco to power it in at the far post.
And even as Barca pressed forward, their backline slipped again, this time keeper Valdez coming up with a howler. Craig Bellamy's header lacked the power, but Valdez got his positioning and handling all wrong. Coming after a turbulent week back home, Bellamy did the Tiger-swing.
Bellamy was at it again, showing great control and awareness to lay the ball off to Riise who hammered home. Football forms strange bedfellows indeed; Bellamy had attacked Riise with a golf club last week during training. Here they clubbed in a brace to beat Barca.
Roma and Lyon had no goals to show, but a Champions League record of 11 bookings in a game that must have had referee Mike Riley looking for a new job.
Inter Milan and Valencia shared four goals in a cracking encounter that must have left both teams happy at the end. The match, however, would be remembered for David Villa's free-kick that is as good as the Champions League will see this season. David Silva saved the blushes for Valencia four minutes from time, crashing in a stunner from 20 yards.
Jose Mourinho's return to his former club was marked by a valuable away goal, and another ankle injury for captain John Terry. Porto made best use of Terry's absence, as Postiga literally toyed with the backline, before Raul Meireles hammered in Makelele's weak clearance.
Andriy Shevchenko proved to be the saviour with yet another clinical finish from a great through from Arjen Robben; Sheva redeemed, Chelsea ecstatic.
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