Champions League - 10 man Inter cant hold off Liverpool

Liverpool 2  Inter Milan 0
Two late goals gave Liverpool their 100th European victory at Anfield and eased the pressure on under fire manager Rafa Benitez. Dirk Kuyt volleyed past Inter Milan's Cesar with five minutes left before a Steven Gerrard strike from distance secured a famous 2-0 win for the Reds.  Liverpool rediscovered their pride and gave themselves a wonderful chance of saving their Champions League lives.  Hounded and hammered from all quarters after three months of shocking form, Liverpool grabbed two goals in the final five minutes in the first leg of their last 16 tie against Inter Milan.  They inflicted only the second defeat of the season on the Serie A leaders, with late goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard.  Inter fought and defended magnificently for an hour after defender Marco Materazzi was sent off on his return to Merseyside, having been an Everton player eight years ago.  It was the slice of fortune Liverpool, a side who have struggled to beat pub teams of late, desperately needed. They dominated from then on and produced a victory that will also lift the intense pressure on boss Rafael Benitez.  Liverpool will go to the San Siro on March 11 with genuine hope that they can reach their 12th European Cup quarter-finals.

Chelsea 0 Olympiacos 0
Chelsea carved out a goalless draw against Olympiacos in Athens to give themselves a real chance of reaching the last eight of the Champions League.  But the rest of Europe will hardly be quaking in their boots after the Blues failed to create one real clear-cut chance against their opponents.  However, the Londoners will be favourites to progress into the quarter-finals when the two sides meet again in the return leg at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight.   Chelsea coach Avram Grant took a massive Euro gamble in leaving both captain John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard on the bench against the Greek champions. But his plan worked as Chelsea ground out a bore draw that made a mockery of the plan to turn his side into one of the most free-flowing in Europe.

Roma 2  Real Madrid 1
Battling Roma gave themselves a slender advantage after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night.  Mancini was the hero for the hosts, firing home the winning goal in the 58th minute after David Pizarro's first-half strike had cancelled out Raul's opener.  The result marked Roma's first win against Real in the Italian capital at the fourth attempt and hands Luciano Spalletti's side with a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg.

Schalke 1  Porto 0
An early goal from Kevin Kuranyi stood up as the pressure falls on Porto to win at home now.