Roma, Chelsea, Schalke go through

BELGRADE – Roma knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League at the Bernabeu on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals and were joined by Chelsea and Schalke.

Roma’s 2-1 win secured a 4-2 aggregate victory while Chelsea thrashed Olympiakos Piraeus 3-0 and Schalke beat Porto 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw over two legs. The Italians never looked overawed by nine times European champions Madrid and were unlucky not to take a first-half lead when Alberto Aquilani’s screamer from 30 metres hit the post.Spanish champions Real, sorely missing injured striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, lacked ideas in midfield and bite up front.They fell behind to a flying Taddei header in the 73rd minute, shortly after having central defender Pepe sent off, and Roma’s passage to the last eight was sealed by substitute Mirko Vucinic after a Raul goal had briefly restored Real’s hopes.Raul slotted Robinho’s through ball past goalkeeper Doni in the 75th minute but Vucinic silenced the vociferous home crowd with an injury-time header as Real threw men forward.SUPERB NEUER Schalke, having reached the knockout round for the first time in three attempts, continued their run by beating Porto, whose left back Fucile was sent off in the 82nd minute.Lisandro had given 2004 champions Porto a 1-0 lead on the night four minutes later with an unstoppable shot on the turn to force extra time but missed his team’s final spot kick.Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept Schalke afloat with a string of saves before denying Bruno Alves and Lisandro in the shootout.Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou settled a one-sided game at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea joined Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United in the last eight.If Liverpool beat Inter Milan when they visit the Italian Champions with a 2-0 first-leg lead next Tuesday then all four English teams will be through to the quarter-finals.The match in west London was five minutes old when Ballack set Chelsea on their way by heading home Lampard’s cross at the near post for his first Champions League goal of the season.The pair changed roles as Lampard stroked home a rebound to make it 2-0 after visiting goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis could only parry Ballack’s shot.Ivory Coast forward Kalou completed the scoring from close range shortly after the break.Nampa-ReutersThe Italians never looked overawed by nine times European champions Madrid and were unlucky not to take a first-half lead when Alberto Aquilani’s screamer from 30 metres hit the post.Spanish champions Real, sorely missing injured striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, lacked ideas in midfield and bite up front.They fell behind to a flying Taddei header in the 73rd minute, shortly after having central defender Pepe sent off, and Roma’s passage to the last eight was sealed by substitute Mirko Vucinic after a Raul goal had briefly restored Real’s hopes.Raul slotted Robinho’s through ball past goalkeeper Doni in the 75th minute but Vucinic silenced the vociferous home crowd with an injury-time header as Real threw men forward.SUPERB NEUER Schalke, having reached the knockout round for the first time in three attempts, continued their run by beating Porto, whose left back Fucile was sent off in the 82nd minute.Lisandro had given 2004 champions Porto a 1-0 lead on the night four minutes later with an unstoppable shot on the turn to force extra time but missed his team’s final spot kick.Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept Schalke afloat with a string of saves before denying Bruno Alves and Lisandro in the shootout.Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou settled a one-sided game at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea joined Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United in the last eight.If Liverpool beat Inter Milan when they visit the Italian Champions with a 2-0 first-leg lead next Tuesday then all four English teams will be through to the quarter-finals.The match in west London was five minutes old when Ballack set Chelsea on their way by heading home Lampard’s cross at the near post for his first Champions League goal of the season.The pair changed roles as Lampard stroked home a rebound to make it 2-0 after visiting goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis could only parry Ballack’s shot.Ivory Coast forward Kalou completed the scoring from close range shortly after the break.Nampa-Reuters