Champions League Wednesday Review

Liverpool took a significant step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Real Madrid.

The Spanish side headed into the last-16 clash as La Liga's form team but a typically efficient Liverpool performance saw Rafael Benitez's side return home with a lead - and a vital away goal - to take into the second leg at Anfield.

Yossi Benayoun headed home Fabio Aurelio's 82nd-minute free-kick to earn a clinical Liverpool victory.

Liverpool also went close through Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, who were both denied by fine saves from Iker Casillas, while Madrid's best effort was an Arjen Robben piledriver that Jose Reina tipped over.

A first-half matchwinner by Ivorian striker Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a 1-0 lead to take to Turin against Juventus in a fortnight's time.

Drogba pounced in the 12th minute when he collected a pass from Salomon Kalou and despatched a vicious shot beyond Gianluigi Buffon from 12 yards.

Chelsea could have won by a bigger margin but failed to make the most of their chances while Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero saw a first-half effort superbly saved by Petr Cech.

Bayern Munich gave Sporting Lisbon a nightmare welcome to the Champions League knockout stages with a 5-0 win in Portugal.

Sporting qualified from the group stage for the first time earlier this season but got a rude awakening tonight.

Franck Ribery broke the deadlock for the German champions after 41 minutes with further goals from Miroslav Klose, a Ribery penalty and two from Luca Toni.

In the other match on Wednesday night, Panathinaikos gave themselves an excellent chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals by scoring a vital away goal in a 1-1 draw with Villarreal.

Giorgos Karagounis gave the Greek side the lead midway through the second half in Spain and although Guiseppe Rossi equalised with a penalty seven minutes later, Henk Ten Cate's men will fancy their chances of going through when the teams meet in Athens in a fortnight.