Villarreal and Barcelona have reached the semifinals of the European Champions League, marking the sixth time that a nation has sent two or more clubs to the final four since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1992-93 and invited league runners-up. It is the fourth time that Spanish clubs have done it:
2000 Spain (Real Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona)
Champion: Real Madrid
2001 Spain (Valencia, Real Madrid)
Champion: Bayern Munich
2002 Spain (Real Madrid, Barcelona)
Champion: Real Madrid
2003 Italy (AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus)
Champion: AC Milan
2005 England (Liverpool, Chelsea)
Champion: Liverpool
2006 Spain (Barcelona, Villarreal)
Champion: ?
In the second-leg quarterfinals, Ronaldinho botched a penalty kick then scored Barcelona's first goal in a 2-0 win over Benfica to advance 2-0 on aggregate. It was Ronaldinho's seventh goal of the competition.
Arsenal went unscored on for a seventh straight game, tying Juventus to advance 2-0 aggregate. Juventus coach Fabio Capello lashed out at his club's fans, who jeered during the scoreless draw: "I found it inexplicable that when we needed their support we got that instead."
Villarreal, which lost the first leg at Inter Milan, 2-1, went through on away goals with a 1-0 win in which Rodolfo Arrubarrena nodded home Juan Roman Riquelme's free kick. "At the moment I am still the coach of Inter, nothing has been said to me. Let's see what happens," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini, whose club is 11 points behind leader Juventus in Serie A.
AC Milan downed Lyon, 3-1, on two late goals: with 5 minutes left and the scored tied, 1-1, the French club held the edge with an away goal.
Semifinals
Milan-Barcelona April 18 and 26
Arsenal-Villarreal April 19 and 25