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Champions League
Chelsea’s manager Rafael Benitez will walk away a winner. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Unwanted at the Bridge but Benitez will still depart a winner

Spaniard will take heart from having enhanced his own reputation

Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic scores the winning goal past Benfica’s goalkeeper Artur during their Europa League final at the Amsterdam ArenaA. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters Ivanovic pops up late to clinch Europa League win for Chelsea

Benfica beaten by 90th minute winner from Serbian defender after Torres opener cancelled out by Cardozo

Eden Hazard of Chelsea (left) will miss the Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Benitez looks for a final finish to his time at Chelsea

Londoners look to add another European title as Benfica aim to end run of final defeats

Nemanja Matic of Benfica will face his old club this evening. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images Matic a reminder of failings at Chelsea’s football factory

Midfielder can have a big impact on final against club that may pay a price for letting him go

Unrivalled

Chelsea’s interim manager Rafael Benitez talks to Basel’s coach Murat Yakin Benítez demands some respect

Chelsea crowd chorus Roberto Di Matteo and José Mourinho during last night’s win over Basel

Thomas Muller leads his Bayern Munich team-mates in celebrations in front of their fans following their victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg at Camp Nou. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Barcelona’s resolve as well as their lofty philosophy will be tested to the full

Manner of Bayern’s dominance sums up miserable European campaign for Catalans

Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal against Fenerbahce during their Europa League semi final second leg soccer match at Benfica’s Luz stadium in Lisbon. Photograph: AP Photo Oscar Cardozo’s double fires Benfica into Europa League final

Benfica defeat Fenerbahce to set up clash against Chelsea

Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben celebrates reaching the final following his team’s victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou. Photograph: Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Bayern Munich complete stunning rout of Barcelona

Catalan side missing Messi are swamped at Camp Nou

Jose Mourinho makes his point on Tuesday night. Mourinho picked wrong time and place to announce his departure from Real Madrid

But then it’s always been about the Special One

Juan Mata and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez at yesterday’s pre-match press conference in London. Photo: Chris Lee/Getty Images Mata warns Chelsea to guard against any sense of complacency

Swiss champions Basel still pose a threat to Blues’ final ambitions, says midfielder

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho dropped the strongest hint yet that he may leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and return to England. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Wire Terms of Mourinho’s Chelsea return yet to be finalised

Emotional Real Madrid manager yearning for a return to the country and club where he is ‘loved’ by fans and media alike

Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski is challenged by Real Madrid’s Luka Modric as team-mates Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema, Sami Khedira and Sergio Ramos look on during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters Real Madrid fall just short as Dortmund reach final

Spanish side’s two goals in last ten minutes not enough to peg back first-leg deficit

Bayern’s Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez training at Camp Nou. Barcelona making right noises but hard to see Bayern capitulating

German side have won 17 away games on the bounce and it’s over a year since they failed to score away goal

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi looks on as Bayern players celebrate after Mario Gomez, third right, scored during the Champions League semif-final first leg at the Allianz Arena. (Photo: Kerstin Joensson/AP) Sun may well be setting on Barcelona

Camp Nou likely to witness a passing of the torch to Bayern Munich tonight

Jose Mourinho still thinks tie can be turned round. Susana Vera/Reuters Mourinho looks to spirit of players rather than the ghosts of Real Madrid’s past

Coach refuses to speculate about talks with Carlo Ancelotti

Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates his third goal against Real Madrid. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters Bayern deny Lewandowski deal

Dortmund striker reported to have already agreed contract with German champions

Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski (centre) celebrates victory over Real Madrid after their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday. Photograph: Reuters Lewandowski creates his own highlights reel on night to remember against Real

Borussia Dortmund claim Polish striker will stay despite clamour to sign him

FC Basel’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer fails to save a goal by Chelsea’s Victor Moses (far right) during their Europa League semi-final first leg soccer match at St. Jakob Park Stadium. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters David Luiz sneaks Chelsea win in Basel

Londoners take Europa League semi-final lead back to Stamford Bridge, despite valiant effort from homeside

Fenerbahce’s Dirk Kuyt (left) challenges Benfica’s Ola John during their Europa League semi-final first leg match at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. Photograph: Osman Orsal/Reuters Fenerbahce make home advantage count against Benfica

Korkmaz’s goal gives the Turks a slim first-leg lead

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says the Suarez punishment does not fit the crime. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Rodgers ‘bitterly disappointed’ with 10-game Suarez ban

‘Luis has genuinely tried to curb and change his natural instincts. This year he has done that brilliantly. The punishment is on the man, not the incident.’

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Group G

PosNamePldWDLFAPts
1FC Barcelona641113
2Celtic631210
3Benfica62228
4Spartak Moskva61053
Full Group G standings

Group H

PosNamePldWDLFAPts
1Manchester United640212
2Galatasaray631210
3CFR Cluj631210
4SC Braga61053
Full Group H standings

Latest Soccer

Anthony Pilkington of Norwich celebrates his goal against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium yesterday. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Getty Images Anthony Pilkington pulls out of Ireland squad
Frank Lampard (left) hoping to be reunited with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. Photograph: Getty Images Lampard hoping for reunion with ‘brilliant’ Mourinho
Nathan Ake (center, with the cup), captain of Netherlands U-17 team accepts the cup from Michel Platini, president of Uefa after winning the European Under-17 Football Championship final match between Germany and Netherlands in Ljubljana on May 16th, 2012. Photograph: Jure Makovec/AFP/GettyImages Footballing world sees many reasons to go Dutch
Arsenal’s Lourent Koscielny scores against Newcastle United during their English Premier League match at St James’ Park. Photograph: Reuters Arsenal clinch coveted Champions League spot after narrow win at Newcastle
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger celebrates after the 1-0 win over Newcastle United. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire. Arsene Wenger: ‘I’ve had many groups in my life and the focus, the desire to do well, was exceptional. It’s one of the best groups I’ve had in my life on that front.’ Wenger praises ‘special’ squad after finishing fourth
Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertonghen (left) and Mousa Dembele, both of Belgium, applaud the crowd following their win over Sunderland. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters Spurs captain Dawson thought Bale strike secured fourth
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