Former Real Madrid club president Ramon Calderon said Jose Mourinho‘s comments and behavior damaged Real Madrid during the two legs of the semi-finals.

Real Madrid were dumped out of the Champions League by their bitter rivals Barcelona last night after an aggregate score of 3 – 1, but both games were overshadowed by the behaviour of fans, players and club officials.

Boss Mourinho was sent off in the first leg for disputing a red card and is also in trouble for later comments.

“To talk like that has been harmful for Real Madrid,” Calderon told BBC Sport.

A bad-tempered first-leg match erupted at half-time when there was a fracas on the touchline as the players were leaving the field, which resulted in Real reserve-keeper Pinto being shown a red card.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson complained about referee Chris Foy’s refusal to not award a penalty to his team in their 1 – 0 defeat at Arsenal over the weekend.

Aaron Ramsey’s second-half goal – his first since January 2010 – saw United’s lead remain at just three points from Chelsea, whom they face next week at Old Trafford.

Both sides claimed a penalty at the Emirates Stadium, but the officials were unmoved when first United captain Nemanja Vidic handled the ball in the area and Michael Owen went down following a challenge from Gael Clichy.

Although Ferguson admitted Arsenal had a good case for their own penalty, he felt hard done by.

“It’s too big a game not to get the decisions right,” Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

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There are games you watch with excitement for the sake of the league position your favourite team is fighting for. There are games you watch with a heavy basket of planned banter when you and your mates see your favourite clubs go head to head. Then there are games that, due to their sheer magnitude, hype and near guarantee of fireworks almost force your attention, whether you watch them as a bleeding, die-hard supporter or just simply as a pure football fan. 27th April 2011. The Bernabéu. UEFA Champions League Semi-Final first leg. El Clásico. No exception.

Last night saw the 3rd installment to the four part mini-series that began on the 16th April this year and it more than held up it’s promise of entertainment.

The first crowd lifting chance came from the Catalans in the 10th minute when a regaining of possession in the visitors half saw some pace changing pass and run play by Lionel Messi and Xavi to David Villa on the far right of who proceeded with a strong run along the big box to end with an immensely close, but off target shot just past the far post. (more…)

Manchester United were just too good for Schalke in Germany as they scored two crucial away goals to pave their way to Wembley.

United could have been well ahead in the semi-final first leg by half-time, denied only by a series of incredible saves from Germany keeper Manuel Neuer.

They broke the deadlock when Wayne Rooney slipped in Ryan Giggs to slot home and Rooney doubled the advantage by firing in a Javier Hernandez pass.

Edwin van der Sar saved from Sergio Escudero, but Schalke were awful.

United will welcome Schalke to Old Trafford on Wednesday 4 May for the second leg and they now know, barring a complete catastrophe, that they will once again represent English football in the showpiece of the European game.

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David Beckham‘s sons spent some time quality time with Gordon Ramsay and his son Jack at a LA Galaxy game yesterday.

Cruz (6) and Brooklyn (12) were both in attendance and appeared in high spirits as they watched their father’s LA Galaxy team thrash the Portland Timbers in a victorious 3-0 defeat at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles.

Romeo was nowhere in site, but father-of-four Ramsay brought along his son Jack, who Brooklyn was spotted hugging in celebration as LA Galaxy scored.

The Beckhams and the Ramsays are close friends and even spent Christmas Day together, with celebrity chef Gordon no doubt cooking up a storm.

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Arsenal‘s English Premier League title race may be over after losing 1 – 2 to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday after a late winner by Tamir Cohen at the Reebok Stadium.

The Israeli powered a 90th-minute header past Wojciech Szczesny and then removed his shirt to reveal a picture of his late father Avi, who died in December following a motorcycle accident, before breaking down in tears.

On-loan Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge had opened the scoring in the 38th minute while Kevin Davies also missed a penalty for Bolton at the start of the second half before Robin van Persie netted a 48th-minute equaliser.

The result leaves Arsenal nine points behind Manchester United and three behind Chelsea with only four games remaining.

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Arsenal‘s visit to the Reebok Stadium saw their dwindling hopes of lifting silverware further eroded as super-sub Tamir Cohen headed home a 90th minute coffin nail to see the Gunner’s gap behind league leaders Manchester United grow to 9 points.

Daniel Sturridge followed through on Gary Cahill’s on-target effort to give Bolton a well deserved 38th minute lead, which looked to be doubled 30 seconds into the second half when Sturridge won a penalty for the home side. Wojciech Szczesny saved the unconvincing effort by Kevin Davies which sparked a well-worked run of play that saw Robin van Persie equalize for the visitors from a Cesc Fabregas delivery just a minute later.

The Gunners continued to gain momentum and with a platter of chances it seemed inevitable that they would grasp the desperately needed 3 points. Bolton’s disciplined defence paid off and saw them snatch the lead as 85th minute sub Cohen headed home the emotional winner.

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