LONDON, Feb 25: Favourites Barcelona recovered their poise to grab a valuable 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon on Tuesday but holders Manchester United were frustrated on their Champions League return in a 0-0 draw at Inter Milan.

Barcelona, whose commanding form has deserted them of late, fell behind to a free kick from Juninho and needed a Thierry Henry header in the second half to take a slight edge from the first leg of their last-16 tie thanks to the away goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo went close for United early and late at the San Siro but Alex Ferguson had to settle for extending their unbeaten run in the Champions League to a record 20 matches.

In the night’s other Anglo-Italian clash, Arsenal clinched a 1-0 win at home to AS Roma thanks to a Robin van Persie penalty, making them the night’s only winning team.

The other tie was left well poised, as Porto twice came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw away to Atletico Madrid.

Results (last 16, first leg):

Arsenal 1 AS Roma 0

Atletico Madrid 2 Porto 2

Inter Milan 0 Manchester United 0

Olympique Lyon 1 Barcelona 1

—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

PAKISTAN has utterly failed in protecting its children from polio, a preventable disease that has been eradicated...
Poll petitions’ delay
Updated 06 Jan, 2025

Poll petitions’ delay

THOUGH electoral transparency and justice are essential for the health of any democracy, the relevant quarters in...
Migration racket
06 Jan, 2025

Migration racket

A KEY part of dismantling human smuggling and illegal migration rackets in the country — along with busting the...
Power planning
06 Jan, 2025

Power planning

THE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, the power sector regulator, has rightly blamed poor planning for...