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Barcelona, Juventus advance in Champions League
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-08 08:32

LONDON - FC Barcelona, Juventus and Villarreal qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Tuesday. Chelsea didn't.

Barcelona's Ronaldinho (L) of Brazil dribbles past Chelsea's John Terry (bottom R), before scoring during their Champions League first knockout round return leg soccer match, at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona March 7, 2006.
Barcelona's Ronaldinho (L) of Brazil dribbles past Chelsea's John Terry (bottom R), before scoring during their Champions League first knockout round return leg soccer match, at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona March 7, 2006. [Reuters]
Ronaldinho scored in the 78th minute to give host Barcelona a 1-1 tie with Chelsea and put the Spanish league leaders into the final eight 3-2 on aggregate. Frank Lampard converted a penalty for Chelsea in injury time.

Juventus, which got an 88th-minute goal from Emerson after a goalkeeping error, beat Werder Bremen 2-1. The deciding goal leveled the aggregate score at 4-4, which advanced the Italian champions on away goals.

Villarreal tied 1-1 with visiting Rangers and advanced on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate score. Defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena scored Villarreal's equalizer in the 49th, advancing the provincial Spanish team, which is making its debut in the Champions League.

With Barcelona holding Chelsea scoreless into the final minutes, the hosts didn't need to score to advance. But Ronaldinho — the FIFA world player of the year — wasn't satisfied with that.

Taking a pass from Samuel Eto'o, the Brazilian skipped into the area, barged past Chelsea defender John Terry and drove the ball past the diving Petr Cech.

"There's nothing better than winning a game like this one," Ronaldinho said.

On Wednesday, defending champion Liverpool hosts Benfica while trailing 1-0, AC Milan hosts Bayern Munich after a 1-1 tie in the first leg, Arsenal hosts Real Madrid with a 1-0 lead and Lyon has a 1-0 advantage when it hosts PSV Eindhoven.

The remaining Champions League game will be March 14 in Milan with Ajax and Inter Milan level 2-2. The draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals is Friday in Paris.

The Barcelona-Chelsea match — the Spanish champions against the English champions — was the most awaited match of this season's Champions League. Seldom generous in defeat, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was true to form when asked if the better team had won.
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