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The first legs of the Champions League (CL) last-16 games produced mixed results for the British teams, along with some controversy.

The best result was undoubtedly Liverpool’s superb 2-1 win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, both sides reacting differently to recent controversy behind the scenes. At Barça, coach Frank Rijkaard appears to have come to the end of the road – a recent row with striker Eto’o may be a reflection of how the Dutchman’s relationship with his players has degenerated, and it’s rumoured that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Liverpool, on the other hand, appeared to shake off immediately the scandal of an alleged drunken night out last weekend in the Portuguese Algarve, where the team were preparing for this CL game. One of the stories goes that at a certain point in the evening, the Welshman Craig Bellamy threatened the Norwegian John Arne Riise with a golf club. Then who would score the two goals in Spain but … yes, Bellamy and Riise. Bellamy’s goal celebrations included him swinging an imaginary golf club, as if hitting the mini-crisis out of the stadium. Liverpool, who won the CL two seasons ago, must now be favourites to go through, at the expense of the team who won the last one.

Lille versus Manchester United was that rare animal, an exciting 0-0 draw. Then seven minutes from time, Tavlaridis fouled Saha near the penalty area. The Lille players, including goalkeeper Tony Sylva, were still organising the defensive wall when Ryan Giggs stepped up and swung the ball into the goal, with Sylva staring helplessly on. The incensed Lille players protested and even threatened to leave the pitch, saying that the goal was illegal, but the game eventually continued; the club has appealed to UEFA. Off the pitch, there was also trouble between Manchester United fans and the police: the fans, some of whom tried to climb over the security fence, claimed they were in danger of being crushed because of overcrowding, but the police had other ideas and charged the fans with batons and launched tear gas.

In Portugal, there was the return of José Mourinho to the Estádio do Dragão with his Chelsea side. The Special One is well-liked at FC Porto for his achievements there, including winning the CL trophy in 2004, although on the night he was of course jeered by the Porto fans – normal behaviour towards any visiting team. Mourinho was forced to re-think his tactics after skipper John Terry was injured in the first ten minutes and stretchered off, but his team reacted well to a Raul Meireles volley, equalising through Shevchenko with what could be a priceless away away goal. The money for qualification would be useful – the club announced this week a loss of £80 million (120 million euros) in 2006. Chelsea continue as candidates for four trophies: the CL, the Premiership, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Asked if he had any advice for the young players in his side ahead of the Celtic versus AC Milan game, Celtic coach Gordon Strachan kept it simple: “Just run about”, he said. They didn’t run about quite enough, though, it seems, drawing 0-0. They now have the prospect of a very difficult trip to the San Siro … but who knows? If they can get an early goal …

The worst result for the Brits was Arsenal’s 0-1 defeat at PSV Eindhoven. Last season’s beaten finalists “played well in the first half but lot worse in the second”, according to coach Arséne Wenger. Edison Méndez, with a spectacular shot from 25 metres on the hour, made it a miserable Carnival for the Gunners.

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