Real, AC Milan, FC Porto poised for semifinals
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-26 14:49

Real Madrid, AC Milan and Portuguese leader FC Porto are undisputed favorites to reach the semifinals of the Champions League.

The other spot will go to an English club, and the edge is with Arsenal over its London rival Chelsea in Europe’s No. 1 club tournament.

Real Madrid rallied to beat Monaco 4-2 Wednesday.

Porto defeated French leader Lyon 2-0, and English leader Arsenal drew 1-1 at Chelsea.

In the semifinals, it will be Arsenal or Chelsea against Real Madrid or Monaco, and Milan or Deportivo facing Porto or Lyon. The first leg is April 20-21 with the second leg May 4-5.

In Madrid, Monaco took a 1-0 lead in the 43rd when Sebastien Squillaci scored.

Then Real equalized in the 51st minute on Ivan Helguera’s close-in goal. Zinedine Zidane made it 2-1 with 20 minutes left, driving home a right-footed drive after goalkeeper Flavio Roma stopped an initial shot with the Frenchman scoring on the rebound.

Figo scored in the 77th, heading a ball home after Roma stopped his penalty kick. Ronaldo made it 4-1 in the 81st on a left-footed shot off a Zidane pass.

In London, Gudjohnsen scored in the 53rd, capitalizing on an error by Arsenal ’keeper Jens Lehmann. Lehmann came out to kick the ball away but the Icelander chased the ball down, blocked Lehmann’s kick, and then left-footed the ball home from a sharp angle.

Robert Pires equalized in the 59th, chipping in a header from eight meters off a perfect pass from Ashley Cole

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