Remarkable triumph for Barcelona

It truly was a remarkable UEFA Champions League quarter-final with explosive events on the field and serious drama off it and in an ideal world the FC Barcelona coach Carles Rexach would have chosen a lengthy breathing space to take stock of his side's thrilling second-leg victory over Panathinaikos FC.

Madrid or Bayern next
However time is a rare commodity at this level of the game and hardly had the dust settled at Camp Nou than Rexach was being quizzed at length about his preference for opponents at the semi-final stage: Real Madrid CF, the old enemy, or FC Bayern München, the reigning title holders.

Significant hurdle
How quickly football turns from one mighty confrontation to the next but those who follow Barcelona have witnessed precious little success in recent years and they can be forgiven for racing ahead of themselves. It was a significant hurdle that Rexach's team overcame last night and if they can build on the positive aspects of the performance an inconsistent season could yet conclude in a glorious finale.

Bold decision
They knew Panathinaikos would come to defend their first-leg advantage and Rexach took the bold decision to leave out Patrick Kluivert, who had scored 23 times in all competitions this term. The plan was to breach the visitors's resistance with stealth in the tiny form of Javier Saviola and wing play in the shape of Marc Overmars.

Three goals needed
Imagine then the shock that reverberated around this famous stadium when Michael Konstantinou doubled the Greek side's advantage with only seven minutes gone, a lacerating strike beating Roberto Bonano from outside the area. The away goal meant Barcelona now had to score three.

Saviola flourish
They managed it by the hour mark after Luis Enrique had twice pounced for opportunist strikes. That provided the impetus for victory, which was eventually secured with a flourish by Saviola who timed his run to exploit a square defence. The young Argentinian had been liberated by Kluivert's introduction for Francesco Coco before half-time but with so many offensive players involved it posed Barcelona problems when Panathinaikos tried desperately to regain the advantage with fierce pressure in the latter stages. 
      
Five attackers
It left Rexach reflecting: "We suffered a lot and we did not think it would be so complicated. The last 15 minutes were tough but we had five attackers on at that stage. When we needed to defend we didn't have the right people there."

Nerve-wracking environment
Things got really complicated in the final stages after Bonano had been carried off on a stretcher following a sickening collison with Emmanuel Olisadebe. As the goalkeeper lay stricken on the turf Carles Puyol denied Konstantinou on the line. It was a nerve-wracking environment for 19-year-old replacement José Reina to enter and he was fortunate to escape as Olisadebe shot poorly and Sotiris Kirgiakos sent a shot whistling past the upright. Bonano was in hospital today but, according to Barcelona's official website, was simply being kept in for observation after tests. He is expected to be allowed home later.

Markaraian satisfied
"We lost a great opportunity to go through," said the Panathinaikos coach Sergio Markarian. "We had three or four good chances to score and go through but we have to be satisfied at putting a great European team up against the ropes."

Formidable foe
Barcelona's strength of character in fighting their way off those ropes before weakening their rival with critical blows has to be acknowledged and with Rivaldo likely to improve his match fitness in the intervening two weeks they will be formidable semi-final opposition. Rexach said it had been his dream to reach the Champion League's last four and if the rumours are correct, and he is to bow out at the end of the campaign, then he will depart with the satisfaction of at least achieving that goal.

Pheasant pursued
That was cause for serious alarm as was the sight of Bonano with his neck in a brace. But there was also humour amidst all the drama and tension when a pheasant led stewards a merry dance after it got onto the pitch immediately after Saviola's goal. It was 90 minutes that will not easily be forgotten by all who were privileged to be inside Camp Nou.