LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - Real Madrid
roared back to form to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a
4-2 victory over Monaco in a quarter-final, first leg tie on Wednesday.
In the night's other clash, England's Chelsea and Arsenal played out
a cagey 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge that left Arsenal's bid for a treble
firmly intact.
Madrid, still reeling from last week's King's Cup final defeat by
Real Zaragoza and the weekend league reverse by Athletic Bilbao, were
jeered off at halftime as they trailed to Sebastien Squillaci's
43rd-minute goal.
But, just like AC Milan 24 hours earlier, they responded with a
four-goal blast to close on a semi-final place.
Ivan Helguera eased the tension in a subdued Bernabeu stadium in the
52nd minute, getting the final touch to a David Beckham corner that
caused havoc in the area.
Released from their shackles, the nine-times European champions then
ripped into Monaco.
French midfielder Zinedine Zidane put them ahead in the 70th minute
after Luis Figo's fierce shot was blocked by Flavio Roma and seven
minutes later Figo made it 3-1, heading in after Roma had clawed out his
penalty.
Ronaldo, who had earned the penalty, then converted a sublime pass
from Zidane to apparently snuff out Monaco's resistance.
But the final act belonged to Real's former hero Fernando Morientes.
Unwanted at Madrid, the striker currently on loan in the principality
powered in a header that gave his side just a sniff of a chance in the
second leg.
London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal were meeting for the fourth time
this season and again there was frustration for Chelsea as they failed
for the 17th time in a row to beat the Gunners.
Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen put them ahead in the 52nd minute
when he charged down a casual clearance by Arsenal's German keeper Jens
Lehmann and shot home from an acute angle.
But Arsenal, who have gone 29 league matches unbeaten since the start
of the season to lead the table by nine points, were back on level terms
after 59 minutes.
Ashley Cole delivered a measured cross and French midfielder Robert
Pires placed a clinical header just inside Marco Ambrosio's post.
Worse was to come for Claudio Ranieri's side after 83 minutes as
defender Marcel Desailly was sent off for his second yellow card after a
later tackle on fellow French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.
On Tuesday two goals from Brazilian Kaka inspired champions AC Milan
to a 4-1 thrashing of Deportivo Coruna at the San Siro, while Porto put
themselves on course for the semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 home
victory over Olympique Lyon.
