United on course

Fergie: Quarter-finals beckon?

Manchester United are in pole position to advance into the Champions League quarter-finals after a battling 1-1 draw in their first-leg tie against Lyon.

United slipped a goal behind after highly rated striker Karim Benzema fired the French side ahead, the 20-year-old’s strike that went a small way toward justifying the £42m Price tag set by Lyon president Jean Michel-Aulas.

United refused to lie down and their persistence paid off when Carlos Tevez equalised three minutes from time after a period of sustained pressure.

Alex Ferguson’s men now take a precious away goal back to Old Trafford and a fighting chance of advancing to the quarters.

'It gives us a good chance,' Ferguson said.

'You're not sure you're going to get that type of away goal in Europe.

'There was an urgency to get back in the game and I think we are best in that situation.'

Arsenal didn’t fare as well; they were held 0-0 at the Emirates by Italian big-guns AC Milan.

In form striker Emmanuel Adebayor agonisingly struck the bar four minutes into injury time to leave the Gunners with an uphill task at the San Siro.

Arsene Wenger will also have to do without defensive lynchpin Kolo Toure who will be out for four weeks with a calf injury.

Celtic were unpicked by the brilliant Lionel Messi as they lost 3-2 to Barcelona at Celtic Park.

After twice taking and losing the lead the SPL side looked on course for respectable draw until the mercurial Messi struck his second and the winner 11 minutes from time.

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