Buenos Aires  - Talented midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme's decision to refuse to play for Argentina in the future has strengthened Diego Maradona's control over the national team and his position in the face of internal conflicts.

Riquelme announced his decision late Tuesday, but it hardly upset many fans in the football-crazy South American country. A few people backed the player at the Boca Juniors training session Wednesday, but an online poll in the Argentine daily Clarin said that 62.5 per cent of those who replied were in favour of Riquelme's exit.

Hamburg - A deadly dozen for the biggest aggregate victory in Champions League history has brought the smile back on Bayern Munich's face.

Munich may be inconsistent in German action, but have impressed in Europe. Their form reached new heights on Tuesday night when they demolished hapless Sporting Lisbon 7-1, which, coupled with a 5-0 win in Portugal, resulted in a staggering 12-1 from both games.

"We sent clear signals that we are a force to be reckoned with. We are among the top eight in Europe, are hungry and want more!" said coach Juergen Klinsmann.

The big win was duly noted abroad on Wednesday.

Rome  - Napoli have hired former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni to replace Edy Reja after a dismal run in the Italian Serie A, local media reported on Wednesday.

Napoli signed Donadoni, 45, until 2011. He was due to be presented Wednesday at the team's camp in Castelvolturno.

Reja, 63, was dismissed late Tuesday as Napoli notched only two points in the last nine games after a good start into the season. They are still 11 points above the relegation zone with 11 games left in the season, but had to bury initial hopes for a place in Europe.

Zurich  - European champions Spain maintained first place in the world football rankings issued on Wednesday by the ruling body FIFA, with Portugal back in the top

London - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard saluted a "fantastic team performance" after his side thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 on Tuesday.

Already 1-0 up from the first leg, Liverpool advanced stylishly to the quarter-finals, suggesting their post-Christmas wobble may be over.

For Madrid, this was their biggest-ever Champions League defeat.

"The first 30 minutes we were awesome," Gerrard said.

"We got the job done, and then in the second half it was just about seeing it out."

Hamburg  - Liverpool cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League Tuesday with a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Villarreal also progressed.

Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Andrea Dossena were all on target for Liverpool at Anfield to ensure a 5-0 aggregate win and it could have been even more against a poor Real side but for some goalkeeping heroics from Iker Casillas.