Liverpool crush Real as Bayern hit Sporting for seven

Liverpool crush Real as Bayern hit Sporting for sevenHamburg  - 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.

Torres opened the scoring for Liverpool on 16 minutes, slotting home a pass from Dirk Kuyt, although Real defender Pepe looked to have been fouled.

There was further misfortune for Madrid 10 minutes later when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Gabriel Heinze was harshly punished for handball by referee Frank De Bleeckere although the ball came off his shoulder.

Steven Gerrard duly converted the resultant spot kick and Ryan Babel secured the tie with a spectacular volley two minutes after the restart. Dossena completed Real's humiliation, heading home a Javier Mascherano cross shortly before full-time to make it 4-0.

Leading 5-0 from the first leg, Bayern thumped hapless Sporting Lisbon 7-1 to register a record 12-1 aggregate win for a Champions League round of 32 stage.

Lukas Podolski netted a brace and an own goal from Anderson Polga made it 3-0 to the German champions after 34 minutes, although there was still time for Joao Moutinho to pull one back for the Portuguese before Bastian Schweinsteiger made it 4-1 for Bayern at the break.

Mark van Bommel netted from six metres on 74 minutes, a Miroslav Klose penalty eight minutes from time and an even later strike from Thomas Mueller completed the rout for Bayern.

Chelsea suffered a fright before eventually drawing 2-2 with Juventus to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

A crisp finish from Vincenzo Iaquinta put the Italian in front after 19 minutes levelled the tie on aggregate but Michael Essien bundled home a vital away goal for Chelsea on the stroke of half-time after Frank Lampard's shot was deflected.

Juve's cause was made even more difficult when defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off with 19 minutes remaining after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Didier Drogba.

However, a penalty from Alessandro del Piero briefly gave Juve hope before Drogba ended the tie as a contest with Chelsea's second goal seven minutes from time.

Villarreal are also into the next round after a 2-1 victory over Panathinaikos to register a 3-2 aggregate win.

With the tie finely poised at 1-1 from the first leg, Villarreal struck first thanks to a strike from Ariel Ibagaza at the edge of the area. Vangelos Mantzios equalised for the Greeks with a header from six metres before Jose Llorente ensured victory with the Spaniards' second goal, 20 minutes from time.

The Champions League continues Wednesday when AS Roma face Arsenal, Barcelona entertain Olympique Lyon, Porto welcome Atletico Madrid and Manchester United take on Inter Milan. dpa

Regions: