Champions League 3 Nov

More Champions League results to report now with many of Europe’s biggest clubs on display in crucial games. Man Utd and Chelsea have officially qualified for the next stage so need not worry about the remaining group fixtures but uncertainty still surrounds certain Madrid and Milan based outfits. Let’s delve in and look at the results.

Here we go;

Champions League Group: A

Bayern Munich 0-2 Bordeaux

Bayern stand on the verge of an early Champions League exit with a second straight defeat to Bordeaux. The German outfit have been poor all-round this season and would have hoped to get a point at least at home to keep hopes of the knock-out stages alive. Yoann Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh made sure that all three points went back to France. Bayern can still do it, but with Bordeaux sitting pretty at the top of the table, their qualification to the next round would must likely have to be at the expense of Juventus. A tough ask.

Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Juventus

Juve remain unspectacular in Europe despite pretty decent form in Serie A. A Mauro Camoranesi strike just before the break was enough to earn the valuable points in Israel and see them comfortably second in Group A.

Champions League Group: B

Man Utd 3-3 CSKA Moscow

CSKA gave a much-changed United some problems at Old Trafford and looked to have taken all three points until Antonio Valencia broke Russian hearts once more. The former Wigan man scored the winner late on in Moscow last time out and managed to just about claim a late equaliser here for his side. It was CSKA, however, who scored first. Dzagoev netted from an acute angle to stun the home crowd. Having not won on the road in Europe since 2004, nobody considered the Russian outfit capable enough to test last season’s runners-up on their own patch and while Michael Owen found a swift equaliser for United, it was the visitors who would end the half in front. Moments after Owen had slotted home, Milos Krasic rounded Van der Sar for 2-1. Soon after the break, things were worse for Sir Alex’s lot when Vasili Berezutski headed home to make it three. A flabbergasted stadium filled with expectant and thoroughly disbelieving supporters had to wait till late on for the rescue package instigated by the introduction of new-dad Wayne Rooney. But it was the ever-reliable veteran Paul Scholes who took United within touching distance of redemption in the 84th minute as the little ginger goal grabber headed home from a Gary Neville free kick. CSKA looked to have it wrapped up until Valencia denied them the win in stoppage time thanks to a wicked deflection. Man United through.

Besiktas 0-3 Wolfsburg

The Turkish side have been dire in the competition and could offer little against the far superior Wolfsburg who cruised to victory here. The Germans sit second in the group and are favourites to join United in the next round but face stiff competition from CSKA Moscow who, should they manage to replicate their performance at Old Trafford, will be difficult to overcome.

Champions League Group: C

AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

And so to the San Siro where under fire Real Madrid went seeking revenge for the defeat at home in their last European encounter. It was not to be, though. In a much less enthralling/eventful/controversial/epic game both sides could only manage a goal apiece and thus had to settle for a deeply unsatisfying point. Karim Benzema opened up the scoring on 28 minutes capitalising on Dida’s unconvincing save of a Kaka effort. The lead would last only 6 minutes as Ronaldinho made it all square from the spot. The hand-ball decision against Pepe seemed harsh, but not one of the suffering AC fans would have minded about that. It was no classic, but an entertaining enough contest none-the-less yet neither set of supporters will be happy with the outcome. With Marseille destroying Zurich in Group C’s other game, it remains a three-way battle for qualification. Milan and Real sit first and second respectively, tied on 7 points with the French side below them on 6. Zurich were never likely to challenge (despite their shock win) and are effectively out of the running, but anything can and does (and no doubt will) happen in football, meaning Marseille have just as good a chance of making the cut as the Spanish and Italian giants. We’ll have to wait and see if one of the major forces in Europe miss out.

Marseille 6-1 FC Zurich

Marseille showed us all (by showing Zurich) that they aren’t to be taken lightly. The Frenchmen enhanced the muscle of their bid to get to the next round by sticking six past the hapless Swiss, whose defence had more holes than it’s the country’s famous cheese (note: I feel slightly nauseous after writing that lame pun, you have my apologies). The scorers were too numerous in amount for me to care frankly but I will mention that Brandau and Cheyrou both netted a couple each.

Champions League Group: D

Athletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea

Whoops! Chelsea wobble against the side they ever-so comfortably picked apart the week before in a game that went in and out of their favour. We had to wait until the 66th minute for the games opener, but what an opener! Substitute Sergio Aguero struck with a peach of a volley 13 minutes after entering the field and in doing so got his side’s first goal of this year’s competition. Athletico seemed on course for an unlikely win until Drogba nodded from a delicious Kalou cross. With the Chelsea side revitalised in a game they never really showed up for, they came close to winning it themselves when that man Didier scored with a couple of minutes remaining. It wasn’t to be, however, as Aguero hit another remarkable goal in injury time from a free kick to end it honours even. Chelsea won’t care too much as they qualify for the next round and take a step closer to winning the group.

APOEL Nicosia 0-1 FC Porto

Ramadel Falcao sent the former winners through with a winner late against APOEL. Settling the top spot is the only issue remaining in Group D and with a single point separating Chelsea and Porto, the next two games could be interesting. With a more favourable draw awarded to the side finishing first in the group stage, it is important for Chelsea’s push for European glory that they do not slip up again. Porto look a useful side but will no doubt find themselves under the Blues when all six games have been played.

Preview

A quick look at the games from the remaining groups in easily-digestable nugget format.

Champions League Group: E

Liverpool MUST win at Lyon to give themselves any chance of getting out of this group, and even then nothing is assured. Without Gerrard and Torres away from home on awful form – tough. Nothing is set for Fiorentina either but they have to be confident against Debrecen. Don’t take your eyes off of Group E for a minute.

Champions League Group: F

Rubin Kazan delivered one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history at the Nou Camp but expect Barca not to settle for second best here. I’d put money on the Spaniards making Rubin pay for what they did. Incredibly, Inter sit bottom of Group F and face a tricky test in Kiev against Dynamo. Another tight group with many permutations, though I would be more than surprised (even in this climate of shock super-club failures) if Barcelona and Inter didn’t make it.

Champions League Group: G

In what is surely the dullest of the groups this year, Sevilla can confirm their place in the knock-out stage with a win at home Stuttgart. Rangers will have to hope, pray and perhaps pleasure some match officials orally over the next few weeks to stand any chance of qualification such is their miserable position.

Champions League Group: H

Arsenal are still a bit shaky in Europe this season but will go through if they beat AZ at the Emirates. The Gunners’ Dutch visitors may have nicked a point at the death in the last game but aren’t going to get diddly-squat for it if Olympiacos beat Standard in Belgium. If the Greeks win and AZ lose at Arsenal, then the Eredivisie champs head out of the competition with no more than a whimper.

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