The Champions league is finally here and this weeks results
from all group matches are here. Results from some games were somehow
predictable and others pulled in a bit of surprise but its all to be expected
because this is the Champions League.
Tuesday 16th ,September GMT 19:45 was exactly kick-off time and
matches from groups A – D went as follows:
GROUPS A-D
GROUP A
Olympiacos vs Atletico Madrid 3-2
Olympiacos hosted Champions League finalist Atletico Madrid
, it was a very entertaining game
producing 5 goals. In the first half Olympiacos got the opening
goal in the 13th minute through Masuaku , later Afellay made it two
to the host in the 31st minute. Atletico then pulled one back
through Mandzukic in the 38th minute which ended the first half. In
the second half Mitroglou scored in the
73rd minute , Griezmann then
scored in the 86th minute to end the game.
Juventus vs. Malmo
2-0
Champions League newbies Malmo played host to the Old ladies
of Italy in a match which many pundits expected to be one sided. To our surprise no goal was scored in the
first half , the goal finally came through Tevez in the 59th minute.
Not to take anything from the Newbies but they managed to hold their own
against the giants of Europe. Tevez then got a brace in the 90th
minute to put the game to bed.
GROUP B
Real Madrid vs. Basel 5-1
Real Madrid were coming back from a defeat in the la liga
and were hoping to make amends in the Champions League. The Champions made sure
of that by beating Basel , an own goal from Suchy gave the Champions the lead
in the 14th minute. Bale then
made it two in the 30th minute and Ronaldo followed with his in the 31st
minute. James Rodriguez also got his in the 37th minute , later
Gonzalez pulled one back for Basel 38th minute to end the first half. In the second half
Madrid took their feet of the gas a bit but added one more in the 79th
minute through Benzema as expected from the Champions.
Liverpool vs. Ludagorets 2-1
After a long wait the whole of Europe could finally hear
Anfield raw again. Its been five years since the five time Champions played in
the Champions league , it was a new generation still led by an old face in the
league. Much was expected from Liverpool and its players , the first half was
fairly entertaining with end to end action from both sides. Liverpool had the
better possession and still couldn’t make good use , Ludagorets on the other hand
kept asking questions of the Liverpool defense. The second half though was were the fun
started , after a long wait Mario Balotelli got his goal in the 82nd
minute for Liverpool and what a way to
finally come to the party in the Champions League. But the celebration was
short lived as Abalo scored in the 90th minute to level things up.
At that point surely you would think it would end in a draw. Then the unexpected
happened and Liverpool were award a penalty during + 4 minutes , Gerard
restored the lead producing late “drama” yet again at Anfield.
GROUP C
Benefica vs Zenit Saint Petersburg 0-2
Benefica got a shocking result to their start of the campaign as the lost to
Zenit. Andre Villas Boas (AVB) is surely cooking up something good at Zenit after
managing to beat last years Europa
Finalist at home.
Goals came from Hulk in the 5th minute and Wistel in the 22nd minute , from that point Benefica just couldn’t find a way back.
Goals came from Hulk in the 5th minute and Wistel in the 22nd minute , from that point Benefica just couldn’t find a way back.
AS Monaco vs. Bayern Leverkusen 1-0
Bayern Leverkusen played host to Monaco in a game which only
saw one goal produced. The came second
half in the 61st minute through Mountinho ,it was obvious the French
missed the services of Falcao who’s at Manchester United helping reviving the club.
GROUP D
Dortmund vs
Arsenal 2-0
German giants Dortmund hosted Arsenal , the
gunners fell behind in the 45th minute through Immobile and later in
the 48th minute Aubameyang made it two to end the first half. Second half saw no goals ending in favor of Dortmund and giving Arsenal a rough start to their
campaign.
Galatasaray vs Anderlecht 1-1
The Turkish giants hosted Anderlecht in a very entertaining
game in though only two goals were produced in this match. The visitors opened
the score through Praet in the 52nd
minute , they managed to hold onto the lead defending really well against the
home side . Just then late “DRAMA” happened and Galatasaray got their equalizer
through Yilmaz in the dying embers of the game snatching a point in the end.
GROUPS E- H
GROUP E
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City 1-0
It was always going to be a difficult game but the Germans
were always going to be up to the task. The game set of with great chances from
Bayern but muller and lewandoski all failed to convert them , City also had their
fair share of possession but they ended the first half with no goal.
In the second half there wasn’t much change and the game
still looked very open as both teams were all dangerous on the counter. It took
Boateng’s effort after a poor clearance from City to break the dead lock in the
90th minute scoring his first Champions League goal.
As Roma vs. CSKA Moscow 5-1
In the other GROUP E match As roma played CSKA Moscow in a
game full of goals. In the first half four goal
were produced , Iturbe opened the
score in the 6th minute , Gervinho then made it two in the 10th
minute , later Maicon made it three in the 20th minute , Gervinho
then got his brace in the 31st minute. At that point we all knew
CSKA were in for trouble, the second
half began and to make matters worse Ignashevich scored an own goal in the 50th
minute , Musa then pulled one back for CSKA in the 82nd minute.
Next in group E As Roma travel to face City and Bayern
travel to face CSKA Moscow.
GROUP F
Barcelona vs Apoel 1-0
Barcelona hosted Apoel
at the Camp Nou in the game many expected to be one side but it had a
different story to tell. Pique got the only goal of the game in the 28th
minute to ensure Barcelona got all 3 points.
Ajax vs Paris Saint- Germain 1-1
Ajax played PSG in the other group game but it ended in a
goalless draw. In the first half Cavani scored in the 14th minute
which was the only goal in the first half.
Ajax equalizer came in the 74th minute through Schone to
snatch a point at home.
Next in this group Barcalona travel to Paris to play PSG
while Ajax travel to Apoel
GROUP G
Sporting Lisbon vs Maribor 1-1
Newbie’s Maribor went away to Sporting Lisbon , Maribor
managed to get a point out of the game which was better than none, and also a
good way to start the their campaign. The first half saw no goals but in the
second Sporting Lisbon came alive after Nani who’s on loan from Manchester United scored in the 80th minute. Maribor
on the other hand had plans to spoil the party and late in the game Zahovic
scored in the 90th minute.
Chelsea vs. Schalke 04 1-1
The Blue Army took on a familiar foe again at the Bridge but
things didn’t go as planned for Mourinho’s men. Chelsea got the lead early in the
game through Fabregas in the 11th minute , in the second
half Schalke came strong and Huntlaar scored in the 62nd minute
to ensure this time they at least get a
point from Chelsea at home.
Next off Chelsea travel to Sporting whiles Schalke take on
Maribor.
GROUP H
FC Porto vs BATE 6-0
This game was official the highest defeat during the week
for the away teams , Porto complete annihilated BATE at home. Both first and
second half saw three goals so both halves were entertaining , Ibrahimi scored
in the 5th and 32nd minute and Martinez scored in the 37th
to end the first half. In the second half Ibrahimi got his hatrick in the 57th
minute whiles Adrian took the goal aggregate to five in the 61st
minute. Aboubakar made it six in the 76th minute to put the game to
bed. BATE will be going home with a lot of homework to do on Porto if they are
to avoid humiliation.
Athletic Bilbao vs. Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0
This was the only game ending in a nil nil draw this week ,
with both teams sharing a point a piece.
Next off Athletic will face BATE
whiles Shakhtar will take on Porto.
