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After two games played, we're getting a better picture of the standings in the Champions League group stage. While some powerhouses are making a good case for themselves (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United), others (Liverpool, Inter, Milan) are finding the task more difficult and should kick it up a notch in Matchday 3.
- Group A -
Bayern and Bordeaux are sitting in front with four points each. Juventus is pretty close with two points but failure is not an option when they'll meet Haifa on Day 3.
Bayern Munich Juventus: 0-0
Despite an excellent game, the Germans couldn't break Buffon thus failing to take control of the group.
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Girondins de Bordeaux Macabi Haifa: 1-0
It's obvious that Haifa will be the punching bag in this group, the question is will Juventus crush them or will they fight for a draw.
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- Group B -
Manchester United took a commanding lead on this group by beating Wolfsburg at Old Trafford. Surprisingly, Moscow find themselves in third place with the same number of points as Wolfsburg after their win agains Besiktas.
CSKA Moscow Besiktas: 2-1
Manchester United VfB Wolfsburg: 2-1
If there is one thing that can be reproached to the Red Devils so far this season, it's their slow start during matches. After a first half where both teams spent more time studying each other than really threatening the opposition's net, United got to work only after Dzeko opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs put both teams level three minutes later on a free-kick and Michael Carrick scored the winner in the 77th minute to give the hosts all three points.
Michael Owen started the game for Manchester but was quickly taken out after picking up an injury in the opening twenty minutes. In a nice twist of fate, Berbatov's entrance instantly provided the spark that United lacked in the opening stages of the game. As a matter of fact, this was probably Berbatov's best game since he came to Old Trafford. Still, the man of the match award goes to Giggs who got the equalizer and had the presence of mind to set up Carrick for the winner.
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- Group C -
The Galacticos are head and shoulders above the teams of this group so it's not surprising to see them with all six points. Milan, on the other hand, are the big deception, falling at home against Zurich.
AC Milan FC Zurich: 0-1
I think it's safe to say that Milan will be going nowhere until they bring more youth to the squad. Wednesday's result was truly a slap in the face right down to the manner in which the winning goal was scored (backheel on a corner (!)).
Real Madrid Olympique de Marseille: 3-0
Is there no stopping Cristiano Ronaldo? The Portuguese winger seems to be back to his 2007-2008 form, going on an amazing scoring spree (two goals on Wednesday, current top scorer in La Liga). Maybe this edition of the Galacticos might work after all.
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- Group D -
With six points in their pockets, Chelsea are sitting atop of Group D with Porto trailing not too far behind.
APOEL FC Chelsea: 0-1
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Porto Atletico Madrid: 2-0
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- Group E -
You would think that Liverpool would be on top of this group by now, especially after their great display in the Premiership over the weekend. Instead we have Lyon leading with six points and Fiorentina tied with the Reds at three points each.
Fiorentina Liverpool: 2-0
The upset of Matchday 2. 1-0 would be a respectable result but 2-0 is just a shame for Rafa Benitez's troops. Thankfully, it was an away game and they might reverse the trend once they're back at Anfield.
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Debreni VSC Olympique Lyonnais: 0-4
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- Group F -
Group F is probably the tightest bunch in the competition so far with all teams still in it even Russia's Rubin Kazan.
Rubin Kazan Internazionale Milano: 1-1
While the draw against Barcelona can be considered as a great result, Mourinho must be seething at his team's performance on Tuesday. Stankovic's header was the only thing separating them from a loss as they played a poor game overall.
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Barcelona Dynamo Kyiv: 2-0
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- Group G -
Spanish club Sevilla is comfortable on top, leaving the three other teams fighting amongst each other for second place.
Unirea Urziceni VfB Stuttgart: 1-1
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Rangers Sevilla: 1-4
There's a lot of talk about Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, but in terms of attacking power, Sevilla aren't far behind. In a tough stadium, they managed to trounce the Rangers to the score of 4-1.
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- Group H -
With their win against Olympiacos, Arsenal took control of Group H with six points to their account. The Greeks are right behind them with three.
Arsenal Olympiacos: 2-0
I have mixed feelings about this game since either teams deserved better no matter which way the final score went. Arsenal easily dominated the Greeks who seemed overwhelmed but goalkeeper Nikopolidis came through time and time again. Robin Van Persie's opener in the 78th minute was only sweet justice for a team that had several scoring opportunities but I couldn't help feeling bad for Nikopolidis who had stopped everything until that point. Arshavin's goal was offside and shouldn't count in my opinion but Arsenal weren't threatened in any way by Olympiacos during the game so I guess it's a moot point.
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AZ Alkmaar Standard de Liege: 1-1
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September 22nd 2009 17:45
September 17th 2009 03:35
So, the Inter Milan-Barcelona game wasn't as exciting as I anticipated so I won't be posting an individual recap of that game but read on for my thoughts on Day 1. There are several games for which I didn't find any highlights. Video sites are quick to take off links these days, so there's not much I can do about that.
- Group A -
Juventus Girondins de Bordeaux: 1-1
The season has just started and already Juventus are missing big name players in Diego and Alessandro Del Piero. Thankfully, youngster Giovinco is proving to be a worthy replacement after a nice display on Tuesday. In front, Iaquinta and Amauri are becoming a dangerous pair due to their size and abilities. Bordeaux's defense dealt well with the two strikers, limiting them to only one goal. Plasil scored the equalizer for the visitors who definitely deserved the point.
Iaquinta's opener
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Plasil's equalizer
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Maccabi Haifa Bayern Munich: 0-3
German giants Bayern had an easier game than Juventus, taking on Israeli club Maccabi Haifa in Day 1. Once again, Thomas Muller showed that he belongs in the big league by scoring two goals after Van Buyten's opener. With the emergence of Muller, you have to wonder if Luca Toni will ever see a game with Bayern again considering that they also have Olic, Gomez and Klose in front.
- Group B -
VfL Wolfsburg CSKA Moskva: 3-1
It was the Grafite show in Germany as the Brazilian striker scored all of his team's goals including a penalty in a win over CSKA Moskva.
Besiktas Manchester United: 0-1 (Read my recap HERE)
- Group C -
FC Zurich Real Madrid: 2-5
When looking at the final score of that game, you have to think that Madrid really took it to Zurich but the fact of the matter is that after leading 3-0, the Spanish giants' defense was soft enough to have Zurich come back to 3-2. Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on free-kicks but the keeper could have done better on both kicks so this result wasn't convincing enough for me.
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Olympique de Marseille AC Milan: 1-2
There's been lots of talk about Ronaldinho stepping up after Kaka's departure but it was Clarence Seedorf who provided all the playmaking in Milan's win over Marseille. Both goals were scored by Inzaghi, showing that Milan's old guard still has some legs (though I don't those legs will carry them far).
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- Group D -
Chelsea Porto: 1-0
Like United, Chelsea didn't force themselves too much against Porto. Of course, with Drogba and Bosingwa both suspended, their attack lacked its usual bite. Thankfully, Anelka scored early in the second half and that was enough for the Blues to win it.
Atletico de Madrid APOEL FC: 0-0
If this was any other year, I would be shocked at this result, but this year Atletico seem to be in a crisis that is obviously influencing the results on the field.
- Group E -
Liverpool Debreceni VSC: 1-0
It's probably the most shocking results amongst all the big teams. Yes, Liverpool won but anyone who watched that game can tell you that Debreceni put up quite a fight, making life hard for Benitez's squad.
Olympique Lyonnais Fiorentina: 1-0
- Group F -
Inter Milan Barcelona: 0-0
The biggest game of Day 1 turned out to be its most boring. Barcelona's passing game was beautiful to watch as always but a terrifically organized Inter defense didn't leave too many holes for Ibrahimovic and Messi to sneak into. When the two strikers did find their way in, a shove was often enough to dispossess them of the ball. I was really disappointed in Henry's performance who didn't seem to be fit. His exit for Iniesta came way too late in my opinion.
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Dynamo Kyiv FC Rubin Kazan: 3-1
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- Group G -
VfB Stuttgart Rangers FC: 1-1
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Sevilla Unirea Urziceni: 2-0
Luis Fabiano's opener
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Renato's goal
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- Group H -
Olympiacos FC AZ Alkmaar: 1-0
Standard de Liege Arsenal: 2-3
Arsenal came close to being upset when poor judgement on their defense's part allowed Standard de Liege to go up 2-0. They managed to come back and win it but it was still pretty close.
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September 15th 2009 03:21
After three weeks of competitive play, AC Milan are already showing signs of slowing down with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Livorno. Juventus kept up its winning streak by defeating Lazio 2-0. However, Inter isn't too far behind them after winning their encounter against Parma. The big shock comes in when one looks at the table and sees Genoa (!) sitting atop of the Serie A thanks to their goal differential. The full results follow.
Udinese Catania: 4-2
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The Calcio's second week was not without any action as the first derby della Madonnina went in favor of Inter Milan who easily (almost too easily) discarded their city rivals to the score of 4-0 (3-0 at halftime). But it was Juventus who stole the show as Diego put on another fantastic display to help his new team defeat Roma 3-1. Full results follow.
Atalanta Genoa: 0-1
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The big surprise of Serie A's opening fixtures was Inter Milan's draw against promoted club Bari. Although Eto'o scored on his debut, the draw was a big blow considering Milan and Juventus' victories. As usual, here are the highlights from all the games (except the one that ended in a 0-0 draw).
Bologna Fiorentina: 1-1
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It's the dawn of a new era at the San Siro. The departure of superstar Kaka, manager Carlo Ancelotti and defender Paolo Maldini (who retired) brings a lot of question marks in all categories of Milan's play, be it offense, defense, or coaching. Will Ronaldinho return to form to fill the gaping hole left by Kaka? Who will replace Maldini's leadership in center defense? And will new manager Leonardo successfully put his own stamp on this aging team who's seen it all with Ancelotti? Although none of these questions can be answered after just one game, there is one thing the Milan tifosi can count on this season: barring injury, Alexandre Pato will be a force to reckon with as he looks to secure himself a spot on the Brazilian squad for the upcoming World Cup. The young striker showed his value to the club on Saturday as he scored the two goals in Milan's 2-1 victory over Siena.
From the opening minutes of the game, Siena were decidedly playing with fire, using an offside trap that wasn't as reliable as they wanted. Milan left-back Jankulovski was the first to find the flaw in Siena's uneven backline as he evaded the trap in the 18th minute only to lose his one-on-one against Gianluca Curci. Ten minutes later, it was Pato who beat the offside as he received a lovely pass from Ronaldinho right at the edge of the box. Faced against Curci, Pato took his time and lodged the ball inside the far post for Milan's first goal of the season
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For the second and final day of the Audi Cup, the winners of yesterday's games were pitted against each other in a friendly final while the losers met to decide third place.
The first game of the day was between Boca Juniors who had lost 2-1 against Manchester United and AC Milan who were routed 4-1 by home team Bayern Munich. After being used to seeing Milan concede the first goal since the start of pre-season, it was refreshing to see them take lead for once when Thiago Silva deflected Pato's shot/cross into the back of the net just a few minutes before the half-hour mark. Unlike their previous games where they were flat, the Rossoneri had a lot more vivacity on the field, especially in midfield where Gattuso and Ambrosini (and Pirlo later on) always did their best to come back and help out in defense. Unfortunately, the Italians weren't able to hold on to their precious lead. Four minutes before full-time, Lucas Viatri scored a splendid header from a desperate cross to tie the game. The game was decided in a shootout which Boca won 4-3 as Pirlo and Pato both missed their shots while Insua was the only one to be stopped by Storari
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It's going from bad to worse in the Rossoneri camp. Since losing Kaka to Real Madrid and long-time manager Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea, Milan's management team has done nothing to appease a group of fans that's getting restless. Millan's pre-season results hasn't improved matters since their are now 0-4 in their last four games. After going winless in the World Football Challenge which took place in the United States, Milan returned to Europe only to be rolled over by Germany's Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup.
The home team took the lead early on in the game via Thomas Fuller. Instead of waking up the flat Italians, the goal only seemed to demoralize them before the 15-minute mark. Munich easily dominated Milan by applying a sustained pressure in midfield, leaving Pirlo no space to maneuver. In that situation, Ronaldinho and Pato were both isolated in front and had to come back to get the ball themselves. Once they did that however, Milan had no one in front to send the ball to, and they were caught in this vicious circle for most of the game. Despite their total domination, Munich had a lot trouble to extend their lead in the first half. Most of that had to do with Mario Gomez wasting chance after chance. Being relatively unfamiliar to the Bundesliga, I wonder if he's their equivalent to Emmanuel Adebayor he may score a lot but it takes a lot of opportunities for him to put the ball in the back of the net
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After Real Madrid's successful bids to get superstars Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo last month, the Nou Camp stayed eerily quiet, proceeding to make only one depth-related move by bringing in Inter's Maxwell to replace Sylvinho. All that changed this past weekend when the blaugrana completed a blockbuster move of their own, swapping striker Samuel Eto'o along with midfielder Aleksandr Hleb for Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and signing the latter to a 5-year, 46 million contract.
Who's the winner of that deal? Inter or Barca?
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It's been a while since I commented on Serie A games. The Milan derby was a perfect opportunity to get back to the Calcio.
The first thing that struck me while watching the game is how porous and focus-less (is that even a word?) the Rossoneri's defense is. Inter knocked a the door early in the game with a free-kick from midfield that somehow found Zlatan Ibrahimovic's header inside the 18-yard box with no one marking the striker. Fortunately for Milan, Ibrahimovic's header went way over the bar, keeping the game scoreless. Milan's back-four was caught again at the 17th minute, but Ambrosini's last-ditch tackle prevented Stankovic from placing a perfect shot against Abbiati
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Ever since David Beckham arrived at the San Siro, Milan have played better football. Although their recent success can also be attributed to Kaka's decision to stay, there's no denying the fact that Beckham has brought a new dimension to Milan.
The English midfielder made his present felt less than thirty seconds in the game with a powerful shot saved by Genoa's goalkeeper. With two dead-ball specialists in the home-team, Genoa had to be careful when giving away free-kicks. At the 15th minute, Pirlo's free-kick rattled off the crossbar, and that was simply a warning of things to come. Since Milan had most of the posession during the first half, all Genoa could do was run after the ball like mad dogs. Beckham's long-range passing allowed the Rossoneri to use the entire width of the field, and Pato's pace frustrated the visitors' defenders
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After Kaka's comments in the press about how playing with Ronaldinho requires him to make an adjustement in his play, the Brazilian midfielder was given more freedom in attack when Ancelotti decided to keep Ronaldinho on the bench for Milan's game against Catania. The result was a wide open game in which Kaka roamed freely behind Pato and Shevchenko. Unfortunately, Shevchenko used this opportunity to play in a selfish manner, desperately trying to get his first goal of the season. Him and Pato don't seem to work well together. In the end, Kaka gave the win to Milan at the 64th minute when his header took a slight deflection off a defender to beat Catania's goalkeeper.
AC Milan's line-up: Christian Abbiati; Gianluca Zambrotta, Kakha Kaladze, Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Emerson (Giuseppe Favalli, h-t), Mathieu Flamini; Kaka; Andriy Shevchenko (Luca Antonini, 80th), Alexandre Pato.
To any casual follower of the game, AC Milan's defeat at the hands of Palermo on Sunday was the result of a piss-poor performance by the Rossoneri who didn't look particularly interested in the outcome of the game. To a certain extent, it's true. For once in a long while, the defensive brigade led by Paolo Maldini lacked discipline in their own zone, leading to panicked sequences where they looked like an amateur club trying to keep its head above the water. In front, both Ronaldinho and Pirlo were completely invisible. The Brazilian in particular didn't put any effort in his play until it was already too late. But one has to also commend Palermo's coach, Davide Ballardini, for having a solid gameplan which contained Milan's dangerous midfield.
First, Milan's architect, Andrea Pirlo, had someone shadowing him for the entire game, forcing the Milan defenders to turn to either Ambrosini or Flamini to build the attack. Unfortunately, neither of those two players are reputed playmakers. Ronaldinho constantly had two men on his back, but that was just a waste as he returned to his early season passivity. He even missed a penalty at the 26th minute with a pathetic shot that didn't have any emotion nor strength. At the other end, Palermo took advantage of an unstable Milan defense with three goals in the second half (Miccoli at the 49th, Cavani at the 58th, and Simplicio at the 79th). Most of Milan's defensive woes came from bad positioning by Flamini who often got in the way of Zambrotta and Bonera. It wasn't a great game for the French midfielder who looked a bit lost on the field. Milan finally scored at 82nd minute when Ronaldinho put more effort into his second penalty kick. But it was too little too late for the Rossoneri
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