28-9-17 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WEDNESDAY
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
GROUP A
BASIL 5-0 BENFICA
OBERLIN CHANGED THE
GAME FROM THE BENCH
Oberlin played a key role in Michael Lang's breakthrough
goal before adding a brace of his own either side of the penalty he won for Ricky
van Wolfswinkel to convert.
Rui Vitoria, hurting from a home reverse, while his attempts
to outsmart Basel - dropping Switzerland international Haris Seferovic -
blunted the attack.
Although the hosts, two up after 20 minutes, thrived on
defending their lead, further goals were always likely with Oberlin on the
pitch and Andre Almeida's dismissal for an outrageous challenge on Raoul
Petretta - shortly after the third - ended the game as a contest.
Blas Riveros - Petretta's replacement - netted a fifth to
complete Benfica's humiliation.
MY
OPINION
This was a disaster and in my
view Benfica are the first team to go out of the Champions league even though
it is only match day but unless they improve massively they have no chance and
that is a compliment to them. Basil are not the strongest team in this group
and you could see a few more bad losses for them.
CSKA1-4 MAN U
LIVELY LUKAKU DOUBLE DENIES CSKA ANYTHING
Four minutes in the Belgian striker headed in a cross from
Martial, who went from provider to goalscorer by converting a penalty after
Mkhitaryan was brought down.
And, in the city in which their third and most recent
European Cup triumph came in 2008, United effectively ended the game as a
contest on 26 minutes.
Aided by some
dreadful defending from the home side, Lukaku slotted in his second from a
couple of yards out.
Mkhitaryan added the fourth from close range and United
could have scored more - Lukaku was twice denied by brilliant stops from Igor
Akinfeev, who also thwarted Jesse Lingard.
And Konstantin Kuchaev slid in a well-taken consolation late
on to give the boisterous home fans something to cheer.
MY
OPINION
Man United seem to be on a high
at the moment and you do wonder will they be able to compete against the big
guns when they come in the last 16. Jose has shown improvement but this will be
the only way to test his side. As for CSKA they have to look at this game and
ask questions.
GROUP B
PSG 3-0 BAYERN
APT ALVES EARLY GOAL
DESTROYS BAYERN
Dani Alves fired the hosts into the lead after just 84
seconds following a great run and pass by Neymar.
Alphonse Areola produced a flying save to deny Javi Martinez
an equaliser before PSG sealed the points.
Edinson Cavani's first time shot doubled the lead before
Neymar made it 3-0 from close range.
MY
OPINION
This result was a shock to me as
I expected more from Bayern as they are a favourite for the title but it was
like when PSG scored their first goal they had no response they must look at
this and fix it for the next few games. We do now know that PSG are moving up
levels and have the potential to win also but they do have more money than
sense. The early goal changed everything you can be certain about this.
ANDERLECT 0-3 CELTIC
MBODJI COULD SEAL
EUROPA WIN FOR CELTIC
Griffiths' opener was created by a fine passing move
involving Olivier Ntcham and Kieran Tierney.
Kara Mbodji inadvertently deflected Roberts' shot in after
the break then Sinclair crashed in a late third.
MY
OPINION
This win could seal a Europa league
place for Celtic but the win for PSG over Bayern will make thing a lot more
difficult for Celtic to get a last 16 spot I do think their forward minded
players like Griffiths and Sinclair are relied on a lot
GROUP C
QUARABAG 1-2 ROMA
DJECKO SCORES ROMAS
100TH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOAL
Roma took full advantage of a goalkeeping error from Ibrahim
Sehic to take the lead seven minutes in. The Bosnia-Herzegovina international
punched a corner straight to the feet of Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose cross was
expertly steered into the bottom-corner by Manolas' diving header.
The visitors doubled their lead eight minutes later, with
Dzeko controlling Stephan El Shaarawy's flick into the box before blasting in
off the crossbar from close range.
An historic goal from Pedro Henrique was not enough to
prevent Qarabag slipping to a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Roma in Baku.
The Brazilian became the first player for a team from
Azerbaijan to score in the competition outside of qualifiers, but earlier goals
from Kostas Manolas and Edin Dzeko were enough to give the visitors the win.
MY
OPINION
This is a great result for
Azerbyjani football as it means that it is slowly progressing and that there
are still things that need looked at so it is all good from both sides. As for
Roma reaching the last 16 for them would be considered a minimum required is
reaching the last 16 and a win like this can only help as these matches can be
tricky.
ATHLETICO 1-2 CHELSEA
BRILLIANT BATSHUAYI
The Blues fell behind to a 40th-minute Antoine Griezmann
penalty despite having the better of the first half when David Luiz needlessly
pulled the shirt of Lucas Hernandez at a corner.
Chelsea were rewarded when Alvaro Morata equalised with his
fourth goal in five days. The Spaniard deftly flicked Hazard's accurate
left-wing cross into the far corner
Batshuayi's winner came after missed opportunities for Cesc
Fabregas and Morata as Chelsea became the first English team to win away at
Atletico
MY
OPINION
A bit of luck has made thing
look easier than they are and show that Chelsea could be a team to watch out
for as a potential champion but we do not know how Atletico would have reacted
as they had not got time to do so. Atletico are definitely a team to look at to
see how you can get better and there are clubs that should look at them to
learn how they can develop.
GROUP D
JUVE 2-0 OLYMPIAKOS
HIGUIAN PROVES TO
MAKE BIG
Higuian was brought on for Juan Cuadrado on the hour mark
and responded by scoring nine minutes later and then helping to line up his
team's second goal. Mario Mandzukic netted Juve's second.
MY
OPINION
This was a vital win as Juventus
are showing why they are being considered the best side in Italy and why they
should reach the last 16 of this competition but we can see there is a huge
difference between this match and the first
SPORTING 0-1 BARCA
BARCA GET THAT BIT O
LUCK
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both wasted excellent chances
in the opening 45 minutes.
However, Barca never looked in danger once Coates bundled
into his own net while under pressure from Suarez.
MY
OPINION
This was a lucky win not a good
win from Barcelona and it does say to me that they can be beaten if you play
them well enough. Sporting Lisbon can take a lot away from this but must have
regrets about not scoring the goal needed to get a point as they can now go in
against anyone and compete.
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