UEFA Champions League 2012/2013

[Weidenfeller]

'The investment will continue' - Malaga chairman happy with team's exploits

The Andalusian club have been in fine form so far this season both in domestic and European fixtures, leaving the Spanish side's supremo more enthused than ever

Oct 25, 2012 2:30:00 PM

By Samuel Tighe

Malaga chairman Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani has promised to continue investing in the club after thoroughly enjoying their wonderful start to the campaign.

Los Boquerones sit third in La Liga table with 17 points, whilst simultaneously running away with Group C in the UEFA Champions League as the only team yet to concede in the competition.

Despite losing the likes of Santi Cazorla and Salomon Rondon during a tumutluous summer, players such as Nacho Monreal, Isco and Martin Demichelis have stepped up to make a real impact.

Speaking after his side's 1-0 triumph over Serie A heavyweights AC Milan on Wednesday, the Qatari billionaire told Canal+: "We have invested and will continue to do so for the future.

"I want to congratulate the fans, the players, the coach and everyone who has seen this game," he said.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Twenty-five arrested after clashes between Manchester City and Ajax fans

Fighting broke out between the two sets of supporters in Amsterdam's red light district hours before Roberto Mancini's side suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Dutch giants

Oct 24, 2012 10:44:00 PM

By Jordan Halford

Twenty-five people have been arrested following violent clashes between Manchester City and Ajax supporters in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Fighting broke out in the city's red light district just hours before Roberto Mancini's side were beaten 3-1 by the Dutch club at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Large groups of opposing fans had been drinking throughout the afternoon before tensions spilled over prompting police to intervene, a spokesperson revealed.

Images of police in riot gear were aired on Dutch television, although the situation is reported to have been quickly resolved.

It is the third such incident in recent years after English and Dutch fans clashed before an international fixture in 2009 and prior to Manchester United's meeting with Ajax earlier this year.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Uefa reschedules Champions League & Europa League knock-out draw

European football's governing body has opted to move back the date when the teams that are still in the two club competitions will find out who their opponents are

Oct 26, 2012 10:40:00 AM

By Stefan Coerts

Uefa has made the decision to reschedule the draw for the Champions League and Europa League knockout stages.

The event was initially due to take place on December 14, but has now been postponed by six days for unknown reasons.

"The draws for the knock-out rounds of the 2012/13 Uefa club competitions – originally scheduled for 14 December - will now take place on Thursday 20 December at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland," an official statement reads.

"The pairings for the Round of 16 of the Uefa Champions League, as well as the Round of 32 and Round of 16 of the Uefa Europa League, will be drawn at ceremonies to be staged at Uefa, starting at 11.30CET and 14.00CET respectively."

The final of the Champions League takes place at Wembley on May 25, 2013, with the Europa League showpiece being held at the Amsterdam ArenA 10 days earlier.

 

[Donor]

Messi: Too soon for PSG to make impact

In an interview given to France Football, the Barcelona forward highlighted similarities between PSG and big-spending Premier League club Manchester City, both bought using Middle-East funds.

PSG have followed City's lead by investing heavily in star players, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Motta and Jeremy Menez all moving to the Parc des Princes.

Manchester City failed to get out of the group stages of the Champions League in their debut campaign last season, dropping into the Europa League after finishing third in a pool topped by Bayern Munich and Napoli. But they did pick up their first ever Premier League title.

PSG had to settle for second place to Montpeller in Ligue 1 in 2011-12 but earned a passage into the Champions League for the first time in eight years. PSG are well placed to qualify for the knockout rounds, in second and three points clear of Dynamo Kiev with two home games left out of the three remaining group matches.

Messi, however, cannot see the French club progressing too far.

"It reminds me of Manchester City," he explained. "It's not easy to build a team when the players come from everywhere. I don't know if Paris can compete with the biggest European teams already this season. That sounds difficult to me.

"I guess they will be French champions with these players who individually make a difference. But to build a competitive team, it needs time."

PSG are currently three points clear of Toulouse and Marseille at the top of Ligue 1, although Marseille have a game in hand.

 

[Battle Mech]

Juventus can progress in Champions League, says Bendtner
The Denmark international is not too worried about the Bianconeri's results in Europe so far, and has praised head coach Antonio Conte

Joaquin: Beating AC Milan was an historic moment for Malaga
The former Betis man claims that his side have the ambition to go all the way to the final after the Andalusians continued their winning streak in Europe's elite club tournament

 

[Weidenfeller]

Bojan confident ahead of Malaga clash
The 22-year-old forward is aware that a tricky task awaits his side, but feels they are capable of coming away from the match with all three points

Mourinho: I was too busy for club presentation
The Portuguese explained his reasons behind his absence from Los Blancos' unveiling of a new project to upgrade their current training facilities

Allegri: Give me time to get results
The Rossoneri coach has pleaded with the club's fans to have patience with him and the squad and stressed that points will eventually come

Holtby: Arsenal resentful over 'stolen three points'
The playmaker says his side are capable of doing the double over the Gunners after beating them at the Emirates in their first meeting

Malaga can beat AC Milan, says Camacho
The midfielder is certain his side can progress to the last-16 of the Champions League and has called for a committed performance from his colleagues

Jerome Boateng: I have finally arrived
The Germany international says he has adapted to life at the club and believes his move away from Manchester City 17 months ago was an important step in his career

Real Madrid will be gunning for revenge, says Hummels
The Germany international is looking forward to Tuesday's game in the Spanish capital, while Marcel Schmelzer has stressed Borussia Dortmund will not roll over

Milner set to miss Ajax clash as Manchester City right-back crisis deepens
The 26-year-old will go for tests on his hamstring on Monday afternoon after having dropped out of the champions' warm-up prior to their goalless draw with West Ham

Khedira: I hope Real Madrid & Borussia Dortmund progress
The Germany international midfielder would prefer to see his compatriots make it to the next round rather than either Ajax or Manchester City

Bayern can win the Champions League, says Tymoshchuk
The experienced midfielder has voiced his opinion that the Bundesliga giants can come out victorious in European club football's elite competition

Di Matteo unsure of starting Terry against Shakhtar
The 40-year-old boss has yet to make a final decision on whether to put the former England international straight back into the side in the Champions League this week

Emanuelson: AC Milan must beat Malaga
The Netherlands international has underlined the importance of Tuesday's encounter, and was pleased with the Rossoneri's showing in the win over Chievo

Kehl to wear protective mask against Madrid
The experienced midfielder remains doubtful for Tuesday's encounter due to a facial injury, but could take to the pitch after all wearing a protective mask

Manchester City are 'not ready' to win the Champions League, admits Mancini
The Italian believes his side lack the necessary experience to win the Champions League, but still expects big performances from his men in their remaining group games

Zenit's Hulk ruled out of Anderlecht clash
The forward limped out of his side's victory over Rostov on Friday, and will now miss their upcoming Champions League tie as well as Brazil's friendly with Colombia

Butragueno: Real Madrid cannot fail against Borussia Dortmund
The former striker believes that Tuesday's Champions League clash will go a long way to deciding how far Los Blancos can progress in this season's competition

English clubs are interested in Holtby, says Schalke team manager
The Knappen official has revealed details about the interest of several Premier League sides hoping to clinch the signing of the talented playmaker

Muller: Bayern must forget Champions League disappointments of the past
The Germany international no longer wants to think about previous results and is desperate for success in the 2012-13 campaign

Denisov returns to Zenit St Petersburg squad after apology
The 28-year-old has been welcomed back to the Russian champions' first team following a bust-up over his criticism of the club's alleged wage policy

 

[Weidenfeller]

Montpellier have failed to replace Giroud, admits Papin
The retired striker believes the reason why the French champions have struggled this season is due to a lack of firepower, and advises them to shape up ahead of Tuesday's clash

Celtic duo Izaguirre & Rogne suffer injuries ahead of Barcelona visit
Neil Lennon will be without the Honduras international and Norwegian centre-back for the visit from the Liga giants in a crucial Champions League tie on Wednesday night

Nordsjaelland outcome could shape Juventus' season, says Bonucci
The 25-year-old looks to put Sunday's defeat to Inter in the Derby d'Italia behind him, and now focuses on the midweek European clash against the Danish champions

Cruyff: Playing Manchester City now is a bonus for Ajax
The Catalunya coach explains how the Dutch outfit have the benefit of facing the Citizens early, and that the Champions League only gets more difficult in the winter months

Sir Alex wants Champions League qualification to keep Ferdinand fit
The Red Devils’ boss hopes that his side can secure a safe passage to the next round with a win over Braga on Wednesday, allowing him to rest the centre-back in the remaining games

Lehmann: Arsenal must get revenge against Schalke
The former Gunners keeper accepted Huub Stevens' side were "outstanding" in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago but insists the north Londoners can win in Germany

Saviola relishing 'beautiful' clash with AC Milan
The Argentine striker highlighted the Rossoneri's resilience heading into Tuesday's European bout at San Siro, and is expecting a close encounter between the two outfits

Mancini labels Ajax clash 'last chance' for Manchester City
The Italian has admitted his side will see their Champions League hopes completely extinguished should they fail to defeat Frank de Boer's side on Tuesday

Celtic can trouble Barcelona, warns Zubizarreta
The former Spain international believes the Blaugrana could be in for a difficult match midweek, and has stressed that playing homegrown youngsters is part of the club's culture

Ozil: Real Madrid are back on track
The Germany international has stated that los Blancos have left their early struggles behind, and is confident Madrid can beat Borussia Dortmund

Van den Brom: Anderlecht cannot afford to drop points against Zenit
The Dutchman has made it clear that his side desperately need the full three points if they are to progress from Group C into the knock-out stages of the Champions League

Borussia Dortmund have a good chance against Real Madrid, says Hitzfeld
The 63-year-old is optimistic about Jurgen Klopp's chances ahead of Tuesday's away game against the Primera Division champions in the Spanish capital

Messi wins awards, but Xavi is Barcelona's soul, says Larsson
The former Celtic star has hailed the importance of the influential midfielder, and feels the Catalans are vulnerable in defence at the moment due to injuries

Pellegrini: Malaga want victory against AC Milan
The Boquerones have set their sights on the full three points when they take on the Serie A powerhouse at the Giuseppe Meazza as they target qualification to the last 16

Nobody can stop Ribery, warns Dante
The France international has been in fine form for Bayern Munich of late, and his club team-mate believes that Lille will have a tough job containing him on Wednesday

Wenger insists Arsenal 'crisis' will pass
The Frenchman expresses his dissatisfaction with the Gunners' current position and his squad's lack of confidence but claims that their situation is "not dramatic"

Gotze: I would vote Messi for the Ballon d'Or
The Germany forward feels the Barcelona hitman deserves to win the individual award, and is eagerly anticipating the Champions League game versus Real Madrid

AC Milan & Juventus battling to avoid new low for Serie A in Champions League
The two giants of Italian football are struggling to qualify for the last 16, leaving the peninsula to contemplate the worst season in Europe for a decade

Juventus are feeling Conte's absence, says Marotta
The Bianconeri director has insisted that the reigning Serie A champions will come back to full form once their coach's ban is over and he is restored to them

Huntelaar incisiveness urgently required to stop Arsenal’s slide into mediocrity
An inability to put the ball in the net is proving costly for the Gunners, with the parallels between the club's recently departed striker and the Schalke front man inescapable

Dinamo Kiev boss Blokhin claims Porto win would be ideal birthday present
The veteran trainer turned 60 years old on Monday, a day before his side host the Portuguese club with the intention of turning around their dismal group stage showing this season

Jardim hopes home support will give Olympiakos important victory over Montpellier
The Ligue 1 club's trainer, Rene Girard, also believes that three points are essential to have any hope of finishing above Arsenal and Schalke in Group B

Spalletti expects Zenit & Anderlecht to attack in Champions League clash
The Russian club’s head coach and the Belgian side’s trainer - John van der Brom - both agree that the visitors’ star Axel Witsel could be a key player on Tuesday night

Ancelotti wants to add style to Paris Saint-Germain’s substance
The Parc des Princes head coach has hailed Tuesday night’s opponents Dinamo Zagreb as deserving of a place in the Champions League despite their point-less start to group stage

Klopp: We will have to fight, but we can stop Madrid
The Borussia Dortmund coach says his side face a tough challenge in their Champions League tie with the Liga champions on Tuesday, but believes Die Borussen can get a good result

Schalke coach Stevens plays coy on changes for Arsenal clash
The Bundesliga side beat the Gunners in the previous Group B clash, and the German club's head trainer hopes his squad can bounce back with another win after losing this weekend

De Boer: Manchester City didn't play badly, we dominated them
The Ajax coach has said that his side's recent 3-1 Champions League victory over the English champions was due to their own strengths rather than their opponents' weaknesses

Mourinho: Dortmund are candidates to win the Champions League
The Real Madrid coach is confident his side can get a good result against the German champions, despite suffering defeat to them on matchday three

Wenger: Walcott a doubt for Arsenal's Champions League clash with Schalke
The attacker, who did not start against Manchester United at the weekend, has joined the growing list of absentees for the trip to Germany after falling ill on Sunday night

Mata: Shakhtar match is like a final for Chelsea
The Spaniard could return to the Blues' line-up for the clash with the on-form Ukrainians, and is targeting a vital win as Roberto Di Matteo's side aim for top spot in the group

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group A preview: Porto eye progression

5 November 2012

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A point will be enough to seal Porto's passage out of the group stage when they take on Dynamo Kyiv at the Stadion Maksimir on Tuesday.

The Portuguese league leaders are yet to beaten in any competition this season and will head into the game full of confidence after demolishing Maritimo 5-0 in the Primera Liga on Friday in a game that saw Jackson Martinez and James Rodriquez each score a double.

The Colombian pair have scored 13 goals between them this season and Kyiv will be hard-pressed to stem their goal-scoring tide.

The Ukrainian outfit is all too aware of the danger Martinez poses with the 26-year-old scoring two memorable goals in Porto's 3-2 victory over Dynamo at the Estadio do Dragao on matchday three.

However, the away side may be without first-choice left back Alex Sandro with the Brazilian still recovering from a thigh injury he received in early October against Sporting Lisbon.

Kyiv will be hoping to collect maximum points from the home tie in order to keep pace with second-placed Paris St Germain.

Oleh Blokhin's men are three points behind the French side after enjoying just one win so far, a 2-0 result over Dinamo Zagreb on matchday two.

The Ukrainian side, who finished runners up in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, snapped a five-game winless streak on the weekend with a 2-0 win over Tavriya but will face a much tougher task against a rampant Porto side.

In the group's other game, PSG will face Dinamo Zagreb in their home return leg after comfortably overcoming the Croatian team 2-0 on matchday three.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are on top of Ligue 1 after a blistering start to the season but suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to St Etienne on the weekend in a game which saw star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off.

And Ancelotti wants a response from his side following that disappointing result.

"Against Saint Etienne we did not play with enough intensity in their half pitch," he said.

"We've lost the game, I hope it s only an accident. Before the Saint Etienne game we have shown some good skills. We won a lot of games on the intensity.

"Against Zagreb, there will be a first answer. Was it only a bad game? That's what I am thinking.

"Sometimes unfortunately there is a bad momentum when you build a team, a project, everything can't be always perfect. So now I'm waiting for a strong reaction tomorrow."

Nothing less than a win will suffice for Ante Cacic's men after they failed to pick up a single point from their opening three group stage games.

History is against the Croatian champions with Dinamo only recording one victory in seven visits to France with their solitary win coming over 20 years ago.

The away side's task will be made even harder with hardly any support coming from the stands after Dinamo fans were banned from travelling to Paris by the French interior ministry due to concerns over crowd violence.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group B preview: Tough task for Arsenal at Schalke

5 November 2012

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Schalke will be hoping to extend their lead on top of Group B when they host Arsenal at the Veltins-Arena on Tuesday.

The German outfit are currently one point ahead of the Gunners after their 2-0 victory at the Emirates on matchday three and victory in Gelsenkirchen will go a long way to ensure qualification into the knockout round for the second time in three seasons.

Huub Stevens' men are currently second on the Bundesliga table and despite suffering a last-minute defeat to Hoffenheim on the weekend they have been in good form over the past month, winning six of their last seven matches.

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has looked particularly dangerous for his side so far this season with the 29-year-old scoring in each of Schalke's three Champions League fixtures.

In contrast to their opponents, Arsenal have endured an indifferent start to the season with Arsene Wenger's men losing to Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday in a game where they created little going forward.

But despite his team's recent ordinary form, Wenger is confident they can rediscover their best touch sooner rather than later.

"We're a team of great players. At the moment they forget it a little bit, and how good they are," Wenger said.

"And that is the most important, that they play a game with our enthusiasm, with our desire to create chances and to enjoy our game - more than about conceding a goal or not."

Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby won't be underestimating the Gunners come game day.

"They're a great team, Arsenal, they know how to play," he said.

"When you see the first 15 minutes, how they put us under pressure, we weren't there on the pitch, in the first leg.

"They have a good young team, a quality team, and we're prepared."

Tuesday's game could spell the return to European football for midfielder Jack Wilshere after a long spell out with injury.

Wenger is likely to deploy the 20-year-old against Schalke after he was red-carded against United which will see him miss Arsenal's next Premier League game against Fulham.

Theo Walcott will also be hoping for a return to the starting line-up after he was left out on the weekend despite scoring a hat-trick in Arsenal's 7-5 win over Reading in the Capital One Cup last week.

The England international missed the home fixture against Schalke due to a chest injury.

In the group's other game, bottom-placed Montpellier travel to Greece to take on Olympiakos in desperate need of a win to keep their ailing Champions League campaign alive.

The French side are yet to win in this year's competition, with their only point coming in a 2-2 draw with Schalke on matchday two, and require victory over the Greeks to give them any chance of progressing to the next stage.

Rene Girard's men currently sit a disappointing 14th on the Ligue 1 table and will go into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw with lowly Troyes.

They will come up against an Olympiakos side that are three points behind Arsenal following their 2-1 win over Montpellier on matchday three.

Leonardo Jardim's side are undefeated in the Super League this season, scoring an ominous 22 goals from their nine games with Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour netting eight of them.

However, the home side are yet to beat a French side in Greece after four attempts and will be hoping to reverse this trend as they seek a win that will keep them in the hunt of a top-two finish and qualification into the round of 16 for the first time since the 2009/10 season.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group C preview: Malaga set to cement knockout spot

5 November 2012

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Malaga will face their sternest test of the Champions League season so far when they travel to Italy to take on AC Milan on Tuesday.

The Spanish side are yet to concede a goal in what is their first season in the competition and lead Group C by five points after going undefeated in their opening three games.

A win at the San Siro will ensure Manuel Pellegrini's side progress to the knockout round in what would be a huge boost to the financially-stricken club.

Winger Joaquin was the hero in the corresponding fixture on matchday three, scoring a second half winner after missing an early penalty to hand his side a 1-0 win.

However, Malaga will go into the game off the back of their first loss in five matches after they were beaten at home 2-1 by Rayo Vallecano in the La Liga on the weekend in a result which saw them concede third spot to Real Madrid.

And Malaga head coach Manuel Pellegrini says his side will be out to chase all three points against Mian.

"What I am sure is if a team is looking for a draw, that team lose," he said.

"I have no doubt about that, and also this team is not created to go for a draw, it has never thought in a draw.

"We will play our game from the beginning, to get the three points, to secure the qualification in here. Our main goal is not holding the result, but trying to beat Milan playing football.

AC Milan have endured a less than impressive start to their Euro campaign with Massimo Allegri's men stuck on four points from three games.

After an opening day draw with Anderlecht and a 3-2 win over Zenit St Petersburg, Milan were defeated at Malaga.

Domestically, Milan are languishing in 11th place on the Serie A table, 14 points behind leaders Juventus. But an emphatic 5-1 win over Chievo on Saturday will give Milan hope they can turn their season around and they will go into the tie full of confidence.

Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri believes Group C will go right down to the wire.

"Tomorrow's match is going to be difficult, but it isn't the decisive match to qualify," he said.

"I believe this group will only be decided in the last match. According to the matches to play and the points we, Zenit and Malaga have, I believe Malaga has more chances to qualify, but at the same time everything is still open."

Meanwhile, third-placed Zenit St Petersburg will travel to Anderlecht without star striker Hulk after the former Porto man sustained a thigh injury in his side's 2-1 win over Rostov on Friday.

26-year-old Hulk, who was bought for 60 million euros in the summer, is a pivotal part of Zenit's attack and will be sorely missed by Igor Korneev's side.

Zenit are one point behind AC Milan and will be hoping to win without their record signing to ensure they give themselves the best chance of moving out of the group stage.

They face an Anderlecht side who have not won a Champions League home game since 2003 and simply must win in order to keep their slim chances of progression alive.

The Belgian champions are currently second on the Pro League table and come into the tie after two significant victories over Gent and Mechelen in their past two league games.

However, John van den Brom's men are yet to record a win in this year's Champions League, with a 0-0 draw with AC Milan on matchday one providing them with their only point so far.

The Belgian side, who have yet to score in the Champions League this season, will have to be at their best to get anything out of the game.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group D preview: Dortmund primed to qualify

5 November 2012

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Borussia Dortmund could clinch a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday with a win at Real Madrid.

The German champions have been as entertaining as any side in the competition this season and were good value for their 2-1 win over the Spanish champions at home in the last round of Group D games.

And despite their struggles in the Bundesliga, Jurgen Klopp's side can all but knock out English champions Manchester City and Ajax from the 'group of death' if they can return home with three points from the Bernabeu.

Dortmund's medical staff are hurriedly constructing a mask to protect a broken nose captain Sebastian Kehl's suffered in the side's goalless draw with Stuttgart on Saturday while Jose Mourinho's Real could have Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira back in the squad.

The side warmed up for Tuesday's clash with Dortmund with a 4-0 win over Real Zaragoza in La Liga and Mourinho expects at least Alonso to come back into the starting side.

Khedira is less likely to play and missed the Zaragoza clash having strained his leg almost a fortnight ago against Dortmund.

Mourinho says there is plenty about Dortmund's game style that concerns him.

"It's not just going forward that I worry about Dortmund, it's across the pitch in general. It's a really good team, they have won twice in a row the Bundesliga, and they're the leaders in the most difficult group of the Champions League," Mourinho said.

The tight nature of the so-called 'Group Of Death' means every point that all four teams can get accumulate are critical, according to Mourinho.

"It's a tough group. Every point you get is good, but every point you lose is bad. I think every team is at risk," he said.

"Us and Borussia are slightly better off, but Ajax and Man City could still win points in the second phase of the group and make our lives difficult.

"It's a very enjoyable group because it is difficult, but at the same time every team is under pressure, because every defeat makes life more difficult."

Roberto Mancini's Manchester City need a win to keep any feint hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive and the Italian has stressed the need for more goals after a string of sub-par performances.

Dortmund lead the group with seven points, Real Madrid are on six, Ajax are on three while City have had a horror European campaign to date and hold up the group with one point.

City were poor and utterly outclassed in a 3-1 defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam in the last round of fixtures and will now need a small miracle to advance.

With three games to go, another loss at the Etihad Stadium to Ajax could mean an early exit for Mancini's tottering side if Real or Dortmund manage to pick up all three points.

City may well be without England internationals James Milner and Joleon Lescott and were easily held at bay by West Ham in a goalless draw at Upton Park on Saturday - the first match in seven months the Premier League champions had failed to score.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group E Preview: Testing times for Chelsea

6 November 2012

Defending champions Chelsea face their most important game of the Champions League group stage when they host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

The Blues have collected just four points from their opening three games and sit second in the group, three points behind the Ukrainian side who beat them 2-1 on matchday three.

Chelsea, though, will head into this game with the knowledge that losing is not an option as Italian champions Juventus just one point behind them in Group E.

After a strong start to the season, Roberto Di Matteo's side have hit a spell of indifferent form recently with a loss and a win against Manchester United in the Premier League and Capital One Cup respectively preceding a disappointing 1-1 draw against Swansea on the weekend, a result which saw United overtake them at the top of the Premier League table.

The home side will be buoyed by the expected return of playmaker Juan Mata who sat out against Swansea last weekend with a hamstring injury. The diminutive Spaniard has been an integral part of Chelsea's side this season, scoring seven goals and laying on eight assists in all competitions so far, and his inclusion would be a massive boost to the home side.

Defender David Luiz is also a chance to play against Shakhtar after missing the Swansea game with a hamstring injury of his own, however captain John Terry is no certainty after missing the past four Premier League games due to suspension.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar are yet to lose this season with a 1-1 draw against Juventus on matchday two the only points they have dropped in all competitions.

The Ukrainian outfit defeated bottom side Metalurh Zaporizhya 2-0 on the weekend, with goals from Douglas Costa and Luiz Adriano helping them move 12 points clear at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League table.

And despite the fact Shakhtar have never won a game on English soil, Mircea Lucescu's men will be confident they can get something out of Wednesday's encounter after they outplayed Chelsea for large portions of their matchday three encounter.

Brazilian pair Fernandinho and Willian were particularly impressive that night and if they can replicate that type of performance at Stamford Bridge the Ukrainians will pose all sorts of problems for the Blues.

In the group's other game, Italian giants Juventus host Danish champions FC Nordsjaelland in a must-win encounter for both sides.

Juve were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by the Danes on matchday three and will need to bounce back in Turin to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

They head into the game off the back of their first league defeat in 538 days, losing 3-1 to bitter rivals Inter Milan on the weekend, and although there is an obvious gulf in class between the sides, the draw at Farum Park last time out will remind the Italians their opponents are not to be taken lightly.

Nordsjaelland go into Wednesday's clash fresh from a 2-1 win over SonderjyskE in the Danish Superliga which ensured they stayed within four points of top side FC Copenhagen.

Kasper Hjulmand's side know that nothing less than a win will do if they are to stay alive in their first Champions League campaign, with the Danes propping up Group E on one point.

A win, however, would see them leapfrog Juventus into third and give them a genuine chance of shocking the football world and qualifying for the knockout stages.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group F Preview: Vital clash for Valencia, Borisov

6 November 2012

Valencia will be looking to overtake Group F leaders BATE Borisov when they host the Belarusian side at the Mestalla on Wednesday.

In what is the closest group in this year's Champions League, Valencia are level on six points with both BATE and Bayern Munich but sit third on goal difference.

The Spanish side ended BATE's perfect record after dispatching them 3-0 on matchday three in Minsk and will be confident of a similar result in the return fixture after an impressive 2-0 over a previously undefeated Atletico Madrid last Saturday in the Primera Liga.

Striker Roberto Soldado will be the man to watch at the Mestella, with the Spanish international scoring all three goals in the previous game in what was a masterful display of finishing.

BATE currently sit on top of the Belarusian Premier League after a great start to the season, however a recent 1-0 loss to struggling Naftan will be of concern to manager Viktor Goncharenko as his side prepare for what is one of the most important Champions League matches in their history.

The Belarusian side has never made it out of the group stage in the competition and anything less than a point from the game will make it difficult for them to progress.

Last year's defeated finalists Bayern Munich will take on Lille at the Allianz Arena in the group's other game.

The Germans have won 15 out of their last 16 European home games - their only loss being in the final against Chelsea last season - and will need to keep that record alive in order to continue their good start to this campaign.

Thomas Muller's first half penalty was the difference between the two sides on matchday three in a game which saw the away side dominate at the Grand Stade Lille Metropole.

In an ominous sign for the French outfit, Jupp Heynckes' men routed Hamburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on the weekend in what was a brilliant display of attacking football.

Lille simply must win to stay alive in the competition after their failure to pick up a single point in their opening three matches sees them sit at the bottom of Group F.

They head into the game after a 2-0 away win over Evian in Ligue 1 and will be hoping for a similar performance against the Bavarians.

However, they will need to address their inability to score in this year's Champions League, with Aurelien Chedjou the only player to find the back of the net so far, scoring against BATE on matchday one in his side's 3-1 loss.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group G Preview: Barcelona poised to advance

6 November 2012

Barcelona are poised to seal a last-16 Champions League berth as Benfica and Spartak Moscow also square up in Group G.

Another win should seal a spot knockout stages for Barcelona although Benfica's clash with Spartak Moscow may just be the encounter that holds the key to seeing who will advance from this group.

Barcelona, the 2009, 2011 champions travel to Glasgow, however, to face Scottish champions Celtic in Group G, who are enjoying their return to Europe's elite club competition in 2012.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique could return in the heart of Tito Vilanova's back four and has been included in their squad for the first time since suffering a foot injury in September.

Defensive partner Carles Puyol is still absent as are Adriano and Tiago, while Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon has a number of injury headaches ahead of the clash.

Strikers Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper, James Forrest, Thomas Rogne and Emilio Izaguirre are all in doubt with the latter two injured in Celtic's 2-2 draw with Dundee United in the SPL on Sunday.

Barcelona's holding midfielder Sergio Busquets is suspended for the match while Celtic captain Scott Brown is battling a hip problem but is likely to feature as the Hoops attempt to avenge their late loss at the Camp Nou in the last encounter between these sides.

A fourth win for Barcelona, though, would ensure they progress to the knockout stages of the tournament should Benfica or Spartak draw in their clash in Lisbon.

Celtic produced a lion-hearted display at the Camp Nou in the last round of fixtures but eventually fell 2-1 after Jordi Alba's stoppage-time strike.

Barcelona lead the group with all nine points on offer from their first three games. Celtic are second with four, while Spartak have three and Benfica just the one point.

Should Barcelona win, as many pundits predict, the Russian side's trek to Benfica on Wednesday could have a huge bearing on the shape of the group.

The Portuguese side hold the home advantage but have not won in their past five Champions League matches.

Spartak will be full of hope having thrashed Krylya Sovetov 5-0 in the Russian Premier League on Saturday and they have scored in all of their past 10 European away matches.

 

[Weidenfeller]

Champions League Group H Preview: Manchester United on track to progress

6 November 2012

Manchester United can book a berth in the knockout phase, while CFR Cluj play host to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.

United have a perfect record in Group H with three wins from as many matches and could secure their place in the next stage when they travel to take on Sporting Braga.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who were uncharacteristically eliminated from the tournament in the group stage last season, will secure a spot in the knockout phase should they avoid a loss in Portugal.

United, who came from two goals down to beat Braga 3-2 at Old Trafford last month, have won all but one of their past seven games in all competitions - going down to Chelsea 5-4 in the Capital One Cup.

"It's been good but we're aiming for better," defender Rio Ferdinand told the United website.

"I don't think we have hit a real purple patch yet, which we are really searching for. We're still aiming for that and it will come soon, don't worry."

Braga, third in the group with three points, need a second win to strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

Elsewhere, Turkish giants Galatasaray, who have not won away from home in the tournament proper since 2002, face a crucial test in Romania.

Galatasaray are rooted to the bottom of the group with just one point, while Cluj are second on four points.

The teams played out a 1-1 draw in Istanbul two weeks ago, with Cluj earning a point despite failing to manage a single shot on target.

An own goal from Galatasaray defender Dany Nounkeu was cancelled out by Burak Yilmaz, leaving the Turkish club with an uphill battle to advance in the competition.

 

[Weidenfeller]

UEFA Champions League Group A wrap: PSG thump Zagreb, Porto through

7 November 2012

Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a comfortable 4-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb as the visitors were eliminated from the Champions League.

Zagreb started the Group A encounter brightly, before Alex opened the scoring against the run of play after 16 minutes.

Despite maintaining pressure against the Ligue 1 runners-up, PSG eventually managed to undo the opposition with three second-half goals.

All three were assisted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as Blaise Matuidi, Jeremy Menez and Guillaume Hoarau all scored to ensure that qualification is within sight for the capital club.

It took a while for the French side to hit their stride, but even when they took the lead, they were not exactly out of second gear. From Menez's corner, Ibrahimovic helped on a pass towards centre-back Alex, whose fantastic half-volley evaded the reach of Ivan Kelava after 16 minutes.

The goal sought to appease a fervent and demanding home faithful, who were already booing their side before the breakthrough, and it could have been 2-0 after young midfielder Adrien Rabiot fired over the bar after good work by Mohamed Sissoko.

Carlo Ancelotti's side toiled, and while their performance were not exactly those expected of a Champions League dark horse, they still managed to carve out opportunities as Ezequiel Lavezzi - back after a month out - slammed his effort in the side netting, despite a determined run.

The second half saw the French side step up their efforts and were almost rewarded as Menez tapped in after a great pass by substitute Marco Verratti, with the offside flag curtailing their progress.

Dinamo were still threatening, and were close in breaking their Champions League duck as an enterprising Sime Vrsaljko produced a dipping cross, with Ante Rukavina's header flying narrowly over Sirigu's goal.

Subsequently, the Croatian champions were easily overrun in a matter of minutes after two brilliant moments of magic from Ibrahimovic. Firstly, Lavezzi's surging run towards the 31-year-old saw him provide Matuidi with a fine through-ball, as the midfielder turned past the goalkeeper for 2-0 on the hour.

Four minutes later, the game was settled as Ante Cacic's men realised their exit from the group stage. Ibrahimovic was once more the creative output as he fed Menez who subsequently cut in past a defender and fired the ball past Kelava for 3-0.

A clearly dazed opposition were still feeling the effects of their setback, and were unable to get back into the game. It was 4-0 with 10 minutes to go after Matuidi set through Ibrahimovic, who slipped before still managing to pick out substitute Hoarau who produced the tap-in to eliminate Dinamo.

Meanwhile, Porto sealed their progress to the last 16 despite failing to break down a determined Dynamo Kiev side during a dour 0-0 draw in the Ukrainian capital.

The Portuguese side remain top of Group A despite dropping points for the first time in the group stage, while the home side must now win both of their remaining matches to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.

 

[Weidenfeller]

UEFA Champions League Group B wrap: Arsenal draw, Olympiacos close gap

7 November 2012

Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip at Schalke but still held on for a valuable 2-2 draw in Group B of the Champions League.

The Gunners took the lead with early on when Theo Walcott tapped into an empty net, before Oliver Giroud doubled their advantage in the 26th minute.

But a goal from Klass-Jan Huntelaar right on half-time halved the deficit and Jefferson Farfan levelled the scores midway through the second half.

Despite late pressure from the Schalke, Arsene Wenger's side stayed strong to secure a vital point to stay second in their group.

The hosts started strongly, with Afellay Farfan testing Vito Mannone with a low shot that the keeper palmed away, before Benedikt Howedes came close with a header from a corner, but his effort drifted onto the top of the net.

And somewhat against the run of play, the visitors took the lead through Walcott, a man who has stated his preference for playing through the middle this season.

Giroud was sent through by a suicidal header from Roman Neustadter, but as he elected to try and chip Lars Unnerstall, he kicked the turf. But as Howedes made a last-ditch challenge, Walcott charged in to round the keeper via a deflection and tap the ball into the empty net.

The Gunners extended their lead just eight minutes later with Giroud nodding home his first Champions League goal after some fine work from Lukas Podolski.

After a good move involving Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Giroud, the ball found its way to Podolski on the left wing. The striker slipped, but his recovery was so quick that it surprised the defence, as he turned and swung in a great cross for the unmarked Frenchman to score.

Huntelaar fired Schalke back into the game in first-half stoppage time with an unnerving finish into the bottom corner after some nice work from the midfield, with Lewis Holtby's assist a fine pass.

Giroud could have added another shortly after the break, but volleyed over from another Podolski cross, while Huntelaar missed a sitter at the other end, with Mannone saving well.

A controversial moment came on the hour mark as Podolski looked to be through on goal, but play was brought back with Marco Hoger down injured. The striker vented his frustrations and was booked for dissent.

The hosts were level in the 67th minute though, as a cross in from the left that Holtby couldn't direct goalwards was pounced on by Farfan, with his shot deflected in by Thomas Vermaelen.

Schalke generally dominated the rest of the game, but looked susceptible to Arsenal's counterattack, and while Walcott had a very late effort saved, neither side could claim all three points in an enthralling encounter.

The result sees Schalke maintain top spot in the group on eight points, with Arsenal just a point behind.

Meanwhile, Olympiacos closed to within a point of Arsenal with a vital 3-1 win at home to Montpellier, which virtually ends the French side's chances of qualifying.

Portuguese midfielder Paulo Machado gave the hosts the lead early on when he found the net from close range, but Younes Belhanda restored parity halfway through the second half with a penalty.

Leandro Greco and Kostas Mitroglou then added their names to the score sheet in the final 10 minutes of the game to help the hosts to victory.

 

[Weidenfeller]

UEFA Champions League Group C wrap: Malaga advance, Anderlecht survive

7 November 2012

Malaga retained their unbeaten record in the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against AC Milan enough to secure their progression.

A win at San Siro on Tuesday night would have ensured Manuel Pellegrini's men advanced from Group C and that was certainly on the cards when Eliseu fired them ahead five minutes before half-time.

The second half brought a change in ethos from the visitors as they looked to defend their one-goal advantage. However, they were eventually beaten when Alexandre Pato headed in an equaliser in the 73rd minute but there was to be no winning goal for either side as the points were shared.

With both teams keen to push forward, it made for an open start to the game in which possession was given away far too cheaply in midfield, stopping either side from getting into any sort of rhythm.

After Eliseu failed to beat Christian Abbiati with an absurdly ambitious chip, Milan began to take hold of the game and push their opponents back.

With 19 minutes on the clock, they tested the away keeper for the first time as Bojan showed fantastic feet to wriggle between a number of Malaga shirts out on the right. Having then cut in side to create the space, he lashed an effort on goal that, despite taking a deflection, was parried aside by the stretching Willy Caballero.

The keeper then produced another inspired save as he tipped Urby Emanuelson's precise 20-yard free-kick wide. The Dutchman's effort looked destined for the top corner but Caballero had other ideas, diving to his right and getting the slightest of touches to prevent a certain goal.

The Andalusians were largely restricted to playing on the counter-attack but they still looked dangerous when Joaquin, Eliseu and Isco linked up intricately.

It was one such combination that saw Malaga strike first, five minutes before half-time. Isco shifted the ball away from Nigel de Jong before threading a diagonal ball to put Eliseu in behind. The Portuguese struck the ball first time and found the bottom corner with Abbiati rooted.

Massimiliano Allegri's side came out for the second half with much more urgency and forged a decent opportunity soon after the restart. Bojan fed Emanuelson at the edge of the box but his shot was tame and rolled comfortably into the hands of Caballero.

The visitors then began to display why they have been so difficult to score against as they put two solid lines behind the ball and squeezed the space available to the Diavolo.

But as they began to sit deeper and deeper, the pressure became too much and they conceded for the first time in the tournament. Kevin Constant exposed Joaquin's defensive frailties as he charged to the line and swung in a deep cross which Pato nodded in at the back post.

Kevin-Prince Boateng came closest to netting a decisive goal moments later but he, like many of his team-mates, was thwarted by Caballero.

The draw puts Malaga in the hat for the next round, while second-placed Milan travel to Brussels in a fortnight to face Anderlecht in a must-win fixture.

The Belgian side grabbed all three points on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over a lacklustre Zenit St Petersburg.

Dieumerci Mbokani's goal in the first half was enough to secure victory and keep their hopes of qualification for the knockout rounds alive.

 

[Weidenfeller]

UEFA Champions League Group D wrap: City on brink, Oezil saves Real

7 November 2012

The pressure intensified on Roberto Mancini as Manchester City drew 2-2 with Ajax to face almost certain elimination from the Champions League.

Mancini's side can still mathematically qualify for the knockout stages but it is a long shot after they failed to beat the Group D underdogs at home.

Ajax captain Siem de Jong took advantage of shocking City defending at corners to put the visitors 2-0 up after 17 minutes.

Yaya Toure reduced the deficit soon afterwards with an acrobatic volley to give his team hope they could still be in the competition by the time they host Real Madrid in three weeks' time.

Sergio Aguero scored the equaliser with 16 minutes left but Ajax defended stoutly to keep out a late City charge.

The draw leaves City rooted to the bottom of the toughest of the eight Champions League groups, with just two points, five adrift of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Mancini's team teeter on the absolute precipice, requiring victories from the final two matches - home to Real Madrid and away to Dortmund - and other results to go their way to be involved in the competition in February.

City made three changes from the team that drew 0-0 at West Ham last Saturday, with Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and the fit-again Javi Garcia replacing Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and the injured Kolo Toure.

With City experiencing a glut of defensive injuries, there was one unfamiliar face on the substitute's bench - 18-year-old centre-back Courtney Meppen-Walter, a member of City's development squad.

The rookie could hardly have defended worse than his more senior colleagues early on as Ajax seized upon some dreadful marking to score twice from corners.

After nine minutes, Matija Nastasic demonstrated how raw he is at this level by, first, making a horrible hash of his clearance to concede a corner from a low cross and, then, failing to deal with the resulting set piece, prodding the ball back across goal to allow De Jong to loft in the opener.

Eight minutes later, alarmingly lax marking from City allowed De Jong to steal in to meet a near-post in-swinger and guide his free header past Joe Hart.

Toure pulled one back for City after 22 minutes with a fabulous piece of skill, chesting down a cross at the back post and then volleying past Kenneth Vermeer.

The home side looked dangerous every time they attacked but a brilliant clearance from Ricardo van Rhijn and Zabaleta's failure to take advantage of a fine headed opportunity meant that Ajax ended an even half with a 2-1 advantage.

Mancini went all-out attack after the break, replacing Garcia with Balotelli and it was a move that paid dividends as the Italian's flick-on set up Aguero for the equaliser.

Oddly, the Argentine's footing had let him down on a number of occasions in good positions during the game but he managed to stay on his feet after 74 minutes when Balotelli headed on Hart's goal-kick to slickly level the scores.

In Group D's other clash, Real Madrid left it late to secure a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at Santiago Bernabeu.

A display of defensive diligence and deadly counterattacking seemed set to send the German outfit to their second victory over Jose Mourinho's men, but a free kick from Mesut Oezil in the last minute salvaged a point for the hosts.

Marco Reus gave Dortmund the lead in the 28th minute before Pepe levelled the scores six minutes later, but another charge forward on the break saw Alvaro Arbeloa turn into his own net moments before half-time.

The visitors ramped up their defensive intensity in the second half and seemed set to frustrate the hosts into submission but, with stoppage time looming, Oezil stepped up to bury a set-piece to split the points and keep things tight at the top of the group.

 

[Weidenfeller]

UEFA Champions League Group E wrap: Chelsea edge Shakhtar in thriller

8 November 2012

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Chelsea substitute Victor Moses headed a last-minute winner to clinch a 3-2 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The former Wigan striker rose high in the last minute of added time to head home Juan Mata's corner after a thrilling encounter in which they twice took the lead but made poor defensive errors as they were pegged back by the swift attacking movement of the Ukrainian champions.

Shakhtar playmaker Willian - a transfer target for Chelsea and Tottenham - twice equalised for the visitors to cancel out Fernando Torres' sixth minute goal and a wonderful 45-yard strike from Oscar.

But Moses had the last say with a goal that leaves Chelsea alongside Shakhtar on seven points in Group E, a step closer to the knockout stages with two games to play, at home to Nordsjaelland and away to Juventus.

It was a victory Chelsea did not deserve against a lively, creative Shakhtar side that continually took advantage of the hosts' sloppy defending, which will prompt questions over whether manager Roberto Di Matteo should have recalled captain John Terry to the side.

Given the rarity of goals for Torres in his Chelsea career, the Spaniard would have been more than grateful for the gift that opened the scoring in the sixth minute.

Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov received an underhit backpass from Yaroslav Rakitiskiy, but Torres read the clearance and opportunistically stuck out a leg for the ball to ricochet straight into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, however, the visitors were level as Willian scored his first of the night. Fernandinho burst past Chelsea defenders into the right side of the penalty area and cut the ball back for his fellow Brazilian to slot through a crowd of bodies, with Petr Cech diving the wrong way.

The game then settled down but never lost its ebb and flow as both sides continually created chances. Torres could only find the side netting from a tight angle before Alex Teixeira zipped an effort just wide of the post following a flowing Shakhtar move.

Five minutes before the break, Chelsea once again took the lead thanks to a wonderful strike from Oscar and another woeful clearance by Pyatov.

The Shakhtar goalkeeper rushed off his line to clear Mata's through ball with his head, only for the ball to fall to Oscar. The Brazilian playmaker still had so much to do but he made it look effortless, controlling with his chest before pinging his finish into an empty net from 45 yards.

The fluid, end-to-end pattern continued after the break and Willian again levelled the score in the 47th minute as he poked in Dario Srna's cross to finish a wonderful Shakhtar move.

The Ukrainian champions - who came into the game having won 17 out of 18 fixtures in all competitions this season - nearly took the lead seven minutes later but Razvan Rat saw his swerving strike from 30 yards rattle the post.

At the other end, Chelsea had a huge shout for a penalty when Ramires appeared to be brought down in the area by Srna as he shaped to shoot, only for referee Carlos Velasco Carballo to wave away the appeals to the home players' astonishment.

Then, with the last touch of added time, Moses rose in the box to head home Mata's corner to send Stamford Bridge into delirium.

In the group's other clash, Juventus cruised to a 4-0 win over Danish side FC Nordsjaelland in Torino.

Claudio Marchisio opened the scoring six minutes in before Arturo Vidal doubled the hosts' advantage midway through the first half.

Sebastian Giovinco added a third before the break to make sure of the points, while Fabio Quagliarella put the finishing touches on a fine performance as the Italian side ended their record run of nine European draws with a thoroughly deserved victory.

The Serie A leaders now trail leaders Chelsea and Shakhtar by just one point with two matches remaining in the group stage.