Champions League, day 4

Barcelona and Villarreal both won their respective games to add to the victories of Real Madrid and Betis the night before, making it a full house for La Liga sides this week. Eto'o notched up a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Panathinaikos 5-0, and only an extraordinary combination of events would deprive the Catalans of a place in the next round. And Villarreal moved to the top of their group after a late Marcos Senna strike gave them a 0-1 win at Benfica. (02.11.05)

Barcelona 5 - Panathinaikos 0

An impressive 5-0 win by Barcelona against Panathinaikos took Frank Rijkaard's side to the verge of qualifying for the second stage of the competition. With less than a minute on the clock they were already ahead, Van Bommel running on to Iniesta's pass to lob Galinovic, and Eto'o headed a second soon afterwards. Messi had a goal disallowed for offside before making it three after chipping the keeper from close range, and five minutes before the interval Eto'o scored a fourth after a passing move between Messi and Ronaldinho. Eto'o curled a shot over the head of the keeper to complete his hat-trick in the second half, taking his side six points clear of the other three teams in their group. (02.11.05)

Benfica 0 - Villarreal 1

Villarreal moved to the top of their group after a single goal victory over Benfica. After three draws in their first three games, Pellegrini's side were obliged to win in Lisbon, and the Spaniards were the better side in the first half, with Diego Forlán going close a couple of times. However Ronald Koeman's team fought back, Barbosa almost gifting a goal to Geovanni before the break and having to save from Karagounis and Nuno Gomes after the restart. With ten minutes to go though Marcos Senna fired in a long shot which went through the hands of keeper Nereu, and after that Villarreal sat back to defend. (02.11.05)

Victories for the two Spanish sides on Tuesday night virtually ensured their continuity in European competitions this year. A depleted Real Madrid did enough to beat Rosenborg 0-2, and with two games still to go they have mathematically qualified for the last sixteen. And Betis recorded an epic 1-0 win against the hitherto unbeaten Chelsea and are almost certain of at least a place in the UEFA cup. (01.11.05)

Rosenborg 0 - Real Madrid 2

A comfortable win for Real Madrid in Trondheim, two first half goals enough to give them victory over Rosenborg and a place in the last sixteen. Luxemburgo was forced to put out a makeshift side, but they dominated from the start, and took the lead midway through the first half when Dorsin deflected Robinho's cross in to his own net. Guti made it two just before the break, latching on to a loose ball after Robinho had been tackled, and after that they sat back to defend the lead. Casillas did have some work to do in the second half though, but in the end three more points which ensures them at least of second spot. (01.11.05)

Betis 1 - Chelsea 0

An epic win for Betis against a Chelsea side who have not lost this season and who had not let in a goal in the Champions League before this match. Serra Ferrer had several key players missing, and he lost Nano and Oliveira to injuries with only a quarter of the game gone. But Dani came on to replace Oliveira, and within four minutes he opened the scoring after picking up a pass from Capi to shoot wide of Cech. The English side came within an inch of scoring after the break when Essien fired in a shot which hit both posts, but otherwise they were frustrated by a hard working defence, and tempers frayed at the end. (01.11.05)