Champions League, league stage, day three
Chelsea 1 - Barcelona 0
Barcelona were
defeated in a Champions League match for the first time since March 2005, once
again losing in Stamford Bridge to Chelsea. The only goal of the game
came in the first minute of the second half, Drogba picking up Ashley Cole's
pass to beat Víctor Valdés with a shot on the turn. The English
side could have increased their lead later in the second half though,
Shevchenko putting a good chance over the top and Valdés saving well
from Drogba and Robben. Apart from a first half effort from Xavi, third choice
keeper Hilario was hardly tested until he had to stop a long effort from Deco
in the final minutes, and Frank Rijkaard's side still have some work to do if
they are to reach the next round. (18.10.06)
Valencia 2 - Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Valencia are almost
sure of going through to the next stage though after a comfortable 2-0 win over
Shakhtar Donetsk. Joaquín brought a good save out of the visiting
keeper before David Villa picked up a loose ball to open the scoring on the
half hour mark. And Villa got his second of the night on the stroke of half
time with a far post header after Joaquín floated the ball across from
the right wing. The Ukrainian side were left with ten men when Chygrynskiy
picked up a second booking a quarter of an hour from the end, and substitute
Gavilán could have got a third goal if he had been able to find the
target when free in front of goal late on. (18.10.06)
Steaua Bucharest 1 - Real Madrid 4
A good result for Real
Madrid in their third match, a 1-4 victory at Steaua Bucharest
leaving them well on the way to a place in the next round. Starting the day
level on points with the Rumanians, Fabio Capello's side could not afford to
slip up. But they went ahead early on when Sergio Ramos came from the back of
the area to head Guti's corner past a shaky Fernandes, and Raúl made it
two before the break after the keeper could only block a close range shot from
Van Nistelrooy. Robinho got a third a few minutes after the restart with a shot
from the left of the area, and although Badea pulled one back, Van Nistelrooy
wrapped things up with a clever chip over the keeper's head a quarter of an
hour from the end. (17.10.06) |