Champions League, day 2

Victories for both Spanish sides on Tuesday evening. Real Madrid won 1-2 at Zenit thanks to another goal from Van Nistelrooy, leaving them top of their group after two matches. And Villarreal beat Glasgow Celtic 1-0 later in the evening to share top spot with Manchester United, a second half Marcos Senna free kick giving them the three points. And on Wednesday Barcelona and Atlético Madrid made it a clean sweep for Spanish clubs. Barcelona won 1-2 at Shakhtar Donetsk, Messi scoring twice in the last six minutes to turn the scoreline around. And Atlético beat Olympique Marseille 2-1, Raúl García scoring the winner midway through the first half after an Agüero strike had been cancelled out by Niang. (01.10.08)

Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - Barcelona 2

Two goals in the last six minutes from Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a late win at Shakhtar Donetsk. Ilsinho had opened the scoring for the Ukrainian side when he ran on to a long pass to beat Valdés on the stroke of half time. Messi equalised though with a controversial goal after the keeper spilled Bojan's cross in to his path, the local players claiming that Barcelona should have returned the ball after a defender cleared out of touch with a colleague on the ground. Messi's winner though was a moment of genius, Xavi slipping the ball through a gap for him to lob the advancing keeper with seconds left on the clock. (01.10.08)

Atlético Madrid 2 - Olympique Marseille 1

Atlético Madrid top their group on maximum points after a 2-1 win over Olympique Marseille. Once again Kun Agüero made the difference, pulling down Maxi's high ball and turning a defender before shooting low across Mandanda in only the fourth minute. Niang headed Bonnart's cross past Leo Franco ten minutes later to equalise, but Raúl García restored the lead a few minutes later, deflecting Pernía's wide free kick across the goal in to the far corner of the net. Atlético and Liverpool now have two wins each, and the English side visit the Calderón stadium next up. (01.10.08)

Zenit St. Petersburg 1 - Real Madrid 2

Real Madrid top their group after a 1-2 win against Zenit in Saint Petersburg. Bernd Schuster's side went ahead in only the third minute when Hubocan turned Van der Vaart's cross in to his own net, and although Danny turned in Arshavin's cross to equalise twenty minutes later, Van Nistelrooy soon restored the lead after Van der Vaart's initial effort was blocked. After that though the Russian side monopolized the play, and only some frantic defending and the woodwork prevented them from levelling the scores once again. (30.09.08)

Villareal 1 - Glasgow Celtic 0

Villarreal are also well on the way to a place in the next round after a narrow 1-0 victory against Celtic. The Spanish side were unable to convert any of their chances until midway through the second half, when Marcos Senna curled a free kick in to the back of the net for what was to prove the only goal of the night. Pellegrini's side share top spot with Manchester United, and they now have a double header against Aalborg in October. (30.09.08)