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News Archive

Champions League, day 2

A comfortable victory again for Real Madrid in their second group game on Wednesday evening, a 4-0 scoreline against Copenhagen taking them well clear at the top of their mini-league. Cristiano Ronaldo headed in the first two either side of half time, and Di María added two more later on. Not such good news for Real Sociedad though, a last minute 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen leaving them without a point to date. Although Rolfes had given the German side the lead on the stroke of half time, Carlos Vela had equalized soon after the restart, following up after his penalty was saved. However Hegeler curled a free kick in to the top corner of the net in injury time to leave the Basque side at the bottom of their group. (02.10.13)

Narrow wins for both La Liga sides in Tuesday night's Champions League ties. Although they were missing the injured Messi, Barcelona beat Celtic 0-1. It was only when Brown was sent off for kicking Neymar on the ground that Tata Martino's side took the advantage though, Fàbregas heading the only goal from an Alexis cross with a quarter of an hour to go. And Atlético Madrid came back from a goal down to beat Porto 1-2, Godín and Turan both taking advantage of Gabi free kicks in the second half to turn the scoreline around after Jackson Martínez had headed the locals in to the lead before the break. (01.10.13)

Real Madrid 4 - Copenhagen 0

A comfortable victory again for Real Madrid in their second group game on Wednesday evening, a 4-0 scoreline against Copenhagen taking them well clear at the top of their mini-league. After their defeat against Atlético at the weekend, Ancelotti's side really need a good win to calm the nerves, and after Benzema and Khedira went close, Cristiano Ronaldo took advantage of a misjudged jump by Wiland to head Marcelo's cross in to the empty net. The Danish side came close to an equalizer though when Jorgensen headed a corner against the bar, Modric clearing the rebound off the line with Casillas beaten. Twenty minutes in to the second half however Ronaldo headed in his second of the night and his fifth in two European games after Di María's "rabona" style cross with his wrong foot, and Di María himself made it three after picking up an assist from Benzema. With the game coming to an end Di María got his second of the game after Morata charged down a clearance, and Casillas delighted the local fans with late saves from Bolaños and Adi as the locals relaxed in the final minutes. (02.10.13)

Bayer Leverkusen 2 - Real Sociedad 1

Real Sociedad's promising start to the Champions League is faltering badly though, a last minute 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen leaving them without a point from their first two games. Both keepers were in action early on, Claudio Bravo saving from Son and Kiessling, and Leno keeping out Griezmann and Elustondo. With the first half coming to an end however Rolfes put the German side in front, beating Bravo at the second attempt after the keeper pushed out his header from Sam's cross. Soon after the restart Real were awarded a penalty when Hilbert brought down Carlos Vela in the area, and although Leno saved Vela's spot kick, the Mexican forward poked the rebound back in to the net. Elustondo and Vela wasted chances after that, and Leno had to save again from Griezmann and De la Bella, but Carlos Martínez had to clear an attack off the line with the keeper beaten, and with the game in injury time substitute Hegeler curled a long free kick in to the top corner of Bravo's net to give the locals the three points. The defeat leaves the Basque side at the bottom of their group, and their only hope now is to get something from their upcoming double header against Manchester United, not a comforting thought! (02.10.13)

Glasgow Celtic 0 - Barcelona 1

Barcelona made it two wins out of two in this year's Champions League after beating Celtic 0-1 on Tuesday evening. With Messi out injured, Neymar took centre stage, and he turned a Dani Alves cross just round the post early on. Samaras brought a good save out of Valdés before that though, but later in the first half Forster did well to push a Xavi free kick away for a corner. Early in the second half the Scottish side were left with ten men when team captain Scott Brown was sent off for a kick at Neymar as he lay on the ground, but even so Valdés had to be at his best to keep out a long shot by Forrest, Mulgrew heading the resulting corner wide with the goal at his mercy. Just a couple of minutes later however Fàbregas looped a header past the keeper from an Alexis cross for what was to prove the only goal of the game, and only a couple of great saves by Forster prevented Neymar (twice) and Alexis from adding to the scoreline late on. (01.10.13)

Porto 1 - Atlético Madrid 2

Atlético Madrid came back from a goal down to beat Porto 1-2, their second win at the group stage and their ninth in a row in all competitions after their victory against Real Madrid at the weekend. The Portuguese side started well though, Courtois having to save a looping header from Varela before he was beaten by Jackson Martínez, the Colombian striker getting in front of Godín to head in Josué's wide free kick. Raúl García almost caught Helton off the line with a long shot though, and a few minutes later the ex Osasuna midfielder headed Gabi's corner against the bar. Varela responded with an another effort before the break which Courtois kept out, but some thirteen minutes in to the second half Godín got on the end of Gabi's free kick to head home the equalizer. Helton did well to keep out Raúl García after that, but with four minutes to go Arda Turan got the winner from another set-piece free kick, peeling off from behind the defensive wall to pick up Gabi's pass and fire a shot in to the roof of the net. (01.10.13)