If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

News Archive

Champions League, day 5

Real Madrid made sure of top spot in their group after beating Galatasaray 4-1 on Wednesday evening. Ancelotti's side suffered an early set-back when Sergio Ramos was sent off, and although Bale opened the scoring with a well struck free kick, Bulut equalized just a minute later. However an inspired Arbeloa restored the lead after the restart and then set up Di María for a third, and Isco wrapped things up with an individualist goal late on. Real Sociedad are out of Europe though after they lost 4-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk. The Basque side needed to win their last two games to have any chance of going through, but goals either side of half time by Luiz Alberto and Alex Teixeira left them down and out, and Douglas Costa scored two more later on to take the Ukrainian side up to second in their group. (27.11.13)

Disappointing results for both Spanish sides in the opening games of week five, although neither really affected the outcome at the end of the day. Atlético Madrid kicked off the latest round of fixtures at Zenit knowing that they were already sure of first spot in their group, although they dropped points for the first time after they were held to a 1-1 draw. Adrián put Simeone's side in front somewhat against the run of play early in the second half, but a mistake by Courtois allowed a back-header from Alderweireld in to his own net later on. And later in the evening a depleted Barcelona suffered their first official defeat in the Tata Martino era, losing 2-1 to ten man Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena. Serero and Hoesen gave the Dutch side a two goal lead at the break, and although Xavi got one back from the penalty spot after Veltman was sent off for a foul on Neymar early in the second half, the locals held on for a win which keeps them in with a chance of a place in the next round. Whatever happens though, Barcelona are sure of one of the two qualifying spots for the knock-out stage. (26.11.13)

Real Madrid 4 - Galatasaray 1

Real Madrid made sure of top spot in their group after beating Galatasaray 4-1 on Wednesday evening. Ancelotti's side were missing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, although there were 45,000 Ronaldo's in the ground after the club issued fans with images of his face in support of his campaign to be voted as FIFA's player of the year. In his absence Gareth Bale fired an early shot wide, but the locals suffered a set-back midway through the first half when Sergio Ramos was sent off after pushing over Bulut as he advanced on goal. A few minutes later Bale opened the scoring with a well struck free kick, but Bulut equalized just a minute later after Drogba put him through. However an inspired Arbeloa restored the lead after the restart with a low shot past Iscan from Di María's cross, and the full back volleyed a shot just wide before setting up Di María for a third. That put an end to the visitors' challenge, and Isco wrapped things up with an individualist goal late on. (27.11.13)

Shakhtar Donetsk 4 - Real Sociedad 0

Real Sociedad are out of Europe completely after they lost 4-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday evening! Having only picking up one point from their first four matches, the Basque side needed to win their last two games to have any chance of even qualifying for the Europa League spot, but once again they put in a disappointing performance. The Ukrainian team dominated the first half, Luiz Adriano wasting a good chance and Serna hitting the bar with a free kick before Luiz Adriano got in front of Bravo to turn a Douglas Costa cross in off the post. Three minutes after the interval Alex Teixeira made it two when Iñigo Martínez made a hash of a Pyatov clearance, and although the local keeper had to push a shot from Griezmann on to the upright, Douglas Costa fired home an impressive third a few minutes later. Elustondo did go close after that with a header from a direct free kick, but Costa headed home his second of the night near the end to take the East European side up to second in their group. (27.11.13)

Zenit 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

Atlético Madrid dropped points for the first time in this season's Champions League after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Zenit, although the only damage was financial as they had already ensured top spot of their group three weeks ago. Simeone spared several of his key players a grueling trip to play in sub-zero temperatures, with Adrián leading the attack and Guilavogui, Insúa, Alderweireld and later on Oliver Torres all given playing time. The Russian side really needed to win to stay ahead of Porto for the second qualifying spot, and Hulk put Courtois to the test a couple of times at the beginning of each half. Koke also tried his luck either side of half time, but there were few clear cut chances until Raúl García sent Adrián away for him to coolly steer a shot under the legs of Lodygin. With a quarter of an hour to go however Alderweireld headed up a cross from Smolnikov, and the usually reliable Courtois misread the drop and allowed the ball in to the net. That cost Atleti half a million Euros in prize money, but they at least came away with their unbeaten record intact. (26.11.13)

Ajax 2 - Barcelona 1

A depleted Barcelona suffered their first official defeat in the Tata Martino era, losing 2-1 to ten man Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena on Tuesday evening. Serero got on the end of a Van Rhijn cross to open the scoring for the locals with just under twenty minutes gone, and although Neymar went close a few minutes later, the Dutch side went further ahead after Pinto could only block a shot from Fischer, Hoesen reacting quicker than anyone to control the rebound and turn in a shot which deflected in to the net off Piqué. Xavi got one back from the penalty spot after Veltman was sent off for a foul on Neymar early in the second half, but the locals held on for a win which keeps them in with a chance of a place in the next round. Barcelona stay two points clear at the top of the group though, and whatever happens in their last game at home to the already eliminated Celtic, they are sure of one of the two qualifying spots for the knock-out stage. (26.11.13)