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Champions League group stage, day 3

Big victories for the two Madrid sides on Wednesday, both of whom are now topping their respective groups. Real Madrid won 0-3 at Liverpool to make it nine points out of nine, Ronaldo scoring an impressive opener and Benzema adding two more before the break to give their side their first ever win against the Merseysiders. And Atlético Madrid beat Malmö 5-0, in their case with all the goals coming after the break. Koke got the first just a couple of minutes after the restart from Turan’s assist, and with the floodgates open Mandzukic, Griemann, Godín and Cerci scored four more for the final result. (22.10.14)

Barcelona took a big step towards a place in the knock-out stage after a 3-1 victory over Ajax on Tuesday night. Neymar and Messi put them two up with only a quarter of the game gone, and although El Ghazi pulled one back with a couple of minutes to go, Sandro wrapped things up in injury time. Athletic Bilbao are in serious difficulty though, and they ended the day at the bottom of their group after a 2-1 defeat at Porto. Héctor Herrera gave the Portuguese side the lead on the stroke of half time, and although Guillermo made it all square after the break, Iraizoz let a long shot by Quaresma through his hands late on to gift the three points to the locals. (21.10.14)

Liverpool 0 - Real Madrid 3

Real Madrid won 0-3 at Liverpool on Wednesday night to make it nine points out of nine, one of only three teams together with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to win all their games at the mid-point of the group stage. The Merengues had lost their previous three meetings with the Merseysiders without scoring a single goal and Cristiano Ronaldo himself had never scored at the mythical Anfield despite his years at Manchester United. All of that changed early on though, Ronaldo testing Mignolet early on before running on to a lofted James pass to turn a shot past the keeper. A few minutes later Benzema made it two with a looping header from a Kroos centre, and the French striker added a third before the break following a corner which Pepe poked in to his path. After the interval Coutinho fired a long shot against the post with Casillas beaten, but the result was never in doubt, and Madrid go in to this Saturday’s “clásico” on top form. (22.10.14)

Atlético Madrid 5 – Malmö 0

Atlético Madrid ended week three at the top of their group after a convincing 5-0 victory over Malmö. All four teams were level on three points, and although the locals dominated the first half with Griezmann in particular hitting the crossbar, the Swedish side held their own until the break. Just a couple of minutes after the restart though Koke got the first from Turan’s assist, and that opened the floodgates. Mandzukic poked home a second on the hour mark from Saúl’s cross, and two minutes later Griezmann made it three with a shot which Olsen only succeeded in deflecting over his own head in to the net. With three minutes to go Godín headed home a “house-special” from Koke’s corner, and substitute Cerci got his name on the scoresheet as well after that, winning the ball back and curling a shot past the keeper after his first effort came back off the post. (22.10.14)

Barcelona 3 – Ajax 1

Barcelona took a big step towards a place in the knock-out stage after a 3-1 victory over Ajax on Tuesday night. Neymar picked up a pass from Messi to give the locals an early lead, and Messi missed a good chance before connecting with Iniesta’s through ball to force home the second. Pedro and Iniesta both went close again before the break, and Messi had a strike ruled out for offside soon after the restart, but the Dutch team had their chances as well, Van Rhijn shooting wide a couple of times either side of half time, and Piqué almost putting through his own net. With one eye on next Saturday’s “clásico”, Luis Enrique took off Neymar and then Messi, but although Rakitic tested Cillessen again, the visitors got one back when El Ghazi turned the ball past Ter Stegen after Milik’s shot was blocked. There were a few nervous moments for the home fans after that before Sandro collected a Rafinha pass to wrap things up in injury time. (21.10.14)

Porto 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1

With three games gone Athletic Bilbao are in serious difficulty in their group, and they ended the day at the bottom of the table after a 2-1 defeat at Porto. Visiting coach Lopetegui included Tello in his starting line-up, and the ex Barcelona forward shot just wide early on. San José hit the post with a long shot which took a deflection off Martins Indi in reply, but on the stroke of half time Héctor Herrera connected with a Quintero pass to beat Iraizoz and open the scoring. With just under an hour gone Guillermo made it all square after Beñat set him up, and Mikel Rico tested Fabiano a few minutes later. However with a quarter of an hour left on the clock Iraizoz let a long shot from Quaresma in to the net, and Jackson Martínez could well have increased the lead later on. (21.10.14)