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Champions League group stage, day 4

Barcelona are the second Spanish side through to the knock-out stage after a 0-2 victory at Ajax on Wednesday evening. Messi got a goal in each half to win it, the second equaling Raúl’s all time Champions League record of 71, and the Dutch side ended with ten men after Veltman picked up a second booking. Barça are still only second in their group however, and need to win their next game against leaders Paris Saint Germain to tie up top spot. Athletic Bilbao are already out of the competition though after they lost 0-2 to Porto, and the only thing they have left to play for is third place, which gives access to the Europa League. Jackson Martínez missed a penalty before opening the scoring early in the second half, and Brahimi wrapped things up for the Portuguese side later on after a bad mistake by local keeper Iraizoz. (05.11.14)

Victories for both Madrid sides on the opening day of week four of the Champions League group stage. Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Bernabeu stadium to make it four wins out of four, Benzema getting the only goal in the first half from Marcelo’s cross to already ensure a place for the defending champions in the last sixteen. And Atlético won 0-2 at Malmö, a strike in each half by Koke and Raúl García taking Simeone’s side three points clear at the top of their qualifying group. They still really need to win against Olympiacos in their next tie however to avoid having to get something from their last match at Juventus. (04.11.14)

Ajax 0 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona are the second Spanish side through to the knock-out stage after a 0-2 victory at Ajax on Wednesday evening. Neymar had an early strike ruled out for offside, but otherwise the locals dominated the early minutes, Schöne shooting wide and Ter Stegen having to save from Klaassen. With half an hour gone though Cillessen had to be at his best to keep out Jordi Alba, and soon afterwards Barça won a free kick on the edge of the area. The Dutch keeper did well to save Messi’s shot, but the ball was played back in to the area, and Bartra got won the ball off Cillessen and hooked it over for Messi to steer a bouncing header in to the net. Neymar hit the post after the restart and Luis Suárez got through twice, only to shoot at the keeper the first time and then try to pass to a colleague the second. Xavi (matching the 144 appearances of Casillas) also saw his shot saved by Cillessen, but Milik wasted a chance to level the scores when he steered a header against the outside of the post when free on goal. Soon afterwards the Dutch side were left with ten men when Veltman picked up a second booking (as he did against Barça last season), and with a quarter of an hour to go Messi got on the end of Pedro’s return pass to slide in his second of the night, equaling Raúl’s all time Champions League record of 71. Luis Enrique’s side are still only second in their group however, and need to win their next game against leaders Paris Saint Germain to tie up top spot. (05.11.14)

Athletic Bilbao 0 - Porto 2

Athletic Bilbao are already out of the competition after they lost 0-2 to Porto, and the only thing they have left to play for is third place, which gives access to the Europa League. Valverde was missing top goalscorer Aduríz, and with Iturraspe and Muniain carrying knocks as well he had to make changes to his first choice line up. Two wins in a row in the league had boosted their confidence, but they hardly troubled Fabiano in the first half, and Iraizoz had to push an early free kick from Maicon around the post. Jackson Martínez missed a couple of chances and Brahimi fired another free kick wide, and later on in the first half Martínez hit the crossbar with a penalty kick after Balenziaga tripped Danilo in the area. Valverde made two changes at the break and De Marcos struck a shot just wide, but ten minutes in to the second half Martínez opened the scoring from close to goal after a good run by Brahimi down the left flank. Guillermo looped a header against the post as the Basque side tried to get back in the game, but with twenty minutes or so to go Iraizoz completely missed a wide back-pass from Laporte, and the ball rolled past him for Brahimi to turn it in to the empty net. Athletic stay bottom of their group having only picked up one point for Athletic from four games, and a disappointed crowd left the stadium in droves as the rain which had fallen all day started to intensify. (05.11.14)

Real Madrid 1 - Liverpool 0

Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Bernabeu stadium to make it four wins out of four, a result which already ensures a place for the defending champions in the last sixteen. Visiting coach Brendan Rogers appeared to have given the game up for lost, leaving several of his big names out of the starting line-up, and they hardly troubled Iker Casillas (making a record 144th Champions League appearance) all night. Mignolet was very busy at the other end though, and he kept out James and Ronaldo before Benzema connected with Marcelo’s cross to open the scoring with just under half an hour gone. The visiting keeper made further saves from Ronaldo either side of half time, with Lallana shooting wide and Borini seeing his free kick deflected for a corner in Liverpool’s first two real attacks. Gareth Bale came on and almost immediately hit the bar, and he and Ronaldo tested Mignolet again with free kicks later on. However there was still only one goal in it, and the result was in doubt until the final whistle. (04.11.14)

Malmö 0 - Atlético Madrid 2

Atlético Madrid won 0-2 at Malmö in their fourth group game, and they ended the day three points clear at the top of their qualifying group. Despite the comfortable win two weeks ago, Simeone was not taking any chances, and he put out a full strength side. The Spaniards started well on a difficult pitch, Olsen having to save from his own player Johansson following a long free kick and then from Raúl García before Koke got on the end of Juanfran’s cross to score with a deft back-heel flick. After that though Malmö grew in confidence, Miranda having to clear when Forsberg got free before the break, and Godin blocking a shot by Tinnerholm on the line soon after the restart. Rosenberg saw his free kick hit Siqueira on the arm, the referee turning down appeals for a penalty, and his follow up shot came back off the post. Moyà also had to save from Tinnerholm minutes later, but with things starting to look grim, Raúl García drilled home his side’s second after Helander could only clear Juanfran’s cross in to his path. Griezmann went close a couple of times after that and Cristian Rodríguez steered a header in to the net only for the strike to be ruled out for offside, but by then the Swedes had given up, and Atleti had the three points. They still really need to win against Olympiacos in their next tie however to avoid having to get something from their last match at Juventus. (04.11.14)