News Archive

Champions League, day 4

Barcelona are on the brink of qualifying for the next round after a comfortable 3-0 win over BATE Borisov on Wednesday. Neymar got the opener from the penalty spot after substitute Munir was fouled on the half hour mark, and Luis Suárez and Neymar combined twice for each to score after the restart. Valencia lost an opportunity to tie up their spot in the last 16 however, a 1-0 defeat at KAA Gent leaving them with work still to do. The only goal came from the penalty spot at the start of the second half, Kums converting the spot kick after Barragán handled in the area. (04.11.15)

Real Madrid are the first team through to the knock-out stages of the competition after they beat Paris Saint Germain 1-0 on Tuesday evening. Nacho came on as substitute for the injured Marcelo some twelve minutes before the break, and almost immediately scored what was to prove the only goal after a shot from Kroos ballooned off a defender. Atlético Madrid stay second in their min-league after a 0-0 draw at Astana earlier in the day, although they will be unhappy about dropping points against theoretically the weakest team in their group. Sevilla though are on the brink of elimination after they were beaten 1-3 by Manchester City, and even victories in their last two matches will not necessarily see them through. Sterling and Fernandinho put the Premier League side two up with just over ten minutes gone, and although Trémoulinas headed one back, Bony restored the two goal cushion before the interval. (03.11.15)

Barcelona 3 - BATE Borisov 0

Barcelona are on the verge of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League after a comfortable 3-0 win over BATE Borisov on Wednesday. Luis Suárez and Neymar both went close early on, and Neymar opened the scoring from the penalty spot on the half hour mark after Mladenovich pushed over Munir, who had just come on for the injured Rakitic. Ter Stegen had had to save a dangerous Stasevich free kick though, and the German keeper was called on a couple more times before the half time whistle. After the restart though Chernik kept out Iniesta and Suárez, and with an hour on the clock Suárez got the second after picking up a centre from Neymar. Bartra and Neymar went close after that, and with seven minutes to go Neymar wrapped things up after a generous Suárez laid the ball across to him following another rapid counter-attack. (04.11.15)

KAA Gent 1 - Valencia 0

Valencia lost an opportunity to tie up their spot in the last sixteen, a 1-0 defeat at KAA Gent leaving them with work still to do. The Belgian side had only picked up one point from their first three games, but they over-ran their opponents in the first half, Domenech having to save from Kums, Dejaegere steering a header down and over the bar, and Milicevic looping a header onto the crossbar. Just four minutes in to the second half the locals went ahead, Kums converting a penalty after Barragán blocked a Saief cross with his arm inside the area, and the Ches didn’t react until late on, with Seis having to keep out Parejo, Alcácer and Piatti. With Zenit beating Lyon in the other group game, Valencia stay well clear in second spot, but they could have been home and dry had they been able to get something from this match. (04.11.15)

Real Madrid 1 - Paris Saint Germain 0

Real Madrid are the first team through to the knock-out stages of the competition after they beat Paris Saint Germain 1-0 on Tuesday evening. Neither side had let in a single goal in the competition this season, but the visitors got the better start, Ibrahimovic just failing to find the target a couple of times early on. However some twelve minutes before the break a shot from Kroos ballooned off Marcelo Silva, and Nacho (who had only just come on for the injured Marcelo), steered an angled shot past the out of position Trapp and into the far corner of the net. Rabiot rattled the post a couple of minutes later though, and Cavani wasted two good chances to level the scores before the break, and although Trapp had to keep out Isco and Kroos after the restart, Di María came close to saving a point for the French side when his free kick bounced off the crossbar near the end. (03.11.15)

Astana 0 - Atlético Madrid 0

A bit of a surprise in Kazakhstan, Atlético Madrid only able to draw 0-0 at bottom club Astana. Only two weeks ago Simeone’s side had beaten their rivals 4-0, but for the return leg they had to face a 6,000 kilometer journey, an artificial pitch and temperatures ten below zero. The Spaniards did have the better chances in the first half, Tiago and Siquiera having early shots blocked, Fernando Torres shooting wide when free on goal, and Koke hitting the top of the crossbar with a free kick, but the locals also had their moments, Oblak having to save from Anicic and Kethevoama. The coach brought on Jackson Martínez, Carrasco and Oliver Torres in the second half, and Griezmann and Carrasco in particular went close, but in the end there was no way through. Atleti still top their group pending the other group game later tonight, although this result was an unexpected set-back. (03.11.15)

Sevilla 1 - Manchester City 3

Sevilla are on the brink of elimination after they were beaten 1-3 by Manchester City on Tuesday, and even victories in their last two matches will not necessarily see them through. Although the Premier League side were missing the likes of David Silva and Agüero, they went two up with just over ten minutes gone,Sterling opening the scoring with an angled shot after Touré Yaya put him through, and Fernandinho heading the second after Sergio Rico could only push out a shot from Bony. The local keeper had to save a couple of efforts from ex Sevilla winger Jesús Navas soon afterwards, but midway through the first half the Andalusians got one back, Trémoulinas heading into an empty net after good work by Coke down the right by-line. Bony restored the two goal cushion before the interval however after connecting with a Navas cross, and after the restart Fernandinho, Sterling and Bony could all have added to the lead. (03.11.15)