News Archive

Champions League group stage, day two

Another good night for Spanish sides, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both winning their ties against German opposition. Barcelona came back from a goal down to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2, a result which takes them clear top of their group after Celtic and Manchester City drew. Thorgan Hazard gave the locals the lead shortly before the break, but second half substitute Arda Turan equalized after latching on to a lofted Neymar pass, and Piqué scrambled home the winner with seven minutes to go. Atlético Madrid also head up their mini-league after an epic 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Carrasco got the only goal of the game shortly before half time, but Griezmann could have wrapped things up a few minutes before the final whistle had he not hit the bar from the penalty spot with seven minutes to go. (28.09.16)

Real Madrid drew 2-2 at Borussia Dortmund in their second group game, the result leaving them in second place in their mini-league, behind their hosts on goal difference. Ronaldo gave Zidane’s side the lead early on, but Aubameyang made it all square just before the break. And although Varane put the visitors back in front after the restart, Schürrle equalized again with three minutes to go. Sevilla are also second in their group, just behind Juventus, after they beat Olympique Lyon 1-0. Ben Yedder got the only goal soon after the break, although the Andalusians could have won by a bigger margin had Vietto not fired a penalty over the bar a few minutes later. (27.09.16)

Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – Barcelona 2

Barcelona came back from a goal down to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2, a result which takes them clear top of their mini-league after Celtic and Manchester City drew in the other group game. In the absence of Messi, Luis Enrique gave a run out to Paco Alcácer, but the new boy was unable to link up with his strike partners, and he was closed down when presented with a chance early on. Neymar and Rakitic did bring good saves out of Sommer, and Luis Suárez sliced a shot wide. But Piqué was lucky to be let off a possible penalty for hand ball, and with ten minutes to go to the break the locals went ahead after Raffael won the ball off Busquets, Dahoud passing across for Thorgan Hazard to score. Suárez and Rakitic tested Sommer again either side of half time, but Luis Enrique decided it was time for a change, bringing on Rafinha and Arda Turan. That did the trick, and within five minutes Turan made it all square after Neymar passed over the top of the defence. A few minutes later Sommer spilled a long shot from Luis Suárez from a Neymar corner, and Piqué reacted quicker than anyone to bundle the ball in to the net, and Turan could have added a third had the local keeper not got a fingertip to touch his lob over the bar. (28.09.16)

Atlético Madrid 1 – Bayern Munich 0

Atlético Madrid head up their mini-league after an epic 1-0 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. Oblak was in action early on to keep out Müller, and Carrasco responded with a shot which Neuer saved. Fernando Torres headed a good chance against the upright following a corner, but with ten minutes to go to the break Carrasco opened the scoring with an angled shot which went in off the far post. After the interval Oblak had to save again from Alava and Lewandowski, but Griezmann could have wrapped things up a few minutes before the final whistle had he not hit the bar from the penalty spot after Vidal pushed over Filipe Luis in the area. That set up a nail-biting finish, Robben in particular testing Oblak with a long shot. Another single goal victory though, and the Slovenian keeper has now gone six Champions League games in the Calderón stadium (including two now against Bayern and one against Barcelona) without letting in a single goal. (28.09.16)

Borussia Dortmund 2 - Real Madrid 2

Real Madrid drew 2-2 at Borussia Dortmund in their second group game, the result leaving them in second place in their mini-league, behind their hosts on goal difference. Ronaldo gave Zidane’s side the lead early on, poking a shot past Bürki after Bale played back a James pass with his heel for his 95th Champions League goal. However with two minutes to go to the break Keylor Navas tried to punch away a Guerreiro free kick, only to see the ball to hit Varane and bounce back for Aubameyang to touch it over the line. The Costa Rican keeper was playing his first match following a long injury lay-off, and although he looked shaky in the first half, he made important saves from Aubameyang, Guerreiro and Pulisic after the restart. Midway through the second half Varane put the visitors back in front, turning the ball in from close up after Benzema’s shot had hit the post and the bar, and Bürki did well to push a shot from Ronaldo round the post soon afterwards. But with three minutes to go substitute Schürrle latched on to Pulisic’s deflected cross to fire a shot past Navas and level the scores once again. Not a bad result for Madrid even so, but they have now failed to win in six visits to Dortmund, and this was a third draw in a row against a team wearing yellow after sharing the points with Villarreal and Las Palmas in the league. (27.09.16)

Sevilla 1 – Olympique Lyon 0

Sevilla beat Olympique Lyon 1-0 in their second group game, are they are now second in their mini-league, just behind Juventus on goal difference. The French side got off to the better start, Sergi Darder and Cornet bringing early saves out of Sergio Rico and Fekir firing a shot against the bar. Vitolo and Mercado had penalty claims turned down though and Vietto tested Lopes, but even so there were some whistles from the frustrated local supporters at the break. Some seven minutes in to the second half though the Andalusians took the lead, Ben Yedder heading in to the roof of the net after Vietto headed back N’Zonzi’s cross. Both keepers made saves after that, and the locals had a chance to add to the scoreline when Gaspar fouled Nasri in the area. However Vietto fired the resulting penalty kick over the top, and the visitors came close to an equalizer when Tolisso curled a shot against the crossbar. In the end though Sevilla could have scored again later on, Iborra and Escudero going close and Morel clearing off the line from Vietto with the keeper beaten. The fans were happy with that, and their boos turned to cheers as the players left the field after the final whistle. (27.09.16)