News Archive

Champions League group stage, day three

A full house for Spanish sides this week, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid also winning their respective ties on Wednesday evening. Barcelona beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-0 in an event-packed match, Messi helping himself to yet another hat-trick either side of half time, and Neymar completing the scoring at the end. Luis Enrique lost Jordi Alba and Piqué to injuries though before the break, Claudio Bravo and Mathieu were both sent off in the second half, and substitute keeper Willy Caballero saved a Neymar penalty later on. Barça move on to a maximum nine points, as do Atlético, who won 0-1 at Rostov. Simeone’s team dominated throughout, but the only goal came on the hour mark when Carrasco got on the end of Juanfran’s cross to beat Dzhanaev. (19.10.16)

Wins for Real Madrid and Sevilla at the start of day three, and both teams are now just a game away from qualifying for the knock-out stage. Real Madrid beat Legia Warsaw 5-1, and they share top spot of their group with Borussia Dortmund, A Bale strike and an own goal from Jodlowiec put Zidane’s side two up before Radovic got one back from the penalty spot. Marco Asensio made it 3-1 before half time though, and second half strikes from substitutes Lucas Vázquez and Morata wrapped things up. Sevilla meanwhile won 0-1 at Dinamo Zagreb to move alongside Juventus at the head of their group, and if both win again in two weeks’ time they will be through to the round of sixteen. Nasri got the only goal of the game from Mariano’s cross late on in the first half, although Sampaoli’s team could have won by a bigger margin in the end. (18.10.16)

Barcelona 4 – Manchester City 0

Barcelona beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 4-0 in an event-packed match on Wednesday evening, the result taking them on to a maximum nine points from their first three ties. Messi made the break through early on after Fernandinho slipped trying to clear Iniesta’s back-heel pass, and ex Barça keeper Claudio Bravo had to save from Neymar and Luis Suárez later on in the first half. Ter Stegen had to keep out Nolito and Gundogan though, and Stones headed wide from a long Silva free kick soon afterwards. Luis Enrique lost Jordi Alba and Piqué to injuries though before the break, but soon after the restart Bravo gave the ball away to Suárez whilst outside of the area, and the keeper was sent off for blocking the striker’s attempted chip with his hand. The English team’s defence were all over the place though, and Messi took advantage to complete his 37th hat-trick in a Barcelona shirt, assists from Iniesta and Suárez. Numbers were evened up when substitute Mathieu picked up two bookings in a row, and although replacement keeper Caballero saved a Neymar penalty after Kolarov brought down Messi in the area, the Brazilian forward did manage to get his name on the scoresheet from a Messi pass in the last minute. (19.10.16)

Rostov 0 - Atlético Madrid 1

Atlético Madrid made it three single-goal victories out of three after they won 0-1 at Rostov on Wednesday. Simeone’s team dominated throughout on a cold night in the Russian port town, Dzhanaev having to save from Correa and Carrasco early on, and Fernando Torres having a penalty claim turned down when he was tripped by ex Málaga defender César Navas. The pressure continued, Carrasco, Correa, Torres and Juanfran all going close before the break, and Torres heading a Juanfran cross over the bar after the restart. With just over an hour n the clock though Carrasco finally broke the deadlock after Torres touched on a Juanfran cross, his fourth goal in as many days, and only a good save from Dzhanaev prevent Griezmann from heading in a second. Oblak had virtually no work to do until he had to keep out Noboa in the dying minutes, and Rostov’s run of 26 home games without defeat had finally come to an end. (19.10.16)

Real Madrid 5 – Legia Warsaw 1

Real Madrid beat Legia Warsaw 5-1 in their third group game, and they share top spot with Borussia Dortmund, both on seven points. There was an early scare for the home fans when Odjidja hit the post, but soon afterwards Bale cut in from the right wing to open the scoring, and four minutes later Marcelo made it two with a shot which deflected off Jodlowiec in to the net. The Polish side got one back though, Radovic converting a penalty after Danilo brought him down in the area, and before the break Kucharczyk fired a shot just wide of the post. However Malarz had to save from Benzema and Ronaldo, and with ten minutes to go to the break Champions League debutant Marco Asensio made it three with a low shot after Ronaldo laid the ball back. Even so the visitors kept on pushing, but midway through the second half Lucas Vázquez.got the fourth after he was set up by fellow substitute Morata, and Morata himself rounded things off after latching on to Ronaldo’s pass later on. A win in the return match in two weeks time (which will be played behind closed doors due to trouble with the Polish fans), and Madrid will through to the knock-out stage. (18.10.16)

Dinamo Zagreb 0 - Sevilla 1

Sevilla are well on track for a place in the last sixteen after they won 0-1 at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday evening. Sampaoli lined up with three central defenders, allowing Mariano and Escudero to exploit the wings against a defensive side. Mariano in particular tested Livakovic early on, and Nasri came close to scoring when Escudero set him up midway through the first half. Vitolo, Vietto and Vázquez also failed to convert chances, but with eight minutes to go to the break Nasri got on the end of Mariano’s centre to turn the ball in on the nar post. After the interval Vietto got free on goal only to shoot wide of the mark, and Sergio Rico was not troubled until he was forced to save from Stojanovic and Soudani later on in the second half. Vitolo and Nasri could have added to the scoreline after that, but the Andalusians had the win they wanted to stay level with Juventus at the top of their group. If both win again at home to the same opponents in two weeks’ time they will be through to the knock-out stage with two matches to spare. (18.10.16)