News Archive

Champions League group stage, day four

Real Madrid were held to a 3-3 draw at Legia Warsaw on Wednesday evening, and they now have to win their last two games if they are to finish top of their group. Played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble, Zidane’s side took the lead through Bale with less than a minute on the clock. Benzema added a second later on in the first half, but strikes either side of half time by Odjidja and Radovic made it all square. With seven minutes to go Moulin put the Polish team ahead, and only a late strike by Kovacic saved the draw for the European champions. Sevilla though clocked up a comfortable 4-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb to top their group, although they are still not through to the next round as Olympique Lyon and Juventus drew in the other group game. Vietto opened the scoring for the Andalusians before the break, and with their opponents down to ten men, Escudero, N’Zonzi and Ben Yedder added three more after the restart. (02.11.16)

Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City on Tuesday evening, and although they still top their group, they need another point or two to reach the next round. Messi gave the Catalans the lead on a quick breakaway in the twentieth minute, but strikes by Gündogan and De Bruyne either side of half time turned the scoreline around. And although André Gomes hit the bar a few minutes later, Gündogan scored his second of the night to give Pep Guardiola’s team the win. Atlético Madrid are in to the last sixteen though after a last gasp 2-1 victory over Rostov. Griezmann opened the scoring for the locals midway through the first half, but Azmoan equalized just two minutes later, and it was not until the fourth minute of injury time that Griezmann got the winner. (01.11.16)

Legia Warsaw 3 - Real Madrid 3

Real Madrid were held to a 3-3 draw at Legia Warsaw on Wednesday evening, and they now have to win their last two games if they are to finish top of their group. The tie was played behind closed doors due to previous crowd trouble, and Zidane resolved the ongoing argument about who should play at centre forward with a Salomonic decision to play both Benzema and Morata alongside Bale and Ronaldo up front. The hope was to repeat something similar to the 5-1 scoreline from a fortnight ago, and it appeared to be heading that way when Bale volleyed home the opener with less than a minute on the clock. Malarz had to save from Benzema and Bale, and Varane had a header cleared off the line by Pazdan before Benzema made it two from a Bale assist later on in the first half. However shortly before the break Odjidja got one back after Guilherme put him through, and a few minutes after the restart Radovic made it all square with a low shot past Keylor Navas. With seven minutes to go Moulin put the Polish team ahead after Prijovic laid the ball back, and only a late strike by Kovacic saved the draw for the European champions. (02.11.16)

Sevilla 4 - Dinamo Zagreb 0

Sevilla clocked up a comfortable 4-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday evening to top their group, although they are still not through to the next round as Olympique Lyon and Juventus drew in the other group game. N’Zonzi saw his early header tipped on to the bar by Livakovic and another header from Vitolo was cleared off the line by Stojanovic, and with half an hour gone Vietto picked up a Vázquez cross to turn past his marker and score the opener. With half time approaching Stojanovic was sent off for a second bookable offence, and the Andalusians rained shots down on the visiting goal before Escudero worked a 1-2 with Vitolo to make it two. Only Junior Fernandes caused any problems for Sergio Rico in the local goal, and N’Zonzi and Ben Yedder added two more in the last ten minutes, the former with a header from Sarabia’s corner, and the latter after Mariano crossed in from the right wing. (02.11.16)

Manchester City 3 - Barcelona 1

Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City on Tuesday evening, and although they still top their group they need another point or two to reach the next round. Sterling (who was booked for diving) thought he should have had an early penalty, but Messi gave the Catalans the lead after Neymar set him up on a quick breakaway in the twentieth minute. However although the visitors had a couple more chances after that, Gündogan combined with Agüero and Sterling to level the scores shortly before the break. That inspired the Premier League side, and Fernandinho, Sterling and Agüero all went close before De Bruyne beat Ter Stegen for a second time with a well struck free kick. André Gomes should have equalized a few minutes later when he fired a shot against the crossbar with Caballero beaten, but with a quarter of an hour to go a cross from Jesús Navas came off the arm of Agüero, and Gündogan was on hand to drill home the third and give Pep Guardiola’s team the win. (01.11.16)

Atlético Madrid 2 - Rostov 1

Atlético Madrid are one of the first teams through to the last sixteen after a last gasp 2-1 victory over Rostov. Simeone’s side dominated the early minutes, Carrasco and Griezmann shooting just wide before Griezmann hooked an acrobatic shot past Dzhanaev from Carrasco’s lofted pass. However just two minutes later Azmoun ran on to a Polaz through ball to make it all square, and Oblak had to save from Kudryashov shortly before the break. After the restart it was one way traffic, with the visiting keeper having to make stops from Koke, Torres, Griezmann and Gameiro amongst others. But it looked as if the Russian side were going to hold on for a point until a long ball into the box by Koke was headed back by Gatskan, and Griezmann (who the referee subsequently confirmed was played onside by the defender) was on hand to fire a shot in off the crossbar. (01.11.16)