News Archive

Champions League group stage, day five

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will both finish top of their groups after winning their games on Wednesday. Barcelona beat Celtic 0-2, and with Manchester City only drawing at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Luis Enrique’s side opened up a four point gap over the Premier League team. Messi got both the goals in the second half, the first from Neymar’s assist, and the second from the penalty spot after Izaguirre fouled Luis Suárez in the area. Atlético came in to their game against PSV Eindhoven knowing that closest rivals Bayern Munich had lost at Rostov earlier in the evening, and a 2-0 victory meant they will finish in first place whatever the result against the German team in two weeks time. Gameiro and Griezmann got the goals in the first twenty minutes of the second half to make it five wins out of five for Simeone’s boys. (23.11.16)

Real Madrid secured their place in the knock-out stage after a 1-2 victory at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening. Varane’s opener was cancelled out by an Adrien Silva penalty with ten minutes to go, but Benzema headed the winner with three minutes left on the clock. Zidane’s side now have to beat group leaders Borussia Dortmund in two weeks time if they are to finish as group champions. Sevilla though are still not through to the next stage after they lost 1-3 to Juventus. Nico Pareja gave the Andalusians an early lead, but Franco Vázquez was sent off before the break, and a Marchisio penalty on the stroke of half time and late goals by Bonucci and Mandzukic handed the three points to the Italian side. Sevilla now have a tricky visit to Olympique Lyon in their last match, although they will still finish second in the group provided that don’t lose by a margin of more than one goal. (22.11.16)

Celtic 0 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona made sure of top spot in their group after beating Celtic 0-2 on Wednesday, Manchester City’s draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach meaning that the Catalans have opened up a four point gap over the Premier League team. Messi recovered from his weekend stomach problems to take control right from the start, the Argentinian forward failing to convert three or four chances before latching on to Neymar’s lofted pass to turn a shot past Gordon. Ter Stegen had to save from Dembélé at the other end, but Gordon made the stop of the night from a Luis Suárez header, and some ten minutes in to the second half Messi got his second of the night from the penalty spot after Izaguirre pulled down Luis Suárez in the area. McGregor and Dembélé did both go close for Bredan Rogers’ side, but Messi shot inches wide and Luis Suárez hit the upright as Luis Enrique’s side looked to tie things up later on. (23.11.16)

Atlético Madrid 2 – PSV Eindhoven 0

Atlético Madrid came in to the game against PSV Eindhoven knowing that their closest rivals Bayern Munich had lost at Rostov earlier in the evening, and a 2-0 victory meant they will finish in first place in their group whatever the result against the German team in two weeks time. Simeone’s boys were on top for most of the match, Gameiro turning an easy chance wide and Zoet having to save a Godín header in the opening minutes. Pereiro did come up against Oblak a couple of times, but Carrasco and Giménez went close either side of half time, and ten minutes in to the second half Gameiro picked up a Griezmann assist to fire an angled shot past the visiting keeper. A few minutes later Griezmann got the second after Tiago put him though, and Gameiro came close to a third when he headed against the bar later on. Atlético are now the only team in the competition to win all five of their matches to date. (23.11.16)

Sporting Lisbon 1 - Real Madrid 2

Real Madrid secured their place in the knock-out stage of this year’s Champions League after a 1-2 victory at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday evening. Varane opened the scoring on the half hour mark, latching on to a loose ball to beat Rui Patricio after a Ronaldo shot from Modric’s wide free kick was blocked. Bruno César went close a couple of times for the locals before the break, a shot which Sergio Ramos deflected for a corner, and a wide free kick in to the side netting. Zidane lost Bale to an injury though soon after the restart, and although Joao Pereira was sent off for punching Kovacic in the stomach in an off-the-ball incident, Adrién Silva levelled the scores form the penalty spot after Coentrao handled in the area. Substitute Benzema headed the winner though from a Sergio Ramos centre with three minutes left on the clock to keep Zidane’s side in second spot. They now have to beat group leaders Borussia Dortmund in two weeks time if they are to finish as group champions, thereby (theoretically at least) avoiding the more dangerous teams. (22.11.16)

Sevilla 1 - Juventus 3

Sevilla are still not through to the next stage after they lost 1-3 to Juventus, the result leaving them second in their group behind the Italian side. Nico Pareja gave the Andalusians an early lead with a first time volley after Rugani headed out a cross from Franco Vázquez. With ten minutes to go to the break however Vázquez was sent off for a second bookable offence, and with half time approaching English referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a hotly disputed penalty to the visitors after Mercado pulled down Bonucci in the area. Marchisio stepped up to convert the spot kick, and protests by local coach Sampaoli only earned him a red card as well. Iborra and Rami headed chances wide after the restart, but with six minutes to go Bonucci fired a shot past Sergio Rico to put the visitors in front, and with the game in time added on ex Atlético striker Mandzukic wrapped things up. Sevilla now have a tricky visit to Olympique Lyon in their last match, although they will still finish second in the group provided that don’t lose there by a margin of more than one goal. (22.11.16)