Champions League Round-Up (3rd Oct)
4th October, 2007
Liverpool were the only British team to lose or draw in the second round of Champions League games, going down 1-0 at home to Marseille. The French team, unlike Liverpool, are struggling in their domestic league and have so far made a good account of themselves in Europe this season. Liverpool now find themselves bottom of Group A with a single point. The only goal of the game came on 77 minutes, when Mohamed Sissoko list possession in his own half to let Mathieu Valbuena release a superb curling shot past the keeper. Elsewhere in Group A, Ricardo Quaresma scored a crucial goal in injury-time to give Porto all three points against Besiktas in Turkey.
In Group B, the recently-troubled Chelsea produced a spirited display to come from 1-0 down to win the game against Valencia. After David Villa capitalised on some slack Chelsea defending on nine minutes, Joe Cole tapped in Florent Malouda’s cross from close range to equalise midway through the first half. Close was also involved in the winning goal, providing Didier Drogba with a perfect balls which he duly slotted home in the 71st minute. The result makes Chelsea the unlikely leaders of Group B. At the bottom of the group, Rosenborg were defeated by Shalke 2-0 at home, goals from Jermaine Jones and Kevin Kuranyi killing off any threat from the group minnows.
Celtic produced the second Scottish shock in two days, defeating the European Champions AC Milan 2-1 at Parkhead. Stephen McManus put Celtic ahead on 62 minutes, then six minutes later Kaka converted a dubious penalty. In the final minute of the game, Dida could only parry Gary Caldwell’s scaling shot in the path of the incoming Scott McDonald, who easily slotted in the winner. Shakhtar Donetsk lead the Group D after picking up a win at Benfica, a goal from Jadson enough to pick up all three points.
Group C saw Lazio twice come from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw at home to Real Madrid. Ruud van Nistlerooy put Real ahead after eight minutes, but Goran Pandev got the first equaliser after 32 minutes. Another well taken goal from Van Nistlerooy put Real back in front before Pandev also repeated the feat to save a point. Greek side Olympiakos produced a classy display, seeing off Werder Bremen 3-1, scorers of eight goals at the weekend. Bremen led through Hugo Almeida until the 72nd minute, when goals came flooding in from Ireoklis Stoltidis, Christos Patsatzoglou and Darko Kovacevic to take the game.
The next round of game is on the 23-24th October. Barcelona remain favourites to win the European Cup, with Manchester United and other British sides not far behind. Comapare odds.
