6 December 2006
ANDERLECHT 2-2 AEK
Vanen Borre scrambled the home side in front after some dreadful defending by the Greeks inside their own box. The unfortunately names Tchite forced Sorrentino into a point blank save and Frutos fired in the rebound. AEK needed to win this match to grab second place in the group and began the fight back a bit too late. From a quick throw in the ball was worked out wide to Georgeas and Lakis met his laser precision cross with a standing header into the corner. Cirillo volleyed AEK level after Anderlecht wasted several chances to clear a cross.
Attendance : 18,000
Assists : n/a, n/a, Georgeas, n/a
MILAN 0-2 LILLE
Following a nice exchange of passes Lille forward Bodmer unleashed a shot from about 35 yards but the giant Kalac, well positioned, got a hand to it only instead of pushing the ball out for a corner he dropped it straight down to Odemwingie who smashed it into the back of the net before it hit the ground. Kalac redeemed himself with a couple of good saves as the Lille attack made an old and lethargic Milan look old and lethargic. Odemwingie, who I actually signed for Milan in a Championship Manager game many years ago, back heeled a pass to Keita. I'm not sure how to describe what he did to Jankulovski as he came in for a tackle but it was a bit like a lollipop, he moved infield, between Jankulovski and Pirlo and fired past Kalac as he collected Bodmer's return pass. Kalac and the crossbar sparred Milan further humiliation. Lille had almost three times as many shots on target.
Although Milan had already qualified Ancelotti was making noises about winning this match needless to say he failed miserably.
Milan's potential last 16 opponents : Barcelona, PSV, Real Madrid, Celtic, Arsenal
Unless Ancelotti is replaced Milan haven't a prayer of making the last 8.
Lille's potential last 16 opponents : Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Valencia, Manchester United, Porto
Porto would appear to be the weakest of the teams Lille can draw but I still don't fancy their chances. It was good while it lasted.
Attendance : 40,000
Assists : n/a, Bodmer
21 November 2006
LILLE 2-2 ANDERLECHT
Odemwingie FOULED Deschacht as he tried to shepherd a ball out of play and passed to Fauvergue, Fauvergue gave it back and Odemwingie tapped into the corner amidst protests by the Belgians. Hassan got the faintest of touches to Biglia's through pass, taking out Rafel and leaving Mpenza to side foot past Sylva. Fauvergue restored Lille's lead after his initial shot was blocked by an old looking Bart Goor (he's 33). Mpenza equalised less than a minute later after combining with the unfortunately named Tchite on the right flank and, despite a stupid foul by Rafael in the box, beat a poorly positioned Sylva.
I believe Anderlecht are out of the running despite two draws with Lille because of their results against the other teams in the group. Lille need to better AEK's result in their last group game against Anderlecht to make the last 16. A draw for Lille in the San Siro, which isn't anywhere near as difficult as it sounds, will be enough if the Greeks lose due to Lille's superior head to head results.
Attendance : 35,000
Red Card : Van Damme 88 (Anderlecht)
Assists : Fauvergue, Hassan, n/a, Tchite
AEK ATHENS 1-0 MILAN
Attendance : 70,000
Assist : Liberopoulos (won fk)
1 November 2006
AEK ATHENS 1-0 LILLE
Attendance : 32,000
Red Cards : Tavlaridis 22 (Lille)
Assist : Zikos?
MILAN 4-1 ANDERLECHT
Gilardino's theatrical dive allowed Kaka' to blast Milan into an early lead from the penalty spot. He played a one-two with Cafu after instigating an attack on the left flank the hit an exquisite first time lob over Zitka. Kaka' completed his hat-trick with a fantastic shot from the left hand side of the box, similar to Deco's goal against Chelsea on Tuesday. Juhasz headed in a corner and Hassan should have scored a second but missed from close range following more poor defending on a set piece. Brocchi chipped a ball over Gilardino's right shoulder and he ended his 13 game Champions League drought with a brilliant half volley into the bottom left corner.
Attendance : 42,300
Assists : Gilardino (won pen), Cafu, Gilardino, ? (ck), Brocchi
17 October 2006
LILLE 3-1 AEK ATHENS
The Greeks has the best of the first half chances but Puel's half time team talk did the trick. Keita wriggled his way past three players inside the box before pulling the ball across the face of goal for Robail to tap-in. Liberopoulos flicked on a longball, Ivic pulled it away from a defender with his first touch and found the back of the net with his second. Gygax scored within four minutes of replacing Robail and his goal was a carbon copy of Lille's first. Makoun 'scored' a third with the help of a big deflection off Georgeas.
Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Keita, Keita, Liberopoulos, n/a
ANDERLECHT 0-1 MILAN
Attendance : 20,129
Red Card : Bonera 48 (Milan)
Assist : Seedorf
26 September 2006
AEK ATHENS 1-1 ANDERLECHT
Frutos, who is named after a children's yoghurt drink (probably), volleyed Boussoufa's clever pass wide of Sorrentino. Julio Cesar (this one is a midfielder) scored a fortuitous equaliser when he managed to intercept and then control a long range shot from team-mate Hatemaj and as the Anderlecht defence were busy appealing for offside he put the ball into the back of the net.
Attendance : 60,000
Assist : n/a
LILLE 0-0 MILAN
Attendance : 22,500
Assist : n/a
13 September 2006
ANDERLECHT 1-1 LILLE
Pareja gave Anderlecht the lead with a superb diving header. Keita's pass was played out wide to Odemwingie and Fauvergue completely miss-hit his centre but fortunately the ball bounced in off a post. Anderlecht almost stole the points at the death when Keita's cross/shot forced Zitka into a spectacular one handed save.
Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Boussoufa (ck), Odemwingie
MILAN 3-0 AEK ATHENS
No Pirlo for Milan so Ancelotti took the very strange decision to play Brocchi in front of the defence, not that it would have mattered against this opposition. Gourcuff, Favalli and Maldini traded passes on the left flank before Maldini ran past Kapetanos and floated a cross straight onto Inzaghi's head, 1-0. Gourcuff, already a firm favourite with Ancelotti, scored his first Milan goal with a powerful header from a deep Kaka' cross. Inzaghi lost his balance when fighting Moras for possession in the box, the ref pointed to the spot and the ever brilliant Kaka' converted.
Attendance : 45,000
Assist : Maldini, Kaka', Inzaghi (won pen)