4 December 2007

MILAN 1 (Inzaghi 70)
CELTIC 0

Kaka' burst through a tackle in midfield onto a loose ball and played a one-two with Cafu as they continued their runs into the box, Kaka' released the overlapping Cafu and the full back's centre was turned in first time by Inzaghi.

Inzaghi set a new record for most goals in the UEFA competitions (European Cup, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup), beating Gerd Muller's long standing tally of 62 goals though, not surprisingly, Muller did it in less games.

Attendance : 38,409
Assist : Cafu


SHAKHTAR DONETSK 1 (Lucarelli 30 Pen)
BENFICA 2 (Cardozo 6, Cardozo 22)

Cardozo ran onto Lewandoswki's hospital pass, rounded Pyatov and lobbed the ball into an empty net. The 6ft 3in Cardozo leapt over the Shakhtar defence to head in Maxi Pereira's cross. Lucarelli converted a gift of a penalty but it wasn't enough to prevent Benfica claiming a UEFA Cup spot at the expense of the big spending Ukrainians. I'll be surprised if Lucescu isn't sacked for this.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : n/a, Maxi Pereira, Lucarelli (won pen)


28 November 2007

BENFICA 1 (Maxi Pereira 20)
MILAN 1 (Pirlo 15)

Pirlo followed up his goal at the weekend with another superb strike from distance. Collecting from Kaka' he unleashed a low drive which curled inside Quim's left hand post. Pereira's equaliser was even better. He cut inside Gattuso onto his left foot and from the edge of the box crashed a shot in off the right post.

Attendance : 50,000
Assists : Kaka', Katsouranis


CELTIC 2 (Jarosik 45, Hubschman 92 og)
SHAKHTAR 1 (Brandao 4)

Kenney headed a longball against Brandao and he ran through to beat Boruc. Two Shakhtar defenders made a mess of a longball and Jarosik hammered home the equaliser. McGeady crossed from the left as Shakhtar were defending a free kick and Donati's first time shot took a deflection of Hubschman before dropping inside Pyatov's right hand post.

Attendance : 59,146
Assists : n/a, n/a


6 November 2007

CELTIC 1 (Luisao 45 og)
BENFICA 0

Attendance : 52,000
Red Card : Binya 85 (Benfica)
Assist : n/a


SHAKHTAR 0
MILAN 3 (Inzaghi 66, Kaka' 72, Inzaghi 93)

Inzaghi had an immediate impact after replacing Gilardino, who was publicly criticised by Ancelotti for his disgraceful shooting at the weekend. Fernandinho tackled Kaka' on the edge of the box and tried to start a counter attack but was nonchalantly dispossessed by Pirlo who then dropped a ball over the Shakhtar defence for Inzaghi to volley past Pyatov. Inzaghi chested down a long ball and drew in three defenders before passing out wide to Kaka' who curled a low shot in off the right post. Pirlo sent Kaka' through on the break and he unselfishly centred for Inzaghi to tap in his second.

Inzaghi now holds the joint record for most European goals (62) alongside Gerd Muller, according to UEFA. The solution to Milan's problems is obvious. Ancelotti should coach the team in Europe and cup competitions and Milan should have a separate coach for Serie A.

Attendance : 35,000
Assists : Pirlo, Inzaghi, Kaka'


24 October 2007

BENFICA 1 (Cardozo 87)
CELTIC 0

Attendance : 15,000
Assist : De Maria


MILAN 4 (Gilardino 6, Gilardino 14, Seedorf 62, Seedorf 69)
SHAKHTAR 1 (Lucarelli 51)

Gilardino settled the Rossoneri's fragile nerves with a 6th minute header from a Pirlo corner. Seedorf teased his marker with step-overs, forcing him to lose his balance and giving him the extra yard he needed to float a magnificent cross straight onto Gilardino's head for his and Milan's second.

Lucarelli headed on a goalkick, Oddo hit his clearance against Brandao, Kalac flew off his line and made a great block but the ball popped up towards the centre circle for the awaiting Lucarelli to volley in. Seedorf scored two fantastic goals from half cleared corners. On the first occasion he flicked the ball in the air and from the left side of the box sent a dipping, low volley bouncing in off the bottom right post. Seven minutes later Shakhtar goalkeeper Pyatov punched out a Pirlo corner and Seedorf whacked a right foot volley over him.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : Pirlo (ck), Seedorf, n/a, n/a, n/a


3 October 2007

CELTIC 2 (McManus 62, McDonald 90)
MILAN 1 (Kaka' 68 Pen)

Hartley whipped in a corner from the left, Dida ran into traffic and flapped at the cross before crashing to the ground, the ball struck McManus and was helped over the line by Gourcuff. Kaka' equalised from the spot after Naylor tried to hug the Milan captain but Ambrosini spurned his advances. Milan blew two chances to clear a corner and the ball was eventually played back to Caldwell, his tame effort was spilled by Dida and McDonald tapped in the rebound. As the Celtic players ran away to celebrate a fan decided to join them and gave Dida a pat on his neck as he ran past. Dida started chasing after him before turning around and dropped to the floor clutching his face. He was subsequently stretchered off which will only add to his embarrassment.

Hopefully UEFA won't award Milan the match for the fans stupidity. Milan should be made to sweat qualification for their sorry performance in this match, with all due respect to Celtic. Ancelotti hasn’t been given the vote of confidence yet, that may change after the weekend.

Attendance : 58,642
Assists : n/a, Ambrosini (won pen), n/a


BENFICA 0
SHAKHTAR 1 (Jadson 42)

Attendance : 35,000
Assist : Fernandinho


18 September 2007

MILAN 2 (Pirlo 9 fk, Inzaghi 24)
BENFICA 1 (Nuno Gomes 92)

Pirlo, badly missed at the weekend, gave the European Champions the lead with a beautiful free kick. Kaka' sprung a counter attack when Milan were defending a free kick, he carried the ball 70 yards with Seedorf in support and played in Pirlo who made a run on the blind side, Pirlo stopped the ball, looked up and floated a cross to the back post for Inzaghi to volley past QUIM (look it up on urban dictionary.com). Rui Costa, who spent five years at Milan, was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the second half and patted his heart as he left. Deep into injury time the Milan defence ball watched Katsouranis fire a low cross into the box which Nuno Gomes slid in at the back post.

Attendance : 38,358
Assists : Jankulovski (won fk), Pirlo, Katsouranis


SHAKHTAR 2 (Brandao 5, Lucarelli 8)
CELTIC 0

Fernandinho intercepted a hospital pass from a Celtic defender and instantly played in Brandao who thundered a left foot shot from the edge of the box past Boruc. 31 year old Cristiano Lucarelli doubled the home sides advantage with a superb diving header.

Attendance : 28,000
Assists : Fernandinho, Rat