3 October 2012
DYNAMO KYIV 2 (Gusev 3, Pivaric 33 og)
DINAMO ZAGREB 0
Gusev got in front of his taller marker to head down Vukojevic's cross. Taiwo intercepted a goal-kick and Pivaric turned his cross past his own 'keeper.
Attendance : 47,804
Assists : Vukojevic, n/a
PORTO 1 (Rodriguez 83)
PSG 0
Attendance : 36,509
Assist : Fernando
ARSENAL 3 (Gervinho 42, Podolski 56, Ramsey 94)
OLYMPIAKOS 1 (Mitroglou 46)
Koscielny should have been sent off for a two footed, sideways murder attempt on Machado. Gervinho gave Arsenal the lead with a grasscutter from the edge of the box but Mitroglou, who had already gone close, headed in the equaliser from a Greco cross. Podolski restored Arsenal's lead from a Gervinho pull-back and the great fraud of British football, Aaron Ramsey, scored a wonderful third. Giroud headed on a Mannone goal-kick, Ramsey shifted the ball onto his left foot then dipped a first time lob into the bottom left corner.
Attendance : 60,034
Assists : Arteta, Greco, Gervinho, Giroud
SCHALKE 2 (Draxler 26, Huntelaar 53 Pen)
MONTPELLIER 2 (Ait-Fana 13, Camara 90)
Ait-Fana gave Montpellier the lead with a superb, curling shot from the left of the penalty area. A fantastic pass, from Huntelaar no less, sent Draxler clear for the equaliser. Bocaly was sent off for bringing down Draxler in the box. The teenager was later stretchered off with an arm injury. Camara stole a point for the ten men when he swept home a loose ball.
Attendance : 50,004
Red Card : Bocaly 52 (Montpellier)
Assists : Cabella, Huntelaar, Draxler (won pen), Tinhan
ZENIT ST PETERSBURG 2 (Hulk 47, Shirokov 49)
MILAN 3 (Emanuelson 13, El Shaarawy 16, Hubocan 75 og)
Emanuelson gave Milan the lead with a deflected free kick, which should have been recorded as a Shirokov own goal. Three minute later El Shaarawy turned onto a Boateng pass near the left touchline, dribbled past two players, nutmegged Criscito and ran between two defenders before shooting into the left corner. Phenomenal goal from a phenomenal talent. Abate, who is normally rock solid in defence, failed to track Hulk as he ran onto a Shirokov pass before firing wide of Abbiati. Shirokov got above the feeble Montolivo, who was too afraid to make a challenge, to head in the equaliser from a wicked Hulk corner. Pazzini threw himself at a Montolivo cross and his 'shot' deflected in off Hubocan. Abbiati, who had an incredible game, made an extraordinary one handed save to deny Anyukov a sure-fire equaliser in the 82nd minute. Milan comfortably, albeit nervously, held on to claim an extremely lucky win.
I have never been a fan of Spalletti since he embarrassed Italian football in Europe with his shit Roma side. Like that idiot Zeman and Ranieri, Spalletti remains a darling among the so called Italian football experts from the UK.
There were rumours that Man United were interested in El Shaarawy, from a tabloid which means there's no truth in them but even if they were interested they couldn't afford him. He would cost upwards of €50 million and IF he comes on the market (if Milan don't find new investors or a new owner) only PSG, Chelsea and Man City would be capable of signing him.
Attendance : 21,703
Assists : n/a, Boateng, Shirokov, Hulk (ck), n/a
ANDERLECHT 0
MALAGA 3 (Eliseu 46, Joaquin 57 Pen, Eliseu 64)
Eliseu gave the visitors the lead in first half injury time with a stunning left foot volley from the edge of the box. Kouyate chopped down Monreal to concede the penalty and Eliseu completed a rare brace when he lobbed Proto from the edge of the box.
Attendance : 15,711
Assists : n/a, Monreal, Isco
AJAX 1 (Moisander 56)
REAL MADRID 4 (Ronaldo 42, Benzema 48, Ronaldo 79, Ronaldo 81)
Ronaldo tapped in his first from a deflected cross. Benzema started and finished off a brilliant counter attack. Marcelo took possession off him and played a cross out wide to Kaka', whose inclusion shows just how seriously Mourinho was taking Ajax, he swung in a cross and Benzema connected with an overhead kick. Moisander headed a corner under Casillas. Ronaldo restored Real Madrid's two goal lead with a fine strike from the edge of the box and finished off their once mighty rivals with the pick of the goals, an exquisite close range lob.
Harsh on Ajax who could, should have scored at least another two goals when Casillas flapped at crosses. Don't let his performances in a Spain shirt fool you, if Casillas played in a proper league i.e. Serie A or the EPL he'd be benched inside a month. De Gea is positively rock solid on high balls compared to him.
Attendance : 49,491
Assists : n/a, Kaka', Eriksen (ck), Benzema, Khedira
MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Balotelli 90 Pen)
DORTMUND 1 (Reus 61)
Rodwell underhit a backpass, Reus raced past Nastasic before angling a shot inside the left post. One season wonder Lewandowski should have killed off City but missed from six yards out, Gundogan providing a fabulous pass. Hart made a string of unbelievable saves to keep an increasingly confident Dortmund at bay, his save from Reus was probably the highlight and then Subotic, who plays how he looks i.e. stupid, handled an Aguero cross and Balotelli converted with his dodgy stutter step penalty.
If Man City don't get out of the groups this season Mancini will be canned at the end of it. I hope Platt and Kidd go as well - they're shite.
Attendance : 43,657
Assists : n/a, n/a