22 October 2013

STEAUA BUCHAREST 1 (Tatu 88)
BASEL 1 (Diaz 48)

Diaz gave the visitors the lead with a fantastic first time shot from 25 yards. Tatu, not to be confused with the one hit wonder pop group, got in front of his marker to smash in a driven cross.

Attendance : 23,899
Assists : Streller, Popa


SCHALKE 0
CHELSEA 3 (Torres 5, Torres 68, Hazard 87)

The rent boy headed in from a yard out and tapped in a second after Hazard and Oscar ripped through Schalke's naïve high line. A longball out of defence sent Hazard and Torres clear of Schalke's defence once again though this time Hazard ignored his charity case team-mate and accelerated past Matic before scoring.

I'm convinced Torres only scores when teams don't take him seriously as a goal-threat. He's still shit and immobile.

Attendance : 54,442
Assists : Ivanovic, Oscar, Ramires


MARSEILLE 1 (A Ayew 86)
NAPOLI 2 (Callejon 42, Zapata 67)

Higuain found Callejon with a superb crossfield pass, he flicked the ball inside Fanni before thumping past Mandanda. Colombian forward Zapata, on for Higuain, scored his first Napoli goal with a great curling shot from the edge of the box. Jonathan knocked down a ball for his brother to smash home a consolation goal, only the second goal Marseille have scored in the competition this season, Jonathan coincidentally scored the first.

Attendance : 39,790
Assists : Higuain, Mertens, J Ayew


ARSENAL 1 (Giroud 41)
DORTMUND 2 (Mkhitaryan 16, Lewandowski 82)

Reus mugged Ramsey as he tried to dribble the ball out of defence, Lewaondowski gave his pass to Mkhitaryan and he beat Szczesny at his near post. A cowardly acts of goalkeeping gifted Arsenal the equaliser. Sagna whipped in a cross and Weidenfeller bottled out of a challenge leaving Giroud to hammer home from a yard out. Dortmund's winner also came from the right flank, Aubameyang released Grosskreutz on the overlap and Lewandowski volleyed across goal.

This group will go down to the wire though I still think Benitez will find a way to screw it up. If nothing else Arsenal know how to get into the last 16.

Attendance : 60,011
Assists : Lewandowski, n/a, Grosskreutz


AUSTRIA VIENNA 0
ATLETICO MADRID 3 (Garcia 8, Costa 20, Costa 53)

Koke found Luis with a fantastic reverse pass and he unselfishly centred for Garcia to began the rout. Costa scored an outrageous second. He picked up the ball inside his own half and ran down the left flank, he waited for two defenders to converge, showed them to his right before sharply turning to his left as he burst past, he feigned to shoot, dropping the goalkeeper, then rolled the ball inside the right post. Magnificent. He tapped in his second to finish off an Austria Vienna side hopelessly out of their depth.

Attendance : 45,675
Assists : Luis, n/a, Insua


PORTO 0
ZENIT 1 (Kerzhakov 85)

Attendance : 31,109
Assist : Hulk


CELTIC 2 (Forrest 45 Pen, Kayal 54)
AJAX 1 (Schone 94)

Celtic went ahead from the penalty spot after a massive dive by Stokes. Kayal fired a rebound through a ruck of bodies and with the last kick Schone smashed a shot inside the right post.

Attendance : 58,719
Assists : Stokes, n/a, Serero


MILAN 1 (Robinho 9)
BARCELONA 1 (Messi 24)

Mascherano made a hash of a longball and Robinho held off Pique before playing in Kaka' on the overlap, Kaka' returned his pass and he tapped into the left corner. Iniesta broke from midfield onto a loose ball after De Jong and Montolivo sandwiched Busquets, he found Messi free on the left and he dribbled past Mexes before beating Amelia. Robinho made the type of miss only he is capable of, kicking fresh air from six yards out. Iniesta and Adriano were almost as bad at the other end, both failing to beat Amelia from point blank range.

Surprisingly not the thrashing everyone expected though that will come in the return fixture.

Attendance : 74,487
Assists : Kaka', Iniesta