Champion League 2007/08

[Rasputin]

UEFA Champions League holders AC Milan will begin their trophy defence against fellow European title-winners SL Benfica and Celtic FC as well as FC Shakhtar Donetsk after the group stage draw was made the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Slavia bow

The 32 teams were split into eight sections of four and while Milan, Benfica, Celtic and are in Group D, last season's runners-up Liverpool FC also play two former European champions, meeting FC Porto and Olympique de Marseille along with Beşiktaş JK in Group A. PFC CSKA Moskva, hoping to reach the final in their home city, take on Group G rivals FC Internazionale Milano, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahçe SK.

Postponed game

One place in the group stage is yet to be filled, as the second leg of AEK Athens FC's third qualifying round tie with Sevilla FC was postponed to Monday 3 September due to the death of the Spanish club's defender Antonio Puerta on Tuesday. The eventual winners will play in Group H against Arsenal FC, FC Steaua Bucureşti and SK Slavia Praha, newcomers to this stage.

Fixture schedule

The group stage fixtures will be confirmed shortly and will be played on 18/19 September, 2/3 October, 23/24 October, 6/7 November, 27/28 November and 11/12 December, though Milan's last game will be on 4 December due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. The winners and runners-up from each pool will progress to the first knockout round in the spring, with the final set for Moscow on 21 May. Teams finishing third in each section will have the consolation of going into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.





Group A

Liverpool FC (ENG)

FC Porto (POR)

Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

Beşiktaş JK (TUR)


Group B

Chelsea FC (ENG)

Valencia CF (ESP)

FC Schalke 04 (GER)

Rosenborg BK (NOR)


Group C

Real Madrid CF (ESP)

Werder Bremen (GER)

S.S. Lazio (ITA)

Olympiacos CFP (GRE)


Group D

AC Milan (ITA, holders)

SL Benfica (POR)

Celtic FC (SCO)

FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)


Group E

FC Barcelona (ESP)

Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

VfB Stuttgart (GER)

Rangers FC (SCO)


Group F

Manchester United FC (ENG)

AS Roma (ITA)

Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)

FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)


Group G

FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

PSV Eindhoven (NED)

PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)

Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)


Group H

Arsenal FC (ENG)

Sevilla FC (ESP)

FC Steaua Bucureşti (ROU)

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)

[abadani69]

UEFA president Michel Platini wants to give domestic cup winners a place in the Champions League.

Confirming a Reuters report, Platini said he would seek approval from the executive committee of European soccer's governing body in October to award cup winners across Europe a place in the lucrative competition.

Under the proposed shake-up discussed by UEFA's new Professional Football Strategy Council, England, Spain and Italy would be given an extra automatic spot in the group stage.

"This is not a revolution, but evolution," Platini told a briefing on Thursday.

"Of course there is some disagreement but I am just delivering on the promise I made... which was to revamp the Champions League and open it up to lesser teams and smaller countries."

Thursday was the first meeting of the ground-breaking committee, comprising of representatives from the national associations, leagues, clubs and players and Platini accepted he faced some opposition from the leagues and bigger clubs.

"We have decided to give the leagues and clubs an extra month to mull over the plans, so we have postponed the decision by the executive until the end of October," Platini said.

LEAGUE OPPOSITION

The former French international said he would like to see countries such as England, Spain and Italy with only three clubs in the competition. Currently they have up to four places.

Under the new system, these countries would transfer their fourth league place to their cup winners. As a way of compensation their third team, which normally enters at the qualification stage, would go straight into the last 32.

The 16 cup winners would enter a separate qualifying system which would run parallel with the traditional qualifying rounds for the Champions League group stage and when reduced to four teams, they would be given automatic spots among the final 32.

Last month the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) -- representing the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga, among others -- rejected the plans on the grounds it would devalue their competitions.

"We have to protect the position of the leagues which are the heart of the game in Europe," EPFL general manager Emanuel Macedo de Madeiros told Reuters.

However, sources within UEFA and the EPFL said Germany and Italy, who expressed a wish to boost their cup competitions, were set to back Platini's plans in principle.

[abadani69]

A.C. Milan again

[Rasputin]

گروه بندی لیگ قهرمانان اروپا قرعه کشی شد


32 تیم برتر قاره در هشت گروه چهار تیمی قرار گرفتند
گروه بندی مر حله گروهی مسابقات لیگ قهرمانان اروپا روز پنجشنبه قرعه کشی شد و 32 تیم برتر قاره در 8 گروه جای گرفتند.
بازیهای مرحله گروهی از روز سه شنبه 18 سپتامبر (27 شهریور) آغاز می شود و تا روز چهارشنبه 12 دسامبر (21 آذر) ادامه خواهد داشت.

آث میلان ایتالیا، قهرمان دور قبل این بازیها، در گروه چهارم با تیمهای بنفیکا پرتغال، سلتیک اسکاتلند و شاختار دونتسک اوکراین همگروه است.

بارسلونا اسپانیا، از بختهای اصلی قهرمانی این دوره نیز در گروه پنج و در کنار لیون فرانسه، اشتوتگارت آلمان و رنجرز اسکاتلند قرار دارد.

گروه بندی این رقابتها به شرح زیر است:

گروه اول:
لیورپول انگلستان، پورتو پرتغال، مارسی فرانسه، بشیکتاش ترکیه

گروه دوم:
چلسی انگلستان، والنسیا اسپانیا، شالکه آلمان، روزنبرگ نروژ

گروه سوم:
رئال مادرید اسپانیا، وردربرمن آلمان، لاتزیو ایتالیا، المپیاکوس یونان

گروه چهارم:
آث میلان ایتالیا، بنفیکا پرتغال، سلتیک اسکاتلند، شاختار دونتسک اوکراین

گروه پنجم:
بارسلونا اسپانیا، لیون فرانسه، اشتوتگارت آلمان، رنجرز اسکاتلند

گروه ششم:
منچستریونایتد انگلستان، آاس رم ایتالیا، اسپورتینگ لیسبون پرتغال، دینامو کیف اوکراین

گروه هفتم:
اینترمیلان ایتالیا، آیندهوون هلند، زسکا مسکو روسیه، فنرباغچه ترکیه

گروه هشتم
آرسنال انگلستان، سویا اسپانیا یا آاک آتن یونان، استوا بخارست رومانی، اسلاویا پراگ جمهوری چک

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

Robben Delighted With Debut

The Dutchman came on as a second half substitute, and despite lacking match fitness, showed some positive signs during the 2-1 win over Werder.

"I felt great," he told RealmadridTV after the game. "I've waited a long time to make my debut and I am tremendously happy.

"I expected to play tonight because the coach told me I would have some minutes during the second half.

"I didn't take my eyes off him while I was warming up! We've had a great start to the Champions League, but I need to play more in order to do better."

"I'm adapting well because there are other Dutch players on the team.

"I enjoyed the welcome the fans gave me and the minutes I was on the pitch. I wasn't anxious to play, but I'm happy I finally did.

"I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome they gave me."

[Rasputin]

Porto - Liverpool 1 - 1 18/09/2007
Marseille - Besiktas 2 - 0 18/09/2007

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Schalke 04 - Valencia 0 - 1 18/09/2007
Chelsea - Rosenborg 1 - 1 18/09/2007

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Olympiakos - Lazio 1 - 1 18/09/2007
Real Madrid - Werder 2 - 1 18/09/2007

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Shakhtar - Celtic 2 - 0 18/09/2007
Milan - Benfica 2 - 1 18/09/2007

[Rasputin]

رئال مادرید پیروز شب اول جام قهرمانان


رود ون نیستلروی پنجاهمین گل خود در جام قهرمانان را مقابل وردربرمن به ثمر رساند.
در شب آغازین رقابتهای گروهی جام قهرمانان فوتبال اروپا، رئال مادرید وردربرمن را دو بر یک شکست داد تا سیصدمین حضور خود در تاریخ این رقابتها را با پیروزی جشن گرفته باشد.
در این مسابقه که به عنوان جزئی از مسابقات گروه سه و در استادیوم سانتیاگو برنابئو شهر مادرید برگزار شد، رائول گونزالز، کاپیتان و مهاجم رئال مادرید در دقیقه 16 گل اول مسابقه را به ثمر رساند.

اما وردربرمن به فاصله تنها یک دقیقه بازی را به تساوی کشاند.

با این حال ون نیستلروی، در حالیکه تنها 16 دقیقه به پایان مسابقه باقی مانده بود، گل پیروزی بخش را برای رئال مادرید، قهرمان نه دوره این مسابقات، وارد دروازه وردربرمن کرد.

بنا بر گزارش رسمی سایت اتحادیه فوتبال اروپا، برند شوستر مربی رئال مادرید تیم خود را با تغییراتی عمده به زمین فرستاده بود.

او مارچلو را در سمت چپ و نزدیک خط دفاع به کار گرفت، از روبینیو استفاده نکرد و خاویر ساویولا را نیز که در تازه ترین بازی رئال مادرید در جام باشگاه های اسپانیا گل زده بود، به کار نگرفت.

شروع موفق مدافع عنوان قهرمانی

در گروه 4 آث میلان، قهرمان فصل پیش این مسابقات نیز در مسابقه اول، بنفیکا را با نتیجه مشابه دو بر یک مغلوب کرد.

آث میلان که در استادیوم خانگی خود، سن سیرو بازی می کرد، از ابتدا جریان مسابقه را در اختیار گرفت و بسیار زود، در دقیقه نهم مسابقه، با ضربه آزاد آندره پیرلو به گل رسید.

آندره پیرلو حدود پانزده دقیقه بعد هم با ارسال پاس، شرایط را برای گلزنی فیلیپه اینزاگی فراهم کرد تا حریف پرتغالی عملا تسلیم حریف ایتالیایی خود شده باشد.

هرچند بنفیکا در نیمه دوم شرایط بهتری داشت، اما در این نیمه هم دروازه این تیم چند بار توسط بازیکنان آث میلان، از جمله کاکا مورد تهدید قرار گرفت.

در پاسخ در نهایت نونو گومژ، مهاجم این تیم با آخرین شوت بازی، تنها توانست یک گل را جبران کند.

شب بد بریتانیایی ها

در گروه 2 چلسی، نایب قهرمان فصل قبل باشگاه های برتر انگلستان، از سوی تیم نروژی روزنبورگ غافلگیر شد.


ژوزه مورینیو مربی چلسی از اینکه تیمش نمی تواند موقعیتهای بدست آمده را به گل تبدیل کند به وضوح ناخشنود بود

چلسی که در زمین خود بازی می کرد، در اواسط نیمه اول، روی یک حرکت ایستگاهی و ضربه آزاد، از حریف یک گل دریافت کرد و عقب افتاد.

این تیم هرچند در دقیقه 53 توسط آندری شوچنکو، مهاجم سرشناس اوکراینی خود، بازی را به تساوی کشاند و دوبار هم تیر دروازه میهمان نه چندان سرشناس خود را هدف قرار داد، اما نتوانست از امتیاز بازی خانگی خود حداکثر استفاده را ببرد و حتی وقتی سوت پایان بازی به صدا درآمد، برخی تماشاگران انگلیسی تیم خود را "هو" کردند.

در ترکیب تیم چلسی غیبت فرنک لمپارد و دیدیه دراگبا واضح بود.

در گروه یک هم، لیورپول صدر نشین فعلی باشگاه های برتر انگلستان، در برابر پورتو و در زمین این تیم، با نتیجه مساوی یک بر یک متوقف شد.

قهرمان پنج دوره جام قهرمانان اروپا که در آماج حملات پورتو قرار داشت، در دقایق اولیه بازی تا آنجا تحت فشار قرار گرفت که پپه رینا، دروازه بان این تیم، مجبور شد یک حمله تیم پورتو را درون منطقه 18 قدم با خطا متوقف کند.

پورتو در دقیقه 8 بازی دروازه لیورپول را با یک پنالتی باز کرد. اما درک کویت، مهاجم لیورپول، نه دقیقه بعد با ضربه سر، بازی را به تساوی کشاند.

هرچند تهاجم تیم پورتو ادامه یافت، اما این تیم نتوانست از موقعیتهای ایجاد شده، از جمله اخراج جرمین پنانت بخاطر دریافت کارت زرد دوم، استفاده کند.

در گروه 4، سلتیک، قهرمان باشگاه های اسکاتلند هم در شهر دونتسک اوکراین، دربرابر تیم شاختار دونتسک، دو بر صفر شکست خورد.

سلتیک که در 12 بازی از 13 بازی خارج از خانه خود در دوره های مختلف جام قهرمانان اروپا شکست خورده، در هشت دقیقه آغاز بازی دو گل دریافت کرد و دیگر امکان جبران هیچکدام از این دو گل را بدست نیاورد.

[Rasputin]

Rangers - VfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 19/09/2007
Barcelona - O. Lyon 3 - 0 19/09/2007

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Sporting - Man Utd. 0 - 1 19/09/2007
Roma - Dynamo 2 - 0 19/09/2007

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Fenerbahce - Inter 1 - 0 19/09/2007
PSV - CSKA 2 - 1 19/09/2007

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Slavia Praha - Steaua 2 - 1 19/09/2007
Arsenal - Sevilla 3 - 0 19/09/2007

[abadani69]

Chelsea skipper John Terry is a serious injury doubt ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match with Valencia - while England midfielder Frank Lampard is definitely out with a thigh injury.

Terry suffered a broken cheekbone during Saturday's draw with Fulham, but could still start against the Spanish side, even if he has to wear a face mask to protect his injury.

New Chelsea manager Avram Grant will assess Terry's fitness during training on Tuesday. Midfielders Michael Essien (calf) and Shaun Wright-Phillips (hamstring) are also doubtful.

Grant has had a rocky start to his career as Blues boss after replacing Jose Mourinho last month and will be keen to impress in his first Champions League game in charge of the London club.

Chelsea's recent form has been poor. They have gone four Premier League matches without scoring a goal during which time they suffered two losses and two draws.

They also played out a lacklustre 1-1 draw against home to Rosenborg in the Champions League, while a flattering 4-0 win at lower-league side Hull City in the Carling Cup could not disguise the fact that September was a dire month for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Valencia, meanwhile, have made a great start to their season, having won eight of its nine league and cup games, including a 1-0 win over German team Schalke in its first Champions League group match.

Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares is doubtful with a leg problem, while winger Vicente Gonzalez, midfielder Manuel Fernandes and defender Carlos Marchena are also injury concerns.

[abadani69]

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal of the season to earn Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Roma the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The result leaves United three points clear at the top of Group F, having won their opening two matches.

England striker Rooney struck with 20 minutes left on the clock when he latched on to a neat pass from Nani and hit a low first-time shot into the net from 15 yards.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said after the match that he was pleased with his team's performance, even though the game was a much tighter affair than last April's quarter-final clash in which United hammered Roma 7-1.

"I'm pleased because they're a good team, it was a good game and a good European night," Ferguson told ITV1. "A bit tactical at times but a good result for us."

Ferguson also praised Rooney's match-winning goal.

"Marvellous. Similar to the one he scored against AC Milan," said the Red Devils boss. "Great passing and a great finish."

Rooney might have given United the lead in the first half when Nani got in behind the Roma defence but saw his cross ballooned over the bar by the England international.

Substitute Carlos Tevez almost made it 2-0 with a piledriver from just outside the box, while at the other end United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak - deputizing for the injured Edwin Van der Sar - did well to gather a long-range Simone Perrotta effort.

The Italian side created most of the chances throughout the game and should have scored with just three minutes left on the clock when Francesco Totti put over a good cross only for Mauro Esposito to smash his effort hopelessly wide.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti claimed his side were unlucky to lose and should have had a penalty when United midfielder Michael Carrick challenged Amantino Mancini in the area.

"It is difficult to analyse this game any other way. The team did well and had the best chances at the end, but were unable to make the most of them," said Spalletti. "The important thing is that the squad showed character and reacted to recent unfortunate results. I expected this as I know what these lads can do, but tonight they deserved more.

"As for the penalty, these incidents can be added on to the opportunities we wasted. Carrick threw himself on the player, Mancini had already put the ball past him, it was a blatant penalty. I think it is an easy incident to read.

"It was 0-0 at the time, so it certainly would have been an important chance," added the Roma boss.

[abadani69]

American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley became the first American to score for different teams in the European Champions League and assisted on another goal, helping Glasgow Rangers to a 3-0 upset victory at Lyon on Wednesday night in the first round of the European Champions League.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Internazionale of Milan also won in their second games of the opening round.


Beasley's corner kick was headed in by Lee McCulloch in the 23rd minute and Daniel Cousin added a goal in the 48th for Rangers (2-0). Beasley scored in the 53rd minute, outpacing defender Cleber Anderson to beat an offside trap and slip the ball past goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre from close range.

Beasley scored three goals for PSV Eindhoven during the 2004-5 Champions League.

In the other Group E game, Barcelona (2-0) won 2-0 at Stuttgart (0-2) on second-half goals by Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi. Lyon also is 0-2.

Manchester United (2-0) won 1-0 against visiting AS Roma (1-1) on a 70th-minute goal by Wayne Rooney in Group F. Sporting Lisbon (1-1) won 2-1 at Dynamo Kiev (0-2) on first-half goals by Tonel and Anderson Polga. Vladyslav Vashchuk scoring a tying goal for the home team.

At Milan, Internazionale (1-1) fielded a lineup with no Italians and won 2-0 against PSV Eindhoven (1-1) in Group G as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice. Fenerbahce (1-0-1) got an 85th-minute equalizer from Deivid De Souza in a 2-2 tie at CSKA Moscow (0-1-1).

In Group H, Arsenal (2-0) won 1-0 at Steaua Bucharest (0-2) as Robin Van Persie scored in the 76th minute. Sevilla won 4-2 against visiting Slavia Prague 4-2 on goals by Frederic Kanoute, Luis Fabiano, Julien Escude and Arouna Kone.

Wednesday's schedule has Porto (0-0-1) at Besiktas (0-1) and Olympique Marseille (1-0) at Liverpool (0-0-1) in Group A; Schalke (0-1) at Rosenborg (0-0-1) and Chelsea (0-0-1) at Valencia (1-0) in Group B; Real Madrid (1-0) at Lazio (0-0-1) and Olympiakos (0-0-1) at Werder Bremen (0-1) in Group C; and Shakhtar Donetsk (1-0) at Benfica (0-1) and AC Milan (1-0) at Glasgow Celtic (0-1) in Group D.

[abadani69]

Barcelona took a step closer to the Champions League's first knock-out round on Tuesday night with a convincing 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart to claim their second consecutive group stage win.

Despite the home side having four clear first-half chances to take the lead, Stuttgart's defence finally cracked as substitute Carles Puyol and Argentinian super-star Lionel Messi fired second-half goals.

The win leaves the Spaniards unbeaten in Group E after last month's 3-0 win at home to Lyon as they join Rangers on six points, while Stuttgart stay pointless.

"We met an opponent who are in great form at the moment and, unfortunately, we were not equipped with the appropriate self-confidence to deal with that," said Stuttgart coach Armin Veh.

"Without the confidence, we needed a fair bit of luck and, again unfortunately, we haven't got that at the moment either.

"You only needed to look at the goals they scored to see where we went wrong."

But despite his side's comfortable win, Barcelona's Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard was far from satisfied with the performance. "I was not impressed with the first-half," he said.

"We started well, but we were thoughtless with our chances. Those are problems which we must address, because you can't afford to waste them in a competition like this."

With Rangers also unbeaten after Tuesday night's 3-0 win in Lyon, Stuttgart now have a mountain to climb to make the competition's next stage after last month's opening 2-1 defeat in Glasgow.

Although the Germans came into the game on the back of a shock 2-1 away defeat to Bundesliga minnows Hansa Rostock at the weekend, the atmosphere at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion was electric as the home fans got behind their side.

But the classy Spaniards showed why they are highly-fancied to win Europe's top football competition and regain then title they won in 2006.

Of Barcelona's 'Cuatro Fantasticos' only Cameroon's Samual Eto'o was missing with injury as Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry made up a world-class forward line.

With his side going top of La Liga at the weekend with a 4-1 win at Levante, Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard named Brazilian Ronaldinho as captain despite missing the last three games with a calf strain.

Barcelona gave Stuttgart an early warning of the danger when Ronaldinho combined with Messi who clattered his shot against the post after only five minutes.

Germany's footballer of the year Mario Gomez fired back for Stuttgart moments later, but his effort troubled the side netting more than Barcelona's 'keeper Victor Valdez.

Valdez then kept his side in the game with four top-class saves as he denied Gomez from two headers at point-blank range on 32 minutes and blocked two shots from wing Arthur Boka just before half-time.

But Stuttgart's bitter pill came in the 53rd minute when Puyol, who was an early replacement for defender Rafael Marquez, stabbed his shot home after Ronaldinho had broken the defence.

And Messi, who picked up a yellow card late in the first half, grabbed the second when his shot passed under Stuttgart's 'keeper Raphael Schaefer and trickled over the line on 67 minutes.

It could so easily have finished 3-0 as Eric Abidal pushed his shot wide in injury tine despite a posse of Barcelona attackers screaming for the ball with the home defence nowhere to be seen.

[Rasputin]

اینترمیلان بالا آمد، بریتانیایی*ها بردند.



در ادامه مسابقات فوتبال جام قهرمانان باشگاه های اروپا، اینترمیلان کابوس مسابقه اول در مقابل فنرباغچه را به فراموشی سپرد تا پی اس وی آیندهوون را دو بر صفر شکست دهد.
زلاتان ابراهیموویچ، فوروارد سوئدی اینترمیلان نقشی عمده در پیروزی این تیم داشت؛ این بازیکن در دقیقه پانزده با خطایی در منطقه جریمه آیندهوون متوقف شد تا خود با کسب یک ضربه پنالتی و فزیب دادن دروازه بان، اولین گل این فصل اینترمیلان در جام قهرمانان باشگاه های اروپا را به ثمر برساند.

او وقتی ساعت مسابقه از دقیقه 30 گذشت، با یک ضربه سر گل دوم را نیز به ثمر رساند.

اما مهمترین مسئولیت او، از آن زمان آغاز شد که کریستیان شیوو بازیکن اینترمیلان، با گرفتن کارت زرد دوم، از زمین اخراج شد و ابراهیموویچ، مهاجم تیم 10 نفره، نه تنها مجبور شد با کمک به دفاع، خود از حاصل زحماتش محافظت کند، بلکه در حملات نیز با بازگشت به خط میانی، عملکرد خوبی را نیز از خود به نمایش گذاشت.

از سوی دیگر، فنر باغچه هم در مسکو، به لطف اشتباه دروازه بان زسکا، توانست باز دو بر یک باخته را در دقایق پایانی بازی به تساوی بکشاند، تا کماکان با یک امتیاز بیشتر نسبت به اینترمیلان، در صدر گروه هفت باقی بماند.

آرسنال، میهمان قدرنشناس

آرسنال، صدر نشین کنونی لیگ برتر انگلستان، با پیروزی یک بر صفر مقابل استوا بخارست، جای خود در صدر گروه هشت را محکم کرد.

این تیم که در مسابقه اول خود، سویل را در استادیوم امارات شهر لندن شکست داده بود، در اولین سفر به بخارست پایتخت رومانی، کاملا مسلط بر بازی بود و حتی به ثمر رساندن یک گل، تا اندازه ای باعث ناامیدی اعضاء آرسنال شد.

آرسنال تا دقیقه 76 مسابقه منتظر ماند، تا در نهایت رابین ون پرسی، پاس امانوئل آده*بایور را به گل تبدیل کند.

آرسن ونگر، مربی آرسنال پس از مسابقه گفت که نگران ضد حملات بوده و اذعان کرد که استوا بخارست، با از دست دادن بخت خود در یکی از خطرناک ترین ضد حملات، باعث شد جریان بازی به سود آرسنال تغییر کند.

او گفت: "مسئله، هوش و صبر بود که ما نشان دادیم [آنرا در اختیار داریم]"

سویل، دیگر تیم گروه هشت هم چهار بر دو اسلاویا را شکست داد تا در مکان دوم این گروه قرار گیرد.

باخت شرافتمندانه رم



در اولدترافورد، ورزشگاه منچستریونایتد، آث رم، شاید نتوان گفت که میهمان "مانند" شش ماه قبل شکست خورد.

رم که در ماه آوریل سال جاری و در مرحله یک چهارم نهایی همین مسابقات، با نتیجه هفت بر یک از منچستریونایتد باخته بود، این بار بخت را در کنار خود داشت؛ میزبان از هفت بازی گذشته اش، در پنج بازی یک بر صفر پیروز شده بود.

این بار هم به نظر رسید که همین نتیجه برای منچستر یونایتد کافی باشد: وین رونی 20 دقیقه به پایان مسابقه، پاس نانی را با یک شوت به گل تبدیل کرد.

فراچسکو توتی، بهترین بازیکن رم، و حتی شاید بتوان گفت بهترین بازیکن میدان بود و رم مسلط بازی می کرد.

اما تلاش این تیم به نتیجه ای نرسید تا علی رغم پیروزی دو بریک اسپورتینگ لیسبون بر دینامو کیف، رم با سه امتیاز از دو بازی، پس از منچستر یونایتد در مکان دوم جدول گروه هفت جای گیرد.

بازگشت رونالدینیو

بارسلونا که در مسابقه اول با قدرت لیون را سه بر صفر شکست داده بود، در اشتوتگارت با مانع بزرگتری مواجه شد.

آنری، مسی و رونالینیو هر چه کردند حاصلی نداشت.

بالاخره پویول که در دقیقه هفت بازی بجای رافائل مارکز مصدوم وارد زمین شده بود، در دقیقه 53 گل اول را زد و لیونل مسی، کمتر از پانزده دقیقه بعد، با گل دوم ضربه نهایی را وارد ساخت.

از دقیقه پنج بازی فوتبای تهاجمی در زمین به نمایش گذاشته شد و در مجموع تنها در نیمه اول 25 شوت به سمت دروازه ها شلیک شد

بارسلونا دقتی بالا در حملات داشت و از اینرو به پایان رسیدن بازی با تنها دو گل، مسئله ای "عجیب" بود.

در دیگر بازی گروه شش، رنجرز سه بر صفر لیون، صدر نشین لیگ فرانسه را شکست داد.

[abadani69]

Chelsea came from a goal down to beat Valencia 2-1 in the Champions League at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday.

David Villa gave the home side an early lead before England midfielder Joe Cole scored the equaliser and then set up Didier Drogba to fire home a second-half winner.

Blues skipper John Terry - who as expected played with a face mask to protect a fractured cheekbone - then marshalled his fellow defenders brilliantly as the English Premier League club withstood a late flurry of attacks from Valencia to secure a hard-earned but deserved victory for new manager Avram Grant.

"We came here to win the game, the players and staff did a great job before the game. We felt that we wanted to do it and we did it in the right way," Grant told Sky Sports after the match. "To come back from 1-0, the second half was very good, we dominated the game, scored one goal, missed two chances so I'm happy."

The result sees Chelsea top Group B on four points after successfully kick-starting their Champions League campaign following last month's disappointing 1-1 home draw against Rosenborg and the subsequent departure of former manager Jose Mourinho.

England defender Terry was also delighted with his side's performance.

"We had a great team spirit tonight," the Chelsea captain told Sky Sports: "We haven't been performing as well as we'd have liked.

"We had many great performances and needed a collective performance like that tonight.

"Maybe a little bit's been missing but it's back and hopefully we can kick on from here."

Valencia started brightly in front of their own fans and could have taken the lead in the first minute when midfielder David Silva fired a chance just over the Chelsea goal.

The La Liga side did break the deadlock on nine minutes when a loose ball fell to Villa and Spanish striker hit a low right-footed shot beyond the reach of Petr Cech.

But the Chelsea goalkeeper then made a crucial save on 20 minutes from Spanish midfielder Joaquin and within seconds the visitors drew level.

France winger Florent Malouda played a neat one-two with Drogba before sending over a low cross from the left flank for Cole to scramble the ball home.

Joaquin should have restored Valencia's lead before the break but sent his shot over Cech's bar.

After the persistent Villa had a goal ruled out for off-side in the 56th minute, Chelsea took control of the match and went ahead with less than 20 minutes left on the clock.

Cole laid a superb pass into the path of Drogba, who outpaced his marker before smashing home a left foot drive past Timo Hildebrand in the Valencia goal.

The home side pressed hard for a late equaliser but the Chelsea back line held out to claim maximum points.