Posted by James Cranford

Tuesday, September 13, 2011:

Group E:

Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen

The first match saw England runners-up Chelsea host German runners-up Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge and welcome former blue, Michael Ballack, back where he also received a warm welcome from the Blues fans.

The first half ended goalless with the home side looking the more dangerous as both Danny Sturridge and Fernando Torres came close for the Pensioners.



The second half saw Michael Ballack with a glorious chance that was well saved by Petr Cech, and what a return that would have been for the former German captain. Chelsea finally had their breakthrough through David Luiz who made a run from midfield, passed to Ashley Cole, who passed to Torres, who returned the favor the Luiz, who curled the ball in the bottom corner for the lead. Chelsea sealed the game in stoppage time as Torres broke in on the right and unselfishly passed to Juan Mata who easily tapped in for the win.

KRC Genk 0-0 Valencia

The Belgium Champions were back in the competition for the first time in nine years and started at home against the third-placed Spaniards.

Genk repelled a lot of Valencia pressure in the first half including a chance for Pablo Piatti who sped down the left and crossed to Roberto Soldado who couldn't finish. Scoreless at the break.

Genk started the better of the two sides in the second half but couldn't get a shot past Diego Alves. Daniel Parejo hit a thunderous volley for the visitors but Genk Goalkeeper Laszio Koteles made the save. Then the best chance came from an Adil Rami overhead that beat Koteles but came off the crossbar.

Next Matches:
Bayer Leverkusen v. KRC Genk
Valencia v. Chelsea

Group F:

Borrussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal

German Champions Dortmund welcomed Arsenal to their boisterous crowd.

Arsenal had to hold onto early pressure from Dortmund in the first half, but it was the English side who scored first from Robin Van Persie who was sent through by Theo Walcott and sent it passed the Dortmund Keeper. Arsenal led at the break.



Arsenal looked as though they would hang on for a terrific three points at the BVB Stadion Dortmund but substitue Ivan Perisic hit a screamer of a volley into the top corner leaving Szczesny rooted to the floor. One point each.

Olympiacos 0-1 Marseille

Marseille were able to get a valuable three points on the road at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. Lucho Gonzales nabbed the winner for the Frenchmen tapping in a wonderful cross from the right by Jeremy Morel. However, Rod Fanni was sent off in stoppage time and will miss the next match.

Next Matches:
Arsenal v. Olympiacos
Marseille v. Dortmund

Group G

APOEL Nicosia 2-1 Zenit St. Petersburg

The Cypriot Champions gained their first ever Group Stage win scoring twice in the second half in as many minutes to defeat the Russians.

The first half saw no goals scored but Zenit nabbed the opener through Konstantin Zyryanov. The lead lasted ten minutes as Gustavo Manduca cleaned up and finished an effort that Helio Pinto scuffed in front of goal. Just two minutes later, Ailton found himself free on the right an coolly finished off the attack for the lead and the win.

FC Porto 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Last year's Europa League winners started this year's Champions League campaign with a home victory over the Ukrainian quarter-finalists from a year ago.




Luiz Adriano put Shakhtar 1-0 up early after a shot from Willian looked to have been secured by Porto Keeper, Helton, but Luiz Adriano was there to clean up the spoils. Hulk, who missed a penalty earlier, hit a fierce shot passed the keeper from 35 meters.

The second half saw the Portuguese Champions take the lead through Kleber after he tapped in a pass from James Rodriguez from the left. Shakhtar finished the game with nine men having both Yaroslav Rahitskiy and Dmytro Chygrynskiy sent off.

Next Matches
Shakhtar Donetsk v. APOEL Nicosia
Zenit St. Petersburg v. FC Porto

Group H

Barcelona 2-2 AC Milan

The glamour tie of the round came from the Nou Camp as the title holders, Barcelona, faced seven-time winners, AC Milan.

The game was off to a fast start as Alexandre Pato scored after 25 seconds bursting past the Barcelona defense. The Spaniards were able to respond in the first half through that man Messi who burst by three Milan defenders and squared a ball to Pedro who tapped in for the equalizer.

The second half saw Barcelona take the lead through David Villa 30 meter free kick that dipped over the wall and past Abbiati in the Milan net. Milan were able to get a last-gasp equalizer from a corner that Thiago Silva powerfully headed home and gained a valuable road point for the Italian Champions.


Plzen 1-1 BATE Borisov

The Czech Republic Champions, Plzen, made their Champions League debut and made the breakthrough just before halftime from Marek Bakos.

BATE were able to level the score in the 69' through Renan Bressan and share the spoils in the Czech Republic.

Next Matches
AC Milan v. Viktoria Plzen
BATE Borisov v. Barcelona

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Group A

Manchester City 1-1 Napoli

Both teams finished third in their respective league campaigns a season ago and both made their Champions League debut on Wednesday.

The first half ended goalless even though City held most of the possession and Napoli were looking to counter through Edinson Cavanni and Ezequiel Lavezzi.



The Italians made the breakthrough in the second half after Maggio won the ball and started a counter in which he fed Cavani who slotted the ball in between Joe Hart's legs and into the net for the lead. The lead did not last long, however, as Alexandar Kolarov coolly placed a free kick into the corner of the net and gained the equalizer for a share of the spoils at the Etihad stadium. 

Villareal 0-2 Bayern Munich

This year's hosts of the final, Bayern Munich, traveled to Spain and came away with three points to gain the early advantage in the group.

It only took seven minutes for the Bavarians to take the lead, with Frank Ribery and Tony Kroos combining to score the opener. In the second half, substitute Rafhina came in on the left hand side and blasted a shot past Villareal Goalkeeper Diego Lopez and sealed the win.

Next Matches
Bayern Munich v. Manchester City
Napoli v. Villareal

Group B

Internazionale 0-1 Trabzonspor

The shock of the round came from Turkish runners-up, Trabzonspor, who weren't even in the competition initially, as they went the San Siro and defeated the 2010 winners.

The goal came from a Halil Altintop blast that ricocheted off the crossbar and Ondrej Celustka was first to react and score the Turkish side's first ever goal in the Champions League proper.

The loss means the seat gets even hotter for Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini with a game against Roma coming next weekend. Will we see him in charge next when Inter travel to Moscow in two weeks time?

Lille 2-2 CSKA Moscow

The French Champions looked to have claimed all three points at home, but a late equalizer denied them of that right and the points were shared at the Lille Métropole.

The first half started brightly for Lille as they pressed to find the opener. It finally came through Moussa Sow with a back-heel following a pass from David Rozenhal.

It took 12 minutes after the break for Lille to double their advantage, Benoit Pedretti put the ball in the net. Then, Moscow got found their groove through Seydou Doumbia who scored twice in the last 20 minutes to steal a valuable road point.

Next Matches
CSKA Moscow v. Internazionale
Trabzonspor v. Lille

Group C

Basel 2-1 Otelul Galati

Basel earned three points in a game they would have thought they needed to win entering the tie. Basel got on the score sheet first in the first half through Fabian Frei's header.

The second half saw the Romanian's equalize through Morius Zena, scoring their first ever Champions League goal, who pounced on a loose ball in front of the net. But, the game was put to bed by the home side as Alexander Frei converted a penalty and sealed the points.

Benfica 1-1 Manchester United

Last year's finalists, Manchester United, took on arguably their toughest test in this year's Group Stage by traveling to Lisbon to play Benfica.

                       

It was a couple first half goals, first from the home side through Oscar Cardozo after he shook off Johnny Evans and slotted the ball home. But, the old Manchester United guard, Ryan Giggs, scoring in his 22nd straight season and 17 straight Champions League match, thunderously equalized right before the interval.

The share of the spoils is how it ended and both teams will not be overly disappointed with a point.

Next Matches

Manchester United v. Basel
Otelul Galati v. Benfica

Group D

Ajax 0-0 Lyon

Not much to comment on in terms of goals, but Lyon had to withstand some second half pressure from the Dutch side to hold on and gain a share of the spoils at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid had to make the trip to Croatia and found a way to get three points on the road. The Croatian Champions will find points hard to come by in this group but played well v. last season's semi-finalists.

After a goalless first half, Angel DiMaria was able to put the Spaniards up and grab the three points.

Next Matches
Lyon v. Dinamo Zagreb
Real Madrid v. Ajax