Champions League Gameday 5
It's that time again - time for the wealthy elite to strut their stuff on the Champions League stage. It's crunch time too - down to the last two matches of the group stages with several sides, including current champions Barcelona, with a lot left to do. Join me if you're round and about the telly or computer - or both!
posted by gatorbob @ 1:38 PM
30 Comments:
I'll admit straight out that I'm really worried about this one. Hamburg are no world beaters, but they are heartless technicians that won't be awed by the scenery. They are no mugs. Meanwhile, we're playing 4-5-1, a system that doesn't fit Henry's gifts, and hoping that RVP, Manu, Fabregas, and Hleb will weigh in with the goals when Henry is marked tightly. That hasn't worked and now anything less than a win will have us away to those cheats at Porto chasing a win to just stay in the thing.
Very, very, worried in DC.
I don't like the way you're setting up for this match, but I still expect the Arse to get through it with no worries. Hamburg really have been disappointing in this year's competition and should finish bottom. You're right though that having to do anything against Porto will be difficult.
Here are the other fixtures today:
Group F
Benfica v FC Copenhagen
Celtic v Man Utd
Group G
Arsenal v Hamburg
CSKA Moscow v FC Porto
Group H
AEK Athens v AC Milan
Lille v Anderlecht
Group E
Real Madrid v Lyon
Steaua Bucuresti v Dynamo Kiev
The bad news for the Arse is that Porto are currently 2-0 up away to CSKA. That will likely leave them needing to win in Portugal in order to top the group.
I don't see us on current form having any chance of finishing top of this group.
If Porto need a result at home, they generally put all the assassins in the side in the first 11, nick something on the break-away, and then take turns falling around and being stretchered off the pitch when they're not bitching like Faith Hill on a bad day. I've yet to see a ref that can control that since Collina was retired. No, I don't fancy any of that away day to Porto.
Let's hope you don't draw Lyon if you do place second. They're on fire. Anyone else you don't fancy getting?
CSKA 0 Porto 2 is now a result. It does indeed put Porto on top of the group.
CSKA 0 Porto 2 is now a result. It does indeed put Porto on top of the group.
Here are the current standings in Group F:
Group F Pld Pts
Man. United 4 9
Celtic 4 6
Benfica 4 4
København 4 4
And we're off in today's Champions League matches. I'm mainly concentrating on the Celtic vs. ManYoo match. Another tasty encounter in Real vs. Lyon.
Here are the sides for today's match:
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Gravesen, Lennon, Sno, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski.
Subs: Marshall, Miller, Wilson, Jarosik, Maloney, McGeady, O'Dea.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Brown, O'Shea, Richardson, Fletcher, Silvestre.
Referee: Manuel Gonzalez (Spain)
An early chance for Roon who's close to connecting with a super cross from the Neviller.
Saha whips in a shot after Neil Lennon coughs up a loose ball on the edge of the box. Good start for United.
Wow - Arsenal have been rocked by an early stunning strike by Van der Vaart. They're one-nil down to Hamburg at the Emirates.
Arsenal have rebounded well and are on full attack mode. They'll need to strike back almost immediately if they aren't to be frustrated today.
Lyon are already one nil up in the Bernabeu. They're are frightening these days - definitely the best club side in Europe. I can't see anyone touching them this season.
Benfica have taken the lead against Copenhagen. Not a good result for ManYoo. A win for them today would put them on seven points and within striking distance of ManYoo.
Wow - Benfica are now two-nil up! Game over, eh? A loss by ManYoo today to Celtic at Parkhead would have Celtic top on ten, ManYoo second on nine and Benfica third on seven. Very, very tight.
The ESPN2 match has settled into a typical Battle of Britain cup tie, with lots of sturm and drang and little finesse. Celtic in particular lumping the ball up to that Venegoor of Hesselink bloke. I'm a bit sick of him - pick a name, mate. Pick a name. You're either Venegoor or you're Hesselink. Pick one!
Lille have taken the lead over Anderlecht.
Kiev are one-nil up away to Bucharest.
Lyon are now 2-0 up against Real. Wow!
Lovely - AEK have taken the lead against Milan. I would love it, love it, love it if Lille and AEK could knock Milan the cheaters out of the competition. If the results hold today, Milan would be on 10, Lille on eight and AEK on seven going into the last matches.
Crikey - Benfica are now three nil up!
365 comments: "The visitors are playing some breathtaking football at time but the only concern for Sir Alex Ferguson will be the lack of real clear cut chances created."
Anderlecht have unfortunately leveled it against Lille.
Real have nicked a goal back against Lyon. That match is of very little consequence with Kiev and Steau well behind on points to the two big teams.
Hamburg have had a player stretchered off and are playing with ten players - time to pick up the pace for the Arse.
Half time coming and the Arse are still one down and ManYoo and Celtic at 0-0. I'll be buggering off to teach but will check back in later.
Well, well, well. As expected the Arse came back to beat the woeful Hamburg handily with goals from RVP, Eboue and a first for Julio Baptista - about time he got something done for the Gunners.
Not such a good night for ManYoo - they went down to a second loss in a row thanks to another free kick goal from Nakamura and a penalty miss from Saha. They're now in a spot of bother in that last set of matches.
In other games, Real came back to pip Lyon 2-2 in what must have been a cracker. I'll look forward to seeing the highlights of that one tonight.
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