Champions League - Gameday 2!
The Champions League is back this afternoon with a second slate of matches: Debrecen v Lyon
Fiorentina v Liverpool
Barcelona v Dynamo Kiev
Rubin Kazan v Inter Milan
Rangers v Sevilla
Unirea Urziceni v VfB Stuttgart
AZ v Standard Liege
Arsenal v Olympiacos
posted by The Blue Devil @ 12:39 PM
99 Comments:
It won't be the focus this afternoon, but I should note that there is a full slate of Football League matches today including top of the table Leeds United at home to Carlisle.
Liverpool make one change to the side that beat Hull 6-1 at the weekend. Fabio Auerlio comes in on the left for Albert Riera, who is on the bench. The full Liverpool line-up is: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Aurelio, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Spearing, Plessis.
Emmanuel Eboue is in for Bacary Sagna for Arsenal tonight, while Tomas Rosicky starts in place of Nicklas Bendtner, who was injured in a car crash at the weekend. The full Arsenal team is: Mannone, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Rosicky, Fabregas, Diaby, Arshavin, van Persie. Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Senderos, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, Gibbs.
In the early kick-off, Inter have drawn away to Rubin Kazan. Not the best result for Jose's men there. I do believe that they got a draw in the opener as well.
The Arsenal v. Olympiakos link through Atdhe has the tail end of a U-20 World Cup match between USA and Cameroon on right now. 3-1 US at present.
Make that 4-1!
The Leeds side for today's clash:
Ankergren, Bromby, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Hughes, Howson, Doyle, Johnson, Snodgrass, Beckford, Becchio
Full strength then.
Lovely - the bloke running this channel has switched immediately from the U-20 match over to the CL preview for Arse.
Olympiakos getting us underway here at the Emirates. Come on, the Arse!
Robin van Persie's definitely due a goal at this point. Has he scored any this season?
First chance for Arsenal to loft the ball into the area for the big men. Of course they take it short. Arshavin sticks a speculative ball into the middle and no one's following in.
Lyon are off to a flyer against Debrecen. They're 0-1 up away.
Luciano Becchio with a header just wide for Leeds. Come on!
This is my first look at Arsenal's new keeper Mannone.
Lots of neat interplay in the midfield for Arsenal but nothing telling as yet.
Stuttgart are also in the lead away to Unirea.
Charlton are away to Colchester today. Third placed Bristol Rovers are away to bottom of the table Southhampton.
Ten minutes in and still no goals at the Emirates nor in Liverpool's match in Florence.
Van Persie scored last Saturday I think.
Lost the feed to Rangers/Sevilla. I'm at work anyway. Want to slap Walter Smith for going with one striker, and it's not Kris Boyd. No wonder they have problems scoring!
Oldham have taken a 1-0 lead against the Dons. In the Championship, the Blades are 1-0 up against the wretched Ipswich.
Cardiff are also 1-0 up now against Derby.
Southend take the lead away to Brentford in L1.
Oooh, Arshavin nearly opens Arsenal's account with a low drive well saved by Nikopoledis.
Lyon now 0-2 up, goals from Kjallstrom and Panic there.
Oooh, beautiful sequence of play from the Gunners leads to a rocket from Arshavin off the crossbar, it comes back out and Rosicky has one saved by the keeper. Should have been 1-0.
Stockport County are 1-0 up against Jeff Stellings' Hartlepool.
Barnsley have taken the lead against top of the Championship WBA.
Lovely stuff from Arshavin but somehow the keeper scrambled it out.
Tranmere are 0-1 up against Wycombe.
Arsenal have a dangerous free kick now after a high boot. Fab and RVP over it.
Fabregas hits it into the wall and it's cleared.
Olypiakos's game plan seems to be to try to launch Raul Bravo with long balls. Not working yet.
Two quick goals and Watford and Coventry are at 1-1.
Twenty minutes gone at Elland Road and we're still at 0-0. I'd like to see a goal before half time please.
Again Fabregas is denied by Nikopoledis. Wow!
Barca take the lead against Kiev. Who else - Leo Messi.
Lyon are romping it - 0-3!
Ipswich have leveled it at Sheffield United.
That's interesting. I just switched to a MyP2P link and it's those old CL warhorses Derek Rae and Tommy Smyth doing ESPN coverage. I thought those lads were done with the CL?
YESSSSSSSS!!!!!
Jermaine Beckford with his seventh goal of the season.
1-0 Leeds!
That goal has us six points up on second placed Charlton and eight points up on third placed Bristol Rovers. Wow!
Oh dear - Liverpool have fallen behind in Florence. Jovetic with the goal for Fiorentina.
As I look again at the text, the Leeds goal came from a penalty taken by JB that was saved and Beckford netted the rebound. Phew!
RVP with some fancy footwork but his eventual effort was from a tight angle and easily saved. Arsenal should really get a goal by halftime to capitalize on the pressure.
Colchester are now 2-0 up against Charlton. Oh, happy days!
And Ipswich have taken a precious 1-2 lead against the Blades. Even better!
Ouch, Jovetic has added a second goal against Liverpool. The Reds are in big trouble in Italy tonight.
Leigh Bromby has picked up a knock and has been replaced by utility man Neil Kilkenny.
Diaby nearly got his noggin on that one. Another chance goes begging.
And Soton are in the positive zone for the first time this season with a 1-0 lead against Bristol Rovers who slip to nine points behind us.
Rosicky has one saved by Nikopolides, who is busier than a shotgun in hunting season here. Man of the match for sure.
Half time at the Emirates and still 0-0. Arsene Wenger won't be happy with the lack of goalscoring although he'll be pleased with the overall play.
And half time at Elland Road. 1-0 there. I'm very pleased so far. The lucky Leeds shirt will stay on.
Teams coming back out of the tunnel at the Emirates. Second half coming...
Arsenal kick off the second half. They need to score early for the floodgates to open. The longer the game goes on without a goal, the more they'll be like nervous kittens at the back when the occasional Olympiakos attack happens.
A bit more adventurous play from the Greeks at the opening of this half.
Dear oh dear - Arsenal save one off the line. They will have to pull their fingers out soon.
At first I thought that was cleared off the line by Clichy but at second look, it was a terrific fingertip save by Mannone.
RVP has a low shot saved by the keeper and then gets involved in some argybargy after he slides in for the rebound.
Yellow card for Van Persie.
Bristol Rovers have leveled it against Soton. And Soton respond almost immediately! It's 2-1 there!
Not a great night for the English in Europe so far. Arsenal are being held 0-0 at home and Liverpool are 2-0 down in Italy.
Beckford has a go from distance but pings it over.
Looks as if Arsene is going to the bench. Maybe Eduardo?
I've just noticed that our old boy Ian Harte is lining up for Carlisle these days. Not so fast with the free kicks, Ian.
AZ have taken a 1-0 lead in the other game in this group.
Big shout for handball there. The ref wasn't interested, though. That could be a big talking point.
The shots raining in from the Leeds boys now. But still 0-0 with the hour mark approaching.
Colchester are 3-0 up over Charlton!
Lyon are now 0-4 up. That will put a lot of pressure on Liverpool, who are still 2-0 down in Florence.
The excellently named Dudu is booked. And here comes Eduardo for Rosicky.
About twenty five minutes left at Elland Road. Keep it tight, lads!
Great possession here from the Gunners but they desperately need a goal right now.
Sevilla are now 0-2 up over Rangers.
Coming down to the last fifteen minutes at the Emirates now.
Another great move through Fabregas, Arshavin and RVP leads to a parried shot that Gallas just couldn't poke home.
Looks like Vela is going to get a run out in a moment here. Must be RVP to come off. He's been profligate today.
Another great save from Nikopolides from Diaby there.
Stuttgart have been pegged back to 1-1 by Unirea.
2-2 between Soton and Bristol Rovers now.
GOAL! Finally RVP comes good! It's about time. In truth, Eduardo did all the hard work there down the left and all Robben had to do was to side foot it in.
1-0 Arsenal!
Bugger - Carlisle have scored through Scott Dobie in the 75th minute. The lucky Leeds shirt is coming off. We need another late, late show.
David Prutton has come on for Jon Howson. Come on, you Whites!
RVP coming off now. He's earned his corn today.
Inside the last ten minutes at Elland Road. Come on!
GOAL! Arshavin tucks Arsenal's second in with some aplomb. The floodgates are finally open.
2-0!
Rangers are now 0-4 down at home to Sevilla. Embarrassing.
Big Enoch Showumni is on for Luciano Becchio who has had a bit of a drought recently.
About five minutes left for Leeds to win this one. Come on!
Fabregas picks up an unnecessary yellow card for a late challenge. Silly.
It was at this point on Saturday that Brad Johnson scored. We'll need more heroics today. Come on!
All over at the Emirates. Another good win for Arsenal in the CL. Full points so far. Not so for Liverpool, who look to be going down 0-2 in Florence.
Into stoppage time at ER. Come on!
Twelve chances to three in this match. We must win it.
Lots of goals in L1 today. Norwich have won 3-0. Same with Oldham and Colchester. Soton and Bristol Rovers and Stockport and Hartlepool are locked at 2-2.
Oooh, a shot just wide by JB. Come on!
Full time at Elland Road. 1-1. Two dropped points alas.
Still the League 1 standings look like this tonight:
1. Leeds 26 points
2. Charlton 23 pts
3. Bristol Rovers 20 points.
Onward to Saturday.
The second day of Gameday #2 matches in the Champions League today. I'm back from my class break and it's coming up on half time:
Chelski are 0-1 up through a goal from Nic Anelka.
Moscow are 2-1 up over Besiktas, FC Zurich are 0-1 up away to Milan. There's a shocker.
All other matches, including ManYoo at home to Wolfsburg are at 0-0 coming up on half-time.
Into the second half and as usual United are bombing at the Stretford End. They're 2-1 up through goals from Giggs and Carrick after Wolfsburg had had the temerity to take the lead.
Read Madrid are 3-0 up through a brace from that man Ronaldo and a penalty from Kaka.
Chelski are coasting to a 0-1 result.
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