Champions' League

Champions' League

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rodblog's dispatch from the UEFA Champions' League

up-to-date recap of top-flight French football

AC Milan 2-1 Liverpool

24 May 2007

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In the end, Liverpool’s failure to win the UEFA Champions’ League is arguably the best thing that could have happened for the club. While the 2-1 loss to AC Milan in Athens was a bitter pill to swallow for players and supporters alike, it will not be surprising if, even a year from now, the 2007 Final is seen as a positive turning-point in the modern history of Liverpool Football Club.

Rafael Benitez, ever tactful and calculated, was appropriately reflective in his post-match comments. While his side had managed another storybook campaign in Europe, they were dismal in the Premiership and equally average in both domestic cup competitions. The truth is, the manager admitted, that Liverpool were really not in contention for prizes in 2006-2007.

“It’s something we have known about all season,” reasoned the 47-year-old Spaniard. “We need to start thinking of how we can improve; because we need to be going forward.”

For his part, Benitez got his tactics exactly right on Wednesday. The proof was in the possession – a category Liverpool dominated in the first-half. Their failure to win the trophy was not a result of the tactics; it was a consequence of the lack of quality among the attacking players.

Dirk Kuyt, for all his assets, is not a striker of the highest caliber. At best, he is a secondary forward – the type of player who can scamper about the attacking-third and create opportunities for his partner. Bolo Zenden, while not the rubbish alleged by most football pundits, is not the type of player to be patrolling the left flank in a Champions’ League Final. And though he was only given a brief, twelve minute run-out after replacing Javier Mascherano, Peter Crouch is not the game-changing match-winner Benitez would preferred to have had available on the bench at such a moment.

On the other side of the ball, Carlo Ancelotti planned Liverpool’s demise superbly. With Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini shielding a veteran back-four, AC Milan soaked-up the impotent Liverpool attack for much of the first-half. When Kaka was taken down in the box by Xabi Alonso just prior to the interval, the Rossoneri took full advantage. And while the validity of the goal has been debated citing the possibility of hand-ball, the fact remains that Milan made the most of their chances when they were presented. Liverpool did not. In actuality, they created very little.

Still, Liverpool supporters have a pot-purée of cynical arguments at their disposal. Herbert Fandel was conservative and egalitarian in his showing of yellow-cards. The German referee, however, seemed to lose the plot as the second-half progressed. Milan were awarded an inordinate amount of free-kicks and Filippo Inzaghi fully deserved at least a booking for his time-wasting antics in the final minutes. Most controversially, however, was Fandel’s decision to blow the whistle after just over two-and-a-half minutes of added-time. Three minutes had been added to the clock after the expiry of normal time and more might have been added after Giuseppe Favalli replaced Clarence Seedorf after the full ninety.

Regardless, Liverpool no more deserved to win the match than did their opponents. Aside from Kirk Kuyt’s rather fortunate header in the eighty-ninth minute, the Italians were defensively perfect. While Jermaine Pennant was given cart-blanche to run Marek Jankulovski into the ground on the right-hand flank, he rarely had a red shirt to aim at when producing a cross. And although Liverpool maintained a definitive territorial advantage throughout, much of their attacking possession was spent passing the ball around the perimeter – such was the presence of Gattuso and Ambrosini.

It is with these actualities in mind that Benitez will proceed with a virtual summer clearance. And rightfully so. The manager has conceded that Premiership contention must be foremost in the club’s aspirations. To succeed, however, will require a significant re-tooling of the squad. There are more question-marks than sure-things. In the end, Benitez can go about his business with far more freedom than had he hoisted the European Cup in Athens. Success is one thing. The illusion of success is another entirely.

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Thirteen

24 May 2007

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Throughout the Champions’ League, Rodblog will assess the completed matches by selecting those players who were either outstanding contributors in a triumphant cause or irrefutable liabilities in a loss.

Filippo Inzaghi – outstanding contributor

A helpless observer when AC Milan were overturned by Liverpool in Istanbul in 2005, Filippo Inzaghi made the most of his second chance upon being selected ahead of Alberto Gilardino for the 2007 Champions’ League Final on 23 May. It was a choice that paid off in heaps for manager Carlo Ancelotti. The 33-year-old Piacenza-born striker scored both Milan goals en route to a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool and a seventh European Cup for the Rossoneri.

Inzaghi’s selection as the outstanding contributor of the 2007 Final comes with an asterisk, however. After Liverpool’s Harry Kewell forced a corner-kick in the dying minutes, Inzaghi collapsed to the ground with his hand on his side. One might have been mistaken for assuming the Italian international had come down with sudden case of appendicitis – such was the quality of the performance.

In truth, referee Herbert Fandel would have been well within his rights to show the player a straight red-card for time-wasting. A yellow-card, at the very least, would have given the episode a bit of justice. Fandel chose to do nothing, however; and despite Dirk Kuyt’s last-gasp header, the result had long been in the cards.

Inzaghi’s antics were most unfortunate in that they tainted what was an otherwise superb performance. After Xabi Alonso brought Kaka to the ground with a reckless tackle just prior to the interval, Andrea Pirlo curled a lovely free-kick past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina – via the shoulder of Inzaghi. While partisan Liverpool supporters cried for the goal to be disallowed because of hand-ball, the truth is that the ball merely struck Inzaghi – not vice-versa – before bulging the back of the net. The goal might well have been credited to Pirlo; but it was Inzaghi who ensured that Reina would not make the save.

His second tally was substantially easier on the eye. Breaking through Liverpool’s off-side trap, Inzaghi ran onto a perfectly-timed free-kick from Kaka, rounded Reina, and poked the ball into the wide corner of the goal. It proved to be the match-winner.

A case might well be made for the influence of Kaka on the proceedings in Athens. With full credit to Liverpool – Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, in particular – the Brazilian maestro was contained for much of the ninety minutes. He broke free of the man-marking on two occasions, however, and created a goal on each.

On the other side of the ball, Jermaine Pennant played the finest match of his Liverpool career. He flew up and down the right-hand flank throughout the first-half – pounding high balls into the area for his teammates. Had Peter Crouch been given more of an opportunity, he might well have beaten the impenetrable two-some of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta in the centre of the Milan defence.

Gennaro Gattuso deserves mention as well. Despite being cautioned in the forty-first minute, the midfielder nicknamed The Snarl continued to live up to his reputation in the second-half. Paired with Massimo Ambrosini, he kept Liverpool from extending Milan’s pace-challenged back-four and prevented Steven Gerrard from manipulating the attacking third.

Inzaghi, however, was simply into everything. He was involved in every significant incident throughout the ninety minutes. And while his thespianism left a rather bad taste in the mouth – particularly for the 15,000-plus Liverpool supporters in the stadium – his positive contributions and sense of timing were the single-most decisive elements of the match.

Liverpool 1-2 AC Milan

AC Milan win Champions' League

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Twelve

02 May 2007

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Jose Manuel Reina – outstanding contributor

Say what you will about Pepe Reina’s penchant for coming off his line when facing a penalty-kick. Every goalkeeper does what he must to gain an edge. The bottom-line is that Reina won the tie for his team. Petr Cech, despite a solid performance through 120-minutes, was unable to stop a single Liverpool spot-kick. In two legs as uneventful as these, that was the difference.

Boudewijn Zenden, despite the usual criticism, was superb on the day and slotted-home Liverpool’s first penalty. Reina’s subsequent save on Arjen Robben gave the hosts a sudden advantage; and from that point forward, there was only going to be one winner.

While Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerard, and Dirk Kuyt proceeded to bulge the twine behind Cech, Reina saved again – denying Geremi a last-gasp chance to salvage the tie. Kuyt’s marker proved the match-winner – a fitting reward for the Dutchman who had been ruled offside prior to beating Cech in the first period of added time.

In truth, Reina’s 5-minutes of brilliance was the only piece of outstanding play over both legs of the Champions’ League semi-final. Despite the build-up and the tension and the constant crowing from Jose Mourinho, Liverpool-versus-Chelsea was hardly a spectacle on the field. Granted, Steven Gerrard’s tricky free-kick which created Daniel Agger’s goal in the 22^nd-minute at Anfield was a spark of creativity, if not genius. However, no player from either side seemed willing to assert himself to the point of grabbing control of the tie.

Frank Lampard was absolutely invisible – a fact which will not be lost on England manager Steve McClaren. Ricardo Carvalho was sorely missed in the Chelsea defense; and Michael Essien, standing-in for the injured Portuguese defender, was unable to influence the proceedings as he could have from the midfield.

Jose Mourinho, apparently having watched some other match, blustered afterwards that Chelsea was fully deserving of a place in the final. His own players would be the first to argue with him. In truth, neither side offered very much throughout the 210-minutes of combined-time over the two-legs. And fittingly, a trip to Athens was still up for grabs as the managers made their selections for the penalty shoot-out. But, as it turned out, Rafa Benitez had made the most important selection hours beforehand. Pepe Reina stood on his head for five minutes; and Liverpool were through.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Liverpool advance 4-1 on penalties

Clarence Seedorf – outstanding contributor

It was billed as the collision of the two best players in the world. The torrential rains and crashing thunder only served to enhance the sense of spectacle. And while Christiano Ronaldo huffed and puffed to no avail over the two legs, Kaka scored three times – each one unique and beautiful. Indeed, the 25-year-old Brazilian was centre-stage for AC Milan in their Champions’ League semi-final with Manchester United. He, more than anyone else, carries Milan’s hopes on his shoulders as 23 May approaches. Should the Rossoneri win a seventh European Cup in Athens, Kaka will be celebrated as a hero and forever engrained in the great club’s pantheon of champions. And rightly so.

That said, United’s demise was orchestrated by the wily Clarence Seedorf. The 31-year-old Surinamese midfielder seems at his best in this competition. It is as though he was programmed to excel on the grandest stage. The brighter the lights and tighter the tension, the more Seedorf’s composure and serenity are revealed. He thinks about the play he is about to make. He does not panic; he just conducts the orchestra.

Milan’s 3-0 win over United in the second-leg at the San Siro only served to enhance his character and reputation. And what a reputation. He has won the European Cup three times with three different teams. In all, he has hoisted fifteen major trophies between stints at Ajax, Real Madrid, and Milan. His pedigree is indisputable; yet he lives up to it time and again.

It was Seedorf who set the tone on Wednesday. His lash in the second minute forced a brilliant save out of ex-teammate Edwin Van der Sar. From the outset, Milan’s creativity was pouring like the rain; and Seedorf was at the centre of it all. He somehow found Kaka with a header from Massimo Oddo’s through-ball in the 11^th-minute. The resulting goal essentially finished the tie. United were never coming back. Fletcher, Carrick, and Scholes were overwhelmed in midfield by Seedorf, Ambrosini, Jankulovki, Pirlo, and Gattuso.

On the half-hour, Seedorf pounded the final nail into United’s coffin. Gabriel Heinze, as Sir Alex Ferguson would describe later, slashed his own throat by serving a weak back-pass to an unsuspecting Nemanja Vidic. Pirlo stripped the Serbian of the ball; and moments later, Seedorf was dancing around Vidic and Fletcher and blasting a laser from just inside the 18-yard-box.

It was a superb ninety minutes from the hosts. After struggling to find their stride before Christmas, they have improved to the point that no opponent appears able to cope with them. They are fluid and quick and play well on either side of the ball. They are, in other words, the very embodiment of Clarence Seedorf.

AC Milan 3-0 Manchester United

AC Milan advance on 5-3 aggregate

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Eleven

25 April 2007

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Wayne Rooney – outstanding contributor

It could have gone in so many directions. Indeed, Darren Fletcher’s tenacity in winning the ball and provision of superb passes might have warranted mention on any other day. Had he not been stifled in the final 45-minutes, so too the marvelous solo efforts of Kaka. Patrice Evra’s body-check on Gabriel Heinze which released Kaka for the go-ahead goal in the 37^th-minute nearly earned a slightly more pessimistic reference. And Paul Scholes’ imaginative scoop to create Manchester United’s equalizer would have been good enough to point-out on most other occasions.

So went the exhilarating and unpredictable 90-minutes between Manchester United and AC Milan at Old Trafford on 24 April. It was Wayne Rooney, however, who left the biggest mark on the result. While his first goal finished, brilliantly, the incredible pass from Scholes, his match-winner in stoppage-time sent Old Trafford into raptures.

Kaka, truth be told, was the star of the first half. His first goal in the 22^nd-minute – created by the smooth interplay between Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf – seemed to come out of nowhere and stirred Milan to an inspired finish of the opening 45-minutes. His second was a thing of beauty. He had the United defenders admiring his every step; and when Evra knocked Heinze to the ground, the Brazilian maestro skipped gracefully into space and finished calmly past Edwin Van Der Sar.

However, to say that the second half was dominated by United would be an understatement. After an early chance just after the re-start, Kaka went missing for the remainder of the proceedings. Alberto Gilardino, the lone Milan striker, was never a part of the match in the first place. And Edwin Van Der Sar might have been excused for spending the final half-hour on a lounger – such was United’s territorial advantage.

Still, the hosts required a breakthrough. And Rooney provided it. After Fletcher and Michael Carrick had needled the ball into the box, Scholes picked it up on his boot and flung it into the path of Rooney. The England striker made no mistake; and United had their equalizer.

It seemed a matter of time until the hosts went ahead again. But as the quarter-hour turned into minutes and then seconds, it appeared as though the visitors would withdraw to the San Siro with the advantage of away-goals.

A moment of magic changed all that. Ryan Giggs – rarely involved from his unusual position on the right flank – ran at the Milan defense and dumped the ball to Rooney, coming wide. So it happened that in stoppage-time, Rooney latched onto the Giggs’ provision and let-fly the winning lash.

In many ways, the come-from-behind win was more of a spectacle than United’s demolition of AS Roma a fortnight prior. And although Milan claimed two, priceless away-goals, a win is a win; and United need only to draw at the San Siro to punch their tickets to Athens.

Manchester United 3-2 AC Milan

Didier Drogba – outstanding contributor

It was always going to be very tight. When Chelsea and Liverpool were tied together in the Champions’ League semi-finals, it was immediately evident that goals would be at a premium. Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on 25 April played predictably into those expectations.

Joe Cole’s 29^th-minute strike completed what had been an impressive build-up from the hosts. And with Liverpool unable to sustain any meaningful pressure of their own, it proved to be the match-winner. Cole was superb on the day. His inclusion in the team has significantly boosted Chelsea’s prospects going forward.

That said, Didier Drogba was absolutely bullish on the day. The powerful Ivorian bossed his way about the attacking third – creating opportunities, creating a goal. He was ever-present. Indeed, Cole’s goal might well have been Chelsea’s second or third goal within the opening half-hour. Drogba, whether connecting with a misplaced through-ball from Javier Mascherano or feeding Frank Lampard for a lash, terrorized Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger for much of the opening period. His run into space for a Ricardo Carvalho pass and subsequent provision to Cole was brilliant enough to be the difference-making play of the night.

Still, the Chelsea striker will rue his collection of missed chances. Had the scoresheet reflected his performance, Liverpool might well be out of the tie already.

As it stands, Rafael Benitez can hardly be pleased with what he saw on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge. His side rarely threatened Chelsea’s goal. And despite an advantage in possession, Liverpool seemed at a loss for ideas in attack.

Chelsea will now have to play against the mythological atmosphere of Anfield. And Liverpool appear quite content in retreating to their Merseyside fortress trailing by just a goal. The Kop, they say, is worth a goal on a European night, anyway. It may have to be worth two.

It is hard to believe that Chelsea will not score an away-goal in the return-leg next week. For all the attacking prowess of Kuyt, Crouch, and Bellamy, Drogba is far more a threat to Liverpool’s defense than the aforementioned trio to Carvalho and John Terry. Drogba is a bull. And Benitez, the Spaniard, knows one when he sees one. And when a bull sees Red, he becomes rather hard to stop.

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Ten

11 April 2007

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Michael Essien – outstanding contributor

Liverpool’s prospects of advancing to the Champions’ League Final in Athens on 23 May are looking up. Due to an accumulation of yellow-cards, Michael Essien will be unavailable for selection in the first-leg of Chelsea’s semi-final tie with the Reds on 24 April. Not only did the Ghana international make the equalizer and score the match-winner; but his switch to right full-back completely changed the course of the game. While Chelsea started brightly, it was David Villa and Fernando Morientes who settled things down for Valencia near the half-hour and produced the opening goal of the contest. With Chelsea behind at the break, Jose Mourinho introduced Joe Cole and moved Essien to the right flank. The tactical shift paid-off in heaps. Essien was unstoppable from the wide position – crossing into Drogba for Andriy Shevchenko’s goal on 52-minutes and blasting the winner in the dying seconds. For all the talk surrounding Drogba’s 30-goal season and Christiano Ronaldo’s superb campaign, Essien might well be the most valuable player in England at the moment. His willingness to take-on any role has made him a vital cog in Chelsea’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple.

Valencia 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea advance on 3-2 aggregate

Darren Fletcher – outstanding contributor

Manchester United will never replace Roy Keane. Michael Carrick may wear the number-16 jersey; but he would be the first to admit that he is no Keano. Neither is Darren Fletcher. But Sir Alex Ferguson has been scouring high and low for a midfield ball-winner since 2004. He might have been better advised to look a little closer to home. While Carrick and Christiano Ronaldo and Alan Smith were terrorizing AS Roma on Tuesday, Fletcher was the glue holding everything together. His presence allowed Carrick to move forward at will and demonstrate the abilities that have gone unnoticed over the course of his pairing with Paul Scholes. He played just to the right of the former Spurs midfielder and just in front of a rather shaky back-four – repeatedly frustrating Francesco Totti and Roberto Mancini. His performance might be bad news for Scholes. Carrick appeared so versatile and dominant beside the Scotland international that Scholes may have to fight to re-gain his place in the team.

Manchester United 7-1 Chelsea

Manchester United advance on 8-3 aggregate

Clarence Seedorf – outstanding contributor

AC Milan climbed into 4^th-place in the Serie-A by beating Messina 3-1 at the weekend. If the Rosonieri can maintain their domestic position or catch Lazio in 3^rd-spot, they will earn a berth in the qualification-round of next season’s Champions’ League. Just weeks ago, it seemed the only way into next year’s competition for Milan was to win it this year. They may do it anyway. After drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich at the San Siro, Milan garnered an impressive 2-0 win in Bavaria. Despite being outplayed for much of the match, the visitors turned the tie on its head in the space of 4-minutes. Clarence Seedorf, the only player to have won the European Cup with three different clubs, scored the match-winner and produced the insurance-marker within a matter of moments. The goal – made possible by a mix-up between Lucas Podolski and Christian Lell – was struck deftly past a helpless Oliver Kahn in the 27^th-minute. Filipo Inzaghi doubled the scoreline 4-minutes later through a lovely Seedorf feed; and Milan entered the tunnel with a surprising two-goal lead. They rather killed the match after the re-start. But the ability to call on veterans with the will and experience of Seedorf leaves Milan in good standing going forward.

Bayern Munich 0-2 AC Milan

AC Milan advance on 4-1 aggregate

Ronald Koeman – irrefutable liability

For all of the critics and disbelievers – and Rafael Benitez more guilty than most in this regard – Peter Crouch has been Liverpool’s most consistent threat of goal this season. His match-winner against PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on 11 April was his sixth of the European campaign. That said, the game was otherwise a dud. PSV looked unenthused and uninterested throughout the whole of the 90-minutes. They made no positive contribution to the affair and their bowing-out of the competition in so meek a fashion was a disservice to the Eredivisie and Dutch football in general. Ronald Koeman is especially to blame for this. After Liverpool trounced his side 3-0 at the Philips Stadion in the 1^st-leg, Koeman conceded that the tie was all but over – that his players did not stand a chance at overturning the result. And on Wednesday, his players looked a side that very much understood the absence of their manager’s trust. They were an orchestra waiting for the conductor to arrive. They were there; but nobody told them to start playing.

Liverpool 1-0 PSV Eindhoven

Liverpool advance on 4-0 aggregate

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Perpetual shame of the eternal city

04 April 2007

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“ladies hurt… no regard for children… older men hit randomly”

It’s all rather unnerving, really – the thought that one is putting his life at risk by attending a football match. Sport is sport. It’s not a matter of life and death. At least it shouldn’t be. Of course, Bill Shankly would argue that football is more important than either living or dying. But Shanks wasn’t at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 04 April. Four-thousand Manchester United supporters were, though. And many of them returned home on Thursday with bruised ribs, bandaged heads, and broken innocence.

Unless your head was buried in the sand, I don’t feel the need to go into particulars surrounding the troubles in Rome before and during Manchester United’s Champions’ League quarter-final first-leg with AS Roma. It’s something of a broken record where Italian football is concerned. Some local fans hurled some flares and missiles. The visiting supporters tossed a few bottles in retaliation. The riot-police charged in and pummeled the life out of the traveling contingent. Old hat. And, of course, the run-of-the-mill stabbings and throat-slashings. None of it was entirely unexpected. United went so far as to warn their contingent about violence and hostility in advance of the journey down-continent.

Quite frankly, it’s time to face facts. Italian football is out of control. From top to bottom – from the tall hats in the boardrooms to the prima-donnas on the park to the fans in the crowd – Italian football is an embarrassing cacophony of scandal and violence. The excessive use of force against Manchester United’s traveling supporters was just the tip of the iceberg – the foreigner’s window into what is acceptable and commonplace in that country.

Let’s call a spade a spade. The match-fixing scandal – revealed last summer but a reality for as long as professional football has existed in Italy – revealed the Italian club owners as a bunch of scoundrels and cheats. The rioting in Sicily last February which resulted in the death of a police officer exposed the Italian supporters as a horde of primitive blood-mongers. Fortunately for all concerned, the World Cup in Germany exhibited Italian footballers as the crème de la crème.

And that display by Cannavaro, Pirlo, Toni et al is probably the only thing standing between the Italian Football Federation and indefinite suspension by UEFA. Europe’s governing body would be loathe to discipline or penalize the world champions, however much it may be deserved. And make no mistake – it is deserved. Italian football is treading the same, dangerous path that resulted in the Hillsborough and Heysel disasters and, subsequently, England’s exclusion from European competition.

The Italians should face the same omission now. And it should not be viewed so much a punishment as a preventative measure. It is only a matter of time before the customary broken ribs, stabbings, and throat-slashings turn into fatalities. That, and the IFA – which really hasn’t taken the match-fixing issue all that seriously – would have a little time to quash the corruption within its ranks.

The never-ending barrage of scandal and disgrace emanating from Europe’s boot is something which the Italians should sort out on their own. They have clearly abstained from doing so; and, as a result, should have it done for them. UEFA must take the impetus here. Because, right now, Italian football is leaving us all rather embarassed.

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Nine

04 April 2007

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Steve Finnan – outstanding contributor

Last summer, Rafael Benitez offered 10M-pounds to Sevilla for right wing-back Daniel Alves. The bid was rejected; and the Liverpool manager was left to continue mulling the options on the right-hand side of defense. The answer, as it happens, was already in the team. Steve Finnan, the only footballer to have competed in each of England’s professional league’s, was an outstanding contributor on 03 April as Liverpool scored three away-goals at PSV Endhoven’s Philips Stadion. While Benitez has played musical-chairs at nearly every position this season, Finnan has been a consistent selection in the Spaniard’s starting-IX. And given that his teammates in central defense have been kept on a short leash and rotated frequently, Finnan’s superb form this season should be recognized as that much more incredible. Never afraid to bring the play forward, Finnan provided the perfect cross for Steven Gerrard to convert into the game’s first goal – ending what had been a relatively calm affair through 27-minutes. When Peter Crouch headed Liverpool’s third goal of the match just after the hourmark, it was Finnan-the-provider once again – his cross landing delicately on the towering crown of the lanky striker. In all likelihood, the Irish 30-year-old Irishman will counted upon for his defensive contributions when the second-leg is played at Anfield on 11 April. PSV require at least a treble to maintain any hope of advancing to the next round.

PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool

Daniel Van Buyten – outstanding contributor

AC Milan played some of their best football against Bayern Munich on 03 April. They were fluid, eye-catching, and dangerous – and the partisan crowd at the San Siro responded in kind. That they could not dispatch of Bayern Munich under such circumstances should be troublesome to Carlo Ancelotti. As it stands, Bayern look every bit the favorite to get a result in Bavaria and advance into the semi-final of the Champions’ League. Belgium international defender Daniel Van Buyten was an outstanding contributor on each third of the park. His rock-solid partnership with Brazilian defender Lucio allowed the Bayern midfield to press forward for much of the second-half – Owen Hargreaves and Hasan Salihamidzic making nuisances of themselves at every opportunity. Still, it looked as though the Rosonieri were poised to grind-out a 1-0 win until Van Buyten made good on a brilliant piece of provision from Salihamidzic. After Kaka converted a dubious penalty in the 84^th-minute, it appeared that Milan were destined to escape with the result. However, Bayern continued to mount pressure and the faltering Milan backline presented Van Buyten with an opening. Dida, unsure of the situation, looked out of sorts as Van Buyten drilled the equalizer.

AC Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich

David Silva – outstanding contributor

Chelsea have been making overtures to David Villa for over a year. In the end, it may be another David who writes their epitaph. David Silva’s thunderbolt on the half-hour of Valencia’s visit to Stamford Bridge for the first-leg of their Champions’ League quarter-final with Chelsea ensured that the visitors would return to the Mestalla with a critical away-goal. Valencia need no reminder of the importance of away-goals. Their double at the San Siro put them through from their Round-of-16 tie with Inter Milan. Having run hot-and-cold this season, Valencia appeared at their best on 04 April. They bossed the early portions of the match – Davids Silva and Villa revealing a lovely understanding which nearly resulted in Villa opening the scoring. It was Silva, however, who produced the inevitable goal. After Mikel John-Obi stuttered on a throw-in, Silva marched down the left and unleashed a cannonball past Petr Cech. Didier Drogba leveled the match on 53-minutes; but Valencia must be confident of their prospects ahead of the second-leg in Spain on 10 April. Fernando Morientes will return to the side and provide another lethal outlet for Silva’s creativity.

Chelsea 1-1 Valencia

Paul Scholes – irrefutable liability

Michael Carrick is no Roy Keane. Whatever he is, he is not the ultimate ball-winner that Sir Alex Ferguson envisioned last summer. Paul Scholes knows this better than most. Because Carrick’s inability to fill the boots of Roy Keane has forced Scholes to withdraw into the centre of the park. Keane’s ever-presence in front of the back-four allowed Scholes to push forward and sit just behind the strikers. Keane’s departure has relegated the former England international to a role as a pure, central-midfielder – and he does not look particularly comfortable. Scholes was presented a second yellow-card in twelve minutes after bringing down Roma forward Francesco Totti. His sending-off changed the game tactically and ruled him out of the return-leg on 10 April. And while Wayne Rooney scored a crucial and spectacular away-goal on the hour-mark, a loss is a loss, and Paul Scholes is more the goat than anyone else.

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Eight

08 March 2007

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Jamie Carragher – outstanding contributor

Liverpool-Barcelona was always going to be an attractive tie. The rare type of match-up where Barcelona goes down at the Nou Camp and Liverpool loses at Anfield. No, the fortress mentality was not a factor in this Champions’ League Round-of-16 contest. Although, to be fair, the atmosphere in the Kop and throughout Anfield was at its most intimidating, perhaps in a generation, while the mighty visitors were pushing onward for the equalizer in the final twenty-minutes. Pushing onward and running smack into the only real fortress of the fixture, Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool centre-half was nothing short of dominant in his own end. The Catalan attack appeared pointless and lost for extended spells over both legs as Carragher and the Liverpool defense refused to allow penetration through the middle or along the flanks. As a result, Frank Rijkaard was forced to juggle his forwards throughout the attacking-third. Carragher’s influence, therefore, was more than mere on-field contribution. His presence and form directly affected the opposition’s tactics.

Liverpool 0-1 Barcelona

Liverpool advance on away-goals

David Navarro – irrefutable liability

David Navarro was never intended to figure in the outcome of Valencia’s second-leg with Inter Milan on Tuesday night. Indeed, he remained nicely buttoned to the bench for the full ninety-minutes – an uneventful ninety-minutes which produced no goals and saw the exit of the runaway Italian champions from competition. Valencia went through – courtesy of their two away-goals at the Stadio Olimpico two-weeks prior; and deservedly so. It should have ended there. But then Nicolas Burdisso lashed-out at Valencia’s Carlos Marchena. The attack brought Navarro to his feet and racing onto the pitch in defense of his teammate. He approached Burdisso, punched him in the face, broke his nose, and took-off running into the tunnel. Needless to say, a full-out brawl ensued. FIFA proceeded to launch an investigation and their ruling will be handed-down on 24 March. Valencia may have advanced to the quarterfinals; but the incident after the final whistle at the Mestalla could derail their momentum. If nothing else, the investigation and ongoing media frenzy will only serve as a distraction they could surely do without.

Valencia 0-0 Inter Milan

Valencia advance on away-goals

Jose Mourinho – outstanding contributor

What, exactly, did the Chelsea manager tell his players at half-time? With the Blues trailing 1-0 to Porto after 45-minutes in the second-leg of their Champions’ League Round-of-16 tie and 2-1 on aggregate, Jose Mourinho was visibly perturbed as he entered the tunnel to address his players at the interval. The Chelsea team that re-appeared after the break was a night-and-day turnaround from the squad which had done nothing productive to that point. Claude Makalele, after a brutal performance in the first-half, was switched in favor of 19-year-old Mikel John Obi. Arjen Robben put Chelsea back on even terms just three-minutes after the re-start – his low shot spinning out of goalkeeper Helton’s gloves and into the net. Chelsea were never going to be stopped after pulling level. Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba finally began to trouble the Porto goal – the two strikers combining to set-up Michael Ballack’s winner in the 79^th-minute. It was a story of two Chelsea teams. And the man in the long coat who demanded the transformation

Chelsea 2-1 Porto

Chelsea advance on 3-2 aggregate

Francesco Totti – outstanding contributor

As Totti goes, so go the Romans. The talismanic centre-forward is as integral to his club’s success as any player in Europe. One could have argued that Juninho’s presence was equally influential to Olympique Lyonnais. However, if there was any doubt, it was settled on Wednesday night at the Stade Gerland. Although Juninho finally resembled the dominant, game-controlling Juninho of year’s past, he was unable to create a goal for his team over two legs. Franceso Totti, on the other hand, put the nail in Lyon’s coffin in one, fell swoop. The Italian’s goal in the 22^nd-minute won the tie for AS Roma – far and away the second-best squad in the Serie-A. There was no way Lyon were going to come back. The away-goal required that the hosts pop two of their own; and Lyon’s form of recent months suggested that no such outburst of scoring was forthcoming. Alessandro Mancini’s insurance-marker just before the break only sealed the deal. Lyon were never going to fight for a result. They got what they had coming; and Totti served it in style.

Lyon 0-2 AS Roma

AS Roma advance on 2-0 aggregate

Kaka – outstanding contributor

Artur Boruc might well have earned mention in this column had Celtic managed a single goal between the two legs of their Champions’ League Round-of-16 tie with AC Milan. As it happened, there really was nothing outstanding at all about either match. The 0-0 draw at Parkhead was only surpassed in tedium by the fact that the observer had to endure an extra 30-minutes of it in the return-leg at the San Siro. Kaka, however, finally hit the mark for the Rossonieri just three-minutes into the extra period. He had previously been denied both by a superb Boruc save and the crossbar. He has been Milan’s only real goal-threat throughout the competition – a fact which must keep Carlo Ancelotti awake at night. Milan will need miracles to advance beyond the next stage.

AC Milan 1-0 Celtic

AC Milan advance on 1-0 aggregate

Roberto Carlos – irrefutable liability

Roy Makaay’s opener might have been the fastest goal ever scored in the Champions’ League; but the embarrassing gaffe of Roberto Carlos will forever be mentioned in the same breath. Retaining a delicate 3-2 lead in the Round-of-16 tie after the first-leg, Real Madrid were more than cognizant of the fact that any concession would require a double-effort on their part in order to go through. With that in mind, one would expect that Fabio Capello fully intended to go about a lockdown – sucking the life out of the match before it found its rhythm. Astonishingly, the game was over after 10-seconds. Having kicked-off the match, the ball was passed back to Roberto Carlos. The Brazilian left-back fumbled the play, however, and Hasan Salihamidzic took control and rushed ahead, passed to Makaay, and celebrated a historic goal. Lucio’s header just after the hour-mark put the tie completely out of Real’s reach. With a summer housecleaning likely in store, it serves to wonder whether Roberto Carlos will be back at the club in the autumn.

Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid

Bayern Munich advance on 4-3 aggregate

Alex – outstanding contributor

He was so nearly the goat. So nearly an irrefutable liability. Brazilian defender Alex, who, according to Ronald Koeman is one of the world’s foremost centre-halves, would have been hard-pressed to coax the same complement from his manager had he not headed a last-gasp equalizer in the 83^rd-minute. To be fair, the PSV Eindhoven boss would probably have not laid the blame squarely at the feet of his star defender whose own-goal just short of the hour-mark left Arsenal on even terms as the minutes ticked down. Arsenal did not deserve to lose the tie. Still, they did not deserve to win it, either. For although the Gunners enjoyed the lions’ share of the ball throughout both legs, they were pitiful in front of goal – missing chances left and right. Not to take anything away from Alex. His header which vaulted the Dutch giants into the quarterfinals was of superb quality.

Arsenal 1-1 PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven advance on 2-1 aggregate

Paul Scholes – outstanding contributor

Quietly, Paul Scholes is having one of the best seasons of his distinguished career. No longer the goal-threat he was in his heyday, Scholes has withdrawn to the centre of the park and become the creative linchpin of Manchester United’s attack. For a time during United’s 1-0 win over Lille in the second-leg of their Round-of-16 tie, he was the only player who made you feel that there still might be a goal in the 90-minutes. There was; and although Scholes was not directly involved, his contribution to the cause should not be lost in the celebration. Though they are still anticipating another treble at Old Trafford, perhaps the most revealing period in their season will come over the next two weeks as Scholes serves a three-match ban for his sending-off at Anfield last weekend. Ironically, a stumble in any of the three games would best illustrate his positive influence on the team.

Manchester United 1-0 Lille

Manchester United advance on 1-0 aggregate

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Champions’ League Assessment Matchday Seven

23 February 2007

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Edison Mendez – outstanding contributor

Arsene Wenger’s assertion that PSV Eindhoven used “negative tactics” in their 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Philips stadion was nonsensical, to say the least. Indeed, PSV goalkeeper Gomes could well have taken the outstanding contributor tag after the first-leg of this Round-of-16 Champions’ League tie. Arsenal had numerous opportunities to open the scoring – most notably those missed by Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas. But it was Edison Mendez who popped a well-deserved goal for the hosts after the Dutch champions began to take control of matters after the interval. The Ecuadorian lashed hard and low to beat Jens Lehmann in the 61^st-minute. However, the slender score-line will be difficult to hold when the 2^nd-leg is contested at the Emirates on 07 March.

PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Arsenal

Claude Puel – irrefutable liability

For the first and hopefully last time in this column, a non-player gets the nod for his influence on the proceedings. Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Lille was marred by a full range of extracurriculars – over-crowding, abuse of traveling supporters, police brutality, and accusations of falsified ticketing and hooliganism. Still, the most noteworthy of Tuesday’s events was the near walk-off and match-abandonment staged by the Lille players and their manager, Claude Puel. In protestation of a hastily-taken Ryan Giggs free-kick in the dying minutes, the Lille boss pulled his charges from the field as mass confusion ensued among observers and participants both. When the players re-started the match, projectiles rained down on the United players – hurled by the Lille supporters who had, no doubt, been incensed by the reckless behavior of their manager. Pity, because 1-0 was a fair result and a decent result for Lille. The performances of Peter Odemwingie, Jean Makoun, and Mathieu Bodmer were particularly exemplary. But nobody’s bothering to talk about them. Puel and his antics have overshadowed everything meaningful.

Lille 0-1 Manchester United

David Beckham – outstanding contributor

It seems as though the former England captain fully intends on writing his own final chapter of his European football career – rather than letting Fabio Capello write it for him. David Beckham has been nothing short of superb since his recall into the Real Madrid squad a fortnight ago. He has scored once and made three others – all three coming in a 24-minute span on Tuesday night as Real Madrid opened their Round-of-16 tie against Bayern Munich with an exhilarating 3-2 win. Raul’s brace, separated by a Lucio equalizer, paced the hosts to the win. However, it was Beckham who created both goals. Just ten-minutes after kick-off, Beckham found Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who, in turn, found Raul who found the back of the net. Raul’s second goal came from a Beckham free-kick just before the half-hour and restored Real’s lead. Six minutes later, it was Van Nistelrooy who finally benefited from the creativity of his former Manchester United teammate. Beckham’s free-kick landed squarely at the feet of the Dutchman who calmly did the business. Despite the win, Madrid will travel to Bavaria in two weeks at a slight disadvantage. Mark Van Bommel’s late strike gave Bayern Munich a critical second away-goal. His side will require just a 1-0 win to advance.

Real Madrid 3-2 Bayern Munich

Steven Gerrard – outstanding contributor

Unlike several of his teammates and essentially the entire Barcelona empire, Steven Gerrard did not make any headlines last week. As it happens, the Liverpool captain has rather flown under the radar this season. Granted, his goal totals have declined; but his influence at the club has certainly not. Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise stole the spotlight last week. Their antics while romping about the Algarve and the goals and brilliant performances on the pitch which followed accounted for nearly every available space of newsprint on both Monday and Thursday mornings. Fittingly, one had to read between the lines to uncover the significant role of Gerrard in the historic Nou Camp win. Riise was twice a beneficiary of Stevie-G brilliance. After weathering Barcelona’s early storm, Riise accepted a brilliant Gerrard pass before giving-up possession. But the Norwegian made amends on 74-minutes when he completed a somewhat broken play after Gerrard had somehow picked-out Dirk Kuyt with a superb ball. While Barcelona should have every intention of over-turning the result at Anfield on 06 March, they appeared a defeated and beleaguered side in the loss. Perhaps their own off-field antics have caught up with them. Apparently, they carry their burdens with them onto the pitch.

Barcelona 1-0 Liverpool

David Villa – outstanding contributor

Los Che ought to consider themselves lucky. But for a pair of sprightly goals from Davids Villa and Silva, Valencia were played off the park at the San Siro on Wednesday night. But somehow, Esteban Cambiasso’s opener held until just after the hour-mark. Inter Milan were deserved leaders until Villa’s equalizer on 64-minutes and they might well have been two or three goals the better at half-time. However, young Villa punished the Inter defense with repeated runs and forced Julio Cesar to make several key saves for the home side. Just after the hour-mark, Villa’s persistence paid off with a spectacular free-kick from distance which found the top of the net. David Silva’s late volley gave Valencia a second, crucial away-goal; but it was Villa’s persuasive influence which kept the visitors in the hunt.

Inter Milan 2-2 Valencia

Andriy Shevchenko – outstanding contributor

On a night where Didier Drogba was nowhere to be found, ₤30M flop Andriy Shevchenko looked right at home. And he basically was. His 16^th-minute equalizer was the 58^th European goal of his career and 45^th in the Champions’ League. His goal – brilliantly created by Arjen Robben – capped-off a furious eight minutes of action which included two goals and a significant injury. John Terry was stretchered from the field after damaging ankle ligaments. He left the Dragao on crutches and was initially expected to miss up to six weeks of action. However, the latest reports have him returning to the squad in time for next weekend’s Premiership match with Portsmouth. Nonetheless, Porto took immediate advantage of the injury to the Chelsea skipper – Raul Meireles opening the scoring after 12-minutes. The visitors replied just four minutes later with the Shevchenko goal; however, despite the brief flurry, the remainder of the match was predictably conservative as Jose Mourinho looked to get out of Portugal with the draw.

Porto 1-1 Chelsea

Elsewhere on the continent, Lyon drew 0-0 at the Stadio Olympico with Roma. A total of eleven yellow-cards were shown by referee Mike Riley – eight to the hosts. And Celtic will travel to Milan in a fortnight having failed to get a result at home. The Hoops and Rossonieri played to a scoreless draw at Parkhead on Tuesday.

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"fenced in like cattle -- only treated worse"

21 February 2007

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Observations such as this will be fresh on the minds of those UEFA officials who will be charged with investigating Tuesday’s upheaval at Stade Felix Bollaert. The ground of French side Lens was the site of flares, crowd disturbances, tear-gas, hurled objects, and a near walk-off as the Champions’ League knock-out match between Lille and Manchester United spun wildly out of control.

With television viewers only realizing the unrest after Lille manager Claude Puel attempted to bring his players off the field following Ryan Giggs’ quickly-taken free-kick in the 83^rd-minute, the extent of the disorder was only fully grasped this morning.

The trouble began in the visitors section of the stadium, where Manchester United supporters were encaged in what effectively became a standing section on one end of the park. After additional fans were admitted into the enclosure, the mass of bodies caused a forward surge – forcing a handful of individuals over the fence, onto the field, and at the mercy of a squad of riot-police.

Needless to say, the authorities completely overreacted. Tear-gas was sprayed into the stands and supporters who had been forced onto the field were clubbed with bats and carried out of the grounds. Edwin Van der Sar, whose discomfort at having been assaulted by a cloud of tear-gas forced Tomas Kusczak to take a warm-up, required a complete flushing of the eyes between periods.

The Giggs free-kick and ensuing goal was the final ember required to set the place into a fury. After confirming with the official that he was ready to proceed with the kick, Giggs curled his effort around the unprepared wall of defenders and into the top of the net. Lille goalkeeper Tony Silva was shown the yellow-card for his protestations.

Immediately after the re-start, Lille kicked the ball out of play. Claude Puel motioned his players off the park in a gesture of defiance and all hell broke loose. The departing Lille players were confronted by Gary Neville and several of his disgusted teammates before taking the field again after the confusion had somewhat subsided.

However, the livid home crowd proceeded to shower the park with objects and pelt the United players with projectiles. Gary Neville took a bottle to the head at the touchline as he prepared to throw the ball into play.

Immediately following the final whistle, representatives from Manchester United met with officials from the FA, UEFA, and local police to mull over the legal options. In their post-game remarks, Sir Alex Ferguson branded the French club “a disgrace” while Claude Puel accused the Scot of “trying to create problematic situations.” Puel went on to state that staging a walk-off is a “traditional” complaint tactic in French football and that he was “not trying to abandon the match.”

UEFA will disclose the results of their investigation on 22 March – thus ruling-out the possibility of Lille being banished from the competition. In lieu of expulsion, the third-place Ligue 1 side are sure to be levied a hefty financial penalty while the issue of the venue will likely be ongoing.

Lille are forbidden from playing European home matches at their Stade Metropole. The Metropole does not meet several, key UEFA security by-laws; and the club is required to host their matches at neutral sites. The Stade de France in Paris was the home ground of Lille last season. This term they have been using the Stade Felix-Bollaert of arch-rivals Lens. The standing areas and caged enclosures at the Bollaert should see it ruled-out of European use as well. Many French stadiums are in the same class as Italy in regards to antiquated safety standards.

More to the point, Claude Puel is personally to blame for the escalation of Tuesday’s events. Granted, the stadium conditions were medieval at best and the treatment of the traveling supporters was brutish and excessive. Fans were permitted to bring fireworks into their sections and their behavior while littering the field with trash was embarrassing and inexcusable.

However, the behavior of the crowd was pushed over the edge by Puel and his ridiculous maneuver in motioning his players off the park. His later assertion that he had not, in fact, been attempting to abandon the contest is ludicrous and indicative of a manager who does not have his head on straight.

His actions were made all the more absurd by the fact that Lille had competed extremely well to the time of Giggs’ goal on 83-minutes. Peter Odemwingie, in particular, was a constant menace to the United backline. His goal called-back after pushing Nemanja Vidic in the area was just, but unfortunate. Mathieu Bodmer and Jean Makoun also acquitted themselves well on the night.

All that said, Manchester United deserved to win this match. But for a brief flurry of Lille pressure just before the hour-mark, the visitors bossed the field and deservedly carried the day. If there was a goal to be had over the ninety-minutes, United were the only side who were going to get it.

A 1-0 home loss to Manchester United is hardly a poor result for a small, provincial side such as Lille Metropole. They should have left the grounds with their heads held high after a good performance and taken the field at Old Trafford in a fortnight to really give it a go.

Puel’s behavior has discredited the performance and the club itself. He has disgraced the notable efforts of his best players and damaged their reputations. He has shown himself to be a small-time manager at a small-time club.

As for Sir Alex Ferguson – he’s never to be found far from the bees-nest. And he’ll certainly have no need to pin anything on the blackboard for the 2^nd-leg. Rubbish like this just makes the victory all-the-sweeter.

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Unlucky Liverpool & the Round-of-16

08 December 2006

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The past two European Cup winners have been tied together for the Round-of-16 in this year’s Champions’ League. With Barcelona having finished second in Group-A to Chelsea, it was always a possibility that one of Europe’s heavyweights would begin the knockout phase against last year’s champions at the Nou Camp. In truth, Barcelona was every group-winner’s dread-match. The slow-starting, talent-laden flagship of artful football – just revving into gear in time to knock-off a big club which deservedly cruised through the preliminary phase. Liverpool, as it turns out, are that unlucky, ill-fated club.

Not that the Reds should be discounted right off the hop. After all, this is the same side which defied the odds in 2005, fumbling through a mediocre domestic campaign while excelling in Europe. The parallel to this season’s pattern is uncanny. But to the dejection of many dedicated Liverpool supporters, success on the continent continues to be valued more highly by the manager than contention in the Premiership. That said – advantage Barcelona.

Sir Alex Ferguson mused publicly over his gut-feel that Manchester United would draw a top opponent in Friday’s Round-of-16 draw. He must have been pleasantly surprised when Lille’s name came out of the pot. Although the French side, currently sitting third-place in Ligue 1, drew United at Old Trafford before beating them 1-0 in Paris a year ago in the Group Stage, this is a hungrier, more experienced Manchester United squad in a rich veign of form at the moment. Advantage United.

The Real Madrid-Bayern Munich tie is one of the most intriguing match-ups of this phase. Fabio Capello seems to have finally found his team at Madrid – although his recent experimentations with David Beckham in a central-midfield role and Ronaldo playing alongside both Raul and Ruud Van Nistelrooy have been less successful. But Bayern Munich offer Madrid the chance to play the positive, forward-moving game they prefer. There should be plenty of goals between the two legs. Advantage Madrid.

Celtic entered Matchday-Six sitting first-place in their bracket. A loss in Denmark to FC Copenhagen coupled with Manchester United’s dismantling of Benfica relegated Hoops to the runners-up position in Group-F. It may have been a blessing in disguise. The Bhoys were paired with Group-H winners AC Milan on Friday morning – hardly a sure-thing considering the Rossonieri have been six-times the champions of Europe. But Milan are caught in a rut at the present and could very well be ripe for the picking. That said, Celtic will not win at the San Siro. They simply do not win away from Parkhead in European competition and the San Siro can be a crushing venue on the best of days. Milan will quite likely fail to qualify for next year’s Champions’ League and will concentrate exclusively on succeeding in this term’s competition as their domestic campaign goes down the tube. It is a last-hurrah of sorts. Advantage Milan

Thierry Henry is not expected back at the Emirates until the New Year due to injury. On the bright side, Arsenal’s captain and most important player will be able to rest through the Premiership’s grueling holiday schedule. He should be healthy and raring to go by February 20 when the Gunners journey to the Phillips Stadium for the first-leg of their Round-of-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven. PSV are the type of side that excels in cup competitions and are only two years removed from a trip to the semi-finals – where they were unlucky to be knocked-out by AC Milan. Arsenal are hungry after last year’s loss to Barcelona in the Paris and have been getting sharper over the past few weeks. Advantage Arsenal.

AS Roma suffered a hiccup in the Rome derby at the weekend, losing 3-0 to Lazio, but have been racing through their schedule otherwise. They are the most eye-catching team in Italy – not that it says a lot – but their style should make for an exciting home-and-away encounter with Olympique Lyonnais. Lyon, for their part, look headed to their six Championnat title on-the-trot. They have lost a number of quality players over the course of their run – Michael Essien and Mahamouda Diarra among them – but have good reason to believe that this is their year. Gerrard Houlier has unparalleled depth among his forward players and Juninho is a big-game player. There should be goals-a-plenty in this one. Advantage Lyon.

Aside form Barcelona, Inter Milan were the most dangerous name in the second-seed pot on Friday. The returning champions of Italy by default, the Nerazzurri are at the head of the race for this year’s Scudetto. They will enter their Round-of-16 pairing with Valencia as easy favorites to go through to the quarter-finals – which they probably will. Valencia are an attractive side, although substantially less so without the services of injured phenom David Villa. They have a virtual fortress at the Mestalla and should get something in the return-leg – although not enough. Advantage Inter.

Chelsea-versus-Porto will be the most fulfilling tie as far as pure intrigue is concerned. Jose Mourinho bolted the Portuguese champions abruptly after winning the Champions’ League in 2004 – a victory which came on the heels of a UEFA Cup Championship win over Celtic the year prior. As a result, it could be a rather bitter crowd which welcomes the Chelsea manager back to the Portuguese coastal city on February 21. The sour spirit could propel Porto into contention in this tie – but don’t count on it. The returning two-time Premiership champs have too much quality and depth to be matched by a comparatively small squad. Advantage Chelsea.

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday Six

08 December 2006

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Throughout the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions’ League, Rodblog will assess the completed matches by selecting those players who were either outstanding contributors in a triumphant cause or irrefutable liabilities in a loss.

Andriy Shevchenko – outstanding contributor

Shaun Wright-Phillips may have garnered the headlines after he finally opened his account for Chelsea in the 83^rd-minute of his 53^rd-appearance for the club. But it was Andriy Shevchenko’s night as Chelsea defeated Levski Sofia 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and finished atop Group-A. His tally on 27-minutes was his 57^th in the competition and a fitting outcome of some fine interplay between deputizing captain Frank Lampard and Dutch winger Arjen Robben. Just minutes earlier, Robben and Shevchenko had combined in sinister attack on Levski’s 19-year-old keeper, Bozhidar Mitrev, who saved brilliantly. While the Ukrainian international had his usual bevy of missed opportunities, his positive involvement and general exuberance should serve to encourage both his manager and teammates.

Chelsea 2-0 Levski Sofia

Ronaldinho – outstanding contributor

The Brazilian maestro made a bit of magic on Tuesday night at the Nou Camp. His free-kick goal on 13-minutes was vintage Ronaldinho – the making of something out of nothing. While the Werder Bremen wall jumped at contact, Ronaldinho brilliantly eased the ball along the ground, beneath their feet, and tidily into the corner of the German goal. The match was as good as done just five minutes after when Ronaldinho chipped a lovely cross onto the boots of Ludovic Giuly – the Frenchman feeding Eidur Gudjohnsen for an easy goal to double the scoreline. Bremen came madly into the second period, though the highlight of the half was a Ronaldinho back-pass which put Gudjohnsen alone in front of goal, though the Icelander’s hesitance cost his side a chance for a third goal on the night. The win vaults Barcelona ahead of Bremen and into the Round-of-16. Werder Bremen, meanwhile, will be left to focus on the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup.

Barcelona 2-0 Werder Bremen

Vladimir Bystrov – outstanding contributor

Vladimir Bystrov may not have put himself on the scoresheet at the Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night. What he did accomplish, however, was single-handedly booking a place for his side in the UEFA Cup as Spartak Moscow shocked Sporting Club de Portugal 3-1 in Lisbon. All in a night’s work. While the hosts needed only a draw to qualify for Europe’s second competition, they played positive, attacking football throughout the affair, committing players in attack and forcing Spartak to pick their chances on the counter-offensive. And counter they did – in lethal doses. Roman Pavlyuchenko’s dazzling overhead-kick broke the bulbs; but Bystrov’s canter and cross made the goal. Maxym Kalynychenko was the next beneficiary of the winger’s penetration. His header on 16-minutes doubled the scoreline and forced the hosts to take chance after chance throughout the remainder of the ninety minutes.

Sporting Club de Portugal 1-3 Spartak Moscow

Xabi Alonso – irrefutable liability

The Spanish international hardly lost the game for Liverpool. Indeed, there was very little by way of enthusiasm to connect Tuesday’s Liverpool effort with that of May, 2005, when the Reds stormed from 0-3 down to win the Champions’ League at the Ataturk Olimpiyat in Instanbul. Though Robbie Fowler had the visitors ahead by the 22^nd-minute, Xabi Alonso’s ill-advised pass to Necati Ates provided Galatasaray with the strike that opened the floodgates. Okan Buruk struck again on 28-minutes, just four minutes after the Alsono miscue. This time, the three-goals in six-minutes in Istanbul had not flown Liverpool’s way and Sasa Ilic added insult to injury with the game-winner on 79-minutes.

Galatasaray 3-2 Liverpool

Jean-Claude Darcheville – outstanding contributor

Bordeaux scored three-times in a half-hour at the Phillips Stadium on Tuesday night, doubling their goal-scoring record in less than a period. Jean-Claude Darcheville popped the third goal, completing some lovely interplay with Lilian Laslandes. But it was Darcheville-the-provider on 7-minutes as the Girondins de Bordeaux shocked an attacking PSV with an early tally. Faubert played finisher to a fantastic pass from Darcheville who himself had just been denied by a diving Gomes after only five minutes. The win sees Bordeaux qualify for the UEFA Cup while PSV and Liverpool stumble into the Champions’ League Round-of-16 with losses.

PSV 1-3 Bordeaux

Christian Panucci – outstanding contributor

Valencia manager Quique Sanchez Flores needed nothing from his club’s visit to AS Roma, as his team-sheet suggested. It was the teenaged version of the Spanish side which graced the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night – 17-year-old Aaron Niguez making his first full start for his club. And fittingly, it was Aaron who tested the Roma defense early, only to be turned aside by the superb defensive instincts of Christian Panucci. Just moments after, Panucci produced the only goal of the match – heading a Taddei free-kick past Ludovic Butelle. Roma had entered Matchday Six with an outside chance of being relegated into the UEFA Cup by Shakhtar Donetsk. The eastern Ukrainian club will now take a position in that competition’s knock-out stages after drawing 1-1 away to Olympiacos.

AS Roma 1-0 Valencia

Christiano Ronaldo – outstanding contributor

Ryan Giggs is playing out of his skin at the moment and might very well have been the second-best player on the park at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as Manchester United defeated Benfica 3-1 and advanced into the Round-of-16. But it was the influence of Christiano Ronaldo which carried United throughout the ninety minutes – spearheading the attack and pacing the red tide which swept constantly at the visitors’ goal. Nelson’s opener on 27-minutes came against the run of play; but Nemanja Vidic headed a Giggs corner-kick in first-half injury-time to send the sides level into the break. The goal came at the crux of furious United pressure – directed, more often than not, by the runs and penetration of Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger was rewarded on the scoresheet in the 61^st-minute after his blazing run down the left concluded with a crisp chip to the head of Giggs. It was a fitting reward for both players. Giggs and Ronaldo have created something of an understanding on the United flanks.

Manchester United 3-1 Benfica

Marcus Allback – outstanding contributor

Celtic are notoriously poor travelers. But to be fair, Marcus Allback and FC Copenhagen were hardly accommodating hosts on Wednesday night at Parken Stadium. Pacey Canadian international Atibu Hutchinson found the back of the net after only 2-minutes, courtesy of a one-two with Allback. The Swedish international then proceeded to lash a shot against the goal-post later in the first-half. Allback finally put his name on the record in the 57^th-minute after Michael Gravgaard knocked a Tobias Linderoth free-kick onto the Swede’s boots. Despite the win and equalizing Benfica’s point-total of seven, Copenhagen are eliminated from European club competition – losing the head-to-head dual with the Portuguese giants.

FC Copenhagen 3-1 Celtic

Rafael Van der Vaart – outstanding contributor

Hamburger SV finally showed some spine in the UEFA Champions’ League on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, it’s a text-book case of too-little-too late for the German club. Their 3-2 win over CSKA Moscow at Arena Hamburg delivers just their first points of the Group Phase. The duo of Van der Vaart and Piotr Trochowski bedeviled the Moscow backline throughout the match – the latter taking the corner-kick which led to Hamburg’s first goal in the 28^th-minute. Besart Berisha’s tally cancelled the Ivica Olic penalty conversion of only five-minutes before which had seen the visitors go 1-0 up. Shortly before the break, Van der Vaart was, himself, denied by Igor Akinfeev after some interplay with Trochowski. A barely-missed free-kick in the second-half brought the former Ajax forward even closer to opening his account. He finally made good in the dying minutes, tying the match at two with an 84^th-minute strike. He then sprung Boubacar Sanogo for the game-winner just after normal time had expired.

Hamburg 3-2 CSKA Moscow

Peter Odemwingie – outstanding contributor

AC Milan may have won Champions’ League Group-H; but there is no disputing that the Italian giants enter the knock-out stages as the second-best team to emerge from their bracket. Indeed, the Rossoneiri are coming apart at the seams. Having already secured top-spot ahead of the Lille match, Milan – minus Kaka – showed little energy or enterprise throughout the proceedings. And it cost them from the get-go – Odemwingie cashing-in off a rebound from a Mathieu Bodmer lash. Odemwingie nearly doubled his tally thirteen minutes later, only to be saved by Zeljko Kalac. The play repeated itself a half-hour later when Keita sprung his teammate for a clear opportunity. It was a rare display of flare from the French side which prides itself more on stinginess than attacking prowess. However, Lille qualify for the Round-of-16 as a dangerous number-two seed.

AC Milan 0-2 Lille

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday Five

23 November 2006

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Gregory Coupet – outstanding contributor

Although the match ended in a draw, Real Madrid-versus-Olympique Lyonnais deserves mention in this column. Despite being 2-0 down after a half-hour, Madrid stormed back – Mahmouda Diarra heading past his former club before the break and Ruud Van Nistelrooy leveling matters on 83-minutes. And although each of the aforementioned Madrid players might have won the tag of outstanding contributor, it was Gregory Coupet's superb effort which saved a point for the visitors. The Lyon goalkeeper, having been beaten by Van Nistelrooy in the late-going, did well to save the Dutchman's penalty-kick in the final minute. Lyon are now assured of first-place in their bracket and will round-out the Group Phase at home to Steaua Bucharest

Real Madrid 2-2 Lyon

Louis Saha – irrefutable liability

It's unfair to pin all of the blame on Louis Saha. After all, though Manchester United bossed their Group-F match against Celtic with relative ease, it became disturbingly apparent that the Reds seemed to be playing for a draw. Indeed, United enjoyed the lions' share of possession throughout – holding a twenty-per-cent advantage at one point. But Shunsuke Nakamura's brilliant free-kick in the dying minutes turned the match on its head as United clawed desperately for an equalizer. Their chance came in the 90th-minute when Saha stepped up to the spot, Shaun Maloney having handled Christiano Ronaldo's free-kick attempt. Artur Boruc saved, ensuring the result for the hosts --- an effort which might have earned him the outstanding contributor tab. But Saha had drifted in and out of the match throughout the proceedings, leading skipper Gary Neville to conceal to Neil Lennon that the Frenchman's "head had gone." And what a time for it to go.

Celtic 1-0 Manchester United

Fabrizio Miccoli – outstanding contributor

The attacking partnership of Nuno Gomes and Fabrizio Miccoli did wonders for Benfica against FC Copenhagen at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday night. And though it was Miccoli who struck twice for the Portuguese giants, Gomes can be credited with creating both goals – the second of which he blasted at the keeper with such force that the rebound came right to the boots of Miccoli. The result means Benfica are two-points back of each Celtic and Manchester United and must win at Old Trafford if they hope to continue on to the knockout stages.

Benfica 3-1 FC Copenhagen

Ricardo Quaresma – outstanding contributor

It's not as if Ricardo Quaresma dominated things at Lokomotiv Stadium on Tuesday. But he did contribute a little shock-value to the match – a contribution for which he is worthy of recognition. Through the first four matchda's of the Group Stage of the competition, CSKA Moscow had not conceded a goal and looked to be especially stingy at home against a Portuguese side which, many thought, would not travel well. Quaresma dismissed the doubters after only two minutes, converting a Lisandro Lopez cross after a brilliant through-ball from Helder Postiga. Indeed, Postiga's display was more dominant than either of Porto's goalscorers; but Quaresma proved that the Russians were beatable, beatable at home, and – most importantly – that Porto could get results away from home.

CSKA Moscow 0-2 Porto

Emmanuel Eboue – outstanding contributor

A late flurry of goals from Arsenal might just have been enough to see them through to the Round-of-16. After Rafael Van der Vaart put visiting Hamburg a goal the better after only four minutes, it appeared as though the writing was on the wall for the hosts. But Robin van Persie's low strike past Stefan Wachter saw Arsenal to level terms shortly after the interval. The match settled thereafter – Hamburg hoping to claim their first point of the competition. But the Gunners needed a win and Emmanuel Eboue delivered one in the 83rd-minute. Julio Baptista added some insurance five minutes later; but the Cote D'Ivoire national's effort might have been the goal that put last year's runners-up through to the next round.

Arsenal 3-1 Hamburg

Stefano Sorrentino – outstanding contributor

AEK Athens' Italian keeper single-handedly thwarted the Italian Giants, AC Milan, throughout Tuesday night's Group-H encounter at the Olympic Spyros St. Louis. And it was Italian international striker, Filipo Inzaghi, who felt the brunt of the frustration. Stefano Sorrentino saved at least three sure-goals from the boots of his countrymen and a good many more from the combined efforts of Kaka and Clarence Seedorf. A brilliant Julio Cesar free-kick in the 32nd-minute was the lone goal of the match. Nevertheless, Milan will progress through to the next round at the head of the group.

AEK Athens 1-0 AC Milan

Ludovic Giuly – outstanding contributor

Plain and simple, Barcelona – holders of the European Cup – required three points in Bulgaria to maintain the faintest hope of advancing into the latter stages of the Champions' League. And to their credit, they got things going early – Ludovic Giuly opening the visitors' account after only 5-minutes, having connected with a Gianluca Zambrotta cross from the right flank. Andres Iniesta relieved the pressure when he put the guests 2-0 ahead midway through the second-half; but it was the Frenchman's effort which paved the way for Barca to return to the Nou Camp with their heads held high and their hopes squarely on advancing to the Round-of-16.

Levski Sofia 0-2 Barcelona

Per Mertesacker – outstanding contributor

The most outstanding individual contributions are made at either end of the field. Per Mertesacker delivered such a performance on Wednesday night against Premiership Champions Chelsea at the Weserstadion on Wednesday night. The defender latched onto a Torsten Frings corner-kick from the right-side of goal on 27-minutes, shaking the coverage of Didier Drogba and beating Carlo Cudicini in the visiting goal. Chelsea's energy got a lift when Jose Mourinho brought Andriy Shevchenko into the match after nearly an hour and the Ukraine international made an immediate menace of himself, forcing a determined Mertesacker to thwart Shevchenko and preserve the points for the hosts.

Werder Bremen 1-0 Chelsea

Dejan Stankovic – outstanding contributor

There may be no better midfield player in the Serie-A than the Serbian international at the moment – a sizeable complement considering the quality of talent at the position in Italy's top flight. But Dejan Stankovic made an absolute menace of himself at the San Siro on Wednesday as Inter Milan secured their position in the knockout stage, eliminating Sporting in the process. Paulo Bento seemed to prefer to play for a draw and admitted as much in his pre-game comments. Fittingly, it was Stankovic who chipped a lovely ball over the crowded midfield and onto the boots of a streaking Hernan Crespo who struck for the lone goal of the outing. Crespo nearly had another just before the interval when he headed onto the post from the Stankovic corner-kick.

Inter Milan 1-0 Sporting Club de Portugal

Lilian Laslandes – outstanding contributor

Ricardo Gomes made a rare move on Wednesday night, opting to go with an attacking duo of Lilian Laslandes and Jean-Claude Darcheville to spearhead the Bordeaux attack. In the end, it proved to be a decision which might have served the Girondins better had it been made earlier in the competition. As it is, the French side secured third-spot in their group, behind Liverpool and PSV Eindoven. Lilian Laslandes, in particular, troubled Galatasaray keeper Faryd Mondragon throughout the night. Indeed, the scoreline could have been even further out of hand had Mondragon not made a handful of spectacular saves on each of Laslandes and Darcheville. But Leslandes secured the points for the hosts just after the break when he connected with a Cesar Alonso cross to put Bordeaux 2-0 ahead.

Bordeaux 3-1 Galatasaray

Dirk Kuyt – outstanding contributor

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was his inspirational best on Wednesday, scoring the winning goal in a match that saw Liverpool take hold of first-place in Group-C at Anfield. But it was Dirk Kuyt's contribution which most stood out on the day. Not only did the Dutchman scamper wrecklessly about the area throughout the night, often dragging one or two defenders with him; but his efforts created both Gerrard's opener and Peter Crouch's insurance-marker just before injury-time. The provision to Gerrard was particularly sublime – Kuyt swerving brillianty through the PSV defense before passing smoothly to a grateful Gerrard. Kuyt was on-song again in the 89th-minute, putting a cross deftly onto the crown of his forward partner who headed past Gomes and sealed the deal for the hosts

Liverpool 2-0 PSV Eindhoven

Miguel Angel Angulo – outstanding contributor

Valencia's 2-0 over Olympiacos at the Mestallo on Wednesday ensured their progression into the knock-out stages as the top seed in Group-D. Miguel Angel Angulo was most responsible for the result, opening the score a mere seconds before the half-time whistle. The timing of the goal was as much of a blow as anything, as Olympiacos headed into the tunnel having seen a well-contested half gone to waste. Not only did Angulo essentially take the wind from the Greek side's sails; but he persisted in threatening Antonios Nikopolidis' goal throughout the ninety-minutes. Fernando Morientes rounded-out the scoring just after the restart. The former Spanish international and Real Madrid striker is now a joint scoring-leader of the competition.

Valencia 2-0 Olympiacos

Jadson Rodriguez – outstanding contributor

Ciprian Marica's goal in the 61st-minute may have prompted the Olympiyskiy Stadium to shake in near-rapture; but it was the creativity of Jadson Rodriguez which made the celebrating possible. Rodriguez and Fernandinho paird-up to torture the Roma backline all night long and Jadson's lovely through-ball to a streaking Marica was simply the icing on the cake. AS Roma now find themselves on tenuous footing in Group-D. With a win against Olympiacos on Matchday-6, Shakhtar Donetsk will force Roma to beat group-winners Valencia in order to advance. A tall order, to be sure. But then again, the fans of Eastern Ukraine's biggest club have good reason to hope.

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 AS Roma

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday Four

02 November 2006

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Didier Drogba – outstanding contributor

Draws are not regularly discussed in this column; but Chelsea's stirring draw at the Nou Camp with Barcelona deserves mention, as does the striker whose equalizer in the third minute of injury-time ensured that Chelsea departed Catalonia with a well-deserved point. The hosts appeared to have the jump from the get-go – Anderson Deco striking a brilliant volley on three-minutes. And though Chelsea out-possessed and out-performed Barcelona for much of the night, it took 52-minutes for Frank Lampard to level the visitors – a lovely bending effort which he struck along the touch-line and lobbed perfectly over Victor Valdes and into the goal. Eidur Gudjohnsen's goal just six minutes later looked to seal the points for Barcelona; but Chelsea continued to press for an equalizer until Drogba headed a John Terry cross past Valdes in injury-time.

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea

Stjepan Tomas – irrefutable liability

It requires nothing short of the unquestionably dismal, the utterly irresponsible performances to earn an irrefutable liability tag in this column. Indeed, Stjepan Tomas' sending-off on 38-minutes changed the complexion of Galatasaray's Group-C match with PSV Eindhoven at the Phillips Stadium. To that point, the sides had been cautiously settling into the pace of things, neither club asserting themselves on the proceedings. After an early trade-off of chances through Cocu and Salcido for PSV and Sarioglu for the visitors, the match seemed very much to take on the appearance of indecision – a result which would have favored Galatasaray quite nicely. Tomas' foul on Jefferson Farfan changed all that and PSV went on to boss the remainder of the ninety minutes.

PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Galatasaray

Steven Gerrard – outstanding contributor

Apparently, the boy can play on the right. The England midfielder's position was left intact from Liverpool's 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the weekend as Rafael Benitez shocked everyone, including himself, by retaining a line-up for the first time in a century of matches. And Gerrard's influence on the match against Bordeaux was never in doubt. Luis Garcia, back in favor as a selection in the starting-11, volleyed a terrific Gerrard cross on 23-minutes for the game's opening goal. The Englishman provided a similar opportunity for Garcia shortly after, though this effort went unconverted. Dirk Kuyt was also guilty of fluffing on several Gerrard creations on the night – the most significant of which came just before the interval. Gerrard left his footprint on the match when he put the hosts 2-0 up after converting a lovely Zenden through-ball. The victory guarantees a place in the final sixteen for both Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven in Group-C.

Liverpool 3-0 Bordeaux

Martin Stranzl – irrefutable liability

Leaving Moscow with a point, let alone three, is never an easy ask. Just ask Arsene Wenger. However, in spite of typically Muscovian, late-October weather and a late onslaught from the hosts, Inter Milan continued their run of form by defeating Spartak Moscow 1-0 at the Luzhiniki Stadium on Tuesday. And while Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Inter's stand-out player on the day – setting up Julio Cruz for the game's lone goal, cold will be the day the in hell that the Swede striker will be recognized for anything resembling a positive contribution in this column. Rather, it was the regrettable, irresponsible decision-making of Martin Stranzl that released Ibrahimovic and turned Cruz into a marksman. Spartak controlled much of the second-half and the final result left Stranzl's mis-play all the more unfortunate.

Spartak Moscow 0-1 Inter Milan

Nikolay Mihaylov – irrefutable liability

There is nothing admirable in picking-out a teenager in the papers following a particularly nervous or uneasy display to which young athletes are frequently and predictably accustomed. But even the most unfair of Halloween tricks could not have left more of a scar on an eighteen-year-old goalkeeper than his start at the Vasil Levski National Stadium against Werder Bremen on Tuesday night. While his Levski Sofia side managed to hold the Bremen attack at bay for more than half-an-hour, it was Mihaylov's mistake – or, Robinson, if you will – on a Lucio Wagner back-pass that found the ball skipping into his goal. The floodgates opened shortly thereafter, with Frank Baumann and Torsten Frings adding to the lead within a space of four minutes. The loss ensures the Bulgarian Champions' fourth-place finish in a difficult Group-A, behind Bremen, Chelsea, and Barcelona.

Levski Sofia 0-3 Werder Bremen

Karim Benzema – outstanding contributor

Then there are the eighteen-year-olds who rise to the occasion as outstanding contributors for their clubs, defying the magnitude of the stage and asserting their powers on the result. Deputizing for the injured Fred, Benzema's strike in the 14th-minute was enough to guarantee a place in the Round-of-16 for the hosts as resilient Dynamo repeatedly denied the Lyon attack thereafter. He nearly doubled his tally just over ten-minutes later and was turned aside again after Tiago's through-ball just after the interval. The win leaves Lyon undefeated atop Group-E, with 1st-place to be decided at the Bernabeau.

Lyon 1-0 Dynamo Kiev

Banel Nicolita – irrefutable liability

It seems that Gary Neville and Paul Robinson started something of a pattern in Zagreb last month. Lucio Wagner and Nikolay Mihaylov did their best impression of the feat against Werder Bremen on Tuesday and Banel Nicolita and Cornel Cernea repeated the deed at the Santiago Bernabeau on Wednesday against Real Madrid. The tragedy in Nicolita's error – a mis-directed back-pass to his goalkeeper – is that the Romanian Champions looked good to take a point from the Spanish capital and boost their chances of taking 3rd-place in Group-E. Madrid had wasted opportunities from Raul, Helguera, and Sergio Ramos; and the visitors themselves had played positive, attacking football worthy of a split. The joke was up in the 70th-minute however, as Nicolita hung his head and Steaua was left to ponder the incredible result which might have been.

Real Madrid 1-0 Steaua Bucharest

Gary Caldwell – irrefutable liability

Visions of Jock Stein and the '67 European Champions hung in the air over Lisbon as Celtic arrived for their Group Stage clash with Benfica. But it was a harsh reawakening to reality after only ten minutes when Gary Caldwell converted a Nelson cross for the hosts. Benfica never looked back. Only twelve minutes later it was Caldwell again – this time turning the ball onto the feet of Nuno Gomes who successfully doubled the scoreline before the half-hour mark. But for all of Caldwell's blunders, Celtic never appeared interested on the night and did little to dissuade their reputation as uneasy travelers.

Benfica 3-0 Celtic

Jesper Christiansen – outstanding contributor

Markus Allback did the business on the night for FC Copenhagen – delivering the first-ever points into the Champions' League ledger for the Danish Champions. But it was goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen who kept the United attack from making good. That said, the visitors were hardly relentless on the day. Sir Alex Ferguson made six changes from the weekend squad which had obliterated Bolton Wanderers; though he would have been the last to make excuses for his side's lackluster showing in the Danish capital. However, United controlled much of the second half and Christiansen was required to make several key saves to preserve the victory for the hosts – most notably on Wayne Rooney in the first-half and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes in the second.

FC Copenhagen 1-0 Manchester United

Lucho Gonzalez – outstanding contributor

The Portuguese Champions essentially chased Hamburg from Champions' League contention. Over the home-and-away contests of Matchdays 3 and 4, Porto outscored their German counterparts by a margin of 7-2. However, from the outset it did not appear as though Hamburg would roll over so easily. The German side came charging out of the gates, inspired by the Dutchman – Rafael Van der Vaart. With half-time looming, Hamburg were clearly in control and looked good to go back to the dressing-rooms with the scores level. It was only a minute from the interval when Lucho Gonzalez took the wind out of their sails with a superb effort from distance. The hosts never recovered; and Porto proceeded the boss the second-half, adding goals fro Lisandro Lopez and Bruno Moraes.

Hamburg 1-3 Porto

Efstathios Tavlaridis – irrefutable liability

It was hardly the homecoming Efstathios Tavlaridis had planned. Making the journey to the Greek capital with visiting Lille in the Group Phase of the Champions' League, Tavlaridis had hoped on lasting longer than twenty-two minutes. But after getting his name in the book on 3-minutes for a tackle on Nikolaos Liberopoulos and receiving a second yellow for an assault on Perparim Hetemaj, it was game-over for Tavlaridis and for Lille. Though AEK maintained a man-advantage throughout most of the encounter, it was not until the 74th-minute that Liberopoulos put the hosts on the scoreboard.

AEK Athens 1-0 Lille

Kaka – outstanding contributor

The departure of Andriy Shevchenko might have left Carlo Ancelotti wondering from whom he would get the goals in 2006-07. And though he had his answer weeks ago, Kaka saved his best performance for a Champions' League Group-H encounter with RSC Anderlecht. The Brazilian had the San Siro in raptures after only six minutes – converting a penalty from the tripping-up of Gilardino for an early Milan lead. He doubled the spread and his own tally just 16-minutes later upon the conversion of Cafu's cross in the 22nd-minute. But the hat-trick goal was typical Kaka. Dribbling the ball into the middle from the left of the park, the Milan maestro released a stunning drive with his right foot which sealed the points for Milan.

AC Milan 4-1 RSC Anderlecht

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday Three

19 October 2006

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Robinho – outstanding contributor

When a traditional European powerhouse is brushed aside by a domestic minnow and follows-up the disappointment with a spectacular showing in the continent's premier club competition, a recent comparison immediately comes to mind. Liverpool of 2005 were equally dismal domestically but turned in enough mid-week beauties to capture the European Cup. While Robinho was Madrid's outstanding contributor on the night, honorable mention should be paid to Fabio Capello. The go-around-back-again manager of Real Madrid got his tactics right, got his selections right, and watched as his side turned on the style and dominated in stereotypical Galacticos fashion. Robinho's effort on the left of midfield was exceptional. Not only did his strike in the 56th-minute put Real 3-0 ahead, but his pace and trickery typified what was an unusually chic display by the Spanish giants.

Steaua Bucharest 1-4 Real Madrid

Juninho – outstanding contributor

The Brazilian's place in this column is predictable and practically set in stone – all but a copy-and-paste effort from week-to-week. Unfortunately for Europe's foremost place-kick specialist, more attention is sure to be paid to his limp left leg than a performance decadent in its artistry and ill-fated in its brevity. Juninho's appearance in Kiev was limited to an hour when he was replaced by Jeremy Toulalan. That Lyon failed to tally after his departure is no coincidence. Juninho's goal in the 31st-minute was typical Juninho – a perfectly taken free-kick which found nothing but twine. And just minute before his substitution, he swerved a curling corner-kick onto the head of Florent Malouda to complete the 3-0 scoreline.

Dynamo Kiev 0-3 Lyon

Paul Scholes -- outstanding contributor

The first non-Brazilian in this week's list was all but invisible through the first forty-five minutes of Manchester United's fixture with FC Copenhagen on Matchday Three. Scholes and midfield partner Michael Carrick went into the interval having seen their influence gradually dissipate after a furious ten-minute spell to open the proceedings. The two, and Scholes in particular, reappeared in fine style after the half as Scholes opened the floodgates for United. Having withdrawn from the attacking areas in the first half as Copenhagen had their way in the midfield, Scholes asserted himself in the second as United continued their 100%-record atop Group-F.

Manchester United 3-0 FC Copenhagen

Kenny Miller – outstanding contributor

Like Juninho, Miller is becoming something of a fixture in this column. And his performance against Benfica at Parkhead on Tuesday did nothing to alter his status as Celtic's go-to goal-scorer. He is a money-man and he was money on the night. Though Benfica enjoyed their predicable spells of possession and pressure at various stages throughout the contest, they managed little of note in the way of quality scoring opportunities and played directly into their reputation as a weary, ineffective traveling outfit. The 3-0 spread may be a deceptive reading of the proceedings; but the hosts were boosted to victory by the efforts of something which Benfica could not replicate – reliable, cold-blooded striking by a money-man in a rich vein of form. Miller's brace included goals in the 56th and 66th-minutes and Pearson rounded out the scoring in injury-time.

Celtic 3-0 Benfica

Daniel Carvalho – outstanding contributor

Brazil returns to the headlines once again as CSKA Moscow took all three points at Lokomotiv Stadium to leap-frog visiting Arsenal into first-place in Group-G. Daniel Carvalho notched the game's only tally on 24-minutes with a lovely free-kick and nearly doubled the scoreline only moments later. Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, approached the match cautiously – opting for a 4-5-1 formation and leaving Thierry Henry adrift as the lone striker. Predictably, Arsenal moved the ball comfortably and enjoyed the lions' share of possession; yet they looked unlikely to score and had two goals overturned by off-side and hand-ball rulings from the official.

CSKA Moscow 1-0 Arsenal

Lisandro Lopez – outstanding contributor

Some players just know where to be when the ball comes. They make clever, unnoticed runs into space and then, voila – the ball has found the back of the onion-bag. Lisandro Lopez was just such a player as Porto dispatched Hamburg at Estadio de Dragao on Tuesday and earned their initial victory of the Champions' League Group Stage. The first Lopez strike came at 14-minutes when Hamburg goalkeeper, Sascha Kirschstein, brilliantly saved a Ricardo Quaresma blast but was found swimming as Lopez opened Porto's account. It was Bruno Moraes who created Porto's fourth goal of the match when Lopez connected with the passer's smooth through-ball. The result will restore hope of advancing for a Porto side which had struggled to score against CSKA and Arsenal and now find themselves only two-points removed from the second-place Gunners.

Porto 4-1 Hamburg

Kader Keita – outstanding contributor

Some players just know where to put the ball. On two occasions against AEK Athens at Stade Felix-Bollaert, Kader Keita put it right on the toes of a teammate who would subsequently convert for a goal. It is an art more diligent and intellectual than any other on the football pitch – the responsible provision of the ball. But for a Peter Odemwingie miss just after the interval, Keita might well have made three goals. As it happens, two were enough to beat an Athens side which took every opportunity to go to ground and flop about the pitch as though they had been pulled out of the water with a hook in their mouths. Gyax and Robail connected with superb crosses from Keita and Makoun rounded out the scoring for the hosts in injury time. Keita also made something of a nuisance of himself when he collided with AEK goalscorer Ivic who was subsequently stretchered off the park.

Lille 3-1 AEK

Kaka – outstanding contributor

Brazil's fourth representative on this sheet is courtesy of Kaka. While AC Milan looked to be at their responsible best for much of the night, it took the sending-off of Daniele Bonera to put the wind under Milan's sails. While Anderlecht appeared poised to make good on their numerical advantage, the visitors succeeded in keeping the Belgians at bay while generating effective counter-attacks. Just eleven minutes after Bonera received his second yellow-card, Kaka had struck brilliantly to give Milan a goal in the 58th-minute and all three points from Constant Vanden Stock.

RSC Anderlecht 0-1 AC Milan

Diego – outstanding contributor

Appropriately, it was a fifth samba-star who asserted himself as a difference-maker in Werder Bremen's critical win over Levski Sofia at the Weserstadion on Wednesday night. Not only did the Brazilian convert an Ivan Klasnic pass for Bremen's second goal on the night, but he could have been involved in several more. Jurica Vranjes spoiled a fine bit of service from Diego shortly after the opening whistle and Diego himself found himself on the frustrating end of several fine saves from Georgi Petkov. The victory sees the Bundesliga leaders level on four-points with Barcelona. Taking all six points from the Bulgarian champions will be critical in advancing from Group-A.

Werder Bremen 2-0 Levski Sofia

Didier Drogba – outstanding contributor

In the build-up to the much-hyped clash between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, the Catalan side repeatedly stressed the importance of favorable pitch conditions at Stamford Bridge, recalling the sloppy mess of a swamp which moonlit as a football park in last year's Round-of-16 match in London. They may now regret the protestations. For Barcelona was a far more stylish outfit in the muck of February last. They had nothing of the sleek, artful connections which should have accompanied the pristine conditions which they demanded. As it happens, it was Chelsea who fashioned the majority of the elegance; though it must be said that there was very little of it to be found from either side on this night. Didier Drogba was a consistent exception. The powerful Ivorian striker imposed his presence on the two Barca centre-backs, Carlos Puyol and Rafa Marquez, and bossed his way about the scoring area with more bullish power than slippery grace. When Ashley Cole fired a lovely free-ball into space on 47-minutes, Drogba cradled the ball perfectly with his right foot before sliding it behind his figure and onto the toes of his right. It was the goal of the week. It was enough to see Chelsea atop Group-A with nine-points as the Group Phase reached its midpoint.

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona

Alvaro Recoba – outstanding contributor

Internazionale finally choked the goose when Julio Cruz struck in the second-minute for the home side at the San Siro. He was celebrating again only seven minutes later when his second goal had Inter Milan 2-0 up on Spartak Moscow before ten-minutes had run off the clock. But while Cruz was busy knocking in goals, Alvaro Recoba was commanding his way about the field and providing the kind of service which would have made Cruz look the fools fool had he blown either chance. Indeed, it was Recoba's free-kick in the opening moments which found its way to Julio Cruz via Patrick Vieira and into the back of the net. Similarly, Recoba's ninth-minute provision found only head as Cruz nodded the ball past the Moscow keeper.

Inter Milan 2-1 Spartak Moscow

Olivier Kahn – outstanding contributor

It is never an easy task to leave Portugal with three points; and Bayern Munich have their goalkeeper to thank for the five-point lead the German giants currently hold atop Group-B. Bastian Schweinsteiger put the visitors ahead on nineteen minutes but was send-off shortly after the re-start and will miss the return match at Allianz Arena in a fortnight. But even before his side were reduced to ten men, Kahn was forced to make superb stops on Liedson and Alecsandro as the hosts turned up the pressure after falling behind. Kahn's busy night intensified further after the Schweinsteiger ejection. Brilliant saves on Yannick and Bento capped off the clean sheet for the former Lev Yashin Award-winner.

Sporting Club de Portugal 0-1 Bayern Munich

Peter Crouch – outstanding contributor

It would be slightly more appropriate to label Crouch simply a contributor to Liverpool's victory over Bordeaux at the Stade Chaban-Delmas; for there was nothing outstanding about the proceedings on this night. That said, Liverpool played the picture-perfect away-game. Pepe Reina was hardly troubled by a Bordeaux side which contributed nothing in the way of creativity to the match and Crouch's header from a Bellamy free-kick in the 58th-minute was enough to guarantee the visitors left France with three-points and a share of first-place in Group-C with PSV Eindhoven.

Bordeaux 0-1 Liverpool

Arouna Kone – outstanding contributor

Ivory Coast produces a second selection on this week's sheet. Arouna Kone's go-ahead goal for PSV Eindhoven in the 72nd-minute saw the Dutch champions leave Istanbul with a rare three points and a share of the lead in Champions' League Group-C. It was Galatasaray who predictably marshaled the action after the opening whistle, going ahead with a well-deserved strike from Ilic on 19-minutes. And while his goal would eventually win the match for PSV, it was Kone's contribution to the turning of the tide which made him stand out at the Ataturk Stadium on Wednesday night. What began as a series of counter-attacks eventually led to the sustained pressure which produced Kromkamp's equalizer in the 59th-minute and Kone's winner thirteen minutes later.

Galatasaray 1-2 PSV Eindhoven

David Villa – outstanding contributor

Not only did he deliver a man-of-the-match performance on Wednesday against Shaskhtar Donetsk, but David Villa's goal-scoring record in both the Champions' League and La Liga has him earning plaudits as the finest finisher in Europe. The addition of Joaquin to the Spanish giants has only enhanced Villa's presence. The two combined to terrorize Pletikosa in the Shakhtar goal and capped the evening by creating Villa's and Valencia's second goal of the night just before the break. Villa might have had three goals but for a superb Pletikosa stop on his bending free-kick just after the quarter-mark.

Valencia 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Francesco Totti – outstanding contributor

Heading into Wednesday's test with AS Roma at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Olympiacos maintained the most realistic prospects of a Greek side advancing into the knock-out stages. Their hopes were dealt a serious blow by a resilient Roma side under the guidance of Francesco Totti. While the hosts frequently dictated the midfield play, it was Totti who lead the charge for Roma as the Italians displayed the early energy. Totti had Roma buzzing again in the early moments of the second-half as he continued to boss the right-hand side of the park. Simone Perrotta notched the only goal Roma would need to leave Athens with three points; but it was Totti who made the play by holding-up the ball before Aleandro Rosi fired across to the goal-scorer.

Olympiacos 0-1 AS Roma

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday Two

27 September 2006

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Juninho – outstanding contributor

He did not score a goal; but the Lyon skipper was directly involved in all three of his club’s tallies in Romania on Tuesday. A first-half free kick, having been fumbled by the Stauea keeper, was pounced upon by countryman, Fred, and converted into the eventual match-winner for the visiting side. Lyon’s lead was doubled after some brilliant service from Juninho fell upon the crown of Tiago who doubled the lead with a header. Finally, a clever back-heel set Benzema into space to round out the scoring. Indeed, Juninho doesn’t even have to figure on the score-sheet to demonstrate his reputation as one of Europe’s foremost maestros.

Steaua Bucharest 0-3 Lyon

Ruud van Nistelrooy – outstanding contributor

Having tallied over 150-times for his former club, Manchester United, Ruud-boy would probably be first in admitting the rarity of eye-catching strikes among the bunch. So too his double on Tuesday at home to Dynamo Kiev. The Madrid striker was in ideal position to clean up the garbage left from Roberto Carlos’ thundering attempt in the 20^th minute. A penalty conversion in the second-half sealed Man-of-the-Match honors for the very hot-and-cold Dutchman.

Real Madrid 5-1 Dynamo Kiev

Cristiano Ronaldo – outstanding contributor

In the build-up to a grudge-match between the two European giants, Sir Alex Ferguson thoughtfully asserted that Ronaldo had been United’s foremost player on the term to date. The Portuguese striker did nothing to disappoint his manager on Tuesday night in Lisbon. Twinkle-toes was his twinkling best – running at and through the Benfica defense and refusing to take the dives he would have a year ago. Ronaldo has been under remarkable pressure since Portugal’s penalty-shootout victory over England in the World Cup. It seems as though he is thriving in the pressure cooker.

Benfica 0-1 Manchester United

Kenny Miller – outstanding contributor

Miller is making quite the impression on the Parkhead faithful. Indeed, he not only tallied in the Old Firm derby against Rangers at the weekend; but struck for Hoops with a penalty-conversion to deliver an emotional victory in the Group Stage of the Champions’ League. Although it was Nakamura’s fine effort which made the goal; Miller’s cold blood and sense of the dramatic have delivered impressive, back-to-back triumphs on the biggest of stages in Scottish football.

Celtic 1-0 Copenhagen

Dudu – outstanding contributor

Hamburg are a big club. If CSKA Moscow proved anything on Tuesday, it is that points will be hard to come by for visitors to Moscow in the Champions' League. That said, the home side was still required to score and Dudu made good on one of the many chances posed by himself and forwards Ivica Olic and Vagner Love.

CSKA Moscow 1-0 Hamburg

Thierry Henry – outstanding contributor

There is not a club in Europe which relies upon a single player more than Arsenal do Henry. Then again, there is not a single player in Europe who can lift his side on his shoulders more than Henry does Arsenal. His performance was typical against Porto at the Emirates Stadium on Matchday Two. Not only did the skipper head an Eboue cross into goal to open the scoring; he also created several opportunities for his teammates – Fabregas and van Persie foremost among them.

Arsenal 2-0 Porto

Lionel Messi – outstanding contributor

Great players do more than demonstrate jaw-dropping feats of skill throughout a football match. They do it when it matters most; when the team needs the result. Such was the circumstance for Barcelona on Wednesday night and such is the player Lionel Messi has become. It looked as though Barca captain Carlos Puyol was setting himself up for an irrefutable liability tag in this match after he was credited with an own-goal in the 56th-minute. Werder Bremen, clearly anxious for all three points, gave a strong performance on the night, but were denied by an 89th-minute equalizer from the young Maradona himself.

Werder Bremen 1-1 Barcelona

Didier Drogba – outstanding contributor

Let's not kid ourselves here. Levski Sofia were never going to advance from Group-A of the UEFA Champions' League. They may not even secure a single point. Yet, their performance on Wednesday night in Bulgaria was enough to worry Jose Mourinho for the better part of the match. That said, Chelsea were fully deserving of all three points and their Ivorian striker delivered them. A trio of goals, the third via a clever back-heel, cemented Drogba's position as the number-one striker at Stamford Bridge – much to the dismay of Andriy Shevchenko. His forgetful evening was rubbed into face, quite literally as it turns out, with an elbow to the chops in the first half.

Levski Sofia 1-3 Chelsea

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – irrefutable liability

It seems as though there are always one or two great talents who just don't get it. Just plain don't get it. Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasted fine opportunities on goal, was caught offside on several occasions, and was sent off in the 58th-minute after subsequent yellow cards – the second for lofting his boot at Bastien Schweinsteiger. Needless to say, Bayern Munich capitalized on their numerical advantage by firing two late goals past Julio Cesar. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a selfish player. He just doesn't get it.

Inter Milan 0-2 Bayern Munich

Peter Crouch – outstanding contributor

Peter Crouch has found it difficult of late to crack any starting-11 which isn't the England team. If one more chance was all that Rafa Benitez was prepared to offer the gangly striker, he may have consternation over omitting Crouch from the team-sheet from now on. Not only did Crouch fire a double which secured the victory for Liverpool; he did it in very spectacular, un-Crouch-like fashion. Following a lovely spurt of inter-play between Steven Gerard and Fabio Aurelio, the latter arched the ball beautifully onto a perfectly timed side-foot from the tall man. Steve Finnan was the provider of the next goal from the opposite side as Crouch volleyed his second past a befuddled Mondragon.

Liverpool 3-2 Galatasaray

Mika Vayrynen – outstanding contributor

PSV Einhoven were somewhat fortunate to leave Bordeaux with three points and a share of the lead in Group-C of the Champions' League. Although it's not as if Bordeaux appeared world-beaters throughout. This was a match which was destined for the group's third draw until Vayrynen combined with Kone to put the Dutch side on the board. There was never going to be another goal in this match.

Bordeaux 0-1 PSV Eindhoven

David Villa – outstanding contributor

Perhaps the most highly anticipated match thus far in the competition, the contest between Valencia and AS Roma at the majestic Mestalla put any thought of let-down to rest after just thirteen minutes. Although Roma enjoyed the lion's share of the early possession, it was David Villa who blasted a shot into Doni and Miguel Angel Angulo who put away the garbage. Villa tallied the winner himself just sixteen minutes later. Not only do the Spanish giants find themselves atop the ledger in Group-D of the Champions' League; they have a share of the lead in the domestic table as well.

Valencia 2-1 AS Roma

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Champions' League Assessment Matchday One

14 September 2006

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Robin van Persie – outstanding contributor

Arsenal, runners-up in last year's tournament, drew a stiff opponent in Hamburg for their debut match in the Group Stage. With Thierry Henry having suffered an injury in training, van Persie was tasked with spearheading the Gunners' attack. He came through with flying colors – earning a penalty, converted by Gilberto Silva for the opening goal, and setting up newcomer Tomas Rosicky for the eventual winner.

Arsenal 2-1 Hamburg

Fabio Cannavaro – irrefutable liability

There were many goats to be found among the neo-Galacticos of Fabio Capello's Real Madrid on Wednesday night in France. Having been trounced 0-4 by Lyon at the Stade Gerland in last year's Group Stage, the new blood of Madrid were out for some revenge. They ended up looking very much like their old selves. Cannavaro, in particular, was positively brutal. He was caught out of position for both Lyon goals and looked nothing like the defensive stalwart who captained Italy to the World Cup just nine weeks ago.

Lyon 2-0 Real Madrid

Louis Saha – outstanding contributor

How quickly the United faithful are forgetting Ruud van Nistelrooy. Sir Alex Ferguson was shouldered with much of the blame for the very public fall-out between manager and striker at the end of last season. With Saha having scored a double in the Champions' League, the Gaffer must now be the target of the plaudits which are sure to follow the stirring win over Celtic. Saha showed himself to be pacey and mobile – two attributes in which Ferguson found Ruud-boy to be lacking. If firing a double at Old Trafford wasn't enough, Saha set up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the winner.

Manchester United 3-2 Celtic

Nicolae Dica – outstanding contributor

Kiev is never an easy city in which to play, particularly when Dynamo are favored to win the tie in the first place. However, Romanian champions – Steaua Bucharest – not only played a superb away game; they won the match and scored four times in the process. Leading the charge was Dica, the talismanic attacking player, making good on his Group Stage debut.

Dynamo Kiev 1-4 Steaua Bucharest

Yoann Gourcuff – outstanding contributor

AC Milan are stocked full of the household name variety. Yoann Gourcuff could not have alleged to be one of them, until Wednesday at the San Siro. Taking his place on the team-sheet only because Andrea Pirlo was rested for the weekend, Gourcuff scored a goal and made another for Filipo Inzaghi as Milan kicked off their Group Stage campaign in style

AC Milan 3-0 AEK Athens

Michael Ballack – outstanding contributor

The German captain opened his account at Stamford Bridge by converting a penalty for Chelsea's second goal on the night. In addition to scoring, Ballack was influential in attack and overshadowed Frank Lampard in the Chelsea midfield. It is hard to imagine that both Lampard and Ballack will be able to assert themselves on the same match when they line up next to one another (see the Lampard-Gerard combination with England). Though Ballack was brilliant on the night, his performance may be somewhat foreboding for Lampard's future in London.

Chelsea 2-0 Werder Bremen

Ronaldinho – outstanding contributor

It took ninety-three-minutes for Ronaldinho to score his first European goal of 2006-2007. But he was hardly invisible to that point. The Brazilian ace looked his old self, flashing brilliance and making plays, making goals. The fact that five different Barca players figured on the tally-sheet is telling not only of the Catalans' dominance Tuesday night, but of Ronaldinho's ability to find people and play the ball into space.

Barcelona 5-0 Levski Sofia

Marco Caneira – outstanding contributor

Inter Milan entered the 2006-2007 season as favorites for trophies, both at home and on the continent. However, they showed nothing of the form which their team-sheet suggests, going most of the match before Adriano earned a quality scoring opportunity. If nothing else, the loss to Sporting demonstrates that Portugal is never an easy away-match for any visiting side – even a side as loaded as Inter. Marco Caneira did his best to make life difficult for the Italians at both ends of the park. While the right full-back was influential in frustrating the Inter attack, he also pushed forward at just the right times – popping a volley behind Francesco Toldo for the eventual winner.

Sporting Club de Portugal 1-0 Inter Milan

Mark van Bommel – outstanding contributor

Bayern Munich opted for a fresh look on attack Tuesday night, placing Pizarro and Podolski at the head of an assault which also featured Roque Santa Cruz and Bastian Schweinstager. But it was former PSV and Barca man, Mark van Bommel, who most asserted himself on the trouncing of Spartak Moscow. Van Bommel was sturdy in his holding role and set up Santa Cruz for the crucial second goal of the match. Four-goals in the home match with Spartak was impressive; but here's betting things will be a lot leaner in Moscow.

Bayern Munich 4-0 Spartak Moscow

Fernando Morientes – outstanding contributor

Three years ago, Fernando Morientes carried AS Monaco to within a win of the Champions' League – losing to champions, Porto, in Schalke. He appears keen to carry another club on a European adventure in 2006-2007. The journeyman striker fired a hat-trick in Greece on Tuesday and sent a message that Valencia will challenge AS Roma for first-place in the group.

Olympiacos 2-4 Valencia

Francesco Totti – outstanding contributor

Until injury ended his season and threatened his presence in the World Cup, Francesco Totti had enjoyed the finest season of his career last term. If Tuesday's performance versus Shakhtar Donetsk means anything, it is that Totti looks every bit the player he was last year. The Italian international played in the unfamiliar role of the lone centre-forward against the Ukrainians and scored the second goal of the night for Roma. Perhaps more impressive was his dummy on the first goal, allowing the ball to bypass his feet and find the boots of the eventual goal-scorer.

AS Roma 4-0 Shakhtar Donetsk