INT uefa champions league draw

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FC Basel 2 - 1 Otelul Galati

Frei is spot on for Basel

Alexander Frei's late penalty earned Basle an unimpressive victory at home to Champions League debutants Otelul Galati this evening.

The veteran striker converted from the spot in the 84th minute after Adrian Salageanu was sent off to deny the Romanian minnows a point.

Marius Pena struck a second-half equaliser for the visitors to cancel out Fabian Frei's opener, but they were unable to grab a second leveller after Basle had Benjamin Huggel dismissed at the death.

The visitors settled the quicker and Gabriel Giurgiu and Pena tested Yann Sommer inside the opening six minutes, although the Basle goalkeeper comfortably dealt with both efforts.

Romania midfielder Giurgiu then had a volley from the left side of the area blocked by David Abraham as Otelul continued to get into promising positions.

Basle, though, were always going to pose a threat with Alexander Frei, Switzerland's all-time top scorer, leading the line and his long-range effort brought a brilliant parried save out of Otelul keeper Branko Grahovac in the 27th minute.

But it was his namesake Fabian Frei who put the hosts in front in the 39th minute, heading Marco Streller's right-wing cross into the bottom corner.

The visitors did anything but crumble, though, and John Ibeh brought a smart stop out of Sommer with a drilled effort from 20 yards.

And they drew level in the 58th minute when Liviu Antal's fierce shot was parried by Sommer and Pena was on hand to clip the rebound over the keeper and into the net.

Basle, knowing they realistically needed to take maximum points at home against on paper the weakest team in the group if they were to stand a chance of progressing, pushing forward in search of a winner, but struggled to break down Otelul.

Granit Xhaka fired over the bar from inside the area before the decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute.

Salageanu fouled down Streller in the box and, after the Romanian was sent off, Alexander Frei fired the penalty into the bottom left corner, Grahovac guessing right but unable to keep it out.

The numbers were evened up when Huggel received a second yellow three minutes from time, but Basle had little trouble seeing out the game.

 

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Villarreal 0 - 2 Bayern Munich

Bayern get off to impressive start

Goals by Toni Kroos and Rafinha guided Bayern Munich to a comfortable victory at Villarreal in their opening match in Group A of the Champions League.

Kroos opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with Rafinha sealing victory with a little under 15 minutes remaining in a match the Bundesliga side controlled after a lively start by both sides.

It was an ideal start to the European campaign for the Germans who also top their domestic league but an early blow for Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido, in a group also featuring Napoli and Manchester City.

Bayern took an early lead through Kroos.

The goal came about after Franck Ribery passed from the left side of the penalty area and his fellow midfielder sent a right-footed shot into the top right corner.

Nilmar had a shot blocked by Bayern defender Holger Badstuber before Kroos almost turned provider when his inswinging corner was met by Mario Gomez but the striker put his header over the bar from the six-yard box.

Both sides were lively in attack with Bastian Schweinsteiger's drilled right-footed shot from 35 yards parried by Diego Lopez in the Villarreal goal.

Then it was the turn of the hosts to threaten when Giuseppe Rossi's left-footed shot was tipped round the post by Manuel Neuer.

Bayern, though, suffered a blow when Daniel van Buyten was forced off with injury in the 22nd minute to be replaced by Marcio Rafinha.

As the half went on there were less openings as the game settled down but Villarreal almost drew level on the brink of half-time.

Marcos Senna's free-kick from the left came to Mario whose left-footed shot was repelled by the legs of Neuer.

The second half was only a minute old when the Bundesliga side almost doubled their lead, Nils Petersen's drilled shot from the centre of the area saved by Lopez with his legs.

The Spanish side were not creating anything of note and again it was the visitors who threatened.

Once more it was Petersen whose right-footed shot was pushed wide by Lopez before Kroos' shot from close range hit the post.

And not surprisingly all Bayern's pressure paid off when they scored a second goal 14 minutes from time, defender Rafinha drilling a shot home high into the centre of the goal.

The goal did not prompt any more of a threat from Villarreal as Bayern eased to victory.

 

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Internazionale 0 - 1 Trabzonspor

Celustka stuns San Siro

Italian giants Inter Milan were stunned by Trabzonspor as the Turkish stand-ins began their Champions League season with a shock win at the San Siro.

The 2009 champions began their Group B campaign against a team only in the tournament because compatriots Fenerbahce had been kicked out due to match-fixing allegations.

They dominated much of tonight's proceedings but were made to pay for a lack of dynamism up front as Ondrej Celustka was on hand to provide the visiting fans with a joyous celebration.

Inter boss Gian Piero Gasperini deployed Giampaolo Pazzini and Mauro Zarate up front with Diego Milito his only substitute striker.

He hoped he would not need him against an unfancied Turkish side but the only early chance of note saw Wesley Sneijder slam a free-kick against the wall.

Pazzini had two shots around the 20-minute mark, first seeing a 12-yard effort blocked by Arkadiusz Glowacki and then seeing the same defender get in the way two minutes later.

Defender Marek Cech had Trabzonspor's first half-chance when he blasted over the bar from long distance in the 28th minute.

By far the best chance at that point went to Zarate in the 32nd minute, when the former Lazio forward was well placed from close range but saw Tolga Zengin make the save.

The action was warming up as Zarate teed up Pazzini with a corner which the striker fired goalwards, though Zengin again produced the save required.

Zarate had another chance of his own in the 33rd minute but again Zengin was there to stop him, and 10 minutes from the break Sneijder's free-kick was caught by the goalkeeper.

Inter's Esteban Cambiasso fired one over the bar before the half was out.

Paulo Henrique had a rare attempt for the Turkish side early in the second half but saw his 30-yard attempt fly over before Gasperini sent on Milito and Ricardo Alvarez for Pazzini and Joel Obi.

Playmaker Sneijder volleyed wide from the edge of the box in the 56th minute before a brief lull was ended by Alanzinho's wayward shot at the other end.

Zarate, still Inter's liveliest attacker, should have done better with a shot shortly after the hour mark which Zengin saved.

Halil Altintop was booked for time-wasting and Milito twice went close before the home side were stunned.

The ominous signs had been there and Altintop hit the woodwork from 12 yards before Celustka beat goalkeeper Julio Cesar to the rebound and was able to slam home the goal.

Inter were floundering and Alvarez's poor off-target shot was a poor response as the stunned hosts got off to the worst possible start to their campaign.

 

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Lille 2 - 2 CSKA Moscow

Doumbia at the death

Seydou Doumbia's last-minute strike rescued a point for CSKA Moscow after the Russian side had looked down and out in their Champions League Group B opener in Lille.

Goals by Moussa Sow and Benoit Pedretti had the French champions well in control after an hour of the encounter at Stade Metropole, with their opponents looking out of sorts during a one-sided opening half.

But the Russians were a different proposition after the break, and after Doumbia reduced the deficit with his first 18 minutes from time, the Ivorian doubled his tally in the final moments to shatter the Lille faithful and seal a share of the spoils.

Neither side appeared willing to commit men forward in a cagey opening period, but the half sparked into life after 20 minutes as first Pedretti fired just over for Lille with an overhead kick, and then Sow fired just wide moments later.

Lille continued to push as the half wore on, with Franck Beria and Florent Balmont forcing Vladimir Gabulov into action in the CSKA goal, while Beria drilled over the visitors' net just after the half-hour.

Eden Hazard, handed his first chance to replicate his glittering domestic form on the Champions League stage, also drew a stop from Gabulov eight minutes from the break before CSKA finally came to the party with Aleksandrs Cauna firing just wide.

Gabulov parried again from Hazard after 44 minutes, but moments later the CSKA goalkeeper was finally beaten, although in unfortunate circumstances.

Having been forced into action once again to thwart Pedretti, Gabulov was helpless from the resulting corner when Ludovic Obraniak's centre fell to Sow, who struck the post with a low shot.

David Rozehnal kept the move alive by turning the ball back into the danger area, from where Sow produced a cheeky finish to finally break the deadlock.

The second half started at a much greater tempo than the first, with CSKA in particular looking fired up after their listless display in the opening 45 minutes.

Zoran Tosic served notice of the Russian side's intentions with a fierce drive in the 55th minute that produced a superb parry from Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.

And two minutes later that save took on even greater significance when Lille doubled their lead.

Balmont was the architect, laying the ball off for Pedretti who produced a delightful curling effort into the top-right corner.

The lead might have been three goals when Marko Basa brought another stop from Gabulov after 65 minutes, although CSKA were far from finished and might have got one back a minute later when Vagner Love's effort was held by Landreau.

But CSKA grabbed a lifeline after 72 minutes when Tosic crossed from the left and Doumbia was on hand to steer the ball home from six yards.

The goal sent the hosts into their shells for the final stages, Hazard's weak free-kick after 84 minutes their only opening in what time remained.

And with the Lille backline rocking, the inevitable happened.

Alan Dzagoev opened up the home defence with a neat flick on from the right channel, the ball running through to Doumbia who finished unerringly with a first-time shot to rescue an unlikely point for his team.

 

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Ajax Amsterdam 0 - 0 Lyon

Ajax and Lyon in stalemate

Theo Janssen's set-piece skills failed to break the deadlock at the Amsterdam Arena tonight as the Eredivisie leaders were held to a goalless draw by Lyon in their Champions League Group D opener.

Janssen's skills often kept the French side pinned back in their penalty area but the visitors ended the night happiest as they seek to continue a run which has taken them past the group stages every year since 2003.

Lyon had already proved their Champions League pedigree this season by knocking out tough Russians Rubin Kazan while Ajax, as Eredivisie champions, qualified directly.

And they made their intentions clear in the early stages of a group which also includes Real Madrid, naming Bafetimbi Gomis as the only out-and-out striker on their team-sheet.

Janssen's attempt to crack the resolute Lyon defence started as early as the eighth fifth minute when his corner found Derk Boerrigter who missed with a header from six yards.

Boerrigter missed from another Janssen corner in the 12th minute before Lyon had their first chance, Bakary Kone flashing wide with an acrobatic overhead kick from a Kim Kallstrom free-kick.

Janssen's set-pieces continued to cause the French side problems with keeper Hugo Lloris punching clear another corner before Gomis fired over for Lyon at the other end.

Ajax had a lucky escape on the half hour when Michel Bastos found space in the box and let fly with a volley which sailed over the bar when it ought to have found the target.

And relieved at Lyon's failure to snatch the lead, Ajax pressed towards the break, Miralem Sulejmani somehow missing with an easy header and Jan Vertonghen nodding wide from yet another Janssen corner.

Lyon set about the second half with renewed purpose, Bastos forcing a rare save out of Kenneth Vermeer and Kallstrom firing wide before Vermeer was in action again to punch clear a Clement Grenier corner.

Boerrigter was off target again after 65 minutes for Ajax and that was the last real chance for the home side, with both sides seemingly happy to settle for a point on opening night.

Lyon still had time to almost steal it at the death, Jimmy Briand taking advantage of a mistake by Gregory Van der Wiel to race through on goal, only for the defender to track back and make a superb saving tackle.

In injury time, late Lyon substitute Gueida Fofana had a chance to make a name for himself with his first touch but he shot well wide of target and moments later the referee blew for full-time.

 

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Inter suffer embarrassing defeat

Italian giants Inter Milan were stunned by Trabzonspor as the Turkish stand-ins began their first-ever Champions League season with a shock 1-0 win at the San Siro.

Inter dominated much of the game but were made to pay for a lack of dynamism up front as Ondrej Celustka was on hand to provide the visiting fans with a joyous celebration.

Boss Gian Piero Gasperini is now under serious pressure after Inter lost 4-3 to Palermo in the opening weekend of the Serie A season.

The ominous signs had been there and Halil Altintop hit the woodwork from 12 yards before Celustka beat goalkeeper Julio Cesar to the rebound and was able to slam home the winning goal.

Seydou Doumbia's last-minute strike rescued a 2-2 draw for CSKA Moscow after the Russian side had looked down and out in their Champions League Group B opener in Lille.

Goals by Moussa Sow and Benoit Pedretti had the French champions well in control after an hour of the encounter at Stade Metropole, with their opponents looking out of sorts during a one-sided opening half.

But the Russians were a different proposition after the break, and after Doumbia reduced the deficit with his first 18 minutes from time, the Ivorian doubled his tally in the final moments to shatter the Lille faithful and seal a share of the spoils.

Manchester City had defender Aleksandar Kolarov to thank for ensuring their much-celebrated Champions League debut did not become an anti-climax at home to Napoli.

The Serbia international succeeded in securing a 1-1 draw, on a night when the likes of Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and, late on, Carlos Tevez failed to score.

Napoli's plans appeared to have worked when Edison Cavani, Serie A's leading goalscorer last season, snatched a classic counter-attacking goal.

But Kolarov, who has still to convince after more than a season at City, proved the unlikely hero.

Goals by Toni Kroos and Rafinha guided Bayern Munich to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Villarreal in their opening match in Group A.

Kroos opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with Rafinha sealing victory with a little under 15 minutes remaining in a match the Bundesliga side controlled after a lively start by both sides.

Ryan Giggs confirmed there is room for an older hand amongst Manchester United's young bucks as he grabbed a 1-1 draw for the Red Devils with a brilliant solo effort at the Estadio da Luz.

It was harsh luck on Benfica, who were the better team and were deservedly in front through Oscar Cardozo.

Alexander Frei's late penalty earned FC Basel an unimpressive 2-1 victory at home to debutants Otelul Galati.

The veteran striker converted from the spot in the 84th minute, after Adrian Salageanu was sent off, to deny the Romanian minnows a point.

Marius Pena struck a second-half equaliser for the visitors to cancel out Fabian Frei's opener, but they were unable to grab a second leveller after Basle had Benjamin Huggel dismissed at the death.

Real Madrid made a solid start to their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 Group D win at Dinamo Zagreb which saw them finish with 10 men.

With coach Jose Mourinho banished to the stands serving a touchline ban, Real were in the ascendancy throughout but only Angel Di Maria's second-half strike earned them the points.

The narrow win was tarnished, too, by the dismissal of Marcelo for two bookings in quick succession, the second being handed out for diving.

Theo Janssen's set-piece skills failed to break the deadlock at the Amsterdam Arena as Eredivisie leaders Ajax were held to a 0-0 draw by Lyon.

Janssen's skills often kept the French side pinned back in their penalty area but the visitors ended the night happiest as they seek to continue a run which has taken them past the group stages every year since 2003.

 

[alonso]

nama tajuk dia ni je dah draw = seri
sesuai utk MU)

 

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nama tajuk dia ni je dah draw = seri
sesuai utk MU)

kalo kalah lak sesuai ngan chelsea ye bang :">

 

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Chelsea, Barcelona jadi tumpuan

CHELSEA akan menaruh harapan kepada Juan Mata untuk mengatasi kelab negaranya, Valencia dan bukan Fernando Torres dalam saingan peringkat kumpulan, Liga Juara-Juara Eropah, hari ini.

Bintang Argentina, Lionel Messi yang menjaringkan hatrik ketika Barcelona membelasah Atletico Madrid 5-0 harus memukau tontonan sekali lagi apabila membantu kelab gergasi dari Sepanyol itu menentang Bate Borisov di gelanggang lawan dalam Kumpulan H.

Satu lagi bintang turut menyinar ketika ini, Robin van Persie dijangka bakal mengepalai Arsenal apabila menentang Olympiakos Piraeus dalam Kumpulan F yang kini tampak menunjukkan ciri-ciri mampu mengisi kekosongan ditinggalkan Cesc Fabregas.
Van Persie yang menjadi ketua pasukan ketika ini menyumbat dua kali ketika The Gunners menewaskan Bolton, Sabtu lalu harus menjadi harapan Arsene Wenger mengubah wajah cabaran pasukan yang agak goyah apabila bermula buruk dalam Liga Perdana Inggeris.

Satu lagi perlawanan tumpuan membabitkan bekas juara, AC Milan menentang Viktoria Plzen di San Siro.

 

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Villas-Boas resah emosi Mata

MADRID: Pemain Chelsea, Juan Mata akan kembali bertemu rakannya apabila pemain Sepanyol yang menjulang kejuaraan Piala Dunia itu kembali ke Valencia untuk saingan Liga Juara-Juara Eropah hari ini, hanya kira-kira sebulan selepas dia meninggalkan kelab itu.

Pengurus Chelsea, Andre Villas-Boas membayar 30 juta pound (RM147.2 juta) untuk memancing perancang itu ke Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) dan pemain 23 tahun itu menampilkan impak serta merta dengan menjaringkan gol pembukaan dalam kemenangan 2-0 ke atas Bayer Leverkusen dalam aksi Kumpulan E.
Saya tidak sabar menyaksikan dia beraksi dan bermain menentangnya, begitu juga rakan sepasukan yang lain, kata pemain sayap Valencia yang juga bekas rakan sebilik Mata, Pablo Hernandez.
Ia pasti istimewa buatnya kerana dia kembali ke lokasi yang menjadi tempat tinggalnya selama beberapa tahun, tetapi tiada istilah kawan di atas padang. Kami akan bermain bermati-matian untuk menewaskan mereka dan Juan, hanya selepas itu baru saya akan mengucapkan selamat berjaya kepadanya.

Villas-Boas bimbang emosi Mata bersama kelab lamanya akan mengganggu permainannya.

Dia adalah seorang pemain dengan bakat hebat. Dia cemerlang dalam saingan Liga Juara-Juara untuk Valencia dan mula menunjukkan potensinya dalam EPL ketika ini, kata pengurus Chelsea itu.

Valencia memulakan kempen Eropah dengan keputusan seri 0-0 di Racing Genk.
Prestasi mereka dalam saingan La Liga juga baik hinggalah Sabtu lalu apabila tewas 1-0 di Sevilla.

Hanya tiga hari sebelum itu, mereka memberi saingan sengit kepada juara Eropah, Barcelona apabila dua kali mendahului sebelum mensia-siakan kelebihan itu untuk akhirnya seri 2-2. Reuters