quentinMatchday 1: UEFA Champions League
September 21st 2010 07:53
Well as part of our greater committment to bringing you coverage from Europe, we're bringing you score updates from Europe's premier competition and a brief of what these results mean.
As it's matchday 1, it's extremely difficult to draw any early conclusions but there were a couple of things that caught the eye.
The saddest story came from Manchester as United's Antonio Valencia was stretchered off with a break/dislocation in the ankle and he's set to miss the rest of the season.
Group A:
FC Twente 2 - 2 Inter Milan
Werder Bremen 2 - 2 Tottenham
I called this to be the one of the Groups of Death and early results would suggest that my call could be accurate. Inter Milan are clearly not going to be as good under Rafael Benitez but Tottenham will be spewing about throwing away a 2 goal lead.
Group B:
Lyon 1 - 0 Schalke
Benfica 2 - 0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
The early results have gone the way I certainly expected and the 2 winners here are the ones I'm tipping to make the Round of 16. Schalke should claim the Europa League spot but Hapoel look clearly outclassed at this level
Group C:
Man United 0 - 0 Rangers
Bursaspor 0 - 4 Valencia
Too early to get a read on United as Rangers set their stall up to defend and really it was a non-event. The Valencia injury hurts United but they do have plenty of depth in their squad. Valencia were one of the most impressive winners and they've confirmed my view that Bursaspor are also outclassed at this level
Group D:
Barcelona 5 - 1 Panathinaikos
FC Copenhagen 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan
Barcelona have shown that they're heads and shoulders above everyone else in this group and Pana's loss hurts their chances of reaching the knockout rounds due to goal difference. As for Copenhagen and Kazan, well that was a crucial win for Copenhagen but let's also remember that Rubin Kazan have an undefeated record against Barcelona after the 2 matches last season.
Group E:
Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Roma
CFR Cluj 2 - 1 FC Basel
I still maintain that Bayern Munich and Roma will qualify for the knockout stages considering I don't rate the Swiss (Basel) and Romanian (Cluj) leagues all that highly. Having said that, Roma would want to play a lot better than the defensive, dour game they attempted to play against Munich. Cluj's win gives them a big boost and if they can pick up an upset somewhere against Munich or Roma, they could very well qualify for the knockout rounds
Group F:
Marseille 0 - 1 Spartak Moscow
Zilinua 1 - 4 Chelsea
Chelsea are heads and shoulders above everyone in this group but the battle for 2nd place has the potential to surprise. I'm unsure about the temperment of Marseille and Spartak Moscow have certainly pinched an advantage with their upset win in France in that batter for 2nd spot. I just don't believe that Zilinua are capable at this level.
Group G:
Real Madrid 2 - 0 Ajax
AC Milan 2 - 0 Auxerre
Results here went according to script and the 2 winners here, I'm tipping to progress into the knockout rounds. Ajax and Auxerre in my mind are playing for a Europa League spot unless either Madrid or Milan stumble dramatically.
Group H:
Arsenal 6 - 0 Braga
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - 0 Partizan Belgrade
Oh dear! This group is looming to be quite ugly very quickly. Braga did well to finish 2nd in the Porrtugese league last season and they've just been brutally exposed by a majestic Arsenal. Really, it's a battle for 2nd and I just feel that Donetsk have the advantage due to greater European pedigree.
Overall it's been an exceptional matchday 1 and the goal stats and averages are as follows
Total Goals: 44
Goals per match: 2.75
Matchday 2 takes place on the 29th and 30th of September (AEST)
As it's matchday 1, it's extremely difficult to draw any early conclusions but there were a couple of things that caught the eye.
The saddest story came from Manchester as United's Antonio Valencia was stretchered off with a break/dislocation in the ankle and he's set to miss the rest of the season.
Group A:
FC Twente 2 - 2 Inter Milan
Werder Bremen 2 - 2 Tottenham
I called this to be the one of the Groups of Death and early results would suggest that my call could be accurate. Inter Milan are clearly not going to be as good under Rafael Benitez but Tottenham will be spewing about throwing away a 2 goal lead.
Group B:
Lyon 1 - 0 Schalke
Benfica 2 - 0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
The early results have gone the way I certainly expected and the 2 winners here are the ones I'm tipping to make the Round of 16. Schalke should claim the Europa League spot but Hapoel look clearly outclassed at this level
Group C:
Man United 0 - 0 Rangers
Bursaspor 0 - 4 Valencia
Too early to get a read on United as Rangers set their stall up to defend and really it was a non-event. The Valencia injury hurts United but they do have plenty of depth in their squad. Valencia were one of the most impressive winners and they've confirmed my view that Bursaspor are also outclassed at this level
Group D:
Barcelona 5 - 1 Panathinaikos
FC Copenhagen 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan
Barcelona have shown that they're heads and shoulders above everyone else in this group and Pana's loss hurts their chances of reaching the knockout rounds due to goal difference. As for Copenhagen and Kazan, well that was a crucial win for Copenhagen but let's also remember that Rubin Kazan have an undefeated record against Barcelona after the 2 matches last season.
Group E:
Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Roma
CFR Cluj 2 - 1 FC Basel
I still maintain that Bayern Munich and Roma will qualify for the knockout stages considering I don't rate the Swiss (Basel) and Romanian (Cluj) leagues all that highly. Having said that, Roma would want to play a lot better than the defensive, dour game they attempted to play against Munich. Cluj's win gives them a big boost and if they can pick up an upset somewhere against Munich or Roma, they could very well qualify for the knockout rounds
Group F:
Marseille 0 - 1 Spartak Moscow
Zilinua 1 - 4 Chelsea
Chelsea are heads and shoulders above everyone in this group but the battle for 2nd place has the potential to surprise. I'm unsure about the temperment of Marseille and Spartak Moscow have certainly pinched an advantage with their upset win in France in that batter for 2nd spot. I just don't believe that Zilinua are capable at this level.
Group G:
Real Madrid 2 - 0 Ajax
AC Milan 2 - 0 Auxerre
Results here went according to script and the 2 winners here, I'm tipping to progress into the knockout rounds. Ajax and Auxerre in my mind are playing for a Europa League spot unless either Madrid or Milan stumble dramatically.
Group H:
Arsenal 6 - 0 Braga
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - 0 Partizan Belgrade
Oh dear! This group is looming to be quite ugly very quickly. Braga did well to finish 2nd in the Porrtugese league last season and they've just been brutally exposed by a majestic Arsenal. Really, it's a battle for 2nd and I just feel that Donetsk have the advantage due to greater European pedigree.
Overall it's been an exceptional matchday 1 and the goal stats and averages are as follows
Total Goals: 44
Goals per match: 2.75
Matchday 2 takes place on the 29th and 30th of September (AEST)
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