Saturday, December 12, 2009

Champions League Tuesday Review



Manchester United and Porto have been joined by Bordeaux and Chelsea in qualifying for the Champions League last 16.

However, AC Milan and Real Madrid could yet miss out on progression from the group stages.

Bayern Munich are in danger of missing out in qualification from Group A after Bordeaux claimed a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena.

The pressure mounted on Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal after strikes from Yoann Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh secured qualificati! on for Les Girondins, who are unbeaten at the top of the Group A standings.

Juventus are two points behind the French side and four ahead of Bayern following their 1-0 win at Maccabi Haifa, courtesy of Mauro Camoranesi's winner in first-half injury-time.

Chelsea booked their progression from Group D after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Sergio Aguero gave Atletico the lead in the 66th minute, but Didier Drogba - on his return to European action following suspension - netted twice in the last eight minutes to seemingly earn Chelsea the win.

It was not to be as Aguero struck his second goal from a free-kick in stoppage-time to earn Atletico a draw, but Chelsea are still assured of a place in the knockout stages courtesy of Porto's win over Apoel Nicosia.

The Portuguese side triumphed 1-0 in Cyprus, with Falcao on target six minutes from time.

Last season's runners-up Manchester United required a stopp! age-time equaliser from Antonio Valencia to secure their place! in the last 16 with a 3-3 Group B draw against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford.

The winger scored the winner in Russia and his effort this time around capped a rousing fightback by Sir Alex Ferguson's side following strikes from Michael Owen and Paul Scholes.

CSKA Moscow squandered a 3-1 advantage, with Alan Dzagoev, Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutsky the men on target.

Wolfsburg are in pole position for second place behind United after a 3-0 win at Besiktas.

European giants AC Milan and Real Madrid, who have won the competition on seven and nine occasions, respectively, shared a 1-1 draw in Group C, with both teams a point above Marseille.

Karim Benzema gave Real the lead in the 29th minute, but Ronaldinho replied with a penalty 10 minutes before the break.

Alexandre Pato had a goal controversially disallowed moments later before Dida denied Raul a late winner in a dramatic game at the San Siro.

Marseille could yet progress at the exp! ense of Milan or Real after a 6-1 defeat of FC Zurich, with two goals in the opening 10 minutes and three in the final 10.

An own-goal from Silvan Aegerter put them on their way before Fabrice Abriel, Mamadou Niang, Vitorino Hilton, Benoit Cheyrou and Brandao were on target. The visitors' Alexandre Alphonse made it 2-1 after 31 minutes.

Match Reports

Man United 3-3 CSKA Moscow

AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

At! letico M adrid 2-2 Chelsea

Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Juventus

Bayern Munich 0-2 Bordeaux

Marseille 6-1 FC Zurich

Besiktas 0-3 Wolfsburg

APOEL 0-1 Porto