UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LATEST
(1945 GMT kick-offs)
Group A
Bordeaux 0-0 Chelsea
CFR Cluj 0-0 Roma
Group B
Anorthosis Famagusta 0-0 Werder Bremen
Inter Milan 0-0 Panathinaikos
Group C
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Basle
Sporting Lisbon 0-0 Barcelona
Group D
Atletico Madrid 0-0 PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool 0-0 Marseille
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606: DEBATE
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By Jonathan Stevenson
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1951: Fernando forces Petr Cech to push the ball behind at Bordeaux, while at Cluj, Yssouf Kone shoots across goal and forces Roma keeper Doni to make a decent early stop.
1950: "Same old boring Champions League - seeing the same teams every year makes me sick. I haven't watched a single game this year and didn't regret it for a second!"
tommyoren on 606
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Yeah well, thanks for getting involved in a Champions League thread. It's been a pleasure having you.
1948: "Tom Evison, at Anfield, first time at Anfield, and I've got a strange feeling Arbeloa's in for a hat-trick."
Tom Evison at Anfield, via text on 81111
1945: Games across Europe are getting under way. It's about to all go mental.
1944: It's horrible watching scenes from the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid tonight. It's empty, of course, as Atletico's punishment for the behaviour of their fans during the 1 October win against Marseille. It's like the anti-Champions League.
1942: Liverpool need two more goals to reach 300 in the European Cup (as it should be called). Marseille have conceded 99 away goals in European competition. Ivan Cordoba plays his 50th Champions League match tonight, for Inter Milan. See? I can do it, Danny the Stat, I told you so. Damn your wit and penchant for unearthing sensational statistics.
1937: Anyone out there at Anfield, or the Stade Chaban Delma, or the other six venues across Europe tonight? If so, please get in touch. Please. I love it. Texts on 81111, yeah? Yeah.
1934: "As a Newcastle fan, I punt for Group B for one reason and one reason alone - Temuri Ketsbaia."
GeordieTillIDie, Newcastle, via text on 81111
Well, it's the nearest you boys will get to the Champs Lge for a while. He said, from his enormous glass house.
1930: "Stevo, we all know you're not a Liverpool fan, after the 'Carling Cup Gareth Bale foul in the box was-it-wasn't-it incident', but let's not bring that up again. Oh, hang on..."
Torresque on 606
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Yeah, let's not bring that up again - oh hang on. I won't go on about it, though (it wasn't a penalty). I will definitely try (it wasn't a penalty) not to mention it. End of, the penalty that never was. Oh, hang on...
1926: "Marseille have the ability to score, they will be a threat. The problem for them, the dilemma, is whether they go for it or wait and play on the counter."
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez
1924: Oh my word, Danny the Stat goes large: "Here's a little bit of Champions League qualification chat from elsewhere in Europe. One for you Group B fans - Inter Milan only need a draw with Panathinaikos to go through - if they win, then Euro minnows Anothosis Famagusta will join them in the last 16 if they beat Werder Bremen.
"Meanwhile, Group C fans everywhere know that Sporting and Barcelona are merely jockeying for top spot having both qualified. Shakhtar Donetsk need a point against Basel to secure the consolation of a Uefa Cup place."
Thanks Danny, as always you've been a great help. What I want to know is, are there any Group B/C fans out there? And if so, why?
1920: I've been largely derided in the office for my Liverpool prediction. I'm probably at risk of being called a Liverpool fan again tonight. Just to clear one thing up (for the 64,678th time), the team I support are bottom of the Championship. Thanks for reminding me. Really, thanks.
1916: So, Chelsea make just one change from the side that was held to a goalless draw by Newcastle at the weekend, bringing in Michael Ballack for the suspended Deco. Didier Drogba, banned at home but eligible abroad, is on the bench.
1913: "What are your thoughts on Keano's Liverpool career so far, Stevo? Surely he won't be happy to not be starting tonight?"
Rob, Spurs fan, via text on 81111
Surely no footballer is ever happy to be on the bench, so the cliche goes? I've been disappointed with him mate, four goals isn't a great return, but Liverpool's success so far this season means he has not come under much pressure yet.
1909: Yeah, I can sympathise with SimpreZola, below. Now I know that the little maestro Leo Messi is playing for Barca, I'm tempted to ask if I can change a Predo. But I won't, I mustn't. Also, Thierry Henry plays in his 100th Champions League game today.
1906: "Stevo: Famagusta to win? Surely that will not happen. Barca drawing? Now I know why you get it wrong..."
SimpreZola on 606
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1903: CHELSEA v BORDEAUX LINE-UPS
Bordeaux: Valverde, Chalme, Planus, Diawara, Jurietti, Menegazzo, Diarra, Gourcuff, Gouffran, Wendell, Chamakh.
Subs: Olimpa, Cavenaghi, Bellion, Placente, Traore, Obertan, Tremoulinas.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka.
Subs: Cudicini, Drogba, Bridge, Ferreira, Kalou, Alex, Stoch.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
1901: LIVERPOOL v MARSEILLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Keane, Benayoun, Babel, Leiva Lucas, Kelly.
Marseille: Mandanda, Bonnart, Zubar, Hilton, Taiwo, Ziani, Cana, Cheyrou, Ben Arfa, Niang, Kone.
Subs: Riou, Rodriguez, Zenden, Kabore, Samassa, Grandin, Valbuena.
Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).
1900: It's that special time of the evening, again: when I embarrass myself in public. Here are Stevo's Predos (never check the last lot):
Bordeaux 0-2 Chelsea
CFR Cluj 1-2 Roma
Anorthosis Famagusta 2-1 Werder Bremen
Inter Milan 1-0 Panathinaikos
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Basle
Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Barcelona
Atletico Madrid 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool 4-0 Marseille
1855: "Argh, I'm stuck in uni and hope I get home in time to watch Liverpool. I'm doing an assignment on international trade: a subject West Ham could do with brushing up on."
Katie, Swansea, via text on 81111
Yeah, thanks Katie, for reminding everyone of the world's most boring football story (oh come on Sheff Utd fans, it really is).
West Ham suffer new Tevez setback
1851: Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool's team after recovering from the groin injury that ruled him out of England's win in Germany last Wednesday and Saturday's goalless draw against Fulham at Anfield. Robbie Keane is dropped to the bench and it is the first time Gerrard and Fernando Torres have started together since the 3-2 win at Manchester City on 5 October. Xabi Alonso returns in central midfield, with Lucas Leiva dropping out.
1847: "It's time bid au revoir to our French friends as the English teams serve up some 'chateau neuf de pain'."
Mouth of the South on 606
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1844: Liverpool team to play Marseille: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres.
1841: "One art I don't want to see is how to not pick your strongest line-up and draw 0-0, by Rafa Benitez."
Steve, Liverpool fan, via text on 81111
Well, I don't think any of us are keen on 0-0s tonight pal, but as Danny the Stat rightly points out, Liverpool will qualify if they draw 0-0 and Atletico draw with PSV tonight. He's rarely, rarely wrong, too.
1838: The headline news from tonight's games is as follows: Chelsea qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with a victory and so indeed do Liverpool. There are many other permutations, of course, but neither side can be knocked out. Danny the Stat, or Mr As It Stands to his friends (he's got some, for sure), will keep us all posted. In a massive way.
1835: Of course our main focus tonight will be on the matches at Anfield, where Liverpool take on Marseille, and the Stade Chaban Delmas, where Chelsea face Bordeaux. Team news, as ever, will be with you just as soon as we have it. Promise.
1830: OK, last night wasn't a classic. I mean, if you're making a DVD and you've got to pick the 25 greatest nights in Champions League history, it wouldn't be a contender. But what it did have, was an exhibition of some very particular arts in this wonderful game that we love. In Stevo's Champo Leago exhibition, I present to you...
- On how to take free-kicks, Lyon's Juninho Pernambucano.
- On how to head a football, Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino.
- On how to volley the ball dropping out of the sky, Lyon's Ederson.
- On how not to win a penalty, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.
- On how to lose friends and alienate people, Kiev's Olexandr Aliyev.
- On how to win wearing 17 layers of clothing, Real Madrid CF.
- On how to score despite a blatant handball, FC Porto's Lisandro.
- On how to squander about 40 good chances and somehow play out a goalless draw, Zenit and Juventus.
Feel free to add to the list, ridiculous list fans. And what exhibition stuff might we see today? Get those texts in to 81111 and join the debate on 606. There's a good crew.
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