UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (kick offs 1945 GMT)
GROUP E
Celtic 0-0 Villarreal
Man Utd 1-0 AaB
GROUP F
Lyon 0-0 Bayern Munich
Steaua Bucharest 0-0 Fiorentina
GROUP G
Dynamo Kiev 0-0 Fenerbahce
FC Porto 0-0 Arsenal
GROUP H
Juventus 0-0 BATE
Real Madrid 0-0 Zenit St Petersburg
QUALIFIERS FROM TUESDAY
Group winners: Roma, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Liverpool.
Others: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Sporting, Atletico Madrid.
|
606: DEBATE
|
|
By Caroline Cheese
|
1954: As it stands, United will finish top of their group. Villarreal would need to beat Celtic 3-0 to change that.
1953: Porto striker Hulk (I love writing that) is waving an imaginary yellow card after being clattered by Emmanuel Eboue. The Arsenal defender escapes punishment though.
1950: This could be embarrassing for Aalborg. Wayne Rooney is facing the wrong way but still manages to slide the pass across goal for Carlos Tevez, who should score but it goes wide.
1948: GOAL Man Utd 1-0 Aalborg
Lovely one-touch passing from United, and Ryan Giggs chips a brilliant ball over the top for Carlos Tevez, who stays just about onside to slot past keeper Karim Zaza.
1946: The final group games in Champions League 08/09 are under way.
1944: Not only is Sir Bobby Charlton at Old Trafford, so is Denis Law, another former Ballon d'Or winner. Lovely scenes. Sir Alex Ferguson looks on like a proud dad as Cristiano Ronaldo holds aloft the trophy.
1943: "Re 1936: That's the sort of support I want to see from fellow Arsenal fans. The stick he got at the weekend was disgusting."
George, London, via text on 81111
1940: If Celtic don't win tonight, it will mean no Scottish team has posted a victory in European football this season. Jeepers.
1937: Juande Ramos's first Real Madrid team does not feature Iker Casillas, Europe's fourth best player according to Ballon d'Or voters. He is replaced by ex-Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek in an otherwise strong line-up.
1936: After offering up a silent prayer, Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue turns to the visiting fans and applauds - and gets a decent reception.
1934: "Horrible Euro campaign for the Hoops this season. Looking for a good show tonight. Convince everyone we can still compete at this level. Glad to see Caldwell in his proper position!"
Stevo via text on 81111
1931: Cristiano Ronaldo may not be playing tonight, but he will be at Old Trafford to receive the Ballon d'Or trophy from Sir Bobby Charlton, who won the trophy in 1966. The gong returns to Old Trafford for the first time since 1968, when the late, great George Best won it.
1926: So Manchester United make wholesale changes. Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are the only survivors from the side that secured a last-gasp victory against Sunderland. Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick are not being risked after suffering respective hip and thigh injuries in that match, with a crucial Premier League game at Tottenham to come on Saturday, while former White Hart Lane star Dimitar Berbatov is also rested. Tomasz Kuszczak comes in for Edwin van der Sar in goal, while Gary Neville replaces Rafael.
1926: "Celtic very much have something to play for. First they must win and hope the Greek and Belgium teams still left in European competition fail sooner rather than later to guarantee Scotland remain in 12th position in Uefa standings and so achieving an automatic Champions League group stage place for 2010-11 for the winner of next year's SPL. Next year is assured due to Scotland's current 10th place."
santista02 on 606
Join the debate on 606
1924: "Gary Neville is nothing more than a back-up. Still a United legend but his last injury has really taken its toll on him. I love the bloke but I think it's time to step aside for the kids and I hope he accepts this with grace."
Stolen Hub Cap on 606
Join the debate on 606
1920: "Strange Gooners starting XI. Don't think that will get us a point we need. Hope Wenger proves me wrong."
Anon via text on 81111
1917: Celtic striker Scott McDonald drops to the bench, as does Glenn Loovens, while Cillian Sheridan is left out altogether. Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady come in to the midfield while Shaun Maloney starts in attack alongside McDonald's replacement, Georgios Samaras. Villarreal, vying with Manchester United for top spot, make several changes but captain Marcos Senna does start in midfield.
1916: "Glad to see Gibson getting a start for United tonight. But I do hope we get to see Possebon at some point, as I think Anderson and Possebon would be brilliant together in the midfield. I hope Tevez proves a point or two today. For me he should be a starter ahead of Berbatov in most games."
Zippy, George and Bungle on 606
Join the debate on 606
1915: TEAMS Celtic v Villarreal
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, McGeady, Maloney, Samaras. Subs: Mark Brown, McDonald, Loovens, Mizuno, O'Dea, Caddis, McGowan.
Villarreal: Viera, Angel, Fuentes, Rodriguez, Bruno, Cani, Senna, Edmilson, Fernandez, Franco, Ibagaza. Subs: Diego Lopez, Eguren, Pires, Santi Cazorla, Cygan, Nihat.
1913: Listen carefully because I won't say this again: the draw for the last 16 is at 1200 GMT on Friday 19 December. Teams from the same country cannot play each other. I will say it again. I'm only being dramatic.
1910: TEAMS Man Utd v AaB
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, O'Shea, Nani, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez. Subs: Foster, Park, Vidic, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Fletcher, Possebon.
AaB: Zaza, Bogelund, Olfers, Jakobsen, Pedersen, Curth, Enevoldsen, Augustinussen, Risgaard, Due, Saganowski. Subs: Kenneth Nielsen, Nomvethe, Caca, Braemer, Sorensen, Kristensen, Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen.
1909: And so does Emmanuel Eboue, after his Emirates nightmare on Saturday when he was mercilessly booed by the home fans and was replaced after coming on as a sub. He should feel a bit more comfortable tonight. He's playing away from home, and in his natural position of right-back.
1908: Hulk plays! Hurray!
1907: Arsenal make seven changes for their Group G clash at FC Porto, with Emmanuel Eboue, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby, Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner all recalled to the starting XI. Playmaker Lucho Gonzalez returns for Porto, who have Lisandro Lopez and Hulk up front.
1903: I'm all information tonight. Real Madrid, led for the first time by former Spurs boss Juande Ramos, need to beat Zenit to finish top - and hope Juventus lose at home to BATE. I don't hold out much hope for Madrid...
1859: TEAMS Porto v Arsenal
Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Alves, Emanuel, Gonzalez, Fernando, Meireles, Lopez, Hulk, Rodriguez. Subs: Nuno, Stepanov, Guarin, Mariano Gonzalez, Lino, Sektioui, Costa.
Arsenal: Almunia, Eboue, Gallas, Silvestre, Djourou, Ramsey, Diaby, Song, Denilson; Vela, Bendtner. Subs: Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Hoyte, Merida, Randall, Simpson.
1857: "Zenit to put more misery on Madrid by snatching a draw, and Villarreal to continue Celtic's poor European campaign by getting a win."
Ollie, Cirencester, via text on 81111
1855: Celtic are doomed whatever they do, I'm afraid.
1853: Manchester United host Aalborg, with a win guaranteeing them top spot - unless Villarreal beat Celtic by two more goals.
1851: Arsenal are at Porto tonight. They need a draw to finish top of Group G.
1845: And now, the end is here, and so I face the final... games of the 2008/9 Champions League group phase. Sniff. The last 16 teams might be decided - but there are seedings up for grabs tonight as well as a couple of Uefa Cup spots. Not only that, but the Ballon d'Or is at Old Trafford. And it's Juande Ramos's first game as Real Madrid manager to boot. Tasty.
No comments:
Post a Comment