Champions league groups review: 4-5 November 2014

Champions league groups review: 4-5 November 2014

 

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, matchday four took place with four teams qualifying with two games to spare. Group A to D took centre stage on Tuesday and Groups E to H took place on Wednesday across Europe.

 

 

Group A

 

Juventus continued their fine form at home this season as they beat Olympiakos 3-2. Veteran Serie A player Pirlo was making his 100th Champions league appearance in this game and celebrated in with a goal in the 21st minute. Juventus are now third, with a chance of clinching second place. In the other game in Group A, Atletico Madrid playing in Sweden against Malmo. Star man Koke scored and played excellently to lead Simeone's men to a 2-0 win which cemented their place at the top of the group.

 

 

Group B

 

Group B saw Brendan Rodger's side play a conversational line-up against the competition's holders, Real Madrid. Surprisingly though, the result was only 1-0 to Real and Kolo Toure played possibly the best game of his career by keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet all game. The win sees Real qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare, and leaves Liverpool needing to win their next two games with a chance of taking second place. Basel rolled to an easy win over Ludogorets after scoring four goals past them at the Saint Jakob Park. Basel climb to second with hopes of staying there and sending Liverpool or Ludogorets to the Europa league round of 32.

 

Group C

 

Bayer Leverkusen's Japanese striker Son struck twice as Bayer won 2-1 away at Zenit St Petersburg. It now seems likely that Leverkusen will finish in pole position, come the end of the group stages. Benfica beat Monaco 1-0 and this was the first goal that Monaco conceded in this season's Champions league. After this win, second place looks possible for Benfica, Zenit and Monaco (who have 4,4, and 5 points respectively).

 

Group D

 

Borussia Dortmund continued their 100% run in this season's Champions league by beating Galatasaray 4-1 at the Signal Iduna Park and qualified for the last 16. Marco Reus got a goal and an assist as Klopp's side continued an amazing run of form, which isn't matched by their league form. Arsenal have been kicking themselves ever since they let a 3-0 lead fall to a 3-3 draw with Anderlecht. 60,000 in the Emirates saw Arteta score a penalty and Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain score inside 59 minutes, only to see them come away with a point. However, Arsenal look set to finish second as they have seven points .

 

Group E

 

CSKA Moscow beat Manchester City 2-1 in the most surprising result of the week's action. Doumbia scored a brace to guide CSKA to their first win this season in Europe's elite competition. City finished the game with nine men, after Yaya Toure and Fernandinho were sent off for two bookable offences each. Bayern Munich qualified for the last 16 by beating Roma 2-0 at the Allianz Arena. Goals from Ribery and Gotze provided a comfortable qualification for the German champions. Like in other groups, Group E's second qualification spot for the last 16 is very achievable for Roma, CSKA or Manchester City.

 

Group F

 

Barcelona beat Ajax 2-0 as Lionel Messi scored two to tie Raul as the Champions league all-time goalscorer. This win unofficially secured Barcelona a place in the knockout stages. PSG beat APOEL Nicosia 1-0 at the Parc des Princes thanks to a Edison Cavani goal in the first minute. This win show PSG join Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and FC Porto in the knockout stages of the Champions league.

 

Group G

 

Chelsea failed to qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare as Eden Hazard missed a penalty that could have given his side a 2-1 win over Maribor. Sporting beat Di Matteo's Schalke 4-2 in a game which was full of excitement and goals and very similar to the reserve fixture in Germany (without the speculation afterwards). sporting will have high hopes of nicking second place off Schalke with two games to go.

 

Group H

 

Shakhtar Donetsk continued their fine scoring form as they beat BATE Borisov 5-0.Star striker Adriano scored a hat-trick to make him the current leading goalscorer in the competition this season, with nine goals. FC Porto qualified for the last 16 as they beat Atletico Bilbao 2-0 away from home. Colombian striker Jackson Martinez scored in a comfortable victory for the Portuguese side. Group H looks all about rapped up, with Shakhtar and Proto to fight it out for top spot on the final matchday.

 

For more Champions league coverage and fixtures, go to BBC Sport Champions league

 

 

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 Doumbia scores inside two minutes against Manchester City in a game which left many wondering how long it will take for City to adapt to the Champions league.