Full Time
Chelsea Goal(s)
Oscar 31,33'
&
Juventus Goal(s)
Vidal 38'
Quagliarella 80'
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Chelsea 2-2 Juventus: Oscar sparkles but Chelsea stunned by Old Lady’s spirited comeback
LONDON-- Roberto Di Matteo called it Mission Impossible. So it might prove, as his Chelsea began the defense of its Champions League title in unpersuasive fashion, surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Serie A flag bearer Juventus.
The aptly-named Oscar had threatened to steal the show with two goals in two minutes on his full Chelsea debut and in his first Champions League appearance, the second a strike of rare quality.
But Arturo Vidal gave his team hope with a fine strike shortly before halftime and substitute Fabio Quagliarella made the home side pay for a sloppy performance with an 81st minute equalizer.
It was the least the well-drilled visiting side deserved in its return to the competition following a three-season hiatus.
Manager Antonio Conte, watching from the stands as he continues his lengthy touchline ban, had watched in dismay as his team wasted two gilt-edged chances midway through the first period, but Quaglieralla, who also hit the top of the bar late in the dying minutes, ensured a second consecutive night of Champions League drama in the marquee fixture of the evening.
Di Matteo made only a slight tweak to the team that stuttered to a goalless draw at QPR last Saturday, replacing the sweet left foot of Ryan Bertrand with the more exotic skills of Oscar. The 25 million pound signing from Internacional has been gradually eased into life at Stamford Bridge following his exertions for Brazil at the Olympics.
It proved to be an inspired use of the considerable attacking midfield resources at the disposal of the Chelsea manager, who was unable to field a recognized striker on the bench following the late withdrawal of Daniel Sturridge with a hamstring injury.
Juventus arrived at Stamford Bridge with a desperate recent record on English soil, losing eight - including a 1-0 last-16 Champions League defeat at Stamford Bridge four seasons ago - and drawing three.
Yet the club returned to Europe’s head table for the first time in three years as Serie A's winner, league leader and Italy’s most convincing flag bearer on the back of an astonishing 42-match league unbeaten run.
Just to rubber stamp Juve's rejuvenation, the visiting side starting X1 featured six members of the Italy team that began the Euro 2012 final against Spain – Buffon, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini, Pirlo and Marchisio.
Both sides struggled to create opportunities in the early exchanges, although David Luiz collected a nosebleed for his trouble after side-footing a fourth minute Frank Lampard corner straight at Buffon.
Juventus began to threaten on the counterattack and twice came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first period.
Firstly, Claudio Marchisio broke from midfield to spring Chelsea’s offside trap and latch on to a long pass from Barzagli but his first touch was too heavy and Petr Cech was able to smother the danger.
Soon afterwards, Branislav Ivanovic sloppy pass was intercepted and Mirko Vucinic was sent through on goal but the imposing striker biffed his shot wide.
Chelsea had been erratic up to this point, lacking composure in the final third and sloppy at the back.
But, following an anonymous half hour, Oscar made his mark and demonstrated why he had been preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres.
Eden Hazard was once again the creator. The Belgian upped his already burgeoning assist count by swerving in from the left after 31 minutes and teeing up his sidekick in the center. Oscar took a touch and then let fly from 25 yards, although Buffon would surely have saved the shot had it not take a cruel deflection off Bonucci.
If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal for his new employer, the second was an absolute gem of imagination and execution.
With a single touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the box and, at the same time, wrong-foot the defense to give himself a shooting opportunity. The second touch was as glorious as the first, a delightful curled shot evading the dive of Buffon.
The home fans, who had already been pumped up by the Champions League trophy – or the ‘Big Cup’ as one noteworthy former manager calls it – being paraded shortly before kickoff, were in jubilant mood.
The vociferous visiting supporters, who had been momentarily silenced by Oscar’s sublime second, were soon back in full voice.
Chelsea switched off again in the 38th minute and this time the team was punished by Arturo Vidal. The midfielder lashed a low shot beyond Cech from 20 yards to give his team hope going into the break.
Conte’s team is famed for combining its physical determination with a willingness to attack and proved in the second period why the club has become such tough nut to crack.
Shortly after Oscar departed to a standing ovation from the home supporters, Quagliarella took full advantage of sloppiness from Mikel and a shocking attempt to play the offside trap by Terry.
Mikel gave the ball away deep in his own half and Chelsea dawdled before Terry tried to deal with a deep pass from Marchiso by looking to catch out Quagliarella. It failed dismally. The Italian darted past him and slotted calmly past Cech for a deserved equalizer.
It could have been even worse for the home side. With four minutes left, Quagliarella clipped the top of the bar following a delightful turn and shot.
LONDON-- Roberto Di Matteo called it Mission Impossible. So it might prove, as his Chelsea began the defense of its Champions League title in unpersuasive fashion, surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Serie A flag bearer Juventus.
The aptly-named Oscar had threatened to steal the show with two goals in two minutes on his full Chelsea debut and in his first Champions League appearance, the second a strike of rare quality.
But Arturo Vidal gave his team hope with a fine strike shortly before halftime and substitute Fabio Quagliarella made the home side pay for a sloppy performance with an 81st minute equalizer.
It was the least the well-drilled visiting side deserved in its return to the competition following a three-season hiatus.
Manager Antonio Conte, watching from the stands as he continues his lengthy touchline ban, had watched in dismay as his team wasted two gilt-edged chances midway through the first period, but Quaglieralla, who also hit the top of the bar late in the dying minutes, ensured a second consecutive night of Champions League drama in the marquee fixture of the evening.
Di Matteo made only a slight tweak to the team that stuttered to a goalless draw at QPR last Saturday, replacing the sweet left foot of Ryan Bertrand with the more exotic skills of Oscar. The 25 million pound signing from Internacional has been gradually eased into life at Stamford Bridge following his exertions for Brazil at the Olympics.
It proved to be an inspired use of the considerable attacking midfield resources at the disposal of the Chelsea manager, who was unable to field a recognized striker on the bench following the late withdrawal of Daniel Sturridge with a hamstring injury.
Juventus arrived at Stamford Bridge with a desperate recent record on English soil, losing eight - including a 1-0 last-16 Champions League defeat at Stamford Bridge four seasons ago - and drawing three.
Yet the club returned to Europe’s head table for the first time in three years as Serie A's winner, league leader and Italy’s most convincing flag bearer on the back of an astonishing 42-match league unbeaten run.
Just to rubber stamp Juve's rejuvenation, the visiting side starting X1 featured six members of the Italy team that began the Euro 2012 final against Spain – Buffon, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini, Pirlo and Marchisio.
Both sides struggled to create opportunities in the early exchanges, although David Luiz collected a nosebleed for his trouble after side-footing a fourth minute Frank Lampard corner straight at Buffon.
Juventus began to threaten on the counterattack and twice came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first period.
Firstly, Claudio Marchisio broke from midfield to spring Chelsea’s offside trap and latch on to a long pass from Barzagli but his first touch was too heavy and Petr Cech was able to smother the danger.
Soon afterwards, Branislav Ivanovic sloppy pass was intercepted and Mirko Vucinic was sent through on goal but the imposing striker biffed his shot wide.
Chelsea had been erratic up to this point, lacking composure in the final third and sloppy at the back.
But, following an anonymous half hour, Oscar made his mark and demonstrated why he had been preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres.
Eden Hazard was once again the creator. The Belgian upped his already burgeoning assist count by swerving in from the left after 31 minutes and teeing up his sidekick in the center. Oscar took a touch and then let fly from 25 yards, although Buffon would surely have saved the shot had it not take a cruel deflection off Bonucci.
If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal for his new employer, the second was an absolute gem of imagination and execution.
With a single touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the box and, at the same time, wrong-foot the defense to give himself a shooting opportunity. The second touch was as glorious as the first, a delightful curled shot evading the dive of Buffon.
The home fans, who had already been pumped up by the Champions League trophy – or the ‘Big Cup’ as one noteworthy former manager calls it – being paraded shortly before kickoff, were in jubilant mood.
The vociferous visiting supporters, who had been momentarily silenced by Oscar’s sublime second, were soon back in full voice.
Chelsea switched off again in the 38th minute and this time the team was punished by Arturo Vidal. The midfielder lashed a low shot beyond Cech from 20 yards to give his team hope going into the break.
Conte’s team is famed for combining its physical determination with a willingness to attack and proved in the second period why the club has become such tough nut to crack.
Shortly after Oscar departed to a standing ovation from the home supporters, Quagliarella took full advantage of sloppiness from Mikel and a shocking attempt to play the offside trap by Terry.
Mikel gave the ball away deep in his own half and Chelsea dawdled before Terry tried to deal with a deep pass from Marchiso by looking to catch out Quagliarella. It failed dismally. The Italian darted past him and slotted calmly past Cech for a deserved equalizer.
It could have been even worse for the home side. With four minutes left, Quagliarella clipped the top of the bar following a delightful turn and shot.
Lille 1-3 BATE Borisov: French side fall to first-half demolition
BATE Borisov held off the challenge from a resurgent Lille to secure an impressive 3-1 victory at the new Grand Stade Lille Metropole in Group F of the Champions League.
The visiting side went in 3-0 up at halftime following an extremely clinical first-half showing that was branded a "nightmare" by home coach Rudi Garcia.
It was hard to argue with that assessment, given that BATE had scored with three of its four shots on goal, as Aleksandr Volodko, Vitali Rodionov and Edgar Olekhnovich all found the net impressively.
Aurelien Chedjou hit back after the break, despite the fact that his header looked to have bounced on the line rather than over it, but Viktor Goncharenko's side stood firm in the face of fierce pressure from les Dogues.
It was the home side which started relatively brightly, as Salomon Kalou stung the palms of Andrey Gorbunov after four minutes with a half volley at the back post, but it was the underdog that went ahead two minutes later.
Volodko silenced the crowd with a superb strike from 30 yards that flew into the top corner past a despairing Mickael Landreau.
Newcastle United summer transfer target Mathieu Debuchy went close with a low drive six minutes later, but Gorbunov got down well to turn it away for a corner.
As the home side set up camp on the edge of its opponent's penalty area, BATE broke up field and scored a highly contentious second after 20 minutes.
Former Arsenal man Aliaksandr Hleb carried the ball a good 60 yards before laying off a cute ball out left to Aleksandr Pavlov, who then found Rodionov with a first-time pass that allowed the striker to slide the ball home. It was a wonderfully worked goal, but the home crowd was incensed upon seeing replays that revealed Rodionov was offside from Pavlov's pass.
Marvin Martin sliced a shot wide after Gorbunov made a mess of a high free kick, and Dimitri Payet's goal-bound shot was blocked after he was smartly picked out by Debuchy following a clever header from Tulio De Melo.
But again it was the visitors who struck next. Volodko troubled the hosts with a direct run before picking out Olekhnovich, whose shot was cleared away by Landreau. But the ball fell back to Volodko, who picked out Olekhnovich once again, and this time he made no mistake and sent the ball into the bottom right corner.
Coach Garcia branded the first half a "nightmare" on his way to the dressing room, and he responded by replacing De Melo and Martin with Ryan Mendes and Nolan Roux.
Kalou headed another Debuchy cross wide five minutes into the new half, before the right back saw his deflected shot clip the roof of the net.
But the team got its goal with half an hour left when Chedjou's header was adjudged to have crossed the line after crashing down off the crossbar from Payet's corner. It looked the wrong decision, but the home side will feel it was due a bit of luck following some contentious calls in the first half.
Les Dogues had the bit between their teeth from then on, and Mendes saw a shot saved at the far post after a prolonged spell of pressure. Seconds later, Payet's swerving shot was turned away by Gorbunov as the home side really threatened to stage a comeback.
Payet forced a flying save from the keeper once more with a 77th-minute free kick, and Florent Balmont was denied by the keeper's legs two minutes later when he really should have done better when unmarked at the far post.
Hleb went close to settling it almost immediately, but his shot on the counterattack lashed against the side netting.
The home side lost momentum in the dying stages, perhaps exhausted by the frantic but fruitless 20-minute spell which followed Chedjou's reply.
It could prove to be a costly evening for the French side, which will travel to face Valencia in its next game with both sides looking for their first points.
BATE, meanwhile, will have to reproduce this performance and then some when it hosts Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich, but could pull off the mother of all shocks if the club can be as clinical as it was here.
BATE Borisov held off the challenge from a resurgent Lille to secure an impressive 3-1 victory at the new Grand Stade Lille Metropole in Group F of the Champions League.
The visiting side went in 3-0 up at halftime following an extremely clinical first-half showing that was branded a "nightmare" by home coach Rudi Garcia.
It was hard to argue with that assessment, given that BATE had scored with three of its four shots on goal, as Aleksandr Volodko, Vitali Rodionov and Edgar Olekhnovich all found the net impressively.
Aurelien Chedjou hit back after the break, despite the fact that his header looked to have bounced on the line rather than over it, but Viktor Goncharenko's side stood firm in the face of fierce pressure from les Dogues.
It was the home side which started relatively brightly, as Salomon Kalou stung the palms of Andrey Gorbunov after four minutes with a half volley at the back post, but it was the underdog that went ahead two minutes later.
Volodko silenced the crowd with a superb strike from 30 yards that flew into the top corner past a despairing Mickael Landreau.
Newcastle United summer transfer target Mathieu Debuchy went close with a low drive six minutes later, but Gorbunov got down well to turn it away for a corner.
As the home side set up camp on the edge of its opponent's penalty area, BATE broke up field and scored a highly contentious second after 20 minutes.
Former Arsenal man Aliaksandr Hleb carried the ball a good 60 yards before laying off a cute ball out left to Aleksandr Pavlov, who then found Rodionov with a first-time pass that allowed the striker to slide the ball home. It was a wonderfully worked goal, but the home crowd was incensed upon seeing replays that revealed Rodionov was offside from Pavlov's pass.
Marvin Martin sliced a shot wide after Gorbunov made a mess of a high free kick, and Dimitri Payet's goal-bound shot was blocked after he was smartly picked out by Debuchy following a clever header from Tulio De Melo.
But again it was the visitors who struck next. Volodko troubled the hosts with a direct run before picking out Olekhnovich, whose shot was cleared away by Landreau. But the ball fell back to Volodko, who picked out Olekhnovich once again, and this time he made no mistake and sent the ball into the bottom right corner.
Coach Garcia branded the first half a "nightmare" on his way to the dressing room, and he responded by replacing De Melo and Martin with Ryan Mendes and Nolan Roux.
Kalou headed another Debuchy cross wide five minutes into the new half, before the right back saw his deflected shot clip the roof of the net.
But the team got its goal with half an hour left when Chedjou's header was adjudged to have crossed the line after crashing down off the crossbar from Payet's corner. It looked the wrong decision, but the home side will feel it was due a bit of luck following some contentious calls in the first half.
Les Dogues had the bit between their teeth from then on, and Mendes saw a shot saved at the far post after a prolonged spell of pressure. Seconds later, Payet's swerving shot was turned away by Gorbunov as the home side really threatened to stage a comeback.
Payet forced a flying save from the keeper once more with a 77th-minute free kick, and Florent Balmont was denied by the keeper's legs two minutes later when he really should have done better when unmarked at the far post.
Hleb went close to settling it almost immediately, but his shot on the counterattack lashed against the side netting.
The home side lost momentum in the dying stages, perhaps exhausted by the frantic but fruitless 20-minute spell which followed Chedjou's reply.
It could prove to be a costly evening for the French side, which will travel to face Valencia in its next game with both sides looking for their first points.
BATE, meanwhile, will have to reproduce this performance and then some when it hosts Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich, but could pull off the mother of all shocks if the club can be as clinical as it was here.
Celtic 0-0 Benfica: Frustration for Lennon as Hoops fail to capitalize on Parkhead factor
Celtic claimed a point on its return to the Champions League in a 0-0 draw with Benfica at Celtic Park.
Rodrigo had the best chance of the game for the visitors after a clever pass from Pablo Aimar, but was thwarted by Fraser Forster.
Neil Lennon’s side probed throughout via the industrious Kris Commons, but failed to properly test Artur in the Benfica goal.
The hosts dominated the opening half an hour of the game, but it was Benfica which went closest with the first genuine chance.
The Benfica midfield had been stifled by the energetic Victor Wanyama – who picked up a yellow card for a pull on Enzo Perez - but Aimar found enough space to lift a ball over the Celtic back four and into the path of Rodrigo, whose stabbed effort was foiled by the onrushing Forster.
Jorge Jesus’s side improved as the half went on and saw an Ezequiel Garay shot from the edge of the area fly high over the crossbar as both teams struggled to create openings.
And towards the end of the first half, when the visitors thought they had a clear chance at goal after hustling Emilio Izaguirre off the ball, Rodrigo was flagged for a marginal offside.
Celtic was again in the ascendancy at the start of the second half without calling Benfica goalkeeper Artur into action, as Adam Matthews went closest with a shot from the edge of the area which was deflected over for a corner.
But with an hour gone, the Portuguese side showed a glimpse of its quality as Rodrigo shimmied into the box to play in Aimar who set the ball into the path of Nicolas Gaitan, but the forward’s effort was cleared.
The hosts had their best chance of the half shortly after when Commons’ clever turn and cross caught Nemanja Matic off guard, but the Chelsea man’s deflection was kept out of his own net by the alert Artur.
Both sides tried their luck from ambitious distance heading into the closing stages, as second-half substitute Bruno Cesar blasted over from 30 yards for Benfica, before Commons nearly caught Artur off his line from the center circle but the keeper hurried back to save comfortably.
Cardozo saw a late header flash over the bar and Celtic pressed in stoppage time, but both sides begin Group G with a point.
Celtic claimed a point on its return to the Champions League in a 0-0 draw with Benfica at Celtic Park.
Rodrigo had the best chance of the game for the visitors after a clever pass from Pablo Aimar, but was thwarted by Fraser Forster.
Neil Lennon’s side probed throughout via the industrious Kris Commons, but failed to properly test Artur in the Benfica goal.
The hosts dominated the opening half an hour of the game, but it was Benfica which went closest with the first genuine chance.
The Benfica midfield had been stifled by the energetic Victor Wanyama – who picked up a yellow card for a pull on Enzo Perez - but Aimar found enough space to lift a ball over the Celtic back four and into the path of Rodrigo, whose stabbed effort was foiled by the onrushing Forster.
Jorge Jesus’s side improved as the half went on and saw an Ezequiel Garay shot from the edge of the area fly high over the crossbar as both teams struggled to create openings.
And towards the end of the first half, when the visitors thought they had a clear chance at goal after hustling Emilio Izaguirre off the ball, Rodrigo was flagged for a marginal offside.
Celtic was again in the ascendancy at the start of the second half without calling Benfica goalkeeper Artur into action, as Adam Matthews went closest with a shot from the edge of the area which was deflected over for a corner.
But with an hour gone, the Portuguese side showed a glimpse of its quality as Rodrigo shimmied into the box to play in Aimar who set the ball into the path of Nicolas Gaitan, but the forward’s effort was cleared.
The hosts had their best chance of the half shortly after when Commons’ clever turn and cross caught Nemanja Matic off guard, but the Chelsea man’s deflection was kept out of his own net by the alert Artur.
Both sides tried their luck from ambitious distance heading into the closing stages, as second-half substitute Bruno Cesar blasted over from 30 yards for Benfica, before Commons nearly caught Artur off his line from the center circle but the keeper hurried back to save comfortably.
Cardozo saw a late header flash over the bar and Celtic pressed in stoppage time, but both sides begin Group G with a point.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 FC Nordsjaelland: Mkhitaryan impresses as Danish side is put away
Shakhtar Donetsk got its Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with a 2-0 win over FC Nordsjaelland at Donbass Arena on Wedensday.A brace from Henrik Mkhitaryan was enough to see of the Wild Tigers, in a game which saw the Danes make a good fist of their European debut.
Mircea Lucescu named an attacking starting XI for the game against the Danish champion, with Luiz Adriano, Willian, Ilsinho and Fernandinho all leading the line.
It was the Ukrainian side which made all the early running. Ilsinho catching out Seejou Runje early on, and perhaps should have done better with a cut-back from the byline, that left Mkhitaryan reeling at his Brazilian team-mate.
Slowly though, Kasper Hjulmund's side got back into the game, and started to show some nice touches in and around the area. American fullback Michael Parkhurst put in a decent cross on 20 minutes, but neither Joshua John nor Mikkel Beckmann could get on the end of it.
Still Nordsjaelland came forward, and it was captain Nicolai Stokholm who had the side's best effort of the half on 31 minutes. The 36-year-old surged forward from midfield and struck a sweet shot from 25 yards, only to see Andriy Pyatov palm it away to safety.
All the possession and missed chances though, came back to haunt the Danes on 44 minutes. Luiz Adriano made a smart run down the right side, before feeding in Mkhitaryan to pass home first time from 12 yards.
The second period began in much the same fashion as the first, with Shakhtar having the majority of possession, and not creating too many clear-cut chances.The best of them though, came on 52 minutes. A corner from Willian went out to Darijo Srna on the edge of the area where he smashed a volley at goal, only to see Jesper Hansen palm the ball away well.
Hjulmund's team was clearly tiring by now, and Shakhtar really should have taken full advantage on the hour-mark. A through ball from Fernandinho went towards Mkhitaryan, but the Armenian forward couldn't poke his effort past the goalkeeper.
The second did eventually come on 77 minutes. Mkhitayran raced through, and tried to lay in Alex Texeira. Patrick Mtiliga though, accidentally played it back to the Armenia international, who dispatched first time to double the scoreline and bag the three points.
Shakhtar Donetsk got its Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with a 2-0 win over FC Nordsjaelland at Donbass Arena on Wedensday.A brace from Henrik Mkhitaryan was enough to see of the Wild Tigers, in a game which saw the Danes make a good fist of their European debut.
Mircea Lucescu named an attacking starting XI for the game against the Danish champion, with Luiz Adriano, Willian, Ilsinho and Fernandinho all leading the line.
It was the Ukrainian side which made all the early running. Ilsinho catching out Seejou Runje early on, and perhaps should have done better with a cut-back from the byline, that left Mkhitaryan reeling at his Brazilian team-mate.
Slowly though, Kasper Hjulmund's side got back into the game, and started to show some nice touches in and around the area. American fullback Michael Parkhurst put in a decent cross on 20 minutes, but neither Joshua John nor Mikkel Beckmann could get on the end of it.
Still Nordsjaelland came forward, and it was captain Nicolai Stokholm who had the side's best effort of the half on 31 minutes. The 36-year-old surged forward from midfield and struck a sweet shot from 25 yards, only to see Andriy Pyatov palm it away to safety.
All the possession and missed chances though, came back to haunt the Danes on 44 minutes. Luiz Adriano made a smart run down the right side, before feeding in Mkhitaryan to pass home first time from 12 yards.
The second period began in much the same fashion as the first, with Shakhtar having the majority of possession, and not creating too many clear-cut chances.The best of them though, came on 52 minutes. A corner from Willian went out to Darijo Srna on the edge of the area where he smashed a volley at goal, only to see Jesper Hansen palm the ball away well.
Hjulmund's team was clearly tiring by now, and Shakhtar really should have taken full advantage on the hour-mark. A through ball from Fernandinho went towards Mkhitaryan, but the Armenian forward couldn't poke his effort past the goalkeeper.
The second did eventually come on 77 minutes. Mkhitayran raced through, and tried to lay in Alex Texeira. Patrick Mtiliga though, accidentally played it back to the Armenia international, who dispatched first time to double the scoreline and bag the three points.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Valencia: German giants produce dominant display
Champions League runner-up last season, Bayern Munich began its quest to lift the trophy at Wembley in May next year with a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Allianz Arena.
Jupp Heynckes’ side was dominant throughout but was forced to be persistent to break down the Spaniards, who were rarely able to exert themselves as an offensive force. It took the Bavarians nearly 40 minutes to open the scoring, with Bastian Schweinsteiger driving home. Although the hosts were not so impressive after the break, Toni Kroos hammered a second to secure the points.
Nelson Valdez's late header gave the score a sense of respectability for the visitors, but his effort came too late to make a change to the outcome. Indeed, matters got worse for Valencia late on, with Ricardo Costa dismissed in conceding a penalty that was missed by Mario Mandzukic.
Bayern made a positive start to the match without being overwhelming. It dominated possession and territory but struggled to really worry Diego Alves, save for a three-minute spell in which the home side drove three well-struck shots at goal that the custodian dealt with solidly.
Arjen Robben was regularly able to make his trademark jink inside from the right wing to aim at goal with his left foot, and after loose play in the visiting rearguard, he had a shot deflected just over 10 minutes before the break.
Shortly afterwards, Valencia mustered its first remotely meaningful attack, but in pushing players forward the Spaniards allowed Bayern room in which to attack, and the Germans punished them to the maximum, with Robben unselfishly playing in Schweinsteiger to drive home from the right side of the box.
After the interval, Mauricio Pellegrino’s men showed a more forthright attitude and at least mustered some spells of pressure against opponents who allowed their passing to become a little scrappy.
At the other end of the field it was Kroos who was impressing. The Germany international had strong claims for a penalty waved away shortly before firing a fierce shot at goal from just outside the area that required an athletic save. With a quarter of an hour remaining, he finally sealed the game, driving a powerful shot into the top corner having been allowed far too much room on the edge of the box.
There was still time for late drama, with Valdezheading Valencia back into the game before Mario Mandzukic missed a stoppage-time penalty after Ricardo Costa was dismissed for a foul on Robben.
Bayern had already done enough to secure three points, taking a successful first step in the competition.
Champions League runner-up last season, Bayern Munich began its quest to lift the trophy at Wembley in May next year with a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Allianz Arena.
Jupp Heynckes’ side was dominant throughout but was forced to be persistent to break down the Spaniards, who were rarely able to exert themselves as an offensive force. It took the Bavarians nearly 40 minutes to open the scoring, with Bastian Schweinsteiger driving home. Although the hosts were not so impressive after the break, Toni Kroos hammered a second to secure the points.
Nelson Valdez's late header gave the score a sense of respectability for the visitors, but his effort came too late to make a change to the outcome. Indeed, matters got worse for Valencia late on, with Ricardo Costa dismissed in conceding a penalty that was missed by Mario Mandzukic.
Bayern made a positive start to the match without being overwhelming. It dominated possession and territory but struggled to really worry Diego Alves, save for a three-minute spell in which the home side drove three well-struck shots at goal that the custodian dealt with solidly.
Arjen Robben was regularly able to make his trademark jink inside from the right wing to aim at goal with his left foot, and after loose play in the visiting rearguard, he had a shot deflected just over 10 minutes before the break.
Shortly afterwards, Valencia mustered its first remotely meaningful attack, but in pushing players forward the Spaniards allowed Bayern room in which to attack, and the Germans punished them to the maximum, with Robben unselfishly playing in Schweinsteiger to drive home from the right side of the box.
After the interval, Mauricio Pellegrino’s men showed a more forthright attitude and at least mustered some spells of pressure against opponents who allowed their passing to become a little scrappy.
At the other end of the field it was Kroos who was impressing. The Germany international had strong claims for a penalty waved away shortly before firing a fierce shot at goal from just outside the area that required an athletic save. With a quarter of an hour remaining, he finally sealed the game, driving a powerful shot into the top corner having been allowed far too much room on the edge of the box.
There was still time for late drama, with Valdezheading Valencia back into the game before Mario Mandzukic missed a stoppage-time penalty after Ricardo Costa was dismissed for a foul on Robben.
Bayern had already done enough to secure three points, taking a successful first step in the competition.
Manchester United 1-0 Galatasaray: Rare Carrick goal ensures Nani penalty miss goes unpunished
Manchester United opened its Champions League campaign with a 1-0 home win over Galatasaray, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men were far from convincing.
The Turkish champions had a penalty claim turned down inside the first minute and United soon made the most of that as Michael Carrick gave it the lead, but the visitors had their fair share of chances.
Nordin Amrabat and Hamit Altintop both struck the frame of the goal in the first half for Fatih Terim's side, while Nani missed a penalty in the second period, but the hosts were able to hold on for the three points.
With its noisy fans behind them, Galatasaray was straight on to the attack at the beginning and should have been given a penalty inside the first 40 seconds when Nemanja Vidic stretched to beat Burak Yilmaz to the ball after a poor back pass by Patrice Evra, but Wolfgang Stark bizarrely waved play on despite blatant contact from the Serbian.
It did not take long for United to capitalize on Stark’s error of judgement as it soon took the lead through Michael Carrick. The midfielder charged through the middle, and after an inter-change between Kagawa and van Persie, Carrick had possession again and tapped the ball in after cleverly taking on Fernando Muslera in the opposing goal.
The visitors were inches away from equalizing minutes later as United gave possession away sloppily in the center, allowing Nordin Amrabat to advance down the left before cutting inside and unleashing a curling effort, but the crossbar saved David De Gea from having to pick the ball out of his net.
United felt it should have had a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Kagawa was brought down in the area by Nounkeu, but replays showed Stark made the right decision, with the Cameroonian’s challenge perfectly timed.
With seven minutes left of the first-half Galatasaray hit the woodwork again as Altintop hammered a low effort against De Gea’s left-hand post following a short free-kick, and United held on to its 1-0 lead until halftime, if a little fortuitously.
The hosts started the second period in lively fashion and almost doubled their lead in the 47th minute as Nani and Kagawa combined excellently in the right side of the area, but Semih Kaya got a block in deny the Japan international.
A few moments later United had the perfect opportunity to score from the penalty spot after Rafael was brought down by Burak, but Nani had his spot-kick saved by Muslera and the Portugal international became the third player to miss a penalty for United already this season.
With 20 minutes to go there was a few second of madness, as first Evra had a shot put round the far post by Muslera, then an obvious foul on Nani in the penalty area was not given allowing the Turks to counter-attack, but De Gea pulled off an excellent double save to first deny Burak and then Emre Colak.
Substitute Javier Hernandez really should have sealed the win for United with five minutes to go as he got on the end of a lobbed pass from Nani, but the Mexican's left-footed strike went wide of the near post.
United had yet another penalty claim dismissed after Nounkeu brought down Antonio Valencia, but it ended up not mattering as the host crawled over the finish line.
Barcelona 3-2 Spartak Moscow: Messi bails out hosts with second-half double
Barcelona produced a thrilling comeback to edge past Spartak Moscow 3-2 at Camp Nou in their opening Champions League match on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi was once again the difference for the Catalans, scoring twice in the last 18 minutes to reverse a 2-1 deficit and give his side an early lead atop the Group G standings.
Cristian Tello opened the scoring after 14 minutes, but the home side was pegged back just before the half-hour mark by an own goal from Dani Alves from a Spartak break.
Barca struggled to create many opportunities, and was carved apart on the break once more in the second half as Romulo stunned the home crowd into silence when he gave the visitors a shock lead in the 59th minute.
But Messi popped up with two close-range strikes in the 72nd and 80th minutes to put the Catalans back in the lead for good, though question marks remain after they were given a run for their money by the determined side from Russia.
Tito Vilanova opted for Cesc Fabregas in midfield, while Adriano filled in at left back in the absence of regular starter Jordi Alba.Tello was also handed a chance to impress with a start in the Barca front three, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands with the opening goal after 14 minutes.
The 21-year-old beat his marker by cutting in off the left flank, and with Spartak’s defense slow to react, he had time to pick his spot and drill low into the far corner.The goal came as a welcome boost for Barca, which had seen defender Gerard Pique forced off moments earlier through injury, with summer signing Alex Song coming on in his stead.
Messi nearly doubled the advantage in the 20th minute when he turned to face goal at the top of the box, but a wicked effort curled past the post by inches.The Argentine would soon rue that miss, thanks to a catastrophic defensive sequence that saw Spartak, which had barely had a kick up until that point, stun Camp Nou by drawing level.
Emenike did the hard work, racing past Javier Mascherano on the left before sliding a cross towards goal. The ball was missed completely by Song, and Alves, under no pressure, inexplicably side-footed into the corner of his own goal.Barca, despite dominating possession, found it hard to find a route through to goal in the face of a determined rearguard effort from the Russian side, but it managed to give the away side a few
scares in the closing stages of the first half.
Fabregas thought he had made a breakthrough in the 37th minute when he lifted Xavi’s clipped pass towards goal with his head, but Andriy Dykan was alert to prevent it from sneaking in under the crossbar.
The Spain midfielder saw an appeal for a penalty go unacknowledged moments later after a tussle with Marek Suchy, before Xavi drove just off target with one of the last kicks of the half.
Alves nearly made amends for his first-half mishap moments after the restart with an arrowed drive into the top corner, but his goal was correctly chalked off after he had strayed inches offside.
Spartak was soon able to break towards the Barca goal, but Emenike could not make the most of Ari’s cutback, and fired over the bar from the edge of the box.The visitors would make no such mistake with their next counterattack though, and stormed into the lead in the 59th minute, just seconds after coming mightily close to conceding.
Messi was denied from point-blank range by a great save from Dykan, and Spartak stormed straight down the pitch. Ari led the charge down the left and teed up Adien McGeady at the top of the box, whose clever slipped pass allowed Romulo to skip past Adriano and slot neatly under Victor Valdes.
But Barca would not be down for long. Tello was the architect, wriggling past two defenders on the left flank before cutting back to Messi from the byline, who made no mistake in front of an open net.Suddenly, Camp Nou was back in full voice as Barcelona, with its tail up, found itself with 18 minutes to find a goal to give the club all three points.
Substitute David Villa nearly achieved that objective when he faced an unguarded net after a scramble from a cross, but Rafael Carioca produced a superb block to deny the Spain striker.
But Messi, once again, would step up to answer the call, and arrived at the far post to head home an Alexis Sanchez’s cross with authority to put the hosts in front.Sanchez fashioned a similar opportunity moments later for Pedro, but he could not match Messi’s exploits as he sliced across the face of goal from a good position.
Barca played out the closing minutes with ease, as Spartak, worn out from tireless defending all game, simply had nothing left to respond.
Barcelona produced a thrilling comeback to edge past Spartak Moscow 3-2 at Camp Nou in their opening Champions League match on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi was once again the difference for the Catalans, scoring twice in the last 18 minutes to reverse a 2-1 deficit and give his side an early lead atop the Group G standings.
Cristian Tello opened the scoring after 14 minutes, but the home side was pegged back just before the half-hour mark by an own goal from Dani Alves from a Spartak break.
Barca struggled to create many opportunities, and was carved apart on the break once more in the second half as Romulo stunned the home crowd into silence when he gave the visitors a shock lead in the 59th minute.
But Messi popped up with two close-range strikes in the 72nd and 80th minutes to put the Catalans back in the lead for good, though question marks remain after they were given a run for their money by the determined side from Russia.
Tito Vilanova opted for Cesc Fabregas in midfield, while Adriano filled in at left back in the absence of regular starter Jordi Alba.Tello was also handed a chance to impress with a start in the Barca front three, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands with the opening goal after 14 minutes.
The 21-year-old beat his marker by cutting in off the left flank, and with Spartak’s defense slow to react, he had time to pick his spot and drill low into the far corner.The goal came as a welcome boost for Barca, which had seen defender Gerard Pique forced off moments earlier through injury, with summer signing Alex Song coming on in his stead.
Messi nearly doubled the advantage in the 20th minute when he turned to face goal at the top of the box, but a wicked effort curled past the post by inches.The Argentine would soon rue that miss, thanks to a catastrophic defensive sequence that saw Spartak, which had barely had a kick up until that point, stun Camp Nou by drawing level.
Emenike did the hard work, racing past Javier Mascherano on the left before sliding a cross towards goal. The ball was missed completely by Song, and Alves, under no pressure, inexplicably side-footed into the corner of his own goal.Barca, despite dominating possession, found it hard to find a route through to goal in the face of a determined rearguard effort from the Russian side, but it managed to give the away side a few
scares in the closing stages of the first half.
Fabregas thought he had made a breakthrough in the 37th minute when he lifted Xavi’s clipped pass towards goal with his head, but Andriy Dykan was alert to prevent it from sneaking in under the crossbar.
The Spain midfielder saw an appeal for a penalty go unacknowledged moments later after a tussle with Marek Suchy, before Xavi drove just off target with one of the last kicks of the half.
Alves nearly made amends for his first-half mishap moments after the restart with an arrowed drive into the top corner, but his goal was correctly chalked off after he had strayed inches offside.
Spartak was soon able to break towards the Barca goal, but Emenike could not make the most of Ari’s cutback, and fired over the bar from the edge of the box.The visitors would make no such mistake with their next counterattack though, and stormed into the lead in the 59th minute, just seconds after coming mightily close to conceding.
Messi was denied from point-blank range by a great save from Dykan, and Spartak stormed straight down the pitch. Ari led the charge down the left and teed up Adien McGeady at the top of the box, whose clever slipped pass allowed Romulo to skip past Adriano and slot neatly under Victor Valdes.
But Barca would not be down for long. Tello was the architect, wriggling past two defenders on the left flank before cutting back to Messi from the byline, who made no mistake in front of an open net.Suddenly, Camp Nou was back in full voice as Barcelona, with its tail up, found itself with 18 minutes to find a goal to give the club all three points.
Substitute David Villa nearly achieved that objective when he faced an unguarded net after a scramble from a cross, but Rafael Carioca produced a superb block to deny the Spain striker.
But Messi, once again, would step up to answer the call, and arrived at the far post to head home an Alexis Sanchez’s cross with authority to put the hosts in front.Sanchez fashioned a similar opportunity moments later for Pedro, but he could not match Messi’s exploits as he sliced across the face of goal from a good position.
Barca played out the closing minutes with ease, as Spartak, worn out from tireless defending all game, simply had nothing left to respond.
Messi wax statue unveiled at Wembley
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been immortalized in the form of a wax statue unveiled at London's Wembley Stadium.
The Argentina international was outstanding in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final, as the Spanish giants triumphed 3-1 over Manchester United with the 25-year-old being the goalscoring star of the show. The Champions League final will once again be played at Wembley this season due to it being the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.
The life-size figure of Messi took four months to craft and cost a little less than 190,000 euros to create. The La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup-winning forward will - should he wish - be able to visit his commemorative statue at the Madame Tussauds museum in London starting Sept. 23.
Barcelona is the odds-on favorite to win the trophy, which currently resides at Chelsea, while Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also among the favorites expected to vie for the title of European club champion in May.
Aguero: I'm fully recovered and eager to return for Manchester City
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero revealed that he has recovered from injury and is set to return to action for the Premier League champions.The Argentine international has been out of action for the Citizens since injuring his knee in the opening game of the season against Southampton when he sustained a knee injury.
"It's been a month since my injury. The good thing is that I'm fully recovered and eager to get back in action," he wrote on his Twitter page.City's form has been inconsistent in his absence, with Roberto Mancini's men have earned victories over the Saints and Queens Park Rangers while being held to draws by Liverpool and Stoke and slipping to a last-minute defeat by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.The Eastlands club could certainly be boosted by the return of Aguero, the scorer of the team's title-winning goal against QPR.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero revealed that he has recovered from injury and is set to return to action for the Premier League champions.The Argentine international has been out of action for the Citizens since injuring his knee in the opening game of the season against Southampton when he sustained a knee injury.
"It's been a month since my injury. The good thing is that I'm fully recovered and eager to get back in action," he wrote on his Twitter page.City's form has been inconsistent in his absence, with Roberto Mancini's men have earned victories over the Saints and Queens Park Rangers while being held to draws by Liverpool and Stoke and slipping to a last-minute defeat by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.The Eastlands club could certainly be boosted by the return of Aguero, the scorer of the team's title-winning goal against QPR.
Rafa Benitez would listen to AC Milan's offer
Former Inter and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez would consider any offer made by AC Milan, according to his agent.
The 52-year-old has been out of work since being dismissed from the Nerazzurri post in December 2010, and had mooted as a candidate for the Sampdoria job until talks broke down over the summer.
The Spaniard has made no secret of his desire to return to top-level management, and his agent has now admitted he would consider taking charge of Milan should the club come calling - although he denied an approach had already been made.
"It's not true that Benitez has offered himself to Milan." Benitez's agent Manuel Garcia Quilon told TuttoMercatoWeb.com. "If Milan called us then we’ll talk because we listen to everyone - both in Italy and abroad. If the Rossoneri should call, then Benitez would listen to their offer and evaluate it carefully."
Benitez has been touted as a possible replacement for current boss Massimiliano Allegri, who has come under severe pressure after an inauspicious few months at San Siro.
The Rossoneri - minus both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva - have made a slow start to the season, with Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League compounding their recent poor performances in Serie A.
Benitez had previously been linked with the managerial job at Chelsea, whileadmitting he was surprised when Liverpool did not approach him before appointing Brendan Rodgers as Kenny Dalglish' replacement at Anfield.
Former Inter and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez would consider any offer made by AC Milan, according to his agent.
The 52-year-old has been out of work since being dismissed from the Nerazzurri post in December 2010, and had mooted as a candidate for the Sampdoria job until talks broke down over the summer.
The Spaniard has made no secret of his desire to return to top-level management, and his agent has now admitted he would consider taking charge of Milan should the club come calling - although he denied an approach had already been made.
"It's not true that Benitez has offered himself to Milan." Benitez's agent Manuel Garcia Quilon told TuttoMercatoWeb.com. "If Milan called us then we’ll talk because we listen to everyone - both in Italy and abroad. If the Rossoneri should call, then Benitez would listen to their offer and evaluate it carefully."
Benitez has been touted as a possible replacement for current boss Massimiliano Allegri, who has come under severe pressure after an inauspicious few months at San Siro.
The Rossoneri - minus both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva - have made a slow start to the season, with Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League compounding their recent poor performances in Serie A.
Benitez had previously been linked with the managerial job at Chelsea, whileadmitting he was surprised when Liverpool did not approach him before appointing Brendan Rodgers as Kenny Dalglish' replacement at Anfield.
We feared Bayern, says Valencia coach Pellegrino
Valencia coach Mauricio Pellegrino expressed his disappointment after his side fell to a 2-1 defeat at last season's Champions League finalist Bayern Munich.
The Spanish side was second best for large periods of the game and Pellegrino voiced his concerns with the way Los Che approached the game.
"It has not been a good game. We had too much fear at the beginning," the 40-year-old Argentine told reporters.
"Perhaps we showed them too much respect," he added. "That is one of the reasons for our defeat, but overall we were solid."
Pellegrino watched his side fail to create goalscoring opportunities in a toothless first-half performance, but was pleased with how it responded in the second period.
"We gave the ball away a lot, especially in the first half. We had no support when we brought the ball out, and we were not in the right positions," he continued.
"In the second-half we improved, but against a team like Bayern mistakes like these make things very difficult."
"We pressed them better after the break and we know we can improve.
"We have some important players injured, but that is no excuse. We had chances to draw level when it was 1-0, but the second goal was crucial."
"The players have shown good character in a difficult game, against a great team. Anything can happen in the group stage and the other result tonight [Lille 1-3 Bate] leaves things very open."
Valencia coach Mauricio Pellegrino expressed his disappointment after his side fell to a 2-1 defeat at last season's Champions League finalist Bayern Munich.
The Spanish side was second best for large periods of the game and Pellegrino voiced his concerns with the way Los Che approached the game.
"It has not been a good game. We had too much fear at the beginning," the 40-year-old Argentine told reporters.
"Perhaps we showed them too much respect," he added. "That is one of the reasons for our defeat, but overall we were solid."
Pellegrino watched his side fail to create goalscoring opportunities in a toothless first-half performance, but was pleased with how it responded in the second period.
"We gave the ball away a lot, especially in the first half. We had no support when we brought the ball out, and we were not in the right positions," he continued.
"In the second-half we improved, but against a team like Bayern mistakes like these make things very difficult."
"We pressed them better after the break and we know we can improve.
"We have some important players injured, but that is no excuse. We had chances to draw level when it was 1-0, but the second goal was crucial."
"The players have shown good character in a difficult game, against a great team. Anything can happen in the group stage and the other result tonight [Lille 1-3 Bate] leaves things very open."
We were frivolous in possession - Ferguson reflects on Manchester United's victory over Galatasaray
Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned Manchester United's lack of composure after it scraped past Galatasaray in the opening game of its Champions League campaign.
A seventh-minute strike from Michael Carrick was enough to take all three points, but the Turkish champions had a number of chances to get back into the contest and Ferguson believes that the Red Devils were slightly fortunate to have come away from the game with the victory.
He told Sky Sports: "I think we expected a tough game, Galatasaray have got a lot of experience in their team and the first half we kept giving the ball away and they counter-attacked very well from that.
"It was a lack of concentration at times. It's unusual for us, it's unusual for us to be as frivolous on the ball as that. In the second half we did much better in that respect.
"I was happy with the second half, we were more solid, had better concentration and sorted out things really well."
Despite the slightly disappointing performance, the Scot was pleased to have witnessed his side take maximum points following a dismal campaign in the competition last term.
He added: "In the second half they never made any chances and all the chances fell to us, we could have scored four or five in the second half.
"We missed the chances we did in the second half, we kept ourselves on the edge really. I think to get the three points in the first game is a bonus really. If you go back to last season, we got a point at Benfica, so three points are really important."
Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned Manchester United's lack of composure after it scraped past Galatasaray in the opening game of its Champions League campaign.
A seventh-minute strike from Michael Carrick was enough to take all three points, but the Turkish champions had a number of chances to get back into the contest and Ferguson believes that the Red Devils were slightly fortunate to have come away from the game with the victory.
He told Sky Sports: "I think we expected a tough game, Galatasaray have got a lot of experience in their team and the first half we kept giving the ball away and they counter-attacked very well from that.
"It was a lack of concentration at times. It's unusual for us, it's unusual for us to be as frivolous on the ball as that. In the second half we did much better in that respect.
"I was happy with the second half, we were more solid, had better concentration and sorted out things really well."
Despite the slightly disappointing performance, the Scot was pleased to have witnessed his side take maximum points following a dismal campaign in the competition last term.
He added: "In the second half they never made any chances and all the chances fell to us, we could have scored four or five in the second half.
"We missed the chances we did in the second half, we kept ourselves on the edge really. I think to get the three points in the first game is a bonus really. If you go back to last season, we got a point at Benfica, so three points are really important."
Oscar winning performance lights up faltering start of Chelsea's Champions League defense
LONDON -- With a name like Oscar, it is only natural that Chelsea's Champions League debutant should be a player of high achievement.
Especially when the latest gun hired to make Roman Abramovich simultaneously salivate and celebrate cost around 25 million pounds to bring to Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, if the Brazilian’s full debut is anything to go by it already looks money every bit as well spent as the 32 million pounds required to land the signature of equally precocious teammate Eden Hazard.
On the night he was properly introduced to the Chelsea fans, following up three substitute appearances with his first start for the club, the former Internacional man was a double Oscar-winner, scoring two long-range goals within two thrilling minutes, a memorable spell in which it felt like a true star was born.
In truth, the 21-year-old had been a fairly invisible presence for the opening half-hour. Preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres he had struggled to get into the game as Chelsea's sloppiness at the back was matched by a paucity of composure in the final third.
After 31 minutes, the Brazilian made his mark. Hazard was the architect, upping his already burgeoning assist count by swerving in from the left and selflessly passing to his better placed teammate.
Oscar took a touch and then connected well with a shot from 25 yards, although Gianluigi Buffon would surely have saved the shot had it not take a cruel deflection off center back Leonardo Bonucci.
If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal for his new employers, the second was masterclass of imagination and execution.
With a single touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the box and, at the same time, wrong-foot the defense to give himself a goal-shooting opportunity. The second touch was as glorious as the first, a rising curled shot evading the grasp of Buffon.
How the faithful roared. It was the type of goal that only a player of rare ability could have scored, the type that few who have worn the blue shirt could have conceived, never mind execute.
The instant comparisons with Gianfranco Zola, a legend in these parts and still recognized as the greatest player to ever pull on a Chelsea jersey, were deserved.
The home fans, who had already been pumped up by the Champions League trophy – or the 'Big Cup' as one noteworthy former manager calls it – being paraded by the Armed Forces shortly before kickoff, were in jubilant mood. "We know what we are, we know what we are, Champions of Europe, we know what we are," they sang.
Chelsea's supporters have yet to come up with a suitable song to commemorate the lavishly gifted Brazilian, but this should inspire them into action.
Roberto Di Matteo’s team stuttered throughout the second half but Oscar’s debut double was enough to earn the red carpet treatment from the home fans when he was substituted after 73 minutes.
They rose in unison to acclaim the new boy, although excitement at witnessing another thrilling young talent was later dampened by the failure to hold on to a two-goal lead.
This is the weakness of the new Chelsea. It is early days in what will undoubtedly be a transition season but the lavish investment in the front of the team has not been matched by reinforcing a distinctly wobbly centre.
While Hazard, Oscar, Ramires, Juan Mata, Victor Moses, Daniel Sturridge (injured against Juventus), Marko Marin and the loaned Kevin De Bruyne tussle for the three attacking midfield positions in Di Matteo’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, the defense is protected by first-choice pair John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard, backed up by Oriol Romeu and little else.
Ramires has not been used in the center since the days when Andre Villas-Boas performed his touchline gymnastics at the Bridge, while Michael Essien and Raul Meireles were both eased off the wage bill at the end of the transfer window.
This has given Di Matteo’s squad a lop-sided look, one which Juventus’ equalizing goal served only to magnify.
Mikel’s errant pass from his own box and some dawdling by Chelsea was compounded by a terrible error of judgement by John Terry, whose attempt to catch Fabio Quagliarella offside failed dismally as the substitute darted past him and slotted calmly past Petr Cech to make the score 2-2.
The sale of Meireles to Fenerbahce in the week after the Premier League transfer window had shut and the failure to replace him appears even more perverse in the light of a second consecutive night of thrilling Champions League group action.
Chelsea has introduced an Oscar but the wider debate is whether they have the squad to go on and win some prizes.
LONDON -- With a name like Oscar, it is only natural that Chelsea's Champions League debutant should be a player of high achievement.
Especially when the latest gun hired to make Roman Abramovich simultaneously salivate and celebrate cost around 25 million pounds to bring to Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, if the Brazilian’s full debut is anything to go by it already looks money every bit as well spent as the 32 million pounds required to land the signature of equally precocious teammate Eden Hazard.
On the night he was properly introduced to the Chelsea fans, following up three substitute appearances with his first start for the club, the former Internacional man was a double Oscar-winner, scoring two long-range goals within two thrilling minutes, a memorable spell in which it felt like a true star was born.
In truth, the 21-year-old had been a fairly invisible presence for the opening half-hour. Preferred to Juan Mata in the central playmaker role behind Fernando Torres he had struggled to get into the game as Chelsea's sloppiness at the back was matched by a paucity of composure in the final third.
After 31 minutes, the Brazilian made his mark. Hazard was the architect, upping his already burgeoning assist count by swerving in from the left and selflessly passing to his better placed teammate.
Oscar took a touch and then connected well with a shot from 25 yards, although Gianluigi Buffon would surely have saved the shot had it not take a cruel deflection off center back Leonardo Bonucci.
If there was an element of fortune to Oscar’s first goal for his new employers, the second was masterclass of imagination and execution.
With a single touch he was able to control the pass he received on the edge of the box and, at the same time, wrong-foot the defense to give himself a goal-shooting opportunity. The second touch was as glorious as the first, a rising curled shot evading the grasp of Buffon.
How the faithful roared. It was the type of goal that only a player of rare ability could have scored, the type that few who have worn the blue shirt could have conceived, never mind execute.
The instant comparisons with Gianfranco Zola, a legend in these parts and still recognized as the greatest player to ever pull on a Chelsea jersey, were deserved.
The home fans, who had already been pumped up by the Champions League trophy – or the 'Big Cup' as one noteworthy former manager calls it – being paraded by the Armed Forces shortly before kickoff, were in jubilant mood. "We know what we are, we know what we are, Champions of Europe, we know what we are," they sang.
Chelsea's supporters have yet to come up with a suitable song to commemorate the lavishly gifted Brazilian, but this should inspire them into action.
Roberto Di Matteo’s team stuttered throughout the second half but Oscar’s debut double was enough to earn the red carpet treatment from the home fans when he was substituted after 73 minutes.
They rose in unison to acclaim the new boy, although excitement at witnessing another thrilling young talent was later dampened by the failure to hold on to a two-goal lead.
This is the weakness of the new Chelsea. It is early days in what will undoubtedly be a transition season but the lavish investment in the front of the team has not been matched by reinforcing a distinctly wobbly centre.
While Hazard, Oscar, Ramires, Juan Mata, Victor Moses, Daniel Sturridge (injured against Juventus), Marko Marin and the loaned Kevin De Bruyne tussle for the three attacking midfield positions in Di Matteo’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, the defense is protected by first-choice pair John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard, backed up by Oriol Romeu and little else.
Ramires has not been used in the center since the days when Andre Villas-Boas performed his touchline gymnastics at the Bridge, while Michael Essien and Raul Meireles were both eased off the wage bill at the end of the transfer window.
This has given Di Matteo’s squad a lop-sided look, one which Juventus’ equalizing goal served only to magnify.
Mikel’s errant pass from his own box and some dawdling by Chelsea was compounded by a terrible error of judgement by John Terry, whose attempt to catch Fabio Quagliarella offside failed dismally as the substitute darted past him and slotted calmly past Petr Cech to make the score 2-2.
The sale of Meireles to Fenerbahce in the week after the Premier League transfer window had shut and the failure to replace him appears even more perverse in the light of a second consecutive night of thrilling Champions League group action.
Chelsea has introduced an Oscar but the wider debate is whether they have the squad to go on and win some prizes.
A team like Bayern should not lose concentration, says Heynckes after win over Valencia
Jupp Heynckes was critical of Bayern Munich's second-half display in the win over Valencia, lamenting a lack of concentration as his team struggled to put the match beyond reach.
Die Rotendominated the game in the first-half but stepped off the gas after the break and failed to close out the game in their Champions League opener.
Although Toni Kroos added to Bastian Schweinsteiger's earlier strike, Los Che netted a consolation effort in stoppage-time, through Nelson Valdez, to deny the hosts a clean sheet.
"The final stages must be viewed critically. That should not happen to a team like ours, because we have lost concentration," Heynckes is quoted as saying by Kicker.
"It was a game of patience. Valencia played on the counterattack but had virtually no chance to score."
Captain Philipp Lahm also believed that the Bundesliga outfit should have put a bigger gap between it and the opposition, though he was happy enough with the win.
"A win against the closest competitors in our group, that is a good start. We should have made it 2-0 earlier," he said.
New 40 million-euro signing Javi Martinez was awarded his first start for his new club in the fixture and expressed his delight at the way he has settled into the team.
"Not only with Schweinsteiger has the interplay already worked well, but with the whole team," he enthused.
Bayern travels to Belarus to face BATE, which defeated Lille 3-1 in France, in its next Group F fixture.
Jupp Heynckes was critical of Bayern Munich's second-half display in the win over Valencia, lamenting a lack of concentration as his team struggled to put the match beyond reach.
Die Rotendominated the game in the first-half but stepped off the gas after the break and failed to close out the game in their Champions League opener.
Although Toni Kroos added to Bastian Schweinsteiger's earlier strike, Los Che netted a consolation effort in stoppage-time, through Nelson Valdez, to deny the hosts a clean sheet.
"The final stages must be viewed critically. That should not happen to a team like ours, because we have lost concentration," Heynckes is quoted as saying by Kicker.
"It was a game of patience. Valencia played on the counterattack but had virtually no chance to score."
Captain Philipp Lahm also believed that the Bundesliga outfit should have put a bigger gap between it and the opposition, though he was happy enough with the win.
"A win against the closest competitors in our group, that is a good start. We should have made it 2-0 earlier," he said.
New 40 million-euro signing Javi Martinez was awarded his first start for his new club in the fixture and expressed his delight at the way he has settled into the team.
"Not only with Schweinsteiger has the interplay already worked well, but with the whole team," he enthused.
Bayern travels to Belarus to face BATE, which defeated Lille 3-1 in France, in its next Group F fixture.
Messi: 'It is not easy to win a game like that'
Lionel Messi praised Spartak Moscow after his late double helped Barcelona to a 3-2 win over the Russian club in their Champions League group stage opener.
Cristian Tello had made it 1-0 early on in the match, before a Dani Alves own goal leveled the scoreline at the break. Spartak then took the lead on the hour mark courtesy of a well-taken finish from Brazilian midfielder Romulo, but Messi's second-half contribution proved decisive in the match.
"It's not easy to win a game like that when the other team sits back and defends," Messi told UEFA.com. "They have very fast forwards and played well on the counterattack."
Messi also expressed his sadness at the injury Gerard Pique picked up in the 12th minute, but stressed there were players capable of covering for the Spain international.
"It's a shame about [Gerard] Pique's injury. He is important for us, just like Carles Puyol is, but we have plenty of players in the squad, plus the reserves," he added.
Pique himself sent a message on Twitter following the final whistle, displaying his happiness at the result, and saying his injury was not as serious as first feared.
"Great comeback from the team! It's really important to start winning! Thanks to all of you for the support. I hope to be playing again soon," he wrote on the social network site.
Barcelona sits top of Group G following the win, as Celtic drew 0-0 with Benfica in the other group game.
Lionel Messi praised Spartak Moscow after his late double helped Barcelona to a 3-2 win over the Russian club in their Champions League group stage opener.
Cristian Tello had made it 1-0 early on in the match, before a Dani Alves own goal leveled the scoreline at the break. Spartak then took the lead on the hour mark courtesy of a well-taken finish from Brazilian midfielder Romulo, but Messi's second-half contribution proved decisive in the match.
"It's not easy to win a game like that when the other team sits back and defends," Messi told UEFA.com. "They have very fast forwards and played well on the counterattack."
Messi also expressed his sadness at the injury Gerard Pique picked up in the 12th minute, but stressed there were players capable of covering for the Spain international.
"It's a shame about [Gerard] Pique's injury. He is important for us, just like Carles Puyol is, but we have plenty of players in the squad, plus the reserves," he added.
Pique himself sent a message on Twitter following the final whistle, displaying his happiness at the result, and saying his injury was not as serious as first feared.
"Great comeback from the team! It's really important to start winning! Thanks to all of you for the support. I hope to be playing again soon," he wrote on the social network site.
Barcelona sits top of Group G following the win, as Celtic drew 0-0 with Benfica in the other group game.
Pardew: Ba could leave in January
Talk of a rift between Alan Pardew and striker Demba Ba is wide of the mark, according to the Newcastle boss.
Ba registered his unhappiness at being named on the substitutes' bench against Everton on Monday night, after he had helped Newcastle claim a point with two goals in the second half, saying there were things he "wasn't happy with".
His agent, Alex Gontran, then went one step further and said Ba would consider leaving the club if he was deployed as a substitute too often during the coming season and remarked on the fact Ba had been used in a wide role at the end of last season.
But ahead of Newcastle's opening Europa League group tie with Maritimo, Pardew denied there was a problem, though the club's hierarchy are thought to be distinctly unimpressed with Ba's outburst.He said: "That's just people needing to say things they shouldn't say, really, but it doesn't really affect me and Demba. We have got a good relationship."
Ba was signed on a free before the start of last season and chalked up 15 goals for Newcastle before fellow Senegal striker Papiss Cisse arrived. However, he only managed one from January onwards as he was forced to play second fiddle to Cisse.His form led to speculation that a series of suitors might activate the £7.5 million release clause in Ba's contract during the summer, although the deadline came and went without incident.
Pardew, who suggested some players operate better when they are angry, added: "The bottom line is you have to get your players to play at their best and sometimes there are different methods of doing that."
Ba and Cisse were conspicuous by their absence when a largely inexperienced 19-man squad jetted out from Tyneside for Thursday's clash with Maritimo, although Cisse was withdrawn because of illness.Shola Ameobi will start on a night when 37-year-old Steve Harper hopes to extend a European career that he admits he thought was over.
The goalkeeper made his first senior appearance for the club in almost 17 months in the away leg of the play-off against Greek side Atromitos last month and, as a result of first-choice 'keeper Tim Krul's elbow injury, returned to Premier League action at Everton.
Asked if he thought he would ever play in Europe again, Harper said: "Last year, probably not. But this year it's well documented the conversation I had with the manager. He said we had a lot of games and if I still wanted it, it was there for me, so at the start of the year there was light at the end of the tunnel and here I am."Despite spending much of his career as Shay Given's deputy, Harper has experienced most of the Magpies' big nights on the continental stage.
He played in a famous 1-0 Champions League victory over Juventus at St James' Park and was in the side that beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in the same competition in 2002-03, while he was on the bench on the night of Craig Bellamy's late winner against Feyenoord in Rotterdam fired the club into the second group stage.
Harper said: "Obviously, the two Champions League games against Juventus and Dynamo Kiev were special, the Feyenoord night, going to Barcelona, the San Siro. It was fantastic. The good thing about this is I was able to sit and look at the draw and the bonus is we are going to three places we haven't been to before."We are going to Madeira, Bordeaux and Bruges. I was looking at the draw and looking at Partizan Belgrade thinking, 'I've been there twice, can we please go somewhere else?'
"Not that there's anything wrong with Belgrade, but you just want to go out and experience new places. It's fantastic to come to Maritimo and I'll hopefully get to Bordeaux and Bruges as well."
Talk of a rift between Alan Pardew and striker Demba Ba is wide of the mark, according to the Newcastle boss.
Ba registered his unhappiness at being named on the substitutes' bench against Everton on Monday night, after he had helped Newcastle claim a point with two goals in the second half, saying there were things he "wasn't happy with".
His agent, Alex Gontran, then went one step further and said Ba would consider leaving the club if he was deployed as a substitute too often during the coming season and remarked on the fact Ba had been used in a wide role at the end of last season.
But ahead of Newcastle's opening Europa League group tie with Maritimo, Pardew denied there was a problem, though the club's hierarchy are thought to be distinctly unimpressed with Ba's outburst.He said: "That's just people needing to say things they shouldn't say, really, but it doesn't really affect me and Demba. We have got a good relationship."
Ba was signed on a free before the start of last season and chalked up 15 goals for Newcastle before fellow Senegal striker Papiss Cisse arrived. However, he only managed one from January onwards as he was forced to play second fiddle to Cisse.His form led to speculation that a series of suitors might activate the £7.5 million release clause in Ba's contract during the summer, although the deadline came and went without incident.
Pardew, who suggested some players operate better when they are angry, added: "The bottom line is you have to get your players to play at their best and sometimes there are different methods of doing that."
Ba and Cisse were conspicuous by their absence when a largely inexperienced 19-man squad jetted out from Tyneside for Thursday's clash with Maritimo, although Cisse was withdrawn because of illness.Shola Ameobi will start on a night when 37-year-old Steve Harper hopes to extend a European career that he admits he thought was over.
The goalkeeper made his first senior appearance for the club in almost 17 months in the away leg of the play-off against Greek side Atromitos last month and, as a result of first-choice 'keeper Tim Krul's elbow injury, returned to Premier League action at Everton.
Asked if he thought he would ever play in Europe again, Harper said: "Last year, probably not. But this year it's well documented the conversation I had with the manager. He said we had a lot of games and if I still wanted it, it was there for me, so at the start of the year there was light at the end of the tunnel and here I am."Despite spending much of his career as Shay Given's deputy, Harper has experienced most of the Magpies' big nights on the continental stage.
He played in a famous 1-0 Champions League victory over Juventus at St James' Park and was in the side that beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 in the same competition in 2002-03, while he was on the bench on the night of Craig Bellamy's late winner against Feyenoord in Rotterdam fired the club into the second group stage.
Harper said: "Obviously, the two Champions League games against Juventus and Dynamo Kiev were special, the Feyenoord night, going to Barcelona, the San Siro. It was fantastic. The good thing about this is I was able to sit and look at the draw and the bonus is we are going to three places we haven't been to before."We are going to Madeira, Bordeaux and Bruges. I was looking at the draw and looking at Partizan Belgrade thinking, 'I've been there twice, can we please go somewhere else?'
"Not that there's anything wrong with Belgrade, but you just want to go out and experience new places. It's fantastic to come to Maritimo and I'll hopefully get to Bordeaux and Bruges as well."
Arsenal no more than a ‘feeder club’ says club legend Tony Adams
Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams says the club’s selling policy is chipping away at its credibility as one of Europe’s top sides.
"It sends out all the wrong messages for me, being a selling club," he told the London Evening Standard.
Adams, who spent his entire career with the north London club, believes that allowing star players such as Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas to leave the Emirates Stadium has given other sides a poor impression of them.
"Piece by piece for seven years, it chips away at your credibility. Selling your best players is part of that," Adams said.
He added, "I very much see Arsenal as the biggest club in the world, so I can't understand why anybody would want to play anywhere else - but I can understand it was very different for me.
"I am looking at it not as an ex-player or pundit, but as a fan and giving what the fans are thinking and feeling."
The Gunners have made an impressive start to the current campaign, remaining unbeaten in all competitions with the addition of Adams’ former defensive partner Steve Bould to the Arsenal dugout being cited for an improvement in their backline, which has shipped just one league goal this season.
However Adams’ feels that the mentality and style of the team is not setup to be a success.
"The problem for me in the last seven years is the defensive vulnerabilities as a team - the goalkeeper, the back four, even the central midfield players, the mentality of the team," he said.
Adams continued to explain: "I don't think they are a team that are set up to do what Chelsea did last year in the Champions League and I don't think Arsene wants to.
“Year in, year out the team with the best defense wins the league and we saw the team with the best defense win the Champions League, so it makes you wonder why a lot of teams aren't focusing more on defending."
Arsenal got its European campaign off to a good start with a win away at French champions Montpellier on Tuesday.
And despite that early win in the competition, Adams is not optimistic about its chances of lifting the trophy for the first time at Wembley Stadium next summer.
"I expect them to score goals, but they cannot win the Champions League with their current mentality," he said.
"I hope they prove me wrong, but against the better teams I think they will fall short again. I am not alone here - I think most of the Arsenal fans would agree with me.
"To actually think you are going to play Barcelona or Real Madrid off the pitch...I don't think this team are good enough to do that."
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