..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger: November a big month for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger believes November will be a crucial month for his Arsenal side after their blistering start to the season.

Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

But the Gunners now travel to Germany for a crucial Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund before facing Manchester United, with Wenger wary of how quickly his side's fortunes could change.

"After the Aston Villa game [a home defeat], if I had told you that [this would happen] I would have to run away because you would have killed me," Wenger told the club's official website.

"It shows you that things can change quickly but that should as well alert us that it can go the other way. We must keep good focus, continue to develop our team as there’s room for improvement.

"At the moment, with 10 games played, you can say 25 per cent of the season [has gone]. You see the first tendencies and trends but it’s still not settled. By the end of November you will have a clearer idea."

Arsenal will also face Premier League surprise package Southampton, Marseille in the Champions League and Cardiff City in November.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2013.11.05

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2013.11.05

Manchester City Vs CSKA

Real Sociedad Vs Manchester United

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

Kobenhavn Vs Galatasaray

PSG Vs Anderlecht

Plzen Vs Bayern

Shakhtar Vs Leverkusen

Olympiacos Vs Benfica

​

 

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Wenger: November a big month for Arsenal

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2013.11.05

Manchester City Vs CSKA

Real Sociedad Vs Manchester United

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

PSG Vs Anderlecht

Plzen Vs Bayern

Shakhtar Vs Leverkusen

​

 

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Klopp: I love Wenger but I prefer 'heavy metal' football

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for Arsene Wenger but insists he prefers BVB's "heavy metal" football to Arsenal's "orchestral" style.

Dortmund currently sit second in the Bundesliga, a point behind Bayern Munich, and second in their Champions League group, level on points with Wenger’s side.

And Klopp, whose team face the Gunners on Wednesday having already beaten the north Londoners at the Emirates Stadium, says he "loves" Wenger yet prefers "English, rainy-day football" where everyone fights for the ball.

"He is really something. I love him. He is Sir Arsene Wenger. He is 'hello (making a handshake gesture)'. I’m this guy," Klopp told reporters.

"But he likes having the ball, playing football, passes... it’s like an orchestra," gesturing as if playing a violin, "But it is a silent song. I like heavy metal more. I always want it loud.

"I like [Arsenal’s philosophy]. I love it but I cannot coach it because I am a different guy. If you watch me during the game I celebrate when we press the ball and it goes out.

"To enjoy football you have to do this. He can win, he can win, post, goalkeeper, save — that is what I love. If, in the last four years, Barcelona were the first team I saw playing when I was four years of age — this serenity of football, they win 5-0, 6-0 — I would have played tennis.

"It is not my sport. I don’t like winning with 80 per cent [of possession]. Sorry that is not enough for me. Fighting football, not serenity football, that is what I like. What we call in German 'English' — rainy day, heavy pitch, 5-5, everybody is dirty in the face and goes home and cannot play for weeks after."

Klopp also admits he received offers from other clubs in the summer but suggests he only had eyes on extending his current project with the Champions League finalists.

"Clubs from other countries were also interested. You know these clubs, they changed coaches last season," he continued.

"We want this club to stay in the race against these unbelievably strong teams. There is no chance to be the best team in the world in the next 50 years like Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We need too many things.

"The more interesting thing is that we can be a team which can beat the best in the world. You always want to beat the team with more money. What we have done in five years is write a history, a story that maybe in 100 years people will know about.

"We can go now and try to do the same at another place – but we have started this and now we have the chance to make the next step."

The 46-year-old acknowledges that Dortmund are not the best in the world, but believes working hard, running further than your opponent and giving your all can bridge the gap.

"I am a very emotional guy. What I love, I do with all I have," he added. "I fight for justice. It’s a very important point for me. You give all, there’s no guarantee that you get all but if you give all maybe you can get something.

"If you don’t have to give all to win and you still win, what’s this? It’s like this (he yawns). It’s only interesting for people if it’s close — and at the level we play against Bayern and Arsenal and all these other teams it always is.

"And if it’s close, how do you make the difference? You cannot make the difference because you have the better ideas or a genius moment. You make the difference if you work more than others.

"It’s not the most important stat but I love it when I read that we run more than the opponent. You can get respect if you do this and you have more chance to be successful."

Muge loku scene balapanko

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2013.11.05

Manchester City Vs CSKA

Real Sociedad Vs Manchester United

Juventus Vs Real Madrid

Kobenhavn Vs Galatasaray

PSG Vs Anderlecht

Plzen Vs Bayern

Shakhtar Vs Leverkusen

Olympiacos Vs Benfica

​

Manchester will have a less chance to win today...Sociedad is pretty good at home..They will have to fight hard hard and even harder

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Real Sociedad 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

:love:Congratulations Manchester United
​

 

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Juventus [2 - 2] Real Madrid
[Vidal 42' (P), Llorente 65' | 52' Ronaldo, 60' Bale]

IN TO THE KNOCKOUTS ​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus [2 - 2] Real Madrid
[Vidal 42' (P), Llorente 65' | 52' Ronaldo, 60' Bale]

IN TO THE KNOCKOUTS

Congratulations!

 

[unicornx]

Full Time

Real Sociedad 0 Vs 0 Manchester United

:love:Congratulations Manchester United
​

Penalty ekak miss welada RVP ta? Man qwane Sociedad home ground eka tough kiala dinanna Well Played MU

 

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[Wolverine GTR]

Penalty ekak miss welada RVP ta? Man qwane Sociedad home ground eka tough kiala dinanna Well Played MU

Ow bro penalty 1ka post 1ke wadune & Ita kalinuth RVP 1ke shot 1kak post 1keUnlucky

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus 2-2 Real Madrid: Llorente rescues point in Turin thriller

Fernando Llorente was the hero for Juventus as he earned a point for the Italian champions in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Arturo Vidal had put the hosts in front with a fierce penalty late in the first half, only for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to turn the match around at the hour mark.

However, Llorente's header was enough to seal a share of the spoils in a thriller at Juventus Stadium and keep the Bianconeri's hopes of the next round alive.

The result means Real will qualify for the knockout stages barring a freak set of results, as third-placed Copenhagen are six points behind with a vastly inferior goal difference. Juventus are now bottom of the group, but only one point behind Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

Giorgio Chiellini was suspended for the hosts after being sent off in the return fixture, so Leonardo Bonucci deputised from the start for the home side.

Real named the now familiar front three of Karim Benzema, Ronaldo and Bale, while Raphael Varane partnered Pepe in the centre of defence.

The visitors made the brighter start, but Juventus grew into the game and were twice thwarted by the returning Iker Casillas.

First he made a superb reflex save to beat away Marcelo's inadvertent deflection in the 17th minute, before denying Llorente at point-blank range with his right foot.

However, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to prevent the opener three minutes before the break as Madrid conceded their fifth penalty in three matches.

Varane was penalised for catching Paul Pogba's trailing leg and the resulting spot-kick was dispatched high into the goal by Vidal.

Real pressed much higher up the pitch in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 52nd minute.

Martin Caceres' slack backpass was deflected into the path of Benzema and his throughball was collected by Ronaldo, who applied a cool finish beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

Real nearly punished Juventus further four minutes later when Xabi Alonso's thunderous half-volley cannoned back off the crossbar.

After surviving that scare, the hosts nearly retook the lead when Claudio Marchisio was twice denied, first by Casillas and then by Pepe's goal-line block.

Marchisio's misfortune appeared more significant as Real moved in front on the hour mark, Ronaldo collecting Marcelo's pass with a sublime touch and finding Bale, who drove at the Juve defence and found the bottom-right corner with a drilled left-footed shot.

Yet Juventus were back level six minutes later, Caceres atoning for his earlier error with a teasing cross that Llorente stooped low to head home.

The home fans almost had the chance to celebrate a winner, but were once again frustrated by Casillas as he kept out Tevez's long-distance effort.

The result leaves Ancelotti's side on the brink of the last 16, while Juventus face a battle to reach the knockout phase.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Hyypia's men secure valuable point

Shakhtar Donetsk were left to rue a number of missed chances as Bayer Leverkusen secured a 0-0 draw at the Donbass Arena on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was Leverkusen's hero, making a string of terrific saves throughout the Group A clash as the visitors consolidated their position in second place behind Manchester United.

Shakhtar thoroughly dominated the first half, having 10 attempts on goal, with the influential Darijo Srna going closest when his cross-cum-shot drifted into the post.

Leno denied Facundo Ferreyra twice in the early stages, while Bernard and Yaroslav Rakitskiy were also frustrated by the in-form keeper in the first half.

Leverkusen improved after the break and threatened on the counter, with Sidney Sam and Heung-Min Son having their best chances, but Shakhtar almost claimed victory when substitute Ilsinho sent a fizzing effort just wide with 13 minutes left.

Leno's brilliance was enough to give Leverkusen a hard-fought draw, though, as they remain two points ahead of the third-placed Ukrainians.

Both sides made wholesale changes after disappointing away defeats at the weekend, with Leverkusen head coach Sami Hyypia making six to the side that lost at rock-bottom Eintracht Braunschweig, recalling Sam, Son and striker Stefan Kiessling.

Shakhtar – who made seven alterations of their own – created the game's first chance when Srna's cut-back was fired at goal by Ferreyra in the seventh minute, but Leno gathered at the second attempt.

Leno again denied Ferreyra, this time making a superb reaction save to deny the forward from close range, while Gonzalo Castro and Sam both had half-chances at the other end on the break.

Shakhtar dominated a first half played at a frantic pace, though, and Srna's cross – which floated towards goal and had Leno well beaten, only to hit the post – began a period of dominance for the hosts.

Bernard forced Leno into a terrific diving save in the 32nd minute before Srna thrashed the rebound over, while Rakitskiy had a powerful effort tipped over by the busy goalkeeper at the near post.

Leno moved well to keep out Srna's dipping free-kick in the first minute of the second half before the visitors enjoyed a strong spell, with Sam and Son forcing Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov into action.

Leverkusen had success exploiting the space Shakhtar gave them, but the hosts stepped up a gear just after the hour mark, with Ferreyra and Douglas Costa firing over before Rakitskiy saw a close-range shot diverted wide.

Sam wasted a good chance for Leverkusen when he shot straight at Pyatov on the turn in the 72nd minute, while Shakhtar substitute Ilsinho saw a long-range effort go agonisingly wide.

Luiz Adriano headed straight at Leno in stoppage time, but Shakhtar could find no way past the keeper as the Bundesliga side claimed a valuable point to put them in a commanding position to reach the last 16.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 5-2 CSKA Moscow: Negredo hits hat-trick as City progress

Alvaro Negredo scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat CSKA Moscow 5-2 to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero scored twice in the first half to become City’s all-time leading scorer in European football and put them on course to qualify from Group D.

Aguero took his tally to nine goals in his last six games in the process and he then set up Negredo for a third goal before Seydou Doumbia pulled one back just before the break.

Spain striker Negredo added a fourth goal early in the second half before Doumbia added his second of the night from the penalty spot.

Negredo then completed his hat-trick in stoppage time as City qualified for the knockout stages, courtesy of their head-to-head record against the Russians.

City thrashed Norwich 7-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, so it was no surprise that Manuel Pellegrini named an unchanged side – the first time he has done so as City boss - with Costel Pantilimon again preferred to under-fire England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

CSKA headed into the match having won their last three domestic games following their defeat to City last month and they were also unchanged.

The pre-match talk was dominated by the alleged racial abuse suffered by City midfielder Yaya Toure in the first meeting between the sides last month that resulted in Uefa deciding to close part of CSKA's Arena Khimki for their clash with Bayern Munich.

But City were focused on the task of qualifying and they were in front after just three minutes, when Zoran Tosic upended David Silva and Aguero's spot-kick evaded the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev diving to his left.

Aguero then doubled City's lead when he sublimely turned his marker inside the area before dispatching a measured right-foot strike into the bottom-left corner of Akinfeev's goal after just 21 minutes.

The lively Argentinian then turned provider on the half-hour mark when he took a pass from Negredo in his stride and then picked out the Spain striker at the back post for a simple tap-in.

But it was CSKA who had the final say in the first half when Pontus Wernbloom slipped the ball through for Doumbia and the striker rounded Pantilimon before pulling a goal back in stoppage time.

Any hopes of a CSKA comeback were dashed six minutes into the second half, though, when Toure picked out Samir Nasri with an incisive pass and the midfielder set up Negredo for another simple finish.

Doumba was a real handful and he scored his second of the night from the spot after Gael Clichy was adjudged to have fouled him to make it eight goals in his last 10 games.

But Negredo had the final say as he headed home at the back post to cap a memorable night for City.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Real Sociedad 0-0 Manchester United: Van Persie misses penalty & Fellaini sent off as Red Devils stutter

Manchester United were left to rue a succession of individual errors after being held 0-0 by Real Sociedad on Tuesday.

Robin van Persie missed a penalty and Marourane Fellaini was sent off as United saw their four-game winless run away from home in the Champions League continue.

The point was Real Sociedad's first of this season's competition and keeps their slim hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive given Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk also drew.

United remain top of Group A with eight points, but will feel they should have taken all three with Javier Hernandez also guilty of missing an open goal.

The hosts made four changes from their 5-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday as Markel Bergara, Alberto de la Bella, Mikel Gonzalez and Imanol Agirretxe all started having been on the bench at the weekend.

David Moyes opted to field Hernandez up front with Wayne Rooney as opposed to Van Persie, the Dutchman named among the substitutes. Hernandez was one of six changes for United from their victory over Fulham in the Premier League.

The visitors started confidently and pressed Sociedad high up the pitch, creating the first chance of the match in the 10th minute.

Shinji Kagawa released Patrice Evra down the left-hand side, the Frenchman found Rooney inside the penalty area and he flicked the ball back to the Japan international to fire a deflected shot wide.

It took the best part of half an hour for Sociedad to create an opening that came after David Zurutuza broke down the right.

The midfielder pulled his cross back to Agirretxe on the penalty spot, but he skewed his effort well wide of David de Gea’s goal.

United should have taken the lead early in the second half, but Hernandez was guilty of missing an open goal in the 50th minute.

Kagawa shifted the ball past Carlos Martinez and delivered a low cross into the unmarked Mexican, but he ballooned his effort over the bar from six yards.

The visitors’ frustration continued just after the hour as Van Persie – introduced in place of Rooney – struck the post with his first touch after an excellent cross from fellow substitute Ashley Young.

The Netherlands international striker was given another opportunity to score four minutes later after Bergara was adjudged to have pulled back Young inside the penalty area.

Van Persie’s spot-kick beat Claudio Bravo but struck the post and was cleared to safety by the Sociedad defence.

Fellaini spoiled United's night with his late dismissal after a second yellow card following a challenge on Zurutuza.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Anderlecht: Ibrahimovic saves Parisiens from defeat

Zlatan Ibrahimovic saved Paris Saint-Germain from a shock home defeat to 10-man Anderlecht on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The hosts, who failed to get a single shot on target in the first half, fell behind to a Demy de Zeeuw strike in the 68th minute.

But Ibrahimovic spared PSG's blushes from close range two minutes later with his seventh goal of the European campaign.

The result leaves the French side six points clear of third-placed Benfica, while Anderlecht, who had Sacha Kljestan sent off late on, can no longer qualify.

Laurent Blanc made five changes to the side that beat Lorient 4-0 in Ligue 1 on Friday, the most notable of which was the return of Ibrahimovic in place of the injured Edinson Cavani (thigh).

Anderlecht, meanwhile, brought Dennis Praet into the starting line-up for Massimo Bruno after their 3-1 win against OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League on Saturday.

Ezequiel Lavezzi went close to breaking the deadlock for the hosts in the sixth minute, as he met a wonderful chipped ball into the area from Thiago Motta, only to nod narrowly over the crossbar.

As the half progressed, Group C’s most potent attack struggled to find a way through its leakiest defence, and Anderlecht even managed to threaten at the other end - Aleksandar Mitrovic forcing Salvatore Sirigu into a diving save with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

With the first period drawing to a close, Maxwell found himself in space on the left wing and tried to drill a low cross into the six-yard box, but Cheikhou Kouyate slid in superbly to put the ball behind and thwart the attack.

Ibrahimovic headed wide of Thomas Kaminski’s right-hand post from a corner 10 minutes into the second half, which began in much the same vein as the first, with PSG dominating possession but failing to convert it into enough clear-cut chances.

Lavezzi tried to create an angle for himself in the penalty area nine minutes later, but Anthony Vanden Borre stuck a leg out to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

PSG were beginning to pile on the pressure, finding gaps in the thus-far resilient Belgian defence, and Lucas Moura was next to try his luck, blazing wide from a glorious chipped pass by Ibrahimovic.

But it was Anderlecht who broke the deadlock on 68 minutes with their first goal of the competition. Kljestan found De Zeeuw in space just inside the penalty area and the Dutchman made no mistake in side-footing beyond Sirigu.

That lead did not last long, however, as Ibrahimovic found himself through on goal two minutes later and slid the ball under Kaminski and against the post, before pouncing to prod home from the rebound.

Kljestan was given his marching orders in the 82nd minute, picking up a second yellow card for a deliberate handball.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Olympiakos 1-0 Benfica: Manolas goal gives Greek advantage in Group C

Olympiakos took a big step towards the Champions League knock-out phase with a gritty 1-0 win at home to Benfica.

The Greek champions’ home record in the competition had included seven wins from their previous 10 games, but they had to rely on an impressive display from ex-Benfica goalkeeper Roberto to pick up three points on Tuesday and make second place their own in Group D.

The two-time European Cup champions initially looked the more threatening, but Olympiakos took the lead 13 minutes in as the visiting defenders failed to pick up the run of Kostas Manolas, who headed home Jose Holebas’ corner.

Benfica continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides, but found Roberto in inspired form.

The 27-year-old pulled off numerous saves to keep Olympiakos in the lead, but the visitors’ finishing left a lot to be desired as they continually wasted great openings, while the hosts offered little in attack.Benfica made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with the Greek side in their last Champions League match, with talented teenager Lazar Markovic among those returning.

Olympiakos head coach Michel made only two alterations from the teams’ last meeting, former Benfica man Javier Saviola coming back in together with Sambou Yatabare.

Visiting coach Jorge Jesus insisted beforehand that the hostile atmosphere in Greece would not affect his players and their start supported his claims as both Oscar Cardozo and Markovic forced Roberto into saves in the first 10 minutes.

Despite Benfica’s good start, the hosts took the lead against the run of play in the 13th minute as Holebas’ corner was headed in powerfully by the unmarked Manolas.

Benfica should have drawn level two minutes before the break, but Nemanja Matic completely missed the ball when Ezequiel Garay headed a corner back towards the six-yard box.

Jesus’ side started the second half similarly well, but again Roberto denied them as Markovic saw a volley from the edge of the area parried away by the on-loan Atletico Madrid man.

The anxiety of Olympiakos’ fans became more apparent as the match approached the hour mark and in the 57th minute Benfica left-back Silvio broke into the area, only to then deliver a feeble effort that Roberto palmed away.Enzo Perez flicked the ball over his head four minutes later before unleashing a volley towards the bottom corner, but Roberto was equal to the task once again.

Benfica pressed with determination in the final stages and with 10 minutes left former Olympiakos youth player Filip Djuricic skipped past two men before firing at goal, but Roberto clawed his effort away, ensuring the Greeks go three points clear of Jesus' side.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Viktoria Plzen 0-1 Bayern Munich: Mandzukic fires Bavarians into last 16

Bayern Munich struggled to a slender 1-0 win over Viktoria Plzen to qualify for the last 16 and equal Barcelona's record of Champions League wins in a row on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola went into the game lamenting his side's recent struggles to dominate teams, and they once again failed to blow away the Czech champions, despite enjoying 72 per cent possession and raining 14 shots at goal.

Plzen goalkeeper Matus Kozacik was in supreme form, while Bayern's own patience in front of goal was often their own downfall.Second-half substitute Mario Mandzukic netted just six minutes after coming on to secure the points, heading Philipp Lahm's cross past Kozacik.

The hosts were unchanged from their 6-1 crushing of Jablonec last weekend, but Guardiola shuffled his pack after Saturday's struggle to beat Hoffenheim, making four changes and including Diego Contento, a left-back by trade, in the heart of defence.

The 23-year-old immediately looked shaky in his converted position as he appeared to haul Stanislav Tecl down in the penalty area, but referee Antonio Mateu‎ was unmoved.Bayern quickly asserted their dominance as Plzen goalkeeper Kozacik was twice called into action from distance by David Alaba, while Bastian Schweinsteiger rattled the post from Mario Gotze's cut-back.

Guardiola's side poured forward, but were not creating clear-cut chances as the Czechs stood resolute at the back and almost grabbed a shock lead. Milan Petrzela squirmed clear, but his left-footed shot sailed over the crossbar as Bayern's first-half frustrations went on until the half-time whistle

Bayern came out for the second half with renewed vigour and Lahm was denied his first Champions League goal just four minutes after the break as he prodded past Kozacik, but Marian Cisovsky slid across to deny the Bavarians' captain.

Daniel Van Buyten flicked a header wide from a corner, with Thomas Muller just missing out on a tap-in at the far post and Franck Ribery was denied one-on-one by the inspired Kozacik as Bayern turned the screw.

With Bayern still unable to break the deadlock, Guardiola introduced Mandzukic and Javi Martinez for Muller and Schweinsteiger, and the changes had the desired effect within six minutes of being made.Lahm pulled out to the right and swung a deep cross to the back post that Mandzukic planted across goal and past the despairing dive of Kozacik.

Tecl brought Manuel Neuer into action with a low drive before missing Petrzela's cross by inches as Plzen hit back in the hunt for an equaliser.

Bayern should have settled the game late on as Gotze rounded Kozacik, but he took the ball too far and Mandzukic could not convert his cross, but it mattered for little as the holders sealed their progression from Group D.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Copenhagen 1-0 Galatasaray: Brilliant Braaten stuns Mancini's men

An audacious finish from Daniel Braaten secured a 1-0 win for Copenhagen against Galatasaray on Tuesday and blow open the race for the knockout phase in Group B.

The Norwegian turned home a brilliant backheel after just six minutes to stun Roberto Mancini's men and seal the Danish champions' first victory of the Champions League this season and prolong their unbeaten run at home.

Both sides hit the woodwork in a frantic first half before a more cagey second period in which there was little goalmouth action, as Copenhagen maintained their record of never having lost at home in the group stages.

The win leaves Group B wide open, with Stale Solbakken's side now level with their opponents on four points, with Juventus a point behind them at the foot of the table with two matches remaining.

Solbakken made one change from the weekend as Igor Vetokele was replaced by Youssef Toutouh, despite scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Nordsjaelland on Saturday, while the visitors made four changes from their last outing, with Wesley Sneijder (thigh) and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (toe) among those missing out.

The hosts made a dream start as Braaten put them ahead inside six minutes, getting across Emmanuel Eboue in the six-yard box to backheel Rurik Gislason's low cross into the net.

And that advantage was almost doubled two minutes later as Nicolai Jorgensen, who also netted a double at the weekend, headed Pierre Bengtsson's right-wing free-kick against the upright after Albert Riera had brought down Lars Jacobsen.

After a breathless start, Galatasaray eventually got a foothold in the game, Bruma having his close-range effort disallowed for offside after Johan Wiland had brilliantly denied Burak Yilmaz's downward header in the 21st minute.

Felipe Melo then went close to an equaliser for Mancini's side 10 minutes before the break, thumping a header against the post from Riera's corner before nodding the rebound over the crossbar.

As the half drew to a close, both sides missed golden opportunities to score within a minute of each other.

First, Bengtsson released Braaten, who charged half the length of the field only to be denied by Eray Iscan, before Didier Drogba volleyed Aydin Yilmaz's delivery over the crossbar from eight yards out when totally unmarked.

After a quiet start to the second period, Drogba stung the palms of Wiland with a fierce drive in the 69th minute, before the goalkeeper made a more straightforward save from the Ivorian five minutes later.

The visitors continued to push hard for an equaliser in the final stages, but Copenhagen stood firm to claim their first win of the campaign and put themselves back into contention for qualification for the last 16.