Oct 24 2008
Champions League Group Stage Reaches Midway Point
Teams began to separate from each other after Matchday 3 this week in the UEFA Champions League. In Group A, Bordeaux and Chelsea each won at home, 1-0, against CFR Cluj and Roma, respectively. Chelsea leads the group with seven points. Cluj has four points. Roma and Bordeaux trail with three apiece.
Inter bested Anorthosis, 1-0, at home in Group B. Meanwhile, Bremen played to a 2-2 result at Panathinaikos. Inter heads the group with seven points. Bremen is in second with four points, followed by Anorthosis (three) and Panathinaikos (one). Barcelona crushed host Basel, 5-0, in Group C. Sporting edged past home-standing Shakhtar, 1-0. Barcelona is atop the group with the maximum nine points. Sporting has six points so far. Shakhtar has three points while Basel has no points after three matches.
In Group D, PSV Eindhoven beat visiting Marseille, 2-0. Liverpool and Atletico drew at 1 in Madrid to remain tied for first. Both sides have seven points. PSV gained a bit of ground and now has three points. Marseillie needs to get off the snide quickly. Manchester United blanked Celtic at home, 3-0, in a Group E match. Meanwhile, Villarreal smashed visiting Aalborg, 6-3. Manchester and Villarreal are still tied at the top with seven points each. Celtic and Aalborg stayed at the bottom with one point apiece.
Lyon took second place outright in Group F after an entertaining 5-3 victory at Steaua. Group leader Bayern Munich handled Fiorentina, 3-0, at home to keep its two-point advantage over Lyon, seven to five. Fiorentina has two points and Steaua has one. Fenerbahce and Porto both lost at home in Group G. The Istanbul side (one point after three matches) was thumped by leader Arsenal (seven points), 5-2, while the Portuguese team (three points) was bested by Dynamo Kiev (five points), 1-0.
Juventus wrested the Group H lead from Real Madrid by defeating its rival at home, 2-1. Juventus has seven points to Real’s six points. Meanwhile, Zenit got its Champions League point by holding BATE to a 1-1 draw at home. BATE now has two points. Matchday 4 is set for Nov. 4 and 5.
I see you run more than one blog! This one explains how you know all about the black and white striped team, whose fans tend to be so self-deluded. Me thinks you’ll need an update on Champions League after today. My team, played really good, couldn’t take their chances and ended up lucky to come home with a draw….
You’re right, Hoomer. I did update the Champions League Wednesday night. The next matchday is late November. Thanks for your comments.