CL - MD2: Tuesday Review

Vincenzo Iaquinta's brace saved Juventus from an embarrassing defeat against minnows BATE Borisov on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League, while Fiorentina were held to a goalless home draw against Steaua Bucharest.

BATE BORISOV 2-2 JUVENTUS
BATE Borisov's home debut in the Champions League provided the underdogs with a dream start against Juventus, but it was not to last as the visitors were level by half-time, a point leaving them second in Group H. For the Belarussian team, the first from that country to compete at this level, there was the satisfaction of knowing they had played a full part in a wonderful, seesaw encounter. Their football was incisive and they had the Turin ginats floundering as Sergei Kryvets and Igor Stasevich provided a handsome advantage inside 23 minutes. But Vincenzo Iaquinta, standing in for the injured David Trezeguet, hit back with two goals before the interval. Claudio Ranieri's team now have a double-header against Real Madrid next.

The Spanish champions had earlier took a firm grip on Group H as a Tomas Hubocan own goal and Ruud van Nistelrooy's strike secured victory at Zenit St. Petersburg, who pulled a goal back through Danny to equalise and were unfortunate not to take somehting from the game.

FIORENTINA 0-0 STEAUA BUCHAREST
Fiorentina huffed and puffed but were made to settle for a 0-0 draw with Steaua Bucharest at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Group F. Neither side were able to produce flowing football in a game which left the hosts with two points on the board after Matchday 2, while Steaua earned their first point following an opening loss. Cesare Prandelli's men, who had squandered a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw at Lyon on Matchday 1, now have all to do to progress from the group.

Bayern Munich and Lyon maintained their unbeaten starts to Champions League after the Bundesliga title-holders came from behind to earn a point against their French counterparts, who took the lead through an early own goal from Martin Dimichelis. Ze Roberto then secured a point for the hosts.

TUESDAY'S OTHER MATCHES
Dimitar Berbatov struck two second-half goals as Manchester United moved to the Group E summit with a convincing 3-0 victory away to Aalborg. Wayne Rooney had given the reigning champions the lead in the first half.

In the other game, Marcos Senna's second-half free-kick was enough to give Spanish outfit Villarreal a 1-0 win over Celtic.

Arsenal took apart Portuguese champions FC Porto 4-0 in Group G. Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor both scored a double to take the Premier League side to the top of the group.

Fenerbahce's run of eight consecutive European home wins is over after an efficient performance from Dynamo Kiev earned the Ukrainian side a second successive draw in the other game in Group G.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW:
[Tuesday 30 Sept] - [Wednesday 2 Oct]