CL - MD4: Tuesday Review

A Christian Panucci goal and Mirko Vucinic's brace gave Roma a stunning 3-1 win over Chelsea on Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League while, Julio Cruz saved Inter from an embarrassing defeat at Anorthosis Famagusta.

ROMA 3-1 CHELSEA
Roma shrugged off their troubles in emphatic style, defeating ten-man Chelsea 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico to reinvigorate their hopes of reaching the knockout stages from Group A. A first-half goal from former Chelsea player Christian Panucci and two stunning Mirko Vucinic strikes gave the Roman giants a deserved three points to lift them within a point of the visitors at the top of the section. Chelsea found a consolation goal through John Terry before an increasingly frustrating performance was completed by Deco's late dismissal.

Bordeaux defeated Cluj for the second time in as many matches to put themselves right back in contention in the other game. Yoann Gourcuff, on loan from AC Milan, put Bordeaux ahead after just six minutes and though Dani swiftly equalised, Wendel's 38th-minute free-kick proved enough for victory.

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA 3-3 INTER
Julio Cruz denied Anorthosis Famagusta a shock victory against Inter with a late goal in Cyprus on a night when the Serie A champions flirted with disaster. The Group B game looked to be going with the form book as Mario Balotelli gave Inter an early lead, although a Nicolas Burdisso slip allowed Cedric Bardon to level. Marco Materazzi put Inter ahead again, but Georgios Panagi scored more by luck than judgement to equalise again before half-time and Nikolaos Frousos's goal five minutes into the second half seemed to have given Anorthosis a memorable victory. Cruz equalised with ten minutes remaining, however, and Inter had chances to win it in the closing minute although they nevertheless remain three points clear of Anorthosis at the top of the pool.

Goals from Giorgos Karagounis, Vangelis Mantzios and Alexandros Tziolis revived Panathinaikos's Group B aspirations and put a serious dent in those of Werder Bremen in Germany with a shock 3-0 win.

TUESDAY'S OTHER MATCHES
A late equaliser from Eren Derdiyok earned Basel an unexpected point at Barcelona, although the result was nevertheless enough for the Spanish side to confirm their progress from Group C to the knockout stages. The visitors produced a determined defensive effort and were only breached in the 62nd minute by a trademark goal from substitute Lionel Messi. Basel replacement Derdiyok levelled with a superb volley eight minutes from time.

In the other game, substitute Derlei scored four minutes after his introduction to secure victory for Sporting Lisbon against Shakhtar Donetsk and take the Portuguese side into the knockout stages for the first time.

A controversial Steven Gerrard penalty five minutes into added time earned Liverpool a share of the Group D spoils, denying Atletico Madrid a famous victory. The Spanish side looked to have sealed progress to the knockout stages as they led through Maxi Rodríguez's 37th-minute opener.

Marseille overcame fellow Group D strugglers PSV Eindhoven 3-0 at the Stade Velodrome. The French giants opened the scoring through Bakari Kone, before Mamadou Niang and Hatem Ben Arfa secured the win.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW:
[Tuesday 4 Nov] - [Wednesday 5 Nov]