Tuesday 9 December 2008

CL - MD6: Tuesday Review

Roma 2-0 BordeauxRoma defeated Bordeaux 2-0 to reach the Last 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League, topping their group ahead of Chelsea while, an already-qualified Inter lost their second consecutive game to finish runners-up, behind Panathinaikos.

ROMA 2-0 BORDEAUX
Roma topped Group A after comfortably defeating Bordeaux 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Second half goals from Matteo Brighi and captain Francesco Totti were enough to send Luciano Spalletti's men into the knockout stages for a third successive season and consign French outfit to the UEFA Cup. After a scrappy beginning the home side dominated proceedings and went ahead through Brighi just after the hour mark. Needing all three points to progress, an ultra-conservative Bordeaux only really threatened at the start of the second half and their hopes faded when Totti added the second eleven minutes from time.


In the other game, Didier Drogba made a scoring return to ease Chelsea's nerves and carry them to a narrow 2-1 victory against CFR Cluj. Drogba struck seven minutes after coming off the bench after Yssouf Kone had silenced the home crowd with a headed equaliser to cancel out Salomon Kalou's opener five minutes before the break.

Werder Bremen 2-1 InterWERDER BREMEN 2-1 INTER
Werder Bremen ended their Champions League campaign with a bang as second-half goals from Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg earned the German side the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup, leaving Inter to settle for second in Group B. The hosts were the better, busier side throughout and finally broke through after 63 minutes, Julio Cesar for once unable to rescue Inter as he failed to hold on to Mesut Ozil's shot and Pizarro beat Maxwell to the rebound. The lively Ozil was again the provider nine minutes from the end when his cross was turned in by Rosenborg and though there was still time for Rosenborg's Swedish international team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull one back, Bremen had their reward while Jose Mourhino's sede go down to a secodn consecutive defeat.

Panathinaikos clinched top spot in the group and a place in knockout stage for the first time in seven years, bringing Anorthosis Famagusta's remarkable European campaign to an end. A second-half strike from Giorgos Karagounis was enough to seal a remarkable turnaround for the Greek side who advanced to the last 16 as Group B winners despite losing their first two games.

TUESDAY'S OTHER MATCHES
Shakhtar Donetsk secured a UEFA Cup spot as they took full advantage of an inexperienced Barcelona side to earn a memorable 3-2 success in Spain. Two goals from Olexandr Gladkiy and Fernandinho's third were enough to trump efforts from Sylvinho and Sergio Busquets.

Barca had already won Group C ahead of Sporting Lisbon who will head into the first knockout round in positive mood after they rounded off their campaign with a 1-0 victory at FC Basel. Yannick Djalo's goal means Sporting finish just a point behind the Spanish club.

Goals by Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David N'Gog took Liverpool comfortably into the Champions League first knockout round as the winners of Group D and left PSV Eindhoven languishing at the bottom of the table with only three points.

Marseille will take their place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 next year after securing a goalless draw with Atletico Madrid, a result that suited the visitors far less as they were forced to accept second spot in Group D.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW:
[Tuesday 9 Dec] - [Wednesday 10 Dec]

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