Les Girondins have taken control of Group A from Die Roten in a remarkable encounter in France. Hans-Joerg Butt saved two penalties as Bayern ended with nine men as Thomas Mueller and Daniel Van Buyten were both dismissed.

Girondins de Bordeaux took a meaningful step towards the knockout stages of the Champions League by securing a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich.

Laurent Blanc’s side had a nightmare start, with Michael Ciani putting the ball through his own net on Bayern’s first foray forward. However, the centre-back, who scored the winning goal against Maccabi Haifa three weeks ago, would produce a sublime near-post flick to level matters. A rash challenge from Thomas Mueller saw him pick up a second yellow card with only half an hour gone and Bordeaux took advantage before the break as Marc Planus became the local hero with a somewhat fortuitous strike.

Penalties were the talk of the second half, as les Girondins would miss two as their dominance continued. Hans-Joerg Butt would twice save, once from Yoann Gourcuff and once from Jussie, but it didn’t matter in the end.

Despite falling behind, there could be little doubt that the opening 45 minutes belonged to les Girondins, who bounced back an early one goal deficit to dominate their German visitors.

The French champions did their best to give themselves a mountain to climb in the early moments of the fixture. After a relatively inert start to the game, a dangerous corner into the box from Holger Badstuber was missed by the home defence at the near post but not by Ciani in the centre. Unfortunately for the home side, the big defender slashed at the ball, slicing it into the top corner of his own net.

Undeterred by this seemingly giant early set-back, Bordeaux, as they have so often done in their domestic league over the past 12 months, went about the business of heaving themselves back into the match with patience and effectiveness. Bayern were vigilant defensively, but their tendency to give free kicks away would come back to haunt them.

An astute pass from Yoann Gourcuff through to Marouane Chamakh nearly succeeded in releasing the Moroccan forward, but the ball had just a little too much juice on it, taking the striker wide and forcing him to flash a shot wide on his weaker left-foot.

Actual efforts on Hans-Joerg Butt’s goal were infrequent. Set pieces were proving to be the main source of joy for the hosts, with a powerful effort from Wendel skimming off the turf as it moved about horribly, forcing Butt into an uncomfortable save.

Otherwise the Bavarians’ No. 1 had not been tested by the time Bordeaux drew level on 26 minutes. Another set-play was whipped towards goal, but Benoit Tremoulinas, who was vibrant in his left-back berth, saw his shot clipped wide by the wall. This proved a temporary reprieve for the guests as the corner kick, which initially looked a poor one, was brilliantly back-heeled into the Bayern Munich net by Ciani, who superbly atoned for his earlier error in a Zole-esque fashion.

Buoyant, Bordeaux received a further boost only a matter of minutes later. Young Munich star Thomas Mueller displayed his naivety when he lunged in on Matthieu Chalme after having earlier been booked. Catching the right-back full on the Achilles tendon, his red card was wholly predictable.

This only increased Bordeaux’s sense of offensive urgency, with Wendel finding himself free in the box to head a Jaroslav Plasil centre over the top. Gourcuff, who had a quiet first half, then sent a searing 30-yard drive towards the roof of the Bayern net, but Butt made a very smart touch over the bar.

Bayern were hanging on, but the Bundesliga side were punished after conceding another cheap free kick. If Ciani’s goal had been entirely down to skill, les Girondins’ second was due in part to a good slice of luck as Planus got a toe to Hamit Altintop’s clearance and appeared unsure where the ball was until it looped into the top corner of the net.

It could have been worse for Bayern had Badstuber not pinched the ball off Plasil’s toe as the Czech homed in on goal 30-yards out. Had the youngster got his tackle wrong, he would likely have joined Mueller in the dressing room early as he was cautioned earlier in the evening.

Patience was the watchword for Blanc’s men in the early stages of the second half. They bounced possession comfortably about their back but didn’t ever penetrate an organised the organised German rearguard. Meanwhile, Bayern provided a few positive flurries into the Bordeaux box, which caused the home defence some panic. Cedric Carrasso’s goal remained intact as Luca Toni prodded just wide with his knee and then Marc Planus produced a telling block on Miroslav Klose.

Bordeaux were still mastering the game and were gifted a golden chance to seal the match as Butt’s attempt to dribble Chamakh in the box failed. Startled, the goalkeeper produced a rash slide tackle on the Moroccan, conceding a penalty kick. Gourcuff, like Mueller before him, displayed his immaturity by cheekily dinking a penalty, which Butt saved. The young playmaker then smashed his follow-up wide.

Although Wendel nearly delivered a perfect ball to Chamakh, the African could not quite toe the ball into the Bayern net, and Bayern nearly punished the French side’s profligacy. Daniel Van Buyten’s deep centre from the right was misjudged by Carrasso, though Toni could only hit the post when he should really have finished.

Changes were made, but still the pattern of the game stayed the same, with Bayern attempting to catch their hosts on the break. The red-clad home side still found chances in open play hard to come by, though a slack back-pass from Badstuber gave Chamakh a sniff, which was snuffed out by Butt. 

One player who was a livewire over the course of the 90 minutes was left-back Benoit Tremoulinas, who surged through a pack of defenders and sent a fizzing low drive at net, which was turned away by Butt.

Chamakh was a nuisance, though his contribution was limited in front of goal but his tenacity saw him wrestle his way past Van Buyten at the edge of the box. Desperate to claim the ball, the Belgian hauled the striker down, conceding a penalty and earning a red card in the process. Despite being down to nine men, Butt again saved from the spot – this time from Jussie.

The penalty saves provided an unbelievably tense conclusion but Bordeaux did just enough, going top of Group A after three points. They now boast seven points, four more than Bayern, who fall to third as Juventus won in Haifa, taking the Old Lady to five points.

Goal

The Porto forward scored a goal in each half to give the home side a valuable win.

Hulk was the hero for Porto as he scored twice to see his team come from behind despite being reduced to ten men midway through the second half of this Champions League encounter.

The win takes the Portuguese giants to within touching distance of a place in the next phase of the competition as they moved onto six points, while APOEL remain with just one point along with Atletico Madrid.

In Jesualdo Ferreira’s 100th game in charge of the home team, he will be pleased with the spirit and determination that his side showed in what proved to be a hard-fought encounter that became even more difficult after Mariano Gonzalez was dismissed.

Having beaten Atletico Madrid in their previous home encounter Porto were confident of picking up further points against APOEL in order to remain tucked in behind Chelsea in Group D.

A bright start would have encouraged Ferreira but after Hulk and Meireles tested the keeper it appeared that Dionisios Chiotis would be the first to be beaten in the visitors goal.

It was not to be though as APOEL stunned their hosts by taking the lead in the 22nd minute when Alvaro Pereira helped the ball over his own line while trying to stop Konstantinos Charalambidis from meeting Chrysostomos Michail’s cross.

Port were forced to regroup and it took just 11 minutes for them to equalise as Hulk latched onto a neat slide pass from Falcao before hammering the ball into the far corner of the net.

APOEL have given the ball away cheaply in their own half for the goal and looked shaken leading up to the half-time whistle and even the break did nothing to calm their nerves.

With three minutes of the restart Porto had been given a penalty after the referee adjudged Chrysis Michael had handled the ball in the area and Hulk showed little compassion as he slotted in his second from 12 yards out.

Moments later Falcao could have made it three as Porto continued their pressure allowing APOEL only brief forays up field to try and find space to test Helton.

In what could have been a turning point, Mariano Gonzalez saw red for stupidly swiping out at Satsias and left his team with quarter of an hour playing with one player less.

Apart from a weak free-kick though their goal was rarely threatened and Porto were able to hold on and claim three vital points.

Goal

Real Madrid went down to AC Milan in the Champions League group stage at the Bernabeu to leave the two clubs level on 6 points in Group C; a brace from Alexandre Pato and a stunning Andrea Pirlo strike were enough to sink the hosts, who registered goals through Raul and Royston Drenthe. 

Dida’s interventions on 19 minutes gifted the Blancos’ captain a 66th goal in the competition before Milan restored parity though Pirlo’s wonderful effort just after the hour. 

A defensive calamity, a combination of awfulness between Pepe, Raul Albiol and Iker Casillas, allowed a Massimo Ambrosini through-ball to run through to Pato a moment later; the Brazilian could not believe his luck and stroked the ball home with minimal fuss. 

Drenthe smashed a leveller with just over 10 minutes to play and Raul saw an offside effort chalked off before Thiago Silva thought he won it for the visitors. 

His compatriot, Pato, did in the 87th minute from Seedorf’s through pass as the Madrid defensive line was typically shoddy.

There wasn’t a lot to choose between the sides in the opening stages as Milan set their stall out effectively to prevent the hosts from cutting through them. 

Indeed, the visiting side found an outlet for their attacking play on the flanks early on, from where the clever running of Pato and the accurate deliveries of Clarence Seedorf put Madrid on the back foot. However, they could not forced the bearded figure of Iker Casillas into employment. 

Indeed, it was the hosts who showed more conviction in their offence and the trio of Kaka, Raul and Karim Benzema combined for the first chance of the evening, which was blocked by the ever capable Nesta on four minutes. 

Sergio Ramos then offered a cross to Esteban Granero, who could find only the buttery palms of Dida. Manuel Pellegrini’s side had a steadier base from which to work in midfield, with the efficient Lassana Diarra using the ball well throughout and should have had a penalty on 12 minutes when the ponderous Gianluca Zambrotta ploughed into Benzema from behind; inexplicably, the referee saw nothing untoward and gave a goal-kick. 

Madrid did not have to wait long for their opener though, as Dida’s nightmare soon followed. After saving a tame Granero effort, the ‘keeper bounced the ball off his own knee and into the path of the ever conscious Raul, who netted from a tight angle. 

Benzema almost added a second for the iconic number 7 a short time later, but the striker’s effort was narrowly off the frame of the goal. 

Madrid pressed; Lass’ cross-come-shot almost caught Dida unaware ten minutes before the break before Marcelo rounded off the first half’s action with a teasing run and a powerful drive that forced a save. 

In between, Pato managed to slip Marcelo again to provide for the peripheral Ronaldinho, who could only find the posterior of Ramos with his goal-bound strike.

The hosts continued their dominance of the shooting statistics after the break but could not add to their lead; Raul had a chance from Granero’s breakaway but could not trouble Dida. 

Kaka jinked past Massimo Oddo and slammed a shot on target but the ‘keeper redeemed himself with a fine stop. 

He was also equal to the efforts of Benzema moments later as Real went for the jugular. Their skipper’s chipped finish, from a Casillas clearance, was then weak before the half was sprung to life from the boot of Pirlo. 

The hosts were made to pay for their profligacy just after the hour when the Milan midfielder hit the Bernabeu with a 35-yard sucker punch; he struck the sweetest of efforts inside Casillas’ near post to leave the Spanish capital aghast. 

Gianluca Zambrotta, as Madrid reeled, tried similar moments later but his shot fizzed wide. But Leonardo’s team were about to turn the encounter on its head.

What followed, only seconds after, was a gift to hand the initiative to the guests. Ambrosini’s speculative punt split Albiol and Pepe and Casillas raced from his goal. He could not get near Pato as the forward rounded him with ease to slot home. The touchpaper had well and truly been lit and the Merengues again had defensive questions to answer. 

With 14 minutes to play, they had their equaliser though. Raul’s short corner found Royston Drenthe at the edge of the box and the erstwhile boo-boy elicited cheers with a well-struck shot which beat Dida all ends up. 

Madrid thought they won it as the game moved towards its giddy conclusion; Kaka’s shot rebounded to Raul, whose effort barely made it over the line before being ruled illegitimate. 

Milan were up in arms moments later when a seemingly valid Thiago Silva header was struck off for a non-existent foul as he beat Casillas and two others at the near post. What followed was fisticuffs and a booking for the pugnacious Raul. 

The sting in the tail for Pellegrini came in the 87th minute; Pato was at least 10 yards from his marker, Marcelo, when Seedorf’s pass was clipped across the area. He made use of his his calm surroundings and held his nerve to pass the ball home right-footed on Casillas’ near post. 

Goal

German champions held at home in a dull encounter notable for a slap from a frustrated Brazilian.

After Manchester United’s earlier win in Moscow VfL Wolfsburg and Besiktas came into the game knowing a win could put them in prime position for the coveted second spot in Group B. 

It was the home side who motored into early action in the Volkswagen Arena with prolific marksman Edin Dzekolooking particularly lively up front for the German champions.

The lanky Bosnian was a persistent threat in the opening 45 minutes and was the recipient of several fine crosses from Marcel Schafer making forays down the left hand channel.

Dzeko should have put Die Wolfe ahead in the ninth minute when he latched onto one such cross but although he was unmarked he blazed his header over the bar. 

In the battle of the Brazilian strikers, Grafite for VfL and Bobo for Besiktas, it was the latter who looked the more imposing in the first half. 
Bobo stood out for the Turks and went close on the half hour mark after a neat flick put him one one one with Benaglio only for the Swiss keeper to block bravely at his feet to keep the scores level. 

Graifte on the other hand had an uneventful first half, a far cry from his hat-trick againstCSKA on match-day one, and he was kept quiet by a compact Besiktas defence. 

For the Turks, Rustu Recber, was his usual unpredictable self. Now minus the face paint, the former Barcelona stopper made some excellent saves to compliment his urge for rushing out of goal for no apparent reason. 

The colourful keeper was in the thick of things in the early stages of the second half and went walkabout to allow in Christian Gentner who missed the target with the goal at his mercy. 

Moments later Dzeko had a golden opportunity to put the hosts ahead when he skipped into the edge of the box and with the goal at his mercy he was denied by a last ditch tackle by the impressive Matteo Ferrari and his shot ricocheted off the post. 

Experienced playmaker Nihat showed his range of passing for Besiktas during the second 45 and attempted to link up with Bobo but the Brazilian was starved of support up front and couldn’t take advantage of his team-mate’s accurate balls. 

With the match seemingly slipping towards a dull conclusion in the final quarter it was left to Grafite to liven things up. 

However he chose to do it with his arm instead of his feet and ended up seeing red for a frankly ridiculous piece of petulance. 

Having endured a miserable evening the powerful Brazilian forward lashed out at IbrahimKas as they jostled in the box expecting a corner. 

With a flick of his arm he slapped the defender in the face and Roberto Rosetti reached for his top pocket to send the forward off for an early bath. 

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh didn’t look too impressed as he was forced to shuffle things which ensured substitute Obafemi Martins would be forced to remain on the bench instead of trying to break his Champions League duck. 

Despite having a man advantage the visitors seemed content to settle for a point and despite introducing forward Mert Nobre for Bobo they lacked the ambition to really go after the three points. 

Nobre though was almost the hero right at the death when he found some space inside the box but he hacked his effort over the bar and he was subsequently adjudged to be in an offside position. 

The game fizzled out with VfL frustrated not to capitalise on the early superiority and with some serious questions to be asked of a hot headed Grafite.

Goal

Chelsea made it three wins out of three in Group D, with a comfortable win over disappointing Spaniards Atletico Madrid.

It was Salomon Kalou who was the Chelsea hero with two goals either side of the break, plus a first goal in ten matches for Frank Lampard and an Atletico own goal, that erased some of the woe from Saturday’s defeat at Villa Park and sees Chelsea top of their group, with one foot firmly in the next round.

Chelsea made four changes from the side that lost to Aston Villa at the weekend, with Branislav Ivanovic, Juliano Belletti, Michael Ballack and Kalou coming in – Ricardo Carvalho, Florent Malouda, the injured Jose Bosingwa and the suspended Didier Drogba making way.

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan returned to the Atletico Madrid side after being rested for the 3-0 loss against Osasuna. Raul Garcia started his first game since the opening day of the season, while Jose Antonio Reyes, formerly of Arsenal, and Florent Sinama-Pongolle – once of Liverpool and Blackburn – were on the bench.

Both teams were looking forward to the break from domestic concerns and it was Chelsea who almost opened the scoring immediately. Juliano Belletti’s cross-cum-shot flashed across the penalty area, before Sergio Asenjo could gather. Atletico Madrid  quickly replied with a header from Forlan that forced Petr Cech into a save and Aguero then shot wide despite appearing to be offside, in what was a bright opening exchange.

On twelve minutes Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net. Frank Lampard’s floating free kick was misjudged by Asenjo and sailed into the net, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside against Kalou. Kalou then had a golden chance to put Chelsea ahead but somehow he could only drag his shot wide of the left-hand post after a neat move involving Michael Essien and Ballack.

The Ivorian went close again just after the half hour, when a mix-up just outside the box saw Kalou in space in the edge of the area but his deflected shot was well saved by Asenjo. From the resulting corner John Terry rose highest but couldn’t find the target and Kalou once again failed to help it on its way.

Five minutes before half-time, Kalou finally got his name on the score-sheet. Lampard fed Ashley Cole via a Belletti dummy on the left flank, and the England left-back’s ball across the six-yard box was slammed into the roof of the net by the persistent Kalou.

Chelsea started the second period just as they had finished the first and doubled their lead within five minutes of the restart. Nicolas Anelka had already had a stinging shot saved by Asenjo, before another Chelsea corner was floated in by Lampard and Kalouwas on hand to head the ball downwards and into the net for his second of the game.

Aguero could have got Atletico back in it straight away but his delayed shot was too easy for Cech and from then on the visitors never looked like threatening and Chelsea wrapped up the game with 20 minutes to go. Essien played a neat one-two with Lampard on the edge of the box and the England man let fly with a shot from 20 yards that flew past Asenjo into the bottom corner. It was Lampard’s first goal since his strike against Sunderland on August 18.

A minute before the end Chelsea added the fourth, when substitute Florent Malouda’s free-kick was headed into his own net by Colombian Luis Perea, summing up a disappointing night for the Spanish side.

Another three points for Chelsea and another clean sheet, their passage to the knock-out stages is almost assured.

Goal

Valencia’s late goal maintains Red devil’s perfect start.

An Antonio Valencia halfvolley five minutes from time was enough to secure a 1-0 victory for Mancester United at CSKA Moscow as they returned to the scene of their Champions League triumph back in 2008.

Nemanja Vidic looked shaky during the early stages of the match, and on five minutes his Sloppy play in the middle of United’s half presented Milos Krasic with an opportunity to attack.  The midfielder proceeded by dummying Rio Ferdinand, but unfortunately for CSKA his struck effort from the edge of the box lofted shot wildly over van der Sar’s goal.

Igor Akinfeev, relatively untroubled thus far in the half, demonstrated a moment of uncertainty on the quarter-hour mark as the Russian goalkeeper flapped unimpressively a deep cross from Fabio Da Silva.

Brazilian midfielder Anderson, under much scrutiny so far this season attempted to impress his manager a fans with a free kick on 25 minutes, but his tame effort made easy picking for Akinfeev.   

Moments later, veteran Paul Scholes hit a far more impressive effort.  Incorporating the much talked-about artificial surface, Scholes hit a strike from around thirty yards which bounced awkwardly in front of Akinfeev, and the goalkeeper could only parry away nervously.  

On the half hour mark, Berezutsky whipped in a cross towards Necid; but the forwards headed attempt was tentative, and van der Sar was able to gather the ball effortlessly. 

The best effort of the half surfaced on 38 minutes, but via the most unlikely of sources.  Latching onto a Berbatov knock-back after good initial work from Nani down the left flank, United captain Gary Neville hit a curled effort with his weaker left foot, which flew tantalisingly over with Akinfeev grounded.  

The first half petered out during the final ten minutes with neither side willing to commit too many players forward, and subsequently the half ended goalless.

With the start of the second half, it was apparent that an increased emphasis and willingness to attack had entered the match, with both sides looking to test their opposing goalkeepers.  

United started brightly, dominating the play from the restart.  Nani continued to impress down the left wing, and fired in a delightful cross into the box, only to find that there was no-one in Red at the attacking back post.

Rio Ferdinand continued his stuttering start to the season, losing the ball with a misplaced pass which Necid intercepted.  The striker opted to hit his strike early, but it was a tame effort that drifted wide of van der Sar’s left post.

With ten minutes played in the second half, the match looked to erupt into life, as two key decisions were made in quick succession.  When Berbatov broke into the CSKA box, before going down under pressure, the movements of referee initially indicated that he was about to award United a penalty; but proceeded to book the Bulgarian for simulation. 

Moments later, Moscow had the ball in the net, only for the referee to disallow Dzagoev’s goal for offside to relief of Fabio.  The young Brazilian gave the ball away to Necid, who found Dzagoev in space, but the midfielder was offside when he applied his finish. 

Ferdinand was spared further discomfort when he was removed on 56 minutes and replaced by Wes Brown, with Sir Alex Ferguson no doubt preserving the England centre for the weekends match with Liverpool.

A great save from Akinfeev denied United the opener on 59 minutes, as the away side continued to dominate possession.  A superb delivery from Neville picked-out Nani in the box, and the Portuguese winger latched onto to it majestically with a diving header, only for Akinfeev to pull off a world class save, tipping the ball wide at full stretch.

Sir Alex Ferguson looked to capitalise on his sides domination of play, and brought on Michael Owen for the final twenty minutes of the half.  The striker missed a glorious chance to put United a goal up on 75 minutes, after great work by Valencia.  Finding space inside CSKA’s box, Owen had a golden chance from six yards but failed to make contact with the ball to the dismay of the travelling support.

Valencia almost rewarded United with the lead they deserved when on 81 minutes the lightning quick wizard rattled Akinfeev’s crossbar after a great one-two with Nani.

However, the Ecuadorian was not to be denied for a second time.  After more good wing wizardry from Nani, Berbatov’s knocked the ball down to the explosive midfielder, andAntonio Valencia out-paced his marker to fire a half volley past the impressive Igor Akinfeev with less than five minutes remaining on the clock.

United looked to seal the game in the final moments but to no avail. Nevertheless Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted with his sides performance this evening, and more importantly the victory.

Goal

Marseille remained in the hunt to progress to the Champions League group stage as they picked up their first points of the competition this campaign thanks to Gabriel Heinze’s right-footed volley in what was a sloppy encounter against FC Zurich.

The visitors had the ball in the back of the net as early as the third minute when Cheyrou’s freekick from 20 yards out was spilled by Leoni and Brandao bundled the rebound over the line, but the whistle had already gone after two players were adjudged to have been offside when the delivery came in.

The French side continued to dominate possession but their inability to find the killer ball in the final third meant that the Zurich goal was rarely threatened. The hosts gradually got into the game and after 22 minutes, they had their first look-in at the Marseille goal but Gajic’s left-footed drive flew well wide of Mandanda’s right post.

Cheyrou tried his luck again from distance just before the half hour mark after the Swiss side made a hash of a simple clearance, but the OM midfielder could only drag his shot wide.

Neither team were able to string any more than three meaningful passes together before giving the ball away. The lack of clear-cut chances infront of goal was evident and the frustration showed when Okonkwo rifled in a shot from all of 30 yards out which flew horribly high and wide. Lucho was next to hammer an off-target shot towards goal and moments later, Hilton came close for Marseille when he rose high to meet Valbuena’s flick on but he sent his header over the bar from six yard out.

The best chance, however, arrived three minutes before the break when Niang did all the hard work to beat his man out on the right before drilling in a cross for Brandoa, who sidefooted the ball goal-bound from point-blank range but Leoni pulled off a superb one-handed reflex save to keep it out.

Zurich came out firing in the second half and just a minute into the restart, Volanthen arrowed in a curling right foot shot on the edge of the box which Mandanda did brilliantly to palm it over the bar.

Straight to the other end, Brandao pounced on a loose ball, galloped forward and fired in a low cross-cum-shot but it was too heavy for Niang to connect with as it flashed marginally wide.

Despite the bright start to the second period, the game quickly went back into a lull as clear-cut openings dried up and both teams started to look sloppy again. But out of the blue, the deadlock was broken on 68 minutes. Lucho hooked in a deep cross from the right and an unmarked Gabriel Heinze side-footed a clinical volley at the far post past Leoni.

Zurich nearly equalise immediately when Gajic’s freekick from a long way out caught Mandanda off-guard and the shot-stopper had to push the ball away on the bounce while Aegerter flashed infront of him and missed a header by inches.

Mandanda had to show a safe pair of hands towards the tail-end of the game as the Swiss side bombarded his goal with countless crosses and high balls. Tihinen did beat him in the air in the 85th minute but the captain sent his header wide.

Bernard Challandes’ men ended the game strongly as they dominated their opponents but Didier Deschamps’ side held on for their first win and their first points of this season’s Champions League, eventhough Bonnart was sent off late in the game.

Goal

The Bianconeri ended their poor run of form.

Juventus earned their first win of the 2009/10 Champions League season with a 1-0 victory over ten-man Maccabi Haifa in Turin.

Giorgio Chiellini scored the only goal of the game with a close-range header on 46 minutes, but Juve will have goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to thank for the win after he produced a couple of world class saves, one of them miraculous.

The Bianconeri came into this clash on a terrible run of five games without a win in all competitions, and were locked in third place in Group A, two points above the point-less Greens.

Juve coach Ciro Ferrara unleashed Sebastian Giovinco and Diego from the start for the time this season as the pint-sized duo supported lone striker David Trezeguet. Hasan Salihamidizc, Alex Del Piero and Claudio Marchisio were all out injured.

Maccabi Haifa were minus the services of young teenage talent Eyal Golasa, as well as Biram Kayal (suspended), captain Yaniv Katan, and Amir Edri.

The visitors were desperately close to taking the lead in the first minute as Vladimir Dvalishvili was all alone six yards out, but Gianluigi Buffon produced a miracle save to claw the ball out.

There was controversy on seven minutes as Trezeguet was dragged back as he ran through on goal, but the referee awarded a free kick and not a penalty. Nir Davidovitch palmed away Fabio Grosso’s set-piece.

Juventus started to take control and Trezeguet flicked the ball inches wide on 19 minutes from Grosso’s cross. Momo Sissoko then lashed off-target after good Giovinco work.

Just past the hour mark Juve received a blow as Jonathan Zebina pulled up with an injury, and had to be replaced by Martin Caceres.

Sissoko rose above his man from a free kick and headed wide, while the referee turned away penalty appeals for handball when Grosso’s shot cannoned off Teixeira from close range.

Diego whipped a free kick past the post, as the sides went in at the break level.

Maccabi Haifa made two changes at half time as Mohammad Ghadir and Yisrael Zaguri replaced Shlomi Arbeitman and Tsepo Masilela respectively.

Juventus broke the deadlock one minute into the second half as Diego’s free kick from the left found Giorgio Chiellini at the back post, and the centre back couldn’t miss as he nodded home.

Giovinco saw a goalbound shot blocked, while Diego attempted an audacious chip from 25 yards that was not too far over.

On 54 minutes Giovinco and Diego combined superbly to release Grosso, and the left back’s cross located Trezeguet at the back post who saw his low shot kicked away by Davidovitch. The goalkeeper then made another save from Giovinco.

Maccabi made their final change as Dutra entered the fray, and the Brazilian’s first act was a horrific tackle that went unpunished on Felipe Melo. The Juve man was forced off injured, and had to be replaced by Christian Poulsen.

Dutra, having escaped what should have been a straight red card, was finally shown his marching orders on 68 minutes for a leg-breaking studs-up on Chiellini. The defender managed to continue after treatment.

Maccabi had barely threatened in the second half, but on 81 minutes Juve had a scare as Buffon beat away a Dvalishvili effort.

Camoranesi nearly closed the game as he toe-poked the ball against the post. Davidovitch also saved well from a Giovinco free-kick.

However, Maccabi missed a golden chance to equalise deep into injury time as Ghadir found himself one-on-one with Buffon, but the Italian produced a brilliant save.

With this victory Juventus move onto five points in Group A, while Maccabi Haifa remain rock bottom with no points. The teams meet again in Israel on November 3.

Goal

Sevilla taught Stuttgart the value of taking one’s chances as a Sebastien Squillaci double and a Jesus Navas strike saw the Spanish outfit oust their German opponents.

It was the hosts that started the brighter with Julian Schieber and Cacau looking threatening up front and the Schwaben had the ball in the net when Zdravko Kuzmanovic scored from outside the box but an offside Schieber had interferred with Varas’ view and the goal was disallowed.

Then Sevilla began to show their class with some slick passing and fluid movement and Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas began to shine. 

Although the Germans were probably still on top in the early stages Squaillaci popped up to head home from Adriano’s cross after a quick short corner after just 23 minutes.

The goal was against the run of play and heads could have dropped for the struggling Bundesliga side but Markus Babbel’s men continued to play some good football and Aliaksandr Hleb fired an effort from distance before Kuzmanovic and Schieber kept a shaky Javi Varas busy.

The visitors began to find their rhythm as the half drew to a close and despite the withdrawal of Brazilian hitman Luis Fabiano at the interval, they started the second half with real intent and were two goals to the good ten minutes in when Navas tapped home after Jens Lehmann parried substitute Diego Perotti’s cross straight into his path.

Frederic Kanoute should have put the tie beyond all doubt midway through the second half but failed to take advantage after beating the Stuttgart offside trap.

Babbel made a treble substitution in an effort to get his side back into the tie and a goal soon came, but it was at the wrong end as Sevilla struck for a third. Squillaci claimed his second goal of the game and ensured all three points for the visitors as he nodded home from a Ivica Dragutinovic cross.

Then Stuttgart found a goal just a minute later, Elson, who was on for Hleb fired a fantastic effort from at least 30 yards which Varas had no chance of stopping. The Brazilian could have added a second minutes later but his spectacular overhead effort went well wide.

Sevilla seemed happy to sit back in the final quarter hour and the Germans were glad to continue to press forward. Schieber should have scored after a latching onto a sloppy pass from Navas but he hit the side netting and Serdar Tasci smashed a volley against Varas’ crossbar in stoppage time but they failed to get a second.

Stuttgart can feel hard done by as the had produced the better football over the ninety minutes, dominating possession and creating the better chances but Manolo Jimenez’s men did what the home side failed to do, taking their chances clinically and defending admirably to maintain their 100 per cent start to their Champions League campaign.

Goal

Reds’ Champions League future hangs in balance.

A stoppage time goal from Cesar Delgado condemned Liverpool to their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions as they were beaten 2-1 by Lyon at Anfield.

A Yossi Benayoun goal had given the home side the lead, but a second half equaliser from Maxime Gonalonssaw the Reds pegged back.

Manager Rafael Benitez’s woes were further compounded by the loss of Steven Gerrard, who pulled up with an injury during the first half.

Liverpool had the ball in the net after 15 minutes through Dirk Kuyt, as he nodded home Steven Gerrard’s curled delivery, but the Dutchman was adjudged to have pushed Jeremy Toulalan as he tussled for space.

The Reds had looked to put their recent poor results behind them even earlier on, as Gerrard received a pass from Yossi Benayoun, but saw his side-footed effort deflected wide for a corner.

It took just 25 minutes for Gerrard to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio though, as the midfielder, responsible for so much of what makes Liverpool tick, was substituted due to what appeared to be a recurrence of his recent groin trouble.

It was almost another nightmare start for the Reds, as the lively Aly Cissokho beat debutant Martin Kelly and crossed for Lisandro Lopez, whose header was kept out at point-blank range by Pepe Reina’s frame.

The French side had also threatened from distance on a number of occasions previously, with Jeremy Toulalan and Kim Kallstrom both trying speculative efforts, the latter hitting a powerful first-time volley that flew wide of Reina’s goal.

Ten minutes before the interval, Liverpool had their best efforts of the half as Aurelio found Kuyt, who showed strength to hold off the Lyon defence but could only poke his shot at Hugo Lloris, who showed great reactions to keep out the follow-up strike from David Ngog.

The home side did take the lead before the break though when Aurelio’s low driven cross evaded most of the French club’s back line, deflected off Cris and past Kelly, and into the path of Benayoun, who calmly poked home.

The hosts suddenly seemed dominant and had two further opportunities to extend their lead, first as Aurelio met Kelly’s inch-perfect cross and forced Lloris into an exceptional block, which led to a corner that Ngog could only head over the crossbar.

Lyon made it to half-time just a solitary goal down, despite some immense pressure in the closing stages resulting in Aurelio drilling a half volley wide of the target.

The visitors emerged for the second half in search of a response and could have had it twice in the first five minutes, but Jean Makoun made a meal of a headed chance and failed to trouble Reina, before the ball fell to Anthony Reveilliere who blasted over from inside the penalty area.

It didn’t take long for Liverpool to spring back to life though, as Ngog had an excellent chance to extend their lead after controlling the ball on his chest, but made a meal of his left-footed strike that trickled tamely wide.

With half an hour remaining, Benitez’s men again could have gone further ahead as Kuyt towered above all comers and headed low, with Lloris keeping him at bay with a fine save to tip the ball around his right hand post.

Despite Liverpool’s overall control over the game, Lyon looked capable of equalising and hearts were in mouths at the Kop End when Kelly nearly headed into his own goal as he defended a dangerous free-kick.

The pressure on the Reds’ back four had been minimal, but it told with just over 15 minutes remaining as Reina flapped at a corner, recovered to make two fantastic saves from Toulalan and Sydney Govou, but could do nothing as defender Gonalons headed the rebound beyond the Spaniard.

The goal not only pegged Liverpool back but also saw them forced into a change, as Kelly was injured in the melee and, as a result, replaced by Martin Skrtel, who had been dropped from the starting lineup.

The Slovakian could have scored the vital winning goal with five minutes left as Kuyt again showed dominance in the air, heading the ball into his path, but the defender lashed his effort over the bar.

Liverpool were dealt the deadly final blow as the game entered injury time, Delgadomeeting Govou’s pass across the six yard box, leaving the home crowd stunned, with Manchester United laying in wait.

Goal

Arsenal were without several big names for their first ever competitive clash against Dutch side AZ Alkmaarthis evening, Theo Walcott and Thomas Rosicky adding to manager Arsene Wenger’s already sizeable list of enforced absentees.

Gael Clichy did make a return from injury at left-back, but the returning Manuel Almunia had to make do with a place on the bench as Vito Mannone retained his place in the Arsenal goal.

Arsenal scored the first ever goal at AZ’s DSB Stadium in a 2006 friendly, but despite currently lying bottom of Group H with just a point to their name, the Dutch side have been defeated just once in 34 home competitive European games.

They looked to be heading for their second until three minutes into injury time when Mendes da Silva drew things level for AZ, in a game in which Arsenal rarely looked anything other than comfortable after a Cesc Fabregas tap-in gave them the lead thirty-six minutes in.

Arsenal’s own Dutchman Robin van Persie should have scored early on after he was given far too much time in the box having been set up by Abou Diaby, but AZ goalkeeper Sergio Romero was there to make the crucial save.

Other than van Persie’s tenth minute chance both sides struggled to stamp their authority on the game, with Arsenal far from their free flowing best and AZ seeing plenty of possession but precious little end product. Mounir El Hamdaoui was the man to finally try an effort on goal for the home side, but the striker fizzed his shot just over Manonne’s crossbar. 

Arsene Wenger’s men began to find their feet shortly after as Andrey Arshavin saw his cute chip nestle on top of the AZ net on 28 minutes, and eight minutes later Cesc Fabregas broke the deadlock for the visitors after good work by Arshavin and Van Persie left the Spaniard with the easiest of tap-ins, the AZ defence all at sea.

Arsenal continued to turn the screw after the opening goal, and only AZ goalkeeper Romero prevented the home side from going in at the break more than one down, keeping out an edge of the area effort from Fabregas and a vicious swerving shot from van Persie as the clock ticked down to half-time.

In an otherwise unremarkable first-half, Arsenal’s superiority in the final third proved the difference as both sides passed the ball well in the middle of the field in a professional, if not spectacular 45 minutes of football.

The second-half kicked off in similarly low-key fashion, a van Persie yellow card for taking out AZ’s Australian international Brett Holman in a badly-timed challenge a rare moment of bite in the first ten minutes of the half.

A van Persie free-kick brought AZ stopper Romero into action on 56 minutes, as his powerful shot whistled past the wall and on target, but the visitors seemed happy to keep the game at a relaxed tempo as AZ struggled to find a way through.

Arsenal had their first real moment of concern on 72 minutes, and it came via one of their own players. The ball appeared to cannon towards goal off of Arsenal’s Abou Diaby’s shoulder from an AZ corner, but thankfully for the Gunners grazed the top of the bar and went over.

Wenger gave striker Carlos Vela a run-out on 75 minutes in place of van Persie, but before the diminutive Mexican could make any impression on the game, AZ again worried the Arsenal defence, this time Vela’s countryman Hector Moreno narrowly failing to direct the ball on goal from inside the six-yard box after a well-worked free-kick

Vela had a strong shout for a penalty, and a chance to give the North London side some much-needed breathing space turned down minutes later, and Arshavin gave Romero more work to do late on, driving a low shot on target as Arsenal looked to see out the game on the attack.

They were made to pay the price for the missed opportunities with seconds left to play however, as AZ’s Mendes da Silva fired home from inside the area after a long free kick to snatch back a game that looked all but Arsenal’s.

Goal

Another disappointing performance in the Champions League from Jose Mourinho’s increasingly schizophrenic side.

Jose Mourinho’s side couldn’t have come into this game in better health. Not only did they notch up their most convincing win of the campaign so far with the 5-0 hammering of Genoa away from home at the weekend, but the coach was able to name an almost full strength side, Diego Milito the only absentee.

For Dynamo, veteran goalkeeper Oleksander Shovkovski failed to recover from a muscle injury and Stanislav Bogush deputised between the posts.

After the first 45 minutes, the few Inter fans that had bothered to turn up must have been thinking their Champions League failings had become a curse.

Dynamo dominated from the first whistle, they looked younger, sharper, more technical and more organised. The bearded, Diego-like Artem Milevsky signalled his intent from the start by cleverly winning a corner. Magrao swung in a fast ball right across the six yard box and Yarmolenko somehow managed to miss from two yards out. 

He needn’t have worried. A minute later, Magrao’s hit a limp looking free-kick into a shambolic looking Inter wall and the ball broke to defensive midfielder Taras Mikhalik who spun and hit a shot on the half volley to send it off the inside of the post and past Cesar into the net to give Dynamo the lead.

It took Inter a full 15 minutes to wake from their slumber and actually do something other than moaning at the English referee.

Midway through the first half, Chivu had started to bomb forward, Inter began to keep possession and the armed and dangerous Stankovic had a few shots from distance. Eto’o was starting to outpace the Ukrainian defence as well.

Then, on 34 minutes, a long ball out of defence caught Dynamo napping and the goalkeeper made it easy by coming 30 yards off his line to allow Stankovic to slide the ball home for 1-1.

But the improvements in former Eastern Bloc football is not built on a flash in the pan and ten minutes later, the visitors had the lead again when Lucio headed another violent corner into his own net.

The San Siro was grumbling quietly as the teams walked off at half-time. No-one could have any cause for complaint.

Inter emerged for the second period with David Suazo on in place of the ineffectual Muntari and a volley of abuse ringing in their ears from Jose Mourinho. The Nerazzurri were revitalised and within two minutes a stunning header from Walter Samuel drew them level.

From here on in it was all-action, end-to-end football all the way. Inter laid siege to the Kiev goal at times but Shevchenko and Milevsky always looked dangerous on the break.

On 72 minutes an air clearance from Lucio handed Shevchenko a chance to run at goal but his shot with the outside of his left foot sailed five yards wide. Inter kept battering at the door, trying to blow it off its hinges instead of lifting the latch with some creative thinking.

Once again in this competition, Inter have showed too much madness and not enough method.

With five minutes left, the excellent Zanetti burst into the box with the speed of a 25-year-old, pulled the ball back superbly for Suazo but the bit-part striker let himself down.

Then, deep into injury time, Suazo did manage to hit the ball into the back of the net only for the linesman to lift his flag skywards to signal offside. An Inter win would have been rough on the Ukrainians.

The really frightening thing for the Italian champions is not their inability to beat Dynamo on the night but the fact that they still have to go to the Ukraine and the Camp Nou.

Even Mourinho’s confidence must be waning.

Goal

The Russians came, the Russians saw and the Russians have successfully conquered the cauldron that is the Camp Nou.

Little known Rubin Kazan have created one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history when they stunned a seemingly indestructible Barcelona side 2-1 at the CampNou.

Aleksandr Ryazantsev gave the visitors an astonishing lead just two minutes into the game, but Barca’s incessant pressure paid off when they levelled through Zlatan Ibrahimovic two minutes into the second period. But Karadeniz Gokdeniz would have the last laugh when he smashed in the winning goal 15 minutes from time.

Rubin surprised mighty Inter two weeks ago when they took an early lead against the Serie A champions and the Russians went on to recreate their shock against the reigning Champions League winners.

Just 120 seconds into the contest, Aleksandr Ryazantsev pounced on a stray pass by Rafa Marquez and arrowed in a 30-yard thunderbolt past a hapless Victor Valdes.

Barca came close to an immediate equaliser two minutes later when Iniesta slipped Ibrahimovic into the box on the left channel but the Swede’s sidefooted shot was flicked away by Ryzhikov’s fingertips.

Ibra had another opening on ten minutes. Lionel Messi did all the hard work when he careened forward on the left channel, cut inside his defender and clipped the ball into the middle, but the big striker’s miscued half-volley was easily gathered by the Rubin goalkeeper.

Dani Alves was next to try his luck five minutes later when he latched onto Pedro’s long cutback but the Brazilian’s 20-yard piledriver flashed wide. Young Pedro himself had a glorious chance to restore parity on 25 minutes when he leapt above his marker to meet Dani Alves’cross, but Ryzhikov managed to palm the header away.

The half-filled Camp Nou was starting to feel anxious as their treble heroes struggled to find a breakthrough. But Pep Guardiola’s men continued to pummel the visiting goal and on 40 minutes, Messi saw his low drive tipped away by Ryzhikov.

Rubin had an opportunity to double their advantage three minutes before the break when Alejandro Dominguez curled in a lovely freekick on the edge of the box but Valdes was equal to the task.

But what the visitors did to the Blaugrana in the first half, the hosts replied the favour in the second. Two minutes into the restart, the Catalans drew levelled when Xavi dinked a delicate through ball over the defence for Ibrahimovic, who took it on his chest before rifling a low cross shot past the goalkeeper.

Right on the hour mark, a free-flowing move involving Messi, Iniesta and Ibra found Pedro inside the area but his shot from a tight angle sailed straight into Ryzhikov’s arms. The busy Rubin goalkeeper had to be alert again moments later to deny Messi’s effort on the edge of the box after the Argentine combined brilliantly with Dani Alves.

Ibra then attempted an ambitious freekick from 30 yards out and although he struck it sweetly, it flew wide of the mark. Just as Barca were starting to settle into a rhythm, Rubin stunned the Camp Nou into silence again on 72 minutes when they regained their lead. A rapid-fire counter attack led by Dominguez was finished off clinically whenKaradeniz Gokdeniz fired in a superb first-time shot past Valdes inside the box.

Five minutes later, Barcelona came close to an equaliser. Messi cushioned down a header for Ibrahimovic, but he sent his searing volley from 12 yards out crashing against the bar.

The chances dried up for the home sides as the clock ticked down but deep into injury time, the Catalans were denied by the woodwork again when Toure Yaya’s header from a corner cannoned back off the post.

Kurban Derdyev valiant soldiers held on not only to pull off one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history but they now jointly lead Group F along with Barca and Dynamo Kiev.

Goal

Unirea Urziceni went from European minnows to Group G contenders as they destroyed a sorry Rangers side at Ibrox.

The Scots had been in poor form all season, despite topping their domestic league table, however any hope that they would finally get things together against the Romanians – who’s town is less than half the attendance tonight – was blown away in a second half blitz from Dan Petrescu’s men.

The ‘Gers had taken an early lead, and missed a penalty, but were blown away by a side they had been expected to beat comfortably.

Rangers manager Walter Smith will now find himself under severe pressure, with the light blue’s European dreams hanging by a thread.

Madjid Bougherra was ruled, meaning Lee McCulloch took his place in defence.  Pedro Mendes though was passed fit, as Walter Smith opted for his favoured 4-5-1 formation, pitching Kenny Miller alone up front.

Unirea goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis didn’t make it, meaning Daniel Tudor took the gloves, and the replacement ‘keeper could not have had a worst start, as Rangers took the lead inside two minutes.

Pedro Mendes’s took a shot from just outside the area after Rothen found him with the first corner of the game.  It deflected wildly off defender Ricardo Gomes, and Tudor’s first action was to pick the ball out of the net.

Any notion though that it would all be one way traffic was quickly dispelled as the Romanians settled quickly, despite the early goal.  Though they rarely threatened, they were causing a few brief moments of anxiety in the Rangers defence, and as Rangers’ frustration grew, Balan found himself in the area with a great chance but mis-hit the volley.

It had been an opening half hour that, the goal apart, had lacked a spark.  However, suddenly the game started to open up.

Rangers managed to break quickly, but Miller took too many touches and was crowded out. He passed to Mendes whose shot was deflected to Davis, who rolled it to Rothen, but he was blocked.

This was quickly followed by a half chance for Naismith, and as he failed to deliver a second goal, inevitably Unirea pulled level.

Brandan burst forward down the left, drilled in a low ball which Marius Ioan Bilasco had no problem dispatching into an empty net.

Rangers had a golden chance to get back in front before half-time though, with the referee pointing to the spot after a handball.  Steven Davis pushed the penalty to the left, however stand-in ‘keeper Tudor this time judged it right and easily managed to push it clear.

Rangers threw on Kyle Lafferty for Pedro Mendes at half-time, as Walter Smith went for goals.  However within three minutes, the goals started coming for the visitors.

A corner was poorly cleared, and as it was played back in Bruno Fernandes cutely flicked it towards goal, and it bounced through a ruck of Rangers defenders into the net.

The ‘Gers were rattled, and Ibrox began to empty with less than an hour on the clock when Unirea went 3-1 up.

Balan’s free-kick was a difficult one to deal with, and McCulloch made the night bad to worse for Rangers as he headed into his own net.

Throughout the assault on Rangers goal, one man who deserved a goal was Brandan, and inevitably he got one.  A free-kick from 25 yards out was rolled to him, and with the help of a deflection he fired in an unbelievable fourth for the Romanians.

Rangers had nothing but pride to play for now, and Miller and Lafferty both went close with headers, but the danger was always there that Unirea could increase their lead, and Frunza dragged a shot wide as they refused to offer any mercy to their hosts.

The result means Rangers have now lost their last three home games in the champions league by a three goal margin, an astonishing record for a side who were in the Uefa Cup final just two years ago.

Goal

The Greeks take a big step towards qualification for the group stages.

Ieroklis Stoltidis proved the hero for Olympiacos when his stoppage time strike condemned Standard Liege to a heartbreaking defeat after it had looked like the visitors would manage a draw, thanks largely to a fine performance from Sinan Bolat in goal.

Stoltidis was on hand to head home from Luciano Galetti’s late corner and give the home side all three points in an entertaining contest.

The home side settled into a rhythm early on but as the first half wore on the Belgian visitors fought their way into the game. Neither side displayed the necessary quality in the final third to finish some fine attacking moves until De Camargo struck with 37 minutes gone to give the visitors the lead.

His goal was a well worked effort too as Valencia target Milan Jovanovic slipped a neat through ball into the box and Standard’s captain De Camargo was on hand to fire the visitors into a surprise lead. 

That lead didn’t last long however as the Greek side pulled themselves level just before the break with Konstantinos Mitroglou winning a free-kick for his side inside Belgian territory before heading home from the resulting set piece to equalise.

After an action packed first 45, 1-1 was probably a fair scoreline going in at the break but the home side began to assert their dominance after the interval with the busy Luciano Galetti bringing a fine save from Bolat while Olof Mellberg went close soon after but couldn’t keep his header on target from Galetti’s free-kick.

Olympiacos were certainly in control in the early stages of the second period but failed to make their pressure tell with Jaouad Zairi wasteful in the final third just when they needed a quality final ball to unlock the Standard defence.

The visitors countered with 20 minutes remaining and could have snatched a lead but Jovanovic’s effort smashed against the crossbar with Antonio Nikopolidis well beaten.

Zairi was replaced by Stoltidis as Zico looked for a fresh impetus but although the continued to probe the goal the sought failed to come.

They had chances to win it, most notably from Galetti and Michal Zewlakow and just when it looked like Bolat had kept Olympiacos at bay it was the substitute Stoltidis that grabbed the winner in stoppage time.

Goal

The hosts started the game brilliantly, but the Italians bounced back to pick up the full three points on away soil.

The home side were off to a great start when Peter Czvitkovics gifted them an early lead, but Fiorentina fought back and eventually recorded a comfortable win via goals from Adrian Mutu (2x), Alberto Gilardino andMario Santana. Gergely Rudolf scored a second goal for Debrecen, but it was too little too late.

The home side started the match with attacking intentions and got their reward after only two minutes. Adamo Coulibaly set Jozsef Varga, who reached Peter Czvitkovics with a delicious ball to the back post and the latter did not fail to open the score from close range.

Fiorentina were not too impressed though and drew things level again only minutes later. Dario Dainelli latched on to a long cross and sent the ball back in the box for Romanian hitman Adrian Mutu, who steered the ball against the back of the net from ten yards out.

The tricky attacker was involved in La Viola’s next attack as well. Mutu found space in the area and aimed for the totally unmarked Alberto Gilardino, who once again proved to be a clinical finisher to help his team to a 2-1 lead after just ten minutes.

Coulibaly nearly shocked the guests with an immediate response seconds after Gilardino’s goal. Czvitkovics got away down the flank and dinked a ball into the box for the French forward. However, Coulibaly aimed wide and the chance went begging.

Mutu scored his second of the game after twenty minutes of play and this time around it was Gilardino who provided the assist. The Italian international held on to the ball well before laying the ball of for his partner in crime up front and Mutu left the Hungarian goalie without a chance with a strong shot.

Rudolf picked the ball up deep halfway the first half and had a shot at goal from 25-yards. Nevertheless, Sebastien Frey got down to push the ball away from a corner, which the Italians defended well.

Frey was unable to deny the Debrecen striker after 28 minutes though. Rudolf picked the ball up 25-yards out, slightly to the left of centre surrounded by four Viola shirts. The attacker jinked past the first two challenges before he bent a superbly accurate shot into the very top corner of the net from the corner of the box.

Coulibaly saw a goal disallowed for offside about ten minutes before the break and even though the crowd reacted furious to the referee’s decision, there was no room doubt about the striker’s offside position.

Juan Vargas sent in a cross for Mutu after 37 minutes and the former Juventus man tried his luck with a good attempt. Vukasin Poleksic managed to deny the Romanian, but the rebound rolled straight into the happy feet of Mario Santana, who had no trouble finding the empty net.

Both sides kept on attacking after the break and Mutu almost got his hattrick five minutes after the interval. Vargas sent in a superb cross that was met by the forward, but Mutu’s header went just wide of the post to make it a goal-kick. 

Brazilian midfielder Leandro opted to test the Fiorentina goalie from long-range at the hour mark and his powerful shot caused Frey all kinds of trouble. The French glovesman somehow managed to scramble the ball wide though.

Coulibaly almost added his name to the score sheet with about fifteen more minutes to go. The former Antwerp forward got possession inside the area, but his shot from twelve yards out only hit the side-netting.

The prolific striker got yet another chance with five more minutes to go. Marco Donadel won the challenge in midfield, but the ball somewhat fortunate fell into Coulibaly’s path and the forward could have made it 4-3. However, Frey made a superb save to deny his compatriot.

Coulibaly finally got his goal in the dying minutes of the game. Laszlo Bodnar sent in a perfect cross for the French target man, who beat Alessandro Gamberini to the ball before heading the seventh goal of the evening past the Fiorentina goalie.

Goal

The Arsenal boss, who is 60 on Thursday, cannot imagine retiring from the game he is obsessed with.

Wenger is in Holland as his team looks to make it three Champions League wins out of three against AZ Alkmaar.

After tonight’s clash, Wenger will be focusing on other things – although that won’t include a 60th knees-up with a giant Arsenal birthday cake and red-and-white candles.

Instead, he will spend this landmark birthday at the club’s annual meeting before treating his missus to a romantic night watching a selection of Europa League matches.

He said: “If I have health, I want to work as long as I live but adapt to my potential.

“It doesn’t always need to be physical work, it can be more intellectual. You cannot be 75 on the pitch – although Trapattoni has done well and he is 70.

“I don’t know long I will manage the team. From now on I have to assess every two years because this job is hands-on.

“I am in a job where you always look in front of you. Unfortunately, the older you get, the less distance there is in front of you but football is exciting because when you have a team like I have now.

“You know there is potential in this team and it’s down to me to get it out. Ageing is ]also a state of mind.

“People at 40 can be young physically but old mentally.

“You always have to question yourself and I believe that’s the basis of staying young in your head.

The Sun

Rafa Benitez sends his side into Euro battle tonight roaring: “We’ll bounce back and save our season.”

Liverpool face Lyon in a rut of three straight defeats – and no goals scored – for the first time in two years.

Another flop following the beachball farce against Sunderland would leave them deep in crisis ahead of Sunday’s Manchester United clash.

But Benitez insisted: “This week can change everything for the positive.

“I’m sure we will soon be winning again . . . and as soon as we play well in one or two, everyone will be thinking ‘maybe he’s right’.”

Steven Gerrard returns tonight but Fernando Torres misses out again with a groin strain and the striker is also a doubt for the United clash.

Benitez refused to use the beachball incident as an excuse and spoke to his players on Sunday about their disappointing display on Wearside.

But the Kop chief added: “I have seen the mood in the dressing room and it is very positive.

“We are at home in the Champions League, with the fans behind us. We know we have to win but also know we have three more games after this.

“Two years ago we only had one point and needed to win every game. I understand we have to win against Lyon, but it’s not the same as then.”

The Sun

And the £80million world record buy believes he is surrounded by better players at the Bernabeu.

The ex-Manchester United star, 24, said: “You feel more pressure at Madrid but I love that, it drives me on.

“My coach Manuel Pellegrini is clearly different to Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact I’m much more free here, free to roam around the pitch in certain matches.

“Not only will I use that to become the same player I was at Old Trafford but even better. I feel like a new-born baby – I’m reborn.

“Just because I won everything with United and was voted Ballon D’Or and World Player doesn’t mean I’ve reached the top.

“In fact I feel like my career is just starting.”

The Sun

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed this afternoon that Steven Gerrard is fit and available for selection for the Reds’ Champions League clash with Olympique Lyonnais tomorrow night.

“I think so. He has been training, so hopefully he will be available tomorrow,” the Spaniard told reporters at today’s press conference.

“It’s important. We have had some problems with injuries since the beginning of the season, so Gerrard fit is a big boost for us.”

There was less encouraging news though as far as striker Fernando Torres was concerned. The forward missed training today after picking up an adductor problem whilst on duty with the Spanish national team.

Benitez explained: “He is still not ready, so we have to wait a little bit. Hopefully [he'll be fit] for the weekend, but not for this game.”

Goal

Five big names will miss the midweek trip to Russia.

Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-Sung and Patrice Evra will all be missing when Manchester United face CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The quintet have been ruled out of the game at the Luzhniki Stadium with a variety of knocks and strains, according to United’s official website.

Two players who have made the trip who were originally thought doubtful are striker Dimitar Berbatove, whose girlfriend gave birth in Bulgaria in last week, and centre-back Nemanja Vidic.

Full squad:

Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster; Neville, Rafael, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, J Evans, Fabio; Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, C Evans, Anderson, Nani; Owen, Berbatov, Macheda, Welbeck

Goal

The decision, announced at a press conference at SAFA’s headquarters in Johannesburg, comes amid a spate of poor results for the South Africans who have lost eight of their last nine matches under Santana. The two assistant coaches, Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal will take over the reins in the meantime as the South Africans will now embark on a new search for a coach to lead them to the FIFA World Cup on home soil.

SAFA president, Kirsten Nematandani said that he believes the decision to be in the “best interest of the team” as the South Africans prepare for the FIFA World Cup next year.

“After a long management meeting today, the association and Mr Santana reached an amicable decision to part ways,” he said.  ”We all felt this was at the best interest of the team going forward. We want to take this opportunity to thank him for his services and wish him all the best in his future coaching endeavours.”

“Our job is now to look for a new coach. We will look both locally and internationally for the right man to lead this team. We will meet again on Friday and look at some recommendations. At the moment, I can’t say much about that process.”

Following their gutsy performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup, South Africa underwent a loss of form and were defeated in all of their subsequent matches, with the exception of a narrow 1-0 victory over Madagascar.

Speculation about Santana’s future reached fever pitch when SAFA appointed a group of three technical assessors, comprising two former South African head coaches, Clive Barker and Jomo Sono. Supersport United coach Gavin Hunt was the other member of the trio.

At the press conference, Nematandani refuted claims that it was the trio who had recommended the sacking of Santana. “Their job was not to give a report on the coach, they were only asked to access the team -and they have done just that.”

Santana, who had no previous international experience prior to taking the job, replaced countryman Carlos Alberto Parreira in April 2008.

FIFA.COM

All eyes were fixed on Zurich today, where the draw for the European play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cupstarted at 14.00 CET. Delegations and high-ranking officials from the eight participating nations eagerly followed the draw conducted by FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke and South Africa international Steven Pienaar.

National coaches Carlos Queiroz (Portugal), Matjaz Kek (Slovenia), Miroslav Blazevic (Bosnia Herzegovina) and Alexei Mikhailichenko (Ukraine), plus former France boss and current French FA Technical Director Gerard Houllier saw the following matches being drawn. The first leg will take place on November 14, the second on November 18. That’s a Saturday and a Wednesday, respectively.

The top four nations in the draw were seeded according to the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, published on 16 October. France (ranked number 9), Portugal (10), Russia (12) and Greece (16) went into Pot 1, while Pot 2 contained Ukraine (22), Republic of Ireland (34), Bosnia Herzegovina (42) and Slovenia (49).

Goal

The Sun reports that referee Mike Jones is set to be axed from next weekend’s match list after his much-publicised error at Sunderland on Saturday.

Darren Bent scored his eighth goal of the season in bizarre fashion, his shot taking a wicked deflection off a beach-ball thrown on to the pitch by a young Liverpool fan, and whizzing past a bewildered Pepe Reina in goal. The Black Cats went on to secure a 1-0 win.

The 41-year-old Cheshire referee has come under heavy criticism from experts and former match officials, who argue the goal should have been disallowed due to ‘outside interference’.

According to strict interpretation of FIFA’s laws, the strike should not have been allowed to stand, and a drop-ball should have been awarded instead.

It is understood that Jones – and the other matchday officials – will be asked to explain his actions in front of the Professional Game Match Officials Board today.

Goal

Milan were looking to put their recent troubles behind them as they welcomed Roma to the San Siro for the Serie A weekend posticipo.

The visitors took just two minutes to find an opener when Jeremy Menez made the most of a sloppy back pass to fire home from six yards. The Rossoneri came fighting back but looked extremely exposed as the Giallorossi continued to threaten on the counter attack.

Ronaldinho levelled the scoring shortly after the re-start as Milan were handed a lifeline from the spot. Alexandre Pato then silenced his critics as he rounded the keeper in spectacular fashion to gift the Rossoneri the lead with 20 minutes to go.

Despite being reduced to ten men in the final stages, the Rossoneri held out for the three points to ease the pressure surrounding their rookie coach.

Roma came storming out the blocks and took just 120 seconds to break the deadlock. After a scuffed back pass from Thiago Silva, Menez found himself clear on goal and he wasted nothing as he smashed the ball past a helpless Dida in the Milan goal.

The Rossoneri eventually picked themselves up after their torrid opening and on 15 minutes Andrea Pirlo tested Doni with a curling free kick from the edge of the box. The Brazilian stopper took no chances as he punched the ball clear with a number of players looming to knock it goalbound.

Just moments later Pato was set through on goal by Thiago Silva.  The young Brazilian failed to take the ball in his stride however, and Doni made a quick intervention to deny his fellow countryman a great opportunity to level.

On 22 minutes the visitors almost doubled their lead when Daniele De Rossi fired a great effort towards the far post from 18 yards. The Giallorossi were denied this time by a prompt Dida, who tipped the ball wide with an outstretched arm.

Milan continued to charge forward despite Roma’s obvious threat on the counter-attack. Combined with both side’s poor ball retention, it made for great viewing as the Rossoneri looked to find a way back into the match.

Just minutes before the break the Lupi wasted a chance to go two up. Mirko Vucinic was sent through on goal by Menez and with Simone Perrotta free in the middle, the Montenegrin opted to shoot straight at the feet of a well placed Dida.

After the re-start Leonardo opted to throw on Filippo Inzaghi to give the Rossoneri some added clout up top. The hitman almost repaid his coach with an immediate equaliser as he headed a corner goalbound, only to see the effort cleared off the line by Nicolas Burdisso.

Milan were given a golden chance to get back into the match on 56 minutes when Burdisso made a rash challenge on Nesta inside the box, to gift the Rossoneri a chance for 12 yards. Ronaldinho stepped up for the subsequent penalty, and the Brazilian made no mistakes as he smashed the ball to the right of Doni.

On 63 minutes the home side should have taken the lead when Pato layed a wonderful ball square to Clarence Seedorf inside the box. The Dutchman took a great first touch but he could round off the move as he sprayed his shot just wide of the far post.

Just three minutes later however the Rossoneri went in front when Pato rounded two men and fired home in spectacular fashion. After taking down a great cross field pass from Ronaldinho on his chest, the Brazilian skipped past Riise and then rounded Doni to smash the ball into an unguarded net.

With ten minutes to go the Diavoli were left in ten when Massimo Ambrosini was sent off after picking up his second yellow for leading with an elbow.

The visitors looked to make their numerical advantage count as they came firing forward in the dying minutes in search of an equaliser.
Despite a number of quick breaks forward however, the Lupi failed to carve out any clear cut chances as the game became ever scrappier.

Leonardo’s men held out for a well needed victory, which could prove perfect preparation for their midweek Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Goal

Walter Pandiani scored twice and Aranda added a third as the home side in the Reyno de Navarra scored all of their goals inside the first half an hour and left los Colchoneros with an impossible task.

After securing their first win in their sixth league game two weeks ago, Atletico thought they had turned a corner but another inept display saw things worsen and the board will surely meet this week to discuss the trainer.

Atletico had lost three times in their first six matches in la Primera and picked up just a point from two matches in Europe to lead to question marks about Resino’s ability to see the team challenge for trophies.

The absence of Diego Forlan in this encounter can be used as no excuse as it was the same story again at the back for the visitors as the hosts could have doubled their tally at least.

In only the fourth minute Atletico’s task became difficult as Javier Camuñas’s cross from the left was met by the potent Pandiano to head home and lift that had previously recorded two wins from their opening six games.

Sergio Aguero could have made things so different after ten minutes but spurned his opportunity before Sergio Asenjo proved why he is so highly rated at the other end by saving Luis Perea’s and Juanito’s blushes after their error allowed Pandiani in on goal.

But the Uruguayan striker was not to be denied, after Cleber had gone close for Atletico, as he doubled Osasuna’s lead in the 25th minute with yet another header that left the away team with a mountain to climb.

Five minutes later and the outcome was all but decided as Juanfran’s shot was palmed to the right by Asenjo, but the impressive Aranda stole in and prodded the ball in to the net.

Atletico had fallen apart and Aranda caused more chaos which drew Asenjo and Osasuna could have gone four up if Juanfran had been able to remain calm when attempting to lift the ball back over the crowd and into the unguarded goal.

Resino’s half-time talk did see Los Colchoneros show more steel in the second period, but then the hosts had also tweaked their approach in order to ensure their opponents found no way back into the game.

Cleber again had a chance to reduce arrears while at the other end Juanfran set up Aranda just after the hour mark and Camunas had a chance of his own and then created another for substitute Masoud.

Aguero was tireless and did look to add at least a consolation for Atletico and on Wednesday he will face an even tougher task against Chelsea’s rearguard, but it may well be a different coach watching him from the bench.

Goal

Speaking to Marca after the game, he said, “We were clear that we would to be champions by beating Madrid, and we are not going to be relegated after losing to Depor.”

“Deportivo have earned five straight wins. Juan Rodriguez played out of his skin.

“I am happy that they treated us as a big team. We were not wise.

“We spent more time in their half, but they played on the counter and ran a lot.”

Jimenez also dismissed suggestions that Sevilla had missed Luis Fabiano, stating, “Everyone has things to improve on.”

“The rotations worked well, and we put in a good performance.”

Marca

“We only won a match. It was not a perfect match, just three important points,” he said to Sky. “That’s what matters to me. I would have traded this 5-0 win with five 1-0 wins.”

On the individual players, Mourinho said: “[Mario] Balotelli did what we needed him to do. Defence, attack, everything we needed. [Wesley] Sneijder? I prefer to talk about the team. We can talk about everyone, but the group is what made the difference, although it’s clear that only playing a great match you can leave this pitch with such a result.

“Walter Samuel and Sneijder went off for precaution, while Esteban Cambiasso suffered a slight injury. Diego Milito and Thiago Motta won’t be back for Tuesday.”

Asked what team he fears most in the Scudetto race, he said: “I prefer to be in front. We are only in October, there’s a long time left. I only look at my team. I’m not interested in Juventus or Roma. I only think about Inter. A lot of teams are playing well.”

Finally, on Genoa’s fans, who cheered their team on even when they were 5-0 down, the coach commented: “Genoa’s fans were spectacular. This is football. An embrace to Inter’s fans, but also Genoa’s because it isn’t easy to lose 5-0 at home.”

Sky Sports

David’s new facial topiary makes us go funny in our tummies.

Carlo Ancelotti blasted his day-dreaming Blues after two blunders cost them dear.

The Chelsea boss was fuming as his side conceded twice from corners at Villa Park.

Richard Dunne and James Collins headed home with ease thanks to a pair of shocking defensive errors.

Ancelotti said: “We lost the game because we had two set plays. We need to be more focused on the situation.

“We played a good game and we don’t want to lose the game in that situation, only if the other team play better than us.

“Aston Villa were very able on the set plays. We want to do better for sure. We need more concentration.”

The Sun

David Villa missed out for the hosts as they lined up with Juan Mata up front. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was only on the bench for Pep Guardiola’s men after picking up a knock on international duty with Sweden. Lionel Messi started despite a gruelling week with the Argentina squad, while Andres Iniesta and Pedro completed the attacking trident.

Valencia had a golden opportunity within the first minute as Pablo Hernandez raced through on goal, but he could only fire weakly at Victor Valdes.

Pablo was causing problems for the visitors’ defence as los Che started well, but Iniesta was also making some endeavouring runs down the left hand side as the champions looked to settle into their rhythm.

Barcelona were slightly over-confident in possession as the hosts closed them down all across the pitch, winning the ball back in key areas. David Silva was also working hard to supply the ball into the danger zone, but Villa’s absence was clear as there was a distinct lack of players that looked to get onto the end of his crosses.

The hosts were working well down the left hand side, and when Jeremy Mathieu won the ball and stormed towards the penalty area it looked like Valencia could take the lead. When the final ball came in, however, Mata and Silva got in each others’ way and the chance was gone.

With half an hour gone, it was all Valencia. The hosts were dominating possession, working harder than the visitors and creating all the opportunities. But the Blaugrana were a threat even then, and Cesar did well to make himself big and save from Iniesta’s close range shot with 10 minutes of the half left.

Los Che continued to press forward as the half drew to a close, but were unable to test Valdes as the first period ended goalless.

Barcelona were revitalised at the start of the second half, with Iniesta at the centre of their attacking moves once again. Messi’s volley in the 50th minute was a statement of intent from the visitors, who started the half as the superior side.

The game was beginning to open up as both sides looked for the opening goal, and Messi tested Cesar with a powerful drive from distance. Pedro should have put the visitors in front in the 65th minute when he received Xavi’s cut-back in the penalty area, but a host of defenders managed to deflect the shot behind.

Jeremy Mathieu, playing in an unfamiliar left wing position, then flashed a curling shot wide of the left post. With 20 minutes to go, Pablo tried an audacious lob from inside his own half, which Valdes had to tip over the crossbar.

The ‘keeper had to come to Barcelona’s rescue once again from David Silva as Valencia took a quick free kick while Dani Alves feigned injury on the floor – a factor that then led to a brief scuffle between both sets of players.

The heat had certainly been turned up at the Mestalla, but the game remained goalless. Guardiola turned to Bojan Krkic and Sergio Busquets in an effort to turn the game in his side’s favour, while Valencia substitute Miku upended Valdes to incur the wrath of the visiting players.

As injury time drew near, Cesar almost gifted Barcelona a goal when he spilled Yaya Toure’s shot, but he grabbed onto the shot as it spun towards his goal. It was the closest the visitors got to a goal in the closing stages, but they closed out a goalless draw with a Valencia side who will rue their missed chances.

Goal

By contrast, Louis van Gaal made several changes to the squad that drew 0-0 with Koeln two weeks ago. In a 4-4-2 setup, strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose were supported by playmaker Thomas Mueller. Mark van Bommel rejoined the team as midfield anchor, pushing Anatoliy Tymoshchuk to the right flank.

The game got off to a lively start as neither side was afraid to attack. In the fourth, Toni took his first shot on goal in several months, but it was easily claimed by Simon Pouplin. Two minutes later, Idrissou beat the Bayern offside trap, but was run down as he approached the goal.

Bayern probably should have gone ahead in the 11th, but Bastian Schweinsteiger’s first-time strike was saved superbly by Pouplin.

As per the usual, Bayern controlled the majority of possession, and found plenty of space on the left side of midfield. However, Freiburg’s fullbacks and defensive midfielders rarely went forward, and the visitors never had room to create opportunities in their attacking third.

Instead, Bayern resorted to crossing the ball and hoping for some favourable bounces in the penalty area. For the first time time in nearly three and a half competitive matches, Bayern’s attack plan succeeded. Three minutes before the half, Klose nodded Philipp Lahm’s cross to Toni, whose shot was saved off Pouplin’s feet. The ball rolled to Thomas Mueller, who was unmarked in the centre of the penalty area. The 20-year-old starlet fired in from 12 yards to give his side the lead.

Up to the Bayern goal, Freiburg’s method of holding back and trying to capitalize on errors had worked well. Bayern were far from perfect in their own half, and Ivica Banovic’s 38th-minute header came close. Idrissou looked particularly dangerous, but was awfully lonely up front.

The first half ended 1-0 in favor of Bayern, leaving the home team with no choice but to figure out a successful offensive strategy for the second period.

No personnel changes were made at the half, but Freiburg fullbacks Du-Ri Cha and Heiko Butscher began to take more of a role in their team’s attack. It wasn’t quite enough, so Stefan Reisinger was brought in for Schuster to play alongside Idrissou.

What resulted was a rather good spell for the home side that ultimately disappointed for lack of attempts on goal. Whatever chance Freiburg had of taking something from the match diminished to nothing in the 68th minute when Cha scored a spectacular own goal. After a benign cross from Mueller, the South Korean back-passed not to Pouplin, but rather the corner of his own net.

With 20 minutes to go, Toni and van Bommel were replaced with Mario Gomez and Andreas Ottl, respectively. Neither substitute had much of an impact as the game dwindled to a snail’s pace. By the time of the second goal, Freiburg had all but given up, and Bayern won.

It would prove a shame that Freiburg gave up so early because, from nothing, the home team pulled one back in injury time. Idrisssou raced towards the byline and whipped in a cross. Edson Braafheid was nowhere to be seen as Reisinger fired his team back  into contention. It proved to be too little, too late, however, as the referee blew his whistle seconds after the restart. The result puts Bayern temporarily into fifth place, while Freiburg remain tenth.

Goal

Despite being without any of first-team strikers, Bruno Labbadia dug deep and played Tolgay Arslan alongside third-choice forward Marcus Berg.

Juup Heynckes’ only change to the squad that beat Nurnberg 4-0 was the inclusion of Renato Augusto at the expense of Toni Kroos.

At kickoff, the two contestants were deadlocked for first place, and by the way the match was played, it showed. As expected, the two teams’ highly technical midfields waged an enticing battle, but neither side was able to do enough to set up a decent shot.

Both defenses were quick to react to any forward motion, and battlers David Jarolim, Ze Roberto, Arturo Vidal and Simon Rolfes provided excellent support for their respective back lines.

The first effective attacking move was more than a half hour in the making, and was the doing of Leverkusen. Tranquillo Barnetta dribbled to the edge of Hamburg’s penalty area and released Gonzalo Castro. Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost raced off his line, but the Leverkusen fullback managed to play the ball across the face of goal. To Hamburg’s fortune, the ball trickled clear and out of play for a goal kick.

Hamburg’s striking woes worsened before the half when Arslan limped off with a knee injury. Turkish starlet Tunay Torun, Labbadia’s only remaining forward, was substituted in with six minutes to play in the half.

After 45 minutes, the two teams remained tightly tied for first place. Hamburg earned the majority of possession and were perhaps a bit less wasteful with the ball than their opponents, but Leverkusen earned the only half-chance of the period.

After the break, Hamburg continued to win the majority of possession, but Leverkusen were not always quick to close down their opponents. With more space to move, Eljero Elia’s talent began to show with momentary flashes of brilliance. With a touch of good dribbling and a fine shot that went just wide, the young Dutchman’s presence became apparent.

To combat their slight disadvantage in midfield, Leverkusen swapped striker Eren Derdiyok on the hour, bringing in playmaker Toni Kroos. The extra man in midfield served Leverkusen well, and the visitors enjoyed more of the ball as a result. However, they maintained a rather defensive role, with two purely holding midfielders.

With 12 minutes to go, Hamburg finally broke through the Leverkusen defense. Elia released Ze Roberto on the left side, and the Brazilian crossed into the centre of the penalty area. Torun was first to the ball and shot, but had his shot blocked by Castro.

Leverkusen countered in the 86th minute, when Sami Hyypia’s close-range header was saved by Rost. Two minutes later, Barnetta cleverly dribbled past Guy Demel and crossed low for Stefan Kiessling. The Bundesliga’s leading scorer beat his marker to the ball and shot well, but Rost made a tremendous save to preserve his clean sheet.

Just a minute was signaled to be added on at the end, but Hamburg made the best of it by winning two corners. Leverkusen were furious with the referee, who did not signal an end until 1:50 into extra time, and gave Marcus Berg just enough time to volley over the bar. At long last, the match ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving the two sides still tied, now just two points ahead of Schalke.

Goal

Inter recorded an incredible 5-0 victory at the Stadio Marassi against Genoa without Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito to go top of the Serie A table.

Inter travelled to face Genoa hoping to take advantage of Juventus’ slip up earlier today against Fiorentina, who earned a draw at the Stadio Olimpico of Turin.

The league leaders didn’t take long to take the lead at the Stadio Marassi, as after just six minutes Esteban Cambiasso’s shot on a free kick move was deflected by Francesco Modesto and beat Marco Amelia to make it 1-0 Inter.

The visitors continued to create the most threats, and in the 13th minute Dejan Stankovic was found by a great pass from Wesley Sneijder, but the Serbian’s shot went just wide of the post.

Stankovic was Inter’s most dangerous player, and three minutes later he came close again with a header on a cross from the right by Maicon which he sent just wide.

At the half hour mark, the visitors made it 2-0 thanks to lone striker Mario Balotelli, who was filling in the void left behind by the injured Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito. The teenager finished off a counterattack that started after captain Javier Zanetti stole the ball from Zapater, slotting the ball in with a precise diagonal shot on an assist by Sneijder.

Genoa thought they had pulled one back in the 40th minute, when Omar Milanetto beat Julio Cesar with a nice shot on a fine assist by Raffaele Palladino, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.

However, it was Inter who found a third goal just before the break, as in the fourth minute of stoppage time Stankovic scored a contender for goal of the season with a volley from around the halfway line after a poor goal kick by Amelia.

As the teams re-entered the dressing rooms, there were some arguments between Genoa’s bench players and Maicon, and Lucio and Julio Cesar had to step in to prevent a fight. The referee then decided to send off Genoa’s reserve keeper Alessio Scarpi, who was trying to pick a fight with the Brazilian full back.

During the break Inter coach Jose Mourinho decided to replace goalscorer Cambiasso, who suffered a slight injury, with Patrick Vieira.

The visitors controlled the match without too many problems early in the second half, and came close to scoring a fourth in the 57th minute, when Sneijder’s free kick found Balotelli, whose header was very well saved by Amelia.

Ten minutes later, Inter did find a fourth goal, as substitute Vieira was picked out by another great pass by Sneijder, and finished it off with a low left-footed shot.

In the 71st minute, the Nerazzurri even made it 5-0, as Sulley Muntari dribbled past three defenders on the edge of the area and the ball came to Maicon, who had no problems slotting it home from inside the area.

The last twenty minutes of the match was very uneventful, as Inter felt no need to push on for more goals, while Genoa were obviously very low on confidence after shipping five goals.

The referee blew his whistle for full time without any stoppage time being added. Inter earned a hugely impressive victory that sends them on top of the table, and they will only be caught in case Sampdoria beat Lazio away from home tomorrow.

Goal