UEFA Champions League: Matchdays 3 and 4

Match day three: Comfortable for the ENGLISH

The UEFA champs league has never ceased to surprise us. It gives experienced players a lesson in pain and new players a chance to prove themselves.

Arsenal’s young squad had disappointed everyone in the EPL match against Hull, losing 2-1 at home. But the Gunners came onto the pitch at home against their toughest competition in their group stage- Portuguese champions Porto.

Porto had stunned Europe by reaching the quarters last year, and this year were determined to replicate that feat. Arsenal though had a point to prove, as they trudged down the pitch for the kick off. Despite Wenger’s angry comments, he made only one change, bringing in Samir Nasri instead of Eboue.

The first ten minutes were nervous for both teams as they tried to gain leverage, prodding in each other’s defence. Arsenal fans had their hearts in their mouths when a lone Porto striker nearly reached the box without the defence, but the defenders did well, reaching out to him and clearing the ball. Walcott kept on stunning Porto with his tremendous speed down the flank, but Adebayor and Persie were unable to convert.

Fed up, Fabregas put an end to the wait with a neat straight pass between the defence to an offside clearing Adebayor on the right side. Bayor did well, playmaking instead of scoring as he passed sideways and Persie just made it to slit the ball into the goal.

One down, Porto were determined to return back, but Arsenal’s enthusiasm was too much. Adebayor made it two up after a swiftly finished header did the trick, though the goalkeeper was at fault.

The momentum kept on going after half time, with Persie right leg finishing a beautiful pass out of the blue as the Gunners heralded their return. But that wasn’t enough. A foul to Bendtner in the box was the worst thing a Porto defender could do, and Adebayor added to his account with a cool penalty.

Arsenal could have had a few more goals, but their team performance was stunning. Few could do what Arsenal had done.

Meanwhile Manchester United had a training session match with Aalborg, after the latter embarrassed themselves. A beautiful pass to a free Rooney saw the first goal, a playful chip to Berbatov by the Aalborg defence saw the second, and a backside deflection to a cross cutting Berbatov saw the third goal.

Bate also had an eventful match, nearly defeating Juventus after they went two up before the Italian giants clawed back for a draw.

Real also had a scare before Nistelrooy put an end to matters to end the day 2-1. Fenerbahce also drew with Kiev 0 – 0.

Match day four: one with surprises

Liverpool had to face Dutch giants PSV and they did it in style, when Kuyt first kicked the ball into the net in the 4’, after a heavy deflection from Isaksson. Keane was next on the list, heading in an assist from Spanish golden boy Torres. Gerarrd completed his 100^th goal for the Reds with a freekick in the 75^th. PSV clawed one back near the end of time.

Barcelona nearly lost though, but wonder boy Messi’s brace in the 87^th and 94^th minutes put them on front after Shaktahar had scored in the 57^th.

Chelsea drew with lowly Cluj and thus the EPL teams were the most successful, the four of them scoring 10 goals and conceding one.