TUE- UEFA Champions League Match 5
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Group E - 21 November 2006 3:45am - Santiago Bernabeu Stadium - Madrid.
Madrid and Lyon jostle for position
With both teams having secured qualification for the knockout rounds, Olympique Lyonnais' visit to Real Madrid CF on Tuesday is a battle for UEFA Champions League Group E supremacy.
Jostling for position
Should they take a point from the Santiago Bernabéu, Gérard Houllier's men will advance as group winners thanks to their 2-0 victory against the Spanish side on Matchday 1. For Madrid coach Fabio Capello, however, the team he puts out for the return game will contrast sharply with the one that went down to the French champions at Stade Gerland. "We have something different this time around," Capello said. "We know we're a better side. We are far more solid. But this match isn't about revenge, it is about a game we will try to win."
'My best team'
Playing down the importance of topping the group, Capello added: "The crucial thing is that we have qualified. Of course it's important that we beat Lyon but it's not fundamental. People think things will be easier if you finish top of the group so you can play your first knockout phase game away and the second at home. We don't necessarily think that way. Having said that, we're not here to waste time and I'm picking my best team in order to take three points." Capello, whose side triumphed by 3-1 against Real Racing Club Santander on Saturday, will have to do without the injured trio of David Beckham, Ronaldo and Cicinho, who all have knee problems, while Fabio Cannavaro faces a late fitness test on a slight thigh strain.
Perfect record
Lyon managed a 1-1 draw at Madrid in last season's group stage and Houllier will be hoping his team can extend a marvellous record of four victories without conceding a goal from as many Group E games. "We are the only club with 12 points from a possible 12 and we would love to win our next match," said the coach, whose Ligue 1 leaders won 1-0 at CS Sedan-Ardennes on Saturday. "But remember, this isn't a second round or quarter-final game, it's a game between two teams assured of progress."
Strength in depth
Although Sylvain Wiltord, who has gastroenteritis, has joined fellow forwards Fred, Sidney Govou and Karim Benzema on the sidelines, Houllier has confidence in the strength of his squad. "A good team must adapt to these situations and Lyon are a good team. We haven't left our best players at home, we have a lot of quality with us and we are going to show that against Madrid." Florent Malouda and Tiago were rested at the weekend but should both return in the Spanish capital. -
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Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais
Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra has said that a second group defeat against his former team Olympique Lyon is an unthinkable prospect despite the French side's flawless record in this season's Champions League.
'Last time we met we weren't at our best,' the Mali international told a news conference on Monday. 'But things are different now, we are now a true team, we are more solid and we are playing at home.
'The results show that things are going well now and we have to prove that against Lyon. We will be out for revenge and certainly don't want to lose to them again. A good team can't lose twice in a row to the same opponents.'
The nine-times European champions have met the French side three times over the course of the last two seasons, but have yet to notch up a victory.
Last year they were crushed 3-0 at the Stade Gerland and then drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu, while this season they lost 2-0 in Lyon in their opening group match.
Lyon top Group E with four wins from four games and have yet to concede a goal.
Both sides have already earned their places in the knockout phase, but Real will need to beat the French champions by at least two goals if they are to wrest top spot from their grasp.
Probable teams
Real Madrid: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Iván Helguera, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Emerson, Mahamadou Diarra, Guti, Robinho; Raúl González, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Olympique Lyonnais: Grégory Coupet; Anthony Réveillère, Cris, Sébastien Squillaci, Eric Abidal; Florent Malouda, Jérémy Toulalan, Tiago, Juninho Pernambucano; Loïc Remy, John Carew.
This should be an interesting match, don't know why its not being shown by Starhub... not even delayed.
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all home win and a milan winOriginally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:
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Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais
Patrick Müller is hoping to get the chance to frustrate Ruud van Nistelrooy once again when Olympique Lyonnais travel to Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League tonight.
Rare opportunity
The Swiss defender was instrumental in the "magnificent" 2-0 victory Lyon recorded at home against Madrid on Matchday 1 that set them on the path to four straight wins in this season’s group stage. Although chances have been few and far between for the 29-year-old this season, he has every right to believe he could play a part as Group E's top spot is contested at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Right man
"I don't know if I am going to play against Real Madrid but when we played against them in September, it was my first game of the season," said Müller, who is in his second spell with the French champions. "I was surprised to be picked as I had been injured and hadn't played any games. But Gérard Houllier picked me because he thought I had the style of play to bother Van Nistelrooy. It worked out well.
Top striker
"When you're playing against him, you have to concentrate for every second," he added. "He belongs in the top echelon of strikers. He is always on the edge of being offside, but knows perfectly how to time his runs. My size is not my main strength, but I can do well against that type of forward." The Dutch forward has been in sparkling form of late, not least with five goals in his last three games, and for all his success last time Müller conceded that "it is going to be difficult". Van Nistelrooy would surely say the same if he meets a certain Swiss stopper for a second time.
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CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 FC Porto
2' Quaresma (Porto) scores! Porto get off to a fantastic start, taking the lead with barely two minutes on the clock. A fine low pass from the right by Lisandro López finds Ricardo Quaresma at the far post and he makes no mistake as CSKA concede their first goal in the competition so far. -
real madridOriginally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:
dynamo
man utd
benfica
porto
arsenal
draw
ac milan
chelsea
barca
bayern
sporting
galatasaray
liverpool
draw
roma -
fat ronaldo and beckham out for real madrid game due to injuries
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Half-time:
CSKA Moscow 0 - 1 FC Porto
2' Quaresma -
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Arsenal vs Hamburg -
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CSKA Moscow 0 - 2 FC Porto
61' Lucho González (Porto) scores! Porto double their advantage and could be on their way to going top of the group before Arsenal FC and Hamburger SV meet later this evening. Lucho González is the man on target for the visitors, drilling the ball low into the bottom corner with his right foot after being set up by a neat knockdown from Lisandro López. It is the Argentinian's third goal in this season's competition. -
DMI cheat
porto match start liao not counted wahahahahaha 
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all home? for both days?Originally posted by used:all home win and a milan win -
i don't think so... only for tonights matches.Originally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:all home? for both days? -
15' Pepe (Porto) misses the target. -
78' Pepe (Porto) fouls. -
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FT: CSKA Moskva 0-2 Porto
no hits for anyone. DMI's one void cause match already started -
This is what i am looking at now, the little square box is where i type.
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is lidat one la. dun worry
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Arsenal 0 - 1 Hamburg -
4' Van der Vaart (Hamburg) scores! Hamburg take a surprise lead with Rafael van der Vaart switching the ball from his left foot to his right just outside the penalty area before curling a brilliant shot into the top corner, over Jens Lehmann. The Dutchman has now scored in each of his two UEFA Champions League appearances since returning from injury.
scored against england too -
3' Seedorf (Milan) has an effort on goal. -
Real Madrid 0-1 Lyon
its old valencia boy john carew -
Benfica 1-0 Copenhagen
14' Leo