WED- UEFA Champions League Match 5
-
UEFA Champions League - 2006/07
Wednesday, 22 November 2006
VS
Liverpool v PSV
vs
Werder Bremen v Chelsea
Rest of the Champions League Fixtures for Wednesday, 22 November 2006
Bordeaux v Galatasaray
Inter Milan v Sporting
Levski Sofia v Barcelona
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich
Valencia v Olympiacos
-
Champions League predictions for Wednesday, 22 November 2006.
Liverpool v PSV - home win
Werder Bremen v Chelsea - home win
Bordeaux v Galatasaray - home win
Inter Milan v Sporting - home win
Levski Sofia v Barcelona - away win
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma - away win
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich - away win
Valencia v Olympiacos - home win -
Originally posted by lpx88:Draw
Barca
Draw
Inter
Bordeaux
PSV
Valencia
RomaOriginally posted by anhydrouscoppersulphate:draw
barcelona
bayern
inter
gala
psv
draw
romaOriginally posted by T.Ryousuke:D
A
A
H
D
H
H
A -
-
Inter have fitness worries over Cruz
Inter could be without Julio Cruz for their season-defining clashes with Sporting Lisbon and Palermo.
The Argentine limped off during the 1-0 victory over Reggina with a problem in the collateral ligament of his right knee.
Although more tests will be required on Monday to ascertain the extent of the damage, itÂ’s believed heÂ’ll at least miss the next two games.
This is going to be a crucial week for the Nerazzurri, who face Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday in what is effectively a head to head battle for the second qualifying place behind Bayern Munich.
On Sunday they travel to Sicily in a top of the table showdown with Palermo, who are now three points behind the Serie A leaders following the surprise defeat in Cagliari.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be back for that game, though, as he sat out a one-match Serie A ban.
ItÂ’s a bitter blow for Cruz, who missed the first few weeks of the season with a muscular injury.
He has nonetheless been their top scorer with six goals in eight official appearances between Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia. -
Olympiakos pair suffer injury blows
Olympiacos CFP coach Trond Sollied has suffered a triple blow ahead of their vital trip to Valencia CF on Wednesday after discovering that midfielder Marco Né will be ruled out and Ieroklis Stoltidis is doubtful.
Ivorian international Né only returned a week ago from a knee injury but after playing two league games he was taken to hospital with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery on Sunday evening, ruling him out for three weeks and the remaining Group D matches against Valencia and FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
His fellow midfielder Stoltidis, ever-present in the competition so far this season, has a virus and is extremely doubtful for the visit to Spain. Olympiacos can still progress to the knockout rounds if they win their remaining games and Roma lose twice against the same opponents but three points on Matchday 6 against Shakhtar would at least seal a UEFA Cup place.
Meanwhile, defender Michalis Kapsis, who has been left out of the UEFA Champions League squad, suffered a cut leg against FC Aris Thessaloniki, requiring eight stitches. -
Will Chelsea put out a team to lose to Bremen on purpose so as to see Barce get knock-out?
Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea will focus on victory at Werder Bremen on Wednesday, even with an Old Trafford showdown looming and the prospect of Barcelona edging towards Champions League elimination.
Barca's campaign could end this week should they lose to Levski Sofia, and Bremen win - but the more likely scenario is Group A going to the final round of matches to decide who joins Chelsea in the knockout stages.
Getting a result against Chelsea would put the German side in the driving seat, but Mourinho is refusing to approach the game any differently despite a clash at Premiership leaders Manchester United next Sunday.
The Chelsea boss said: "We cannot go there with a second team. If Bremen beats Chelsea and Barcelona are out of the competition, that is not our war. It's not our problem.
Sealing top spot in their group - and consequently a favourable place in the draw for the knockout stages - would allow Mourinho to rest key players for their final group game.
A clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge comes after their final group clash, against Levski, where the Chelsea boss will be hoping to blood youngsters. -
Ballack expected to return for Chelsea
Chelsea will recall Michael Ballack for their Champions League clash with Werder Bremen on Wednesday.
Ballack was left out of the squad for SaturdayÂ’s victory over West Ham in the Premiership.
Nigerian youngster Mikel John Obi is also expected to be named in coach Jose MourinhoÂ’s squad for the trip to Germany.
Provisional squad: Cudicini, Hilario, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Ferreira, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Ballack, Robben, Drogba, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, Boulahrouz, Mikel, Diarra. -
Galatasaray to go all out against Bordeaux
Galatasaray defender Rigobert Song promises his team will not give up without a fight when they play Girondins Bordeaux in a Champions League Group C match on Wednesday.
The winner, if there is one, will enter the UEFA Cup as Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven have already made sure of their places in the Champions League knockout stage.
"For both clubs tomorrows game is the most important, it will be a warriors match," Song told a news conference on Tuesday.
Rain has poured down in Bordeaux and drenched the pitch.
"Dont expect to see nice football. Whats important is to win", the Cameroonian added. "A draw would be a failure as we would be under huge pressure for the last game."
In a fortnight, Galatasaray host Liverpool while Bordeaux travel to Eindhoven. -
Ballack to replace Lampard in tomorrow's match
Midfielder Michael Ballack will return to the Chelsea team as one of three changes for Wednesdays Champions League clash with Werder Bremen.
Coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference on Tuesday that Ballack, the Germany captain, would come in for the suspended Frank Lampard in the Group A match.
The other changes would see midfielder Joe Cole play in place of Arjen Robben and defender Khalid Boulahrouz come in for the injured Ricardo Carvalho, Mourinho said.
Chelsea are top of Group A with 10 points from four games and need just a point to be certain of a place in the last 16.
Werder Bremen are second with seven points, ahead of European champions Barcelona with five points.
Spartak to leave earlier to avoid traffic jam repeat
Spartak Moscow will allow more than eight hours to get to their Champions League match at home to Bayern Munich after nearly missing the start of their game against Inter Milan because they were stuck in traffic.
The Russian team had to take the underground to the Luzhniki stadium for the game against the Italian side on Oct. 31 after their bus ground to a halt on Moscows notoriously congested roads.
The chaotic journey cost them dearly as Inter scored in the first minute and held on for a 1-0 victory.
"This time we want to be sure we arrive on time," Spartak coach Vladimir Fedotov told reporters. He added they would leave their training ground eight and half hours before kickoff on Wednesday.
Last time Fedotov had to conduct his pre-match talk with the players in a metro carriage, but this time he hoped for a less frenetic build-up to the match.
"Well check into a hotel near the stadium to have some rest before the game," he said.
German champions Bayern are already through to the next round while Spartak must win their final two Group B games to have any chance of reaching the last 16 after picking up just a point from their previous four matches. -
Garcia fit for Liverpool
Spanish star Luis Garcia is back in the reckoning for a place in Liverpools Champions League side at home to PSV Eindhoven, a match that could decide who finishes top of Group C.
The midfielder missed last weeks international fixture with a hamstring problem, and was still struggling with the injury ahead of Saturdays 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough.
But he is back in training now and will challenge for a place as boss Rafael Benitezs seems certain to stick with two wingers in an attacking system.
Daniel Agger is expected to retain his place in the centre of defence ahead of Sami Hyypia.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Pennant, Gonzalez, Crouch, Kuyt, Bellamy, Fowler, Dudek, Warnock, Paletta, Zenden.
Carvalho, Bridge and Kalou stay behind as Chelsea head for Germany
Centre-half Ricardo Carvalho will miss Chelseas UEFA Champions League clash with Werder Bremen after picking up an ankle injury in the victory over West Ham on Saturday.
Carvalho has failed to recover from the injury and did not travel to Germany with the rest of the squad on Tuesday.
Wayne Bridge has also stayed at home because his wife is expecting a baby. Salomon Kalou (medial ligaments) is also absent.
Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Geremi, A Cole, Boulahrouz, Terry, Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Makelele, Diarra, Drogba, Robben, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, Mikel. -
Scoreboard
1. used 41pts
2. anhydrouscoppersulphate 33pts
3. zocoss 20pts
4. lpx88 13pts
5. T.Ryousuke 12pts
6. Dead_Man_Inc 12pts
7. Patrik 9pts
8. LazerLord 5pts
9. striderz_o405 4pts
10. Agenda 3pts
==========Relegation Zone==========
11. ghimpheng 3pts
12. dragg 2pts
13. CKeer 0pts -
Liverpool v PSV - scoring draw
Werder Bremen v Chelsea - scoring draw
Bordeaux v Galatasaray - away win
Inter Milan v Sporting - home win
Levski Sofia v Barcelona - away win
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma - home win
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich - away win
Valencia v Olympiakos - home win -
VS
Liverpool v PSV
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to have Spanish winger Luis Garcia back after he returned to training following a hamstring injury.
Garcia could come in for Mark Gonzalez or Jermaine Pennant on the flanks or be used just behind a striker.
Craig Bellamy is set to start up front for the Reds as he is given match time to try and improve his form.
Daniel Agger is expected to retain his place in the centre of defence ahead of Sami Hyypia.
Liverpool FC defender Steve Finnan insists there is a lot left to play for when PSV Eindhoven visit Anfield on Wednesday night, despite the fact that both clubs have already qualified for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League.
Kromkamp regret
Jan Kromkamp is back at Anfield for the first time since leaving in the summer after six months and only eight starts under BenÃtez and the PSV defender has been keen to distance himself from an interview he gave where he was reported as being critical of Liverpool's style and supposed weaknesses. "The quotes were misunderstood," he said. "I never said anything bad about the club, the manager or anything else. I only ever said positive things about Liverpool. I wasn't here for long but I had a very good understanding with everyone and they know I enjoyed it very much here. It's very disappointing, I feel bad about it."
Head-to-heads
Liverpool and PSV's only previous meeting was a goalless draw in Eindhoven on their opening group match of this season's Champions League. That game was one of four in this season's group stages in which nobody was booked, after each club had played four matches.
Liverpool are unbeaten at home against Dutch opposition (two wins, one draw). PSV have visited English opponents on 10 occasions, winning three, losing six and drawing one. -
Kromkamp says he did not criticise Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven defender Jan Kromkamp has attempted to placate Liverpool fans ahead of Wednesdays Champions League clash at Anfield.
The 26-year-old Holland international, who moved to PSV from Liverpool in the summer, will be facing his former club in the Champions League Group C decider.
And his return to Merseyside has been marred by reports that he had been critical of his former clubs style, apparently branding them a "long-ball team".
Kromkamp had been quoted in a radio interview suggesting that Liverpool resort too quickly to the long ball up to striker Peter Crouch.
Kromkamp has not only annoyed Liverpool fans, but also former boss Rafael Benitez and he has even received text messages from former team-mates on the subject.
Now Kromkamp says: "I do not want the crowd after me, I want them to know that what I said was misunderstood. I had just a short radio interview and I have never said anything bad about Liverpool or the manager. I do not understand how anyone could say anything bad about this club, I enjoyed my time at Liverpool and have never said bad things like this. I even had text messages from friends here about it and I want the crowd to understand."
Benitez, however, had clearly been annoyed by Kromkamps alleged remarks, saying: "He is a player who was with us for a year so he will know about us, he will know about our style but he will also know from the training ground the quality we have here. It is not nice to see him talking about us the way he has. But he will know the weaknesses and the strengths."
PSV boss Ronald Koeman, who as Benfica coach won both legs of a Champions League last-16 clash with Liverpool last season, also tried to defuse the situation, saying: "Yes, with Peter Crouch or Sami Hyypia, Liverpool can use a long ball. But that is not their only method of attack. They have Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Fowler and with them they obviously play a different way."
On last seasons Benfica triumph, Koeman said: "I know Liverpool well, from playing them twice last season and this season at PSV. Maybe it is true they have problems scoring away from home, but at Anfield they are still very strong. I have fantastic memories of winning here with Benfica, it was a great result in Europe that night. I do not feel that Liverpool are very much stronger overall than last season, but they are certainly better up front. Signing Dirk Kuyt has been good for them. He is already a very good player, and this is his first experience outside of Holland with a really big club. He is already good, but he will get better, stronger and more confident in the future." -
-
Liverpool v PSV - home win
Werder Bremen v Chelsea - away win
Bordeaux v Galatasaray - home win
Inter Milan v Sporting - home win
Levski Sofia v Barcelona - away win
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma - away win
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich - away win
Valencia v Olympiacos - draw -
hoho
hope Chelsea draw, Barca n Roma win..
may i JP..
-
uhmm
chelsea - draw
barca - win
pool - win
roma - win
inter - win
bordeaux - win
bayern munich -win
valencia - win -
hey you can predict other games tooOriginally posted by a-Lost-9uY:uhmm
chelsea - draw
barca - win
pool - win
roma - win 
no points will be deducted... no harm done. -
League form is irrelevant in Europe says Benitez
Rafael Benitez is certain LiverpoolÂ’s inconsistency in domestic competition will have no effect on their Champions League fate.
Already qualified for the last 16, Liverpool will finish top of Group C if they beat PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Benitez, who will have Spain midfielder Luis Garcia back in contention after a hamstring injury, will stick with an attacking system using two wingers, believing the approach will be good enough to overcome the Dutch champions.
The Reds manager said: “What happens in our league form is not an issue, we have to show we are good enough in Europe and we will do that. We do have to improve, I do not recall ever seeing a perfect match – maybe a perfect second half in Istanbul (in the 2005 Champions League final) – but there is always something to improve on. At home, we are scoring goals and winning. Away, we are making chances and not winning. We have to start scoring the goals, it is as simple as that. We make so many chances, and when you watch the videos of away games it is even more disappointing. We are attacking and attacking, but I have confidence that we will start to score and to improve. The players know they can improve and they know they have quality. They also know I have confidence in them.”
He added: “It is good to have qualified for the last 16 in Europe. It will be good to beat PSV and make sure we do not have to go to Galatasaray needing anything to be top. I want to finish first, but you never know with the draw. Teams could be poor now but buy in January and be much better when the last 16 comes around in a few months. Their form, money and players can change so it is hard to predict but we need to finish top for our own confidence. It is clear we want to finish first. Maybe you could play against a team who are not as good as a team that wins a group but that is hard to judge. Teams will be different in a few months. So it is hard to say what the benefits of finishing top of the group are, but I would like to go in to the next game in Istanbul without any pressure. In front of our supporters we win, we score plenty of goals and we are happier. We need to show confidence and show people we are good enough.” -
Liverpool v PSV - homw win
Werder Bremen v Chelsea - away win
Bordeaux v Galatasaray - away win
Inter Milan v Sporting - home win
Levski Sofia v Barcelona - away win
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma - draw
Spartak Moscow v Bayern Munich - away win
Valencia v Olympiakos - home win -
today's match is better than yesterday's
-
- Welcome to the Luzhniki Stadium where already-qualified UEFA Champions League Group B leaders FC Bayern München are attempting to secure top place in the section with a match to spare. A repeat of their 4-0 victory against FC Spartak Moskva in the reverse fixture on Matchday 1 would guarantee that aim but they can expect a tough test against opponents who still have their eyes on third place and qualification to the UEFA Cup. Spartak are currently four points adrift of Sporting Clube de Portugal and know that victory tonight is vital for them to retain an interest in Europe this season. -
