WED- UEFA Champions League Match 5
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16 mins
Spartak Moscow 1 - 0 Bayern Munich
16' Kalynychenko (Spartak Moskva) scores on free-kick! Spartak take the lead after Maxym Kalynychenko curls a wonderful free-kick around the Bayern wall and into the bottom corner of the net past a motionless Oliver Kahn. It is the 27-year-old's first UEFA Champions League goal and the first that the German champions have conceded in the competition this season -
21 mins
Spartak Moscow 1 - 1 Bayern Munich
22' Pizarro (Bayern) scores! It takes Bayern just six minutes to get back on level terms as an inswinging cross from the left by Christian Lell is met by a Claudio Pizarro glancing header which catches Aleksei Zuev off guard and creeps into the corner -
39 mins
Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 Bayern Munich -
Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 Bayern Munich
39' Pizarro (Bayern) scores! -
Rival coaches Rafael BenÃtez and Ronald Koeman promised to go all out for victory at Anfield on Wednesday night, when Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven battle for the right to finish top of UEFA Champions League Group C.
Qualification secure
The teams played out a goalless draw in the Netherlands on Matchday 1 but with both sides now through to the knockout rounds, Liverpool's BenÃtez is hopeful the return fixture can offer the supporters something more. "It's a good thing to have already qualified and we are approaching this game thinking about winning. Without the pressure, perhaps both teams can play some good football," he said.
Domestic problems
The Reds have had no problems in the UEFA Champions League this season, scoring three times in both of their victories at Anfield and winning 1-0 at FC Girondins de Bordeaux. By contrast, they have dropped to tenth place in the Premiership, 16 points behind leaders Manchester United FC, and have not scored on their travels in the league since the opening weekend in August. BenÃtez said: "I have a lot of confidence because we are attacking and attacking, so I am sure we will start scoring goals. At home we are playing well."
Koeman memories
PSV coach Koeman spoke of his "fantastic" memories of Anfield after he led SL Benfica to home and away victories against Liverpool in last term's UEFA Champions League, knocking them out in the last 16. He said he was aware of Liverpool's scoring problems, but added: "If you look at their results at home and also in the Champions League, you can see Liverpool are still a very strong team." Koeman said a sportsman's instinct is always to go for the win, promising PSV also had every intention of finishing top of the group.
Probable teams
Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan, Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Luis GarcÃa, Jermaine Pennant; Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt.
PSV Eindhoven: Heurelho Gomes; Jan Kromkamp, Alex, Manuel Da Costa, Carlos Salcido; Phillip Cocu, Timmy Simons, Ibrahim Afellay, Edison Méndez; Arouna Koné, Jefferson Farfán. -
With a trip to FC Barcelona to come on Matchday 6, the onus is on Werder Bremen to make home advantage count against Group A leaders Chelsea FC on Wednesday night in order to consolidate second place in the pool.
One game at a time
Bremen's advantage over the reigning European champions is two points, and with Barcelona visiting PFC Levski Sofia this week, Thomas Schaaf's men need to take as much profit as possible from the Chelsea game. Without wishing to look too far ahead, the coach said: "We must concentrate on the match against Chelsea and, to be honest, I am not even thinking about what might still happen in the group. I am proud of what we have achieved so far and I am sure there is a lot more to come from my team. We want to beat Chelsea to improve the good position we have put ourselves in."
Captain KO
With his captain Frank Baumann suspended, Schaaf must make at least one change to his midfield, and the fitness of Christian Schulz, struggling with a knee injury, could add to the alterations. "He is in the squad and we will have to wait and see how he feels," said the coach, whose charges drew 2-2 at TSV Alemannia Aachen at the weekend to sit second in the Bundesliga. If fit, the 23-year-old Schulz will play on the left of midfield, with Torsten Frings dropping back to shield the defence.
Ballack and Cole in
Schaaf's opposite number José Mourinho also faces a midfield reshuffle. Key man Frank Lampard is banned after picked up three bookings and will make way for Michael Ballack, returning to Germany after being rested for Saturday's 1-0 win against West Ham United FC. Mourinho will also include fit-again Joe Cole at the expense of Arjen Robben. "Joe has been a victim of the injury he sustained during pre-season," he said. "I know how serious the injury was and that it takes time to recover. In recent weeks he has also been a victim of our results, because it is hard to change a team that is winning. He is an excellent player and it is a good chance to play him in a high-level game."
Playing to win
Chelsea, whose last match will be at home to Levski, lead Group A by three points; not a substantial enough cushion, said Mourinho, for them to be able to relax in anticipation of Sunday's meeting with Premiership leaders Manchester United FC. "I only play football to lose when I play against my kids," the Portuguese said. "I am not here to lose this game. I will field the best possible side to get the best possible result. This is the Champions League and the opponents and the competition deserve respect. We still need something to secure our place in the next round."
Probable teams
Bremen: Tim Wiese; Clemens Fritz, Naldo, Per Mertesacker, Pierre Wome; Tim Borowski, Torsten Frings, Diego, Christian Schulz; Aaron Hunt, Miroslav Klose.
Chelsea: Carlo Cudicini; Geremi, John Terry, Khalid Boulahrouz, Ashley Cole; Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole; Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko. -
Rijkaard retains faith in Barça
FC Barcelona step out into the chill of a Bulgarian winter with a shaky hand on the UEFA Champions League trophy they held aloft in triumph in the warmth of a glorious early summer evening in Paris last May. But coach Frank Rijkaard sought to take the pressure of his team when he said he fully expected them to beat PFC Levski Sofia and keep the qualifying places in Group A in the melting pot until the final set of fixtures in two weeks' time.
Permutations
A failure to win any of their three games since the 5-0 destruction of Levski at Camp Nou on Matchday 1 has put Barcelona's berth in the knockout rounds in jeopardy. A draw or defeat in the Bulgarian capital would dump them out of contention should Werder Bremen overcome Chelsea FC in the section's other match. However, all the permutations leave Rijkaard unmoved. His focus is only on the 90 minutes at the Vasil Levski National Stadium and he has no fears about the outcome.
Rijkaard unfazed
"I'm not thinking that we could be eliminated," he said. "I'm concentrating only on this game on Wednesday night and I'm sure we will win." The Dutchman will not even bother to find out the state of play in the game in Germany which could have a big bearing on Barça's destiny: "I won't pay attention to it. I'm always saying that you know how a game will start but not how it will finish, so I won't worry about it."
Key duo out
The Primera División leaders are without two of their most potent weapons, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, for a tie they must win. But a side containing Ronaldinho, Deco and Eidur Gudjohnsen, who scored twice at the weekend as the Catalan club triumphed 4-1 at RCD Mallorca, ought, on the face of it, to be too strong for UEFA Champions League debutants still looking to put their first points on the board.
'Pleased and proud'
Levski coach Stanimir Stoilov says that regardless of the results in their last two fixtures, his team have much to be satisfied with. "I am pleased and proud with our European performances over the last two seasons," he said. "Of course, the results are not good but, after all, we have played against Barcelona, Chelsea and Werder Bremen. We made a big step forward in reaching the Champions League group stage and now we have much more experience. Next season, if we manage to reach this stage again, we will do much better."
Petkov returns
His charges have a four-point advantage in the Bulgarian top flight after beating PFC Lokomotiv Sofia 3-0 on Saturday, and have goalkeeper Georgi Petkov back after he sat out the 3-0 defeat by Bremen on Matchday 4. Star striker Valeri Domovchiyski is also in contention after recovering from a groin injury, while the versatile Stanislav Angelov could replace Dimitar Telkiyski as the midfielder nurses a slight muscle strain.
Probable teams
Levski: Georgi Petkov; Zhivko Milanov, Elin Topuzakov, Igor Tomašiæ, Lucio Wagner; Richard Eromoigbe, Daniel Borimirov, Stanislav Angelov; Cédric Bardon, Valeri Domovchiyski, Hristo Yovov.
Barcelona: VÃctor Valdés; Oleguer Presas, Rafael Márquez, Carles Puyol, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Thiago Motta, Ronaldinho, Deco, Andrés Iniesta; Eidur Gudjohnsen, Ludovic Giuly. -
VS
Liverpool v PSV
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Spartak Moscow 2 - 2 Bayern Munich
72' Kovác (Spartak Moskva) scores! Spartak are back on level terms as a corner hits Radoslav Kovác in the mid-drift before he reacts quickest to turn the ball in at close range at the second attempt. It is a deserved goal for the home side but may not be enough to keep their European season alive if Sporting collect three points in tonight's other match in Group B. -
FT Spartak Moscow 2 - 2 Bayern Munich
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Scoreboard
1. used 41pts
2. anhydrouscoppersulphate 33pts
3. zocoss 20pts
4. lpx88 14pts
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 -
Levski 0-1 Barcelona
5' Giuly (Barcelona) scores! -
Bordeaux 1-0 Galatasaray
22' Alonso (Bordeaux) scores! -
Bremen 1-0 Chelsea
27' Mertesacker (Bremen) scores! -
Internazionale 1-0 Sporting
36' Crespo (Internazionale) scores! Inter are in front with a wonderfully crafted goal as Dejan Stankovic chips a sublime defence-splitting pass into Hernán Crespo's path and the Argentinian hits a right-foot volley beyond Ricardo. The goal is the 31-year-old's first in Europe this season and is a vital one in terms of Inter's hopes of sealing qualification tonight. -
Valencia 1-0 Olympiacos
45' Angulo (Valencia) scores! -
Bordeaux 2-0 Galatasaray
47' Laslandes (Bordeaux) scores! -
Valencia 2-0 Olympiacos
46' Morientes (Valencia) scores!
Bordeaux 3-0 Galatasaray
50' Julien Faubert -
Shakhtar 1-0 Roma
61' Marica (Shakhtar) scores! -
65' Andrés Iniesta
Levski 0 - 2 Barcelona -
Liverpool [1 - 0] PSV Eindhoven
65' [1 - 0] S. Gerrard -
73' Junichi Inamoto
Bordeaux 3 - 1 Galatasaray