Category Archives: UEFA Champions League

Olympiakos 1-0 Juventus | Champions League Group A match report

Olympiakos pulled off one of the surprises of the night when they beat Juventus 1-0 in Piraeus with a first-half goal from Pajtim Kasami. The Swiss midfielder struck in the 36th minute to leave Michels side level on six points with Atlético Madrid at the top of Group A. The Spanish league champions thrashed Malmo 5-0 in Madrid.

Juventus failed to test the goalkeeper Roberto Gago in the opening half but had plenty of opportunities to equalise after the interval. The Italian league champions encountered a hostile atmosphere at the Karaiskakis Stadium and lost to Olympiakos for the first time in Greece. The Italians have dropped to third in their group, three points adrift of the leaders, Atlético.

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Pablo Zabaleta: Manchester Citys draw against CSKA Moscow was painful

Argentine defender admits team give ball away far too cheaply
Zabaleta acknowledges City now have uphill struggle to qualify
Uefa confirms no action against CSKA Moscow

Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that Manchester City can give the ball away too cheaply and the team find it difficult to win when playing badly, following yet another disappointing display in the 2-2 draw at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday evening.

The result came after City led the Russian champions 2-0 at the break and leaves Manuel Pellegrinis side with only two points from three Group E matches.

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Didier Drogba could be injury-hit Chelseas last line of attack

Injuries to Diego Costa and Loïc Rémy mean the rusty and ageing Ivorian striker could start at Old Trafford on Sunday

There was a sweet dose of nostalgia when Didier Drogba put his status as club royalty to good use and asked Eden Hazard to let him take Chelseas first penalty against NK Maribor on Tuesday night. Drogba had been on the pitch for only five minutes after replacing the injured Loïc Rémy and while it may have simply looked like he was doing what comes naturally to all single-minded strikers, the significance of the moment was not lost on him.

This was his first goal for Chelsea since his return in the summer, and how Drogba appreciated it came from the spot given the last act of his first spell was converting the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final. When I took the penalty I was smiling because thats the way I left the club, Drogba said. To start scoring with a penalty again is quite symbolic.

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Manchester City want fans reimbursed with CSKA Moscows Uefa fine

Premier League club to write letter to European governing body
Russian club serving stadium ban but some supporters present
Match report: CSKA Moscow 2-2 Manchester City

Manchester City will express extreme disappointment to Uefa at the governing body taking no action against CSKA Moscow, despite home fans being present in the Arena Khimki for Tuesdays 2-2 Champions League draw. The Premier League champions will ask that the fine paid by CSKA as part of a punishment for fans misconduct be used to reimburse City supporters, who lost money on the cost of the trip for the Group E match they were not allowed to attend.

CSKA are serving a three-match stadium ban for their fans offences, which include repeated racism. Yet there were at least 350 of their supporters present draped in club colours and loudly cheering their side throughout the tie.

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Liverpools Mario Balotelli swaps shirts with Real Madrids Pepe at half-time

Adam Lallana replaced striker at midway point
Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid match report
The best images from Anfield in pictures

Mario Balotelli was seen swapping shirts with the Real Madrid defender Pepe as they both left the pitch at half-time with Liverpool 3-0 down in their Champions League Group B game at Anfield.

The Italian striker was replaced by Adam Lallana at the interval. The Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, said after the game that the switch was tactical.

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