News Archive

Champions League - day 3

Barcelona came through their first test without the injured Messi with flying colours, a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan on Wednesday keeping them at the top of their group. Valverde opted to play Rafinha in Messi’s position, and the move paid off when he got on the end of a Luis Suárez cross to open the scoring on the half hour mark. Handanovic had to save from Lenglet and Suárez after the break, and Countinho fired a shot against the post, but the result was still in doubt until Jordi Alba latched on to a Rakitic through ball to score the second with eight minutes to go. Atlético Madrid though lost 4-0 to Borussia Dortmund, and they drop to second place, now three points adrift of the German side. Witsel gave the locals the lead with a shot which deflected off Saúl shortly before the break, and although Saúl hit the woodwork after the restart, Guerreiro made it two on a quick breakaway later on in the second half. Soon afterwards Bürki tipped an effort from Correa on to the post, but Sancho and Guerreiro added two more in the last ten minutes or so for Atleti’s biggest ever defeat under Simeone. They are still however well placed to qualify for the knock-out stage, especially after Brugge and Mónaco drew in the other group game. (24.10.18)

Real Madrid clocked up their first win in six games after they beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 on Tuesday night, although they struggled once again, and it still not clear whether Lopetegui will be in charge for next Sunday’s “clásico” in the Nou Camp. Ramos headed against the upright before Benzema headed the opener from a Lucas Vázquez cross in the twelfth minute. However the Czech side tested Keylor Navas a couple of time on breakaways, and although Marcelo made it two from Bale’s assist after the restart, a strike by Hrosovsky with ten minutes to go set up a nervous last few minutes for the home fans. Madrid are still joint top of their group though, but Valencia are already in danger of being knocked out of the competition after they could only draw 1-1 against Young Boys in Bern earlier in the evening. Batsuyashi gave the Ches the lead after Carlos Soler put him through midway through the first half, their first goal in the competition this season. However Hoarau levelled it from the penalty spot after Parejo brought him down in the area a few minutes in to the second half, and the Swiss team could have won it had Neto not tipped an effort from Sanogo on to the woodwork in the dying minutes. (23.10.18)