UEFA Champions League Week 1 Review: Barcelona, Arsenal Rampant
UEFA Champions League 2010-2011 group stage has finally started!
We saw a lot of great matches and a lot of great goals!
I am bringing you a quick review of all results in all groups.
I hope you will enjoy.
Group A: Inter Struggle To Draw
1 of 9Twente vs Inter 2-2
Janssen 20’, Milito 30’ (o.g.) / Sneijder 14’, Eto'o 41’
Internazionale began their Chamions League title defence with an entertaining 2-2 draw against FC Twente. Twente showed some good football against Inter. It will be interesting to see if Benitez can make an impact on Inter like Jose Mourinho did. Inter definitely looks very different under control of Spanish coach.
Werder Bremen vs Tottenham 2-2
Almeida 43’, Marin 47’ / Pasanen 12’ (o.g.), Crouch 18’
Spurs blow their two goal lead and Werder did a great recovery.
It's all tied up in group A. Interesting that we saw own goal in each match.
 Inter | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
 Tottenham | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
 Werder Bremen | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
 Twente | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
September 29th:
Inter vs Werder
Tottenham vs Twente
Group B: Favorites Win Easily
2 of 9
Lyon vs Schalke 1-0
Bastos 21’
It was a hard win for Lyon but 10-men Schalke have been a good opponent. Red card changed the whole match.
Benfica vs Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0
Luisão 21’, Cardozo 68’
Benfica did a flying start into the new Champions League campaign.
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
 Lyon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| Schalke 04 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
September 29th
Schalke vs Benfica
Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Lyon
Group C: Rangers Frustrate United
3 of 9Manchester United vs Rangers 0-0
Very disappointing start for Ferguson players. Super effort by Rangers to get a draw.
Also, this match will be remembered for a serious injury. United player, Valencia broke his leg.
Bursaspor vs Valencia 0-4
Tino 16’, Adúriz 41’, Pablo 68’, Soldado 76’
Miserable debut for Bursaspor as Valencia completely destroyed them.
Valencia looks pretty good without Villa and Silva.
 Valencia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
| Manchester United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Rangers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Bursaspor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
September 29th
Rangers vs Bursaspor
Valencia vs Manchester United
Group D: PAO Destroyed By Great Barcelona
4 of 9Barcelona vs Panathinaikos 5-1
Messi 22’, 45’, Villa 33’, Pedro 78’, Dani Alves 90’ / Govou 20’
Barcelona looked impressive in this match as Messi was shining again. Govou gave them a little upset but that was going on only for 2 minutes.
Copenhagen vs Rubin 1-0
N'Doye 87’
Copenhagen win at the death. Late header from N'Doye in 87 min. gave Copenhagen all 3 points.
| Barcelona | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 3 |
 Copenhagen | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
 Rubin Kazan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
 Panathinaikos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 |
September 29th
Rubin vs Barcelona
Panathinaikos vs Copenhagen
Group E: Bayern Wins Easily Poor Roma
5 of 9Bayern Munich vs Roma 2-0
Müller 79’, Klose 83’
A deserved win for Bayern Munich. Very quality football from German Champions.
Müller goal was a true masterpiece.
Cluj vs Basel 2-1
Rada 9’, Traoré 12’ / Stocker 45’
Cluj took care of business right on the start of the match giving no hope for Basel.
This are definitely 3 "gold" points for Cluj.
| Bayern Munich | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
 Cluj | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
 Basel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| Roma | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
September 28th
Roma vs Cluj
Basel vs Bayern Munich
Group F: Chelsea Destruction In Slovakia and Surprise From Spartak Moscow
6 of 9
Zilina vs Chelsea 1-4
Oravec 55’ / Essien 13’, Anelka 24’, 28’, Sturridge 48’
Chelsea easily destroyed Zilina. Chelsea is definitely one of the biggest favorites for winning the Champions League this year. Can Ancelotti bring this title to the Blues?
Olympique Marseille vs Spartak Moscow 0-1
Azpilicueta 82’ (o.g.)
Big surprise from Spartak as they get all three points against Marseille on their field.
Spartak didn't deserve this win but thanks to Azpilicueta who scored an own goal, they can celebrate.
| Chelsea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| Spartak Moscow | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| Marseille | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
 Zilina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
September 28th
Chelsea vs Marseille
Spartak Moscow vs Zilina
Group G: Milan and Real Does a Good Sweet Start
7 of 9
Milan vs Auxerre 2-0
Ibrahimovic 66’, 69’
Ibrahimovic finally scored his first goals for Milan. Milan showed class late in the game and they are taking all 3 points.
Real Madrid vs Ajax 2-0
Anita 31’ (o.g.), Higuaín 73’
Real Madrid deserved to win this match and Jose Mourinho can be really happy with the score.
| Milan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| Real Madrid | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| Ajax | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| Auxerre | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
September 28th
Ajax vs Milan
Auxerre vs Real Madrid
Group H: Arsenal Destroyes The Newbies Braga
8 of 9
Arsenal vs Braga 6-0
Fábregas 9’ (pen.), 53’, Arshavin 30’, Chamakh 34’, Vela 69’, 84’
Arsenal fans couldn't wish better start of new Champions League campaign.
Every football fan enjoyed watching amazing Arsenal win against Braga.
Shaktar Donetsk vs Partizan 1-0
Srna 71’
Fantastic free kick from Croatian international, Dario Srna was enough to sink Partizan.
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 3 |
 Shaktar Donetsk | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
 Partizan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
 Braga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | −6 | 0 |
September 28th
Braga vs Shaktar Donetsk
Partizan vs Arsenal
Conclusion
9 of 9
Total Goals: 44 (2.75 per match)
Most goals in the match: Arsenal vs Braga 6-0 & Barcelona Panathinaikos 5-1
Top Goalscorers: Anelka, Fabregas, Ibrahimovic, Messi, Vela (2 goals each)
The biggest surprises: Manchester United vs Rangers 0-0
Olympique Marseille vs Spartak Moscow 0-1
Twente vs Inter 2-2
