Champions League – Part 2

Chelsea 1-0 Roma

Roma were desperately disappointing – coach Loopyold Spaghetti adopted tremendously negative tactics, often with 10 men behind the ball – Roma didn’t have a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes.

I just don’t know what he was hoping to achieve. Yes, they were disciplined, and only lost because of a superb John Terry header from a corner, but they had no meaningful attacking threat. Was he playing for a 0-0? Hoping to hit them on the counter attack? Roma have been out of form this season yes, but they finished second in Serie A last season and with the likes of Totti, De Rossi, and Vucinic they can cause anyone problems.

Chelsea were favourites – strongly so – but Roma could have at least made Scolari’s men outplay them, rather than bring Mourinho’s famous ‘bus’.

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool took the lead through Robbie Keane (who seems to be finding his feet at last) but conceded an equaliser late on. Although they will be disappointed not to hold on, in reality a draw is a good result, and neither team will mourn the point.

Interestingly, Rafa left out Mascherano for this match, possibly with Sunday’s game against Chelsea in mind. An indication of where his priorities lie, perhaps? I’m pretty sure most Liverpool fans would agree.

On the downside, Gerrard, Keane and Alonso are all doubts – probably a good thing he has Mascherano in reserve!

Results and Scorers from last night:

Atletico Madrid	1-1 (HT 0-1)	Liverpool
Simao 83		Keane 14
Bookings: Maniche 45		Bookings: Riera 38 Arbeloa 43

Basle	0-5 (HT 0-3)	Barcelona
		Messi 4 Busquets 15 Bojan 22 Bojan 46 Xavi 48
Bookings: Rubio 43 Abraham 86

Bordeaux	1-0 (HT 0-0)	CFR Cluj-Napoca
Cadu o.g. 54
Bookings: Chalme 23 Chamakh 33 Rame 37		Bookings: Peralta 21 Cadu 42 Culio 59 Trica 67 Muresan 71
		Sent off: Trica 90

Chelsea	1-0 (HT 0-0)	Roma
Terry 78
Bookings: Malouda 30 Terry 72		Bookings: Mexes 22 Panucci 85

Inter Milan	1-0 (HT 1-0)	Anorthosis Famagusta
Adriano 44
		Bookings: Katsavakis 62

PSV Eindhoven	2-0 (HT 0-0)	Marseille
Koevermans 71 Koevermans 85
Bookings: Koevermans 39 Mendez 51

Panathinaikos	2-2 (HT 1-1)	Werder Bremen
Mantzios 36 Mantzios 68		Mertesacker 29 Hugo Almeida 83
Bookings: Spiropoulos 28 Karagounis 30 Simao 58 Ivanschitz 80		Bookings: Diego 20 Prodl 35