BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-5 MANCHESTER UNITED
It was a five star Performance from Manchester United as they trounced Bayer Leverkusen on their own turf to the dismay of the German faithful's. The Red devils who dawned black armbands in honour of former club legend and striker Bill Foulkes, dominated from start to finish in a ground that hasnt been conquered all season. Antonio Valencia got the first goal in the 22nd minute racing in to meet a Wayne Rooney delightful cross.
United doubled their advantage eight minutes later after Rooney's free-kick resulted to an escobar from Emir Spahic... Stefan Reinartz headed onto the post after the break for Leverkusen, but the visitors added a third when Jonny Evans tapped home in the 65th minute.
Chris Smalling scored a fourth with 13 minutes left, firing Rooney's lobbed ball into an open net, before Nani got himself on the score sheet with an exquisite late chip to condemn Leverkusen to third in Group A with one match to play.
I must admit, this was the first time i saw an outstanding performance from the Man United under the new regime of the chosen one,coupled with a Man of the match performance from 39years 364days old Ryan Giggs;that bull can't stop being a rear guard for the devils.
The win got manager David Moyes go lyrical in praises about his team's knock out round qualification;
"This is probably the best performance of the season. For us to come away from home and score five goals is really special," Moyes said.
"There were so many great performances. All around it was a great performance from the players. That is what I was hoping to get more often this season."
As Leverkusen Sporting director and ex-German international Rudi Voller stated, his club were duly slaughtered at home by the Red Devils;
"We will require some time to let this one sink in. We made a few mistakes and Manchester United,the quality team that they are, punished us for these mistakes,"
"We didn't have enough willpower in the second half to turn the game around. It was poor. Perhaps we have too much respect against teams like this.
FACTS:
Antonio Valencia has now gone 25 games in all competitions playing for an english club(wigan,Man United) without losing whenever he scores(24 wins,One draw)
Man United are the first club in history to score more than four goals against any German club on german soil.
SHAKTHAR DONESTK 4-0 REAL SOCIEDAD
This i must say was another game which i thought would bring yawns for me, but i was wrong!
Luiz Adriano gave the hosts a first half-lead with a well taken close-range finish, before Alex Teixeira took advantage of a defensive error to thump home a second after the break.
Douglas Costa added a brilliant third as he curled a superb finish from inside the box midway through the second half, before wrapping up the win with a header late on.
The win gives shakthar a point cushion over leverkusen, becoming second in the group as they head towards a last match day encounter against Man United in Old traford.
REAL MADRID 4-1 GALATASARAY
If Roberto Mancini had any plans of celebrating his 49th birthday yesterday night,then i must say Real Madrid did gate crash it big time as 10 man Galaticos put up a classic performance at the Santiago Bernabeu. It must be noted that the Los Merengues were without Fifa world player of the year elect Cristiano Ronaldo who was supported by the Madrid fans with a banner showing their solidarity.
Rather,it was the name of the most expensive footballer in world football history...GARETH BALE! that rang round the whole stadium as he rifled in a long-range sublime free-kick eight minutes before the interval, only for Bulut to level almost immediately.
Although the proceedings in this game started on a pretty sour note due to the harsh sending off of Sergio Ramos' in the 26th minute, all hell was set lose after the half time interval as Alvaro Arbeloa provided a collector's item of a goal in the second half, finding the net for the first time since November 2010, with Angel Di Maria adding the third and Isco completed the scoring nine minutes from time to wrap up top spot in the group for the hosts.
Leaving manager Carlo Ancelloti in contentment of his sides display;
"We played with courage and personality.
"It's true that the first half wasn't very good but we dominated and the game changed after Ramos' red card.
"We need to continue like this and stay consistent. I can't complain, I'm very happy."
JUVENTUS FC 3-1 FC COPENHAGEN
Actually this game was Arturo Vidal 3 FC Copenhagen 1,as the Chile midfield maestro gave a Wolverine performance,shredding apart the Danish club on Italian soil.
The Chilean converted two penalties either side of Olof Mellberg's equaliser before nodding in a third to take his tally to five goals in the competition this season.
The result, which eliminates Copenhagen, leaves Juventus second in Group B, two points clear of Galatasaray, whom they visit in their final game with just a point needed to progress to the knockout stages.
Vidal couldn't but state his delight in having his first hat-trick for the club;
"It's the first hat-trick of my career and I'm taking the ball back home as a gift for my son, to show him when I played this game. We're expecting a little girl now, too, so I'm very happy,"
CSKA MOSCOW 1-3 BAYERN MUNICH
After stating earlier in the week about heads that would roll if he gets to find the 'Mole in his dressing room, Bayern Manager Pep Guardiola looked to duties in the UCL game in the eastern part of Europe against CSKA Moscow of Russia.
The record making night started with Arjen Robben's 10th goal of the season,as the snow came down in the Russian capital and Mario Gotze doubled their lead early in the second half.
Keisuke Honda pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after spurning two golden opportunities,but Thomas Muller responded with a spot-kick at the other end to ensure Bayern surpassed the record of nine Champions League victories in a row set by Barcelona in 2002-03.
FACTS:
Bayern Munich have set a competition record of winning 10 consecutive UCL games,as well as maintaining an 100% record in the competition.
MANCHESTER CITY 4-2 VIKTORIA PLZEN
It was a returning night to first team duties for England's no. 1 goalie Joe Hart after being frozen out of the starting line up due to the account of his goalkeeping blunders which are well recorded.
In-form striker Sergio Aguero put Manuel Pellegrini's side in front from the penalty spot with his 15th goal in his last 12 games after Frantisek Rajtoral was harshly adjudged to have handled in the area.
However, the Czechs were level at the break courtesy of an impressive strike from Tomas Horava.
Samir Nasri put City back in front, but Plzen levelled for a second time in a frantic encounter when Stanislav Teci fired home.
Alvaro Negredo put City in front for a third time when he finished from close range and Dzeko sealed the points at the death as City took their tally to 22 goals in their last four home games.
FACTS:
Sergio Aguero has scored 8goals in his last 8 UCL games,scoring both home and away. #Potent!
PSG 2-1 OLYMPIAKOS
Zlatan Ibrahimovic capped up his 100th appearance in European Champions League football as he got his name on the score sheet,which helped in sealing the Le Parisien's progression to the knockout phase of the UCL.
The hosts however after a bright start on the night were reduced to 10 men when Marco Verratti was booked for a second time early in the second half and the Greek side thought they had gained a point when Kostas Manolas levelled 10 minutes from time.
However, Edinson Cavani grabbed the winner in the final minute, slotting home past Roberto Jimenez to secure Laurent Blanc's men the win.
Manager Laurent blanc stated his opinion on Verrati's red card incident;
"The first booking, he deserved, but it wasn't a dangerous play. It's stupid but it stops the attack. Sometimes it helps the team," Blanc was quoted as saying by RMC.
"Verratti made two mistakes in this game. I'm not trying to defend him but let's say it wasn't indefensible. I don't want to blame him, even though it put us in trouble."
FACTS:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's goal tally of 8goals in this years campaign, hence becoming the Joint goalscorer.
In the other group game; Benfica of Portugal sealed all 3points away,Jorge Jesus' men trailed to Chancel Mbemba's 18th-minute opener but hit back through Nemanja Matic 11 minutes before the break, with Mbemba's own goal handing the visitors the advantage early in the second half.
Massimo Bruno struck with an excellent finish 14 minutes from time to move Anderlecht level, only for substitute Rodrigo to provide a dramatic twist with a last-gasp winner.
TOP SCORERS
1. Z.Ibrahimovic PSG 8goals
2. C. Ronaldo Real Madrid 8goals
3. L. MessiBarcelona 6goals
4. S. AgueroManchester City 6goals
5. A. Negredo Manchester City 5goals
6. A.Vidal Juventus FC 5goals
7. A. Teixeira FC Shakhtar Donetsk 3goals
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