Big night, big performances!
26 Oct 2013 4:19 AM IST
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid all but secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 win over Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
The Portuguese had fired the hosts into a fourth minute lead with a tidy finish, but Juventus were level midway through the first-half when Fernando Llorente bundled home from close range.
Ronaldo took his tally to an incredible seven goals in just three Champions League games this season with a penalty five minutes later and Juve’s task became even steeper when Giorgio Chiellini was sent-off just after the interval.
Gareth Bale was then introduced to make his home European debut for Real, but despite failing to make the most of their numerical advantage they held on to make it three wins from three in Group B.
Defeat however leaves the Italian champions in a perilous situation with just two points from three games, now two behind Galatasaray after they beat FC Copenhagen 3-1 in the other game in the group on Wednesday.
Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a deserved standing ovation after scoring a magnificent half-volley against Anderlecht on Wednesday, although the fans that were applauding him were not his own but those of the opposing team. Not content with a single brilliant strike, the Swede went on to become the 10th man to score four goals in a Champions League tie as PSG won 5-0 in Belgium to extend their perfect record in Group C, and he remains the driving force of a team emerging as serious title contenders.
Galatasaray’s Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue helped the Turkish club to a comfortable 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen to move into second place behind Real Madrid in Group B on Wednesday.
A double by Franck Ribery inspired Champions League holders Bayern Munich to a predictably easy 5-0 win over pointless Czech opponents Viktoria Pilsen in their Champions League group match on Wednesday.
Ribery, who had been wisely rested for last weekend’s Bundesliga match because of a sore ankle, scored either side of half-time while impressive Austrian fullback David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger also got on the scoresheet.
Earlier in the night, Manchester City got their Champions League bid back on track on Wednesday, coming from behind to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 in testing conditions in the Russian capital.
CSKA took a 32nd-minute lead courtesy of former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and then put the Premier League club in front before the interval.
Manchester United ground out a tight 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Wednesday to move closer to a place in the Champions League knockout phase.
The decisive goal in the first ever meeting between the teams came within moments of kick-off, Inigo Martinez scoring an own goal after the excellent Wayne Rooney had struck the post.
Stefan Kiessling, author of last week’s infamous ‘phantom goal’, scored twice for real in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. His double was added by Simon Rolfes, from the spot, and Sidney Sam.
The Portuguese had fired the hosts into a fourth minute lead with a tidy finish, but Juventus were level midway through the first-half when Fernando Llorente bundled home from close range.
Ronaldo took his tally to an incredible seven goals in just three Champions League games this season with a penalty five minutes later and Juve’s task became even steeper when Giorgio Chiellini was sent-off just after the interval.
Gareth Bale was then introduced to make his home European debut for Real, but despite failing to make the most of their numerical advantage they held on to make it three wins from three in Group B.
Defeat however leaves the Italian champions in a perilous situation with just two points from three games, now two behind Galatasaray after they beat FC Copenhagen 3-1 in the other game in the group on Wednesday.
Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a deserved standing ovation after scoring a magnificent half-volley against Anderlecht on Wednesday, although the fans that were applauding him were not his own but those of the opposing team. Not content with a single brilliant strike, the Swede went on to become the 10th man to score four goals in a Champions League tie as PSG won 5-0 in Belgium to extend their perfect record in Group C, and he remains the driving force of a team emerging as serious title contenders.
Galatasaray’s Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue helped the Turkish club to a comfortable 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen to move into second place behind Real Madrid in Group B on Wednesday.
A double by Franck Ribery inspired Champions League holders Bayern Munich to a predictably easy 5-0 win over pointless Czech opponents Viktoria Pilsen in their Champions League group match on Wednesday.
Ribery, who had been wisely rested for last weekend’s Bundesliga match because of a sore ankle, scored either side of half-time while impressive Austrian fullback David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger also got on the scoresheet.
Earlier in the night, Manchester City got their Champions League bid back on track on Wednesday, coming from behind to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 in testing conditions in the Russian capital.
CSKA took a 32nd-minute lead courtesy of former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and then put the Premier League club in front before the interval.
Manchester United ground out a tight 1-0 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on Wednesday to move closer to a place in the Champions League knockout phase.
The decisive goal in the first ever meeting between the teams came within moments of kick-off, Inigo Martinez scoring an own goal after the excellent Wayne Rooney had struck the post.
Stefan Kiessling, author of last week’s infamous ‘phantom goal’, scored twice for real in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. His double was added by Simon Rolfes, from the spot, and Sidney Sam.
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