Champions League round-up: Arsenal and United held
Table of Contents
| 1 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Scott McDonald 13 | Ryan Giggs 84 |
Defending champions Manchester United were grateful to a late Ryan Giggs equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Celtic.
Gordon Strachan's side recorded a memorable 1-0 victory over United in the group stages in 2006 and it was almost the same story this year as Scott McDonald netted an opener.
The Australian striker lobbed goalkeeper Ben Foster in the 13th minute to give the Hoops the lead at Parkhead.
It was the first goal Celtic had scored and the first United had conceded in Group E.
But the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession and finally broke through with six minutes to go when a mistake from Artur Boruc allowed Giggs to head home a rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo’s long effort.
The draw means that United, who would have advanced to the last 16 with three points, has eight points from four games, the same as Villarreal.
Villarreal missed an opportunity to move top of Group E after a 2-2 home draw with Aalborg.
The hosts took the lead four minutes before half-time through former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi, but Aalborg equalised on 54 minutes with Jeppe Curth netting his first Champions League goal.
Guillermo Franco restored the lead for Villarreal in the 75th minute before Anders Due curled a brilliant left-footed free-kick to give the Danes a point.
GROUP F
Bayern Munich were forced to wait for their place in the last 16 as they drew 1-1 with Fiorentina at Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina, who had not won a Champions League match in six attempts, were in front after only 11 minutes when Adrian Mutu volleyed home a Luciano Zauri cross beyond Michael Rensing.
However, Tim Borowski replied in the 78th minute for Bayern, smashing home from close range.
Lyon are in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages as they beat Steaua Bucharest 2-0 thanks to goals from Juninho and Anthony Reveillere.
Dead ball-specialist Juninho opened the scoring with a clever free-kick on 44 minutes, and right-back Reveillere doubled the advantage in the final minute.
GROUP G
Portuguese champions FC Porto fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Dinamo Kyiv.
Artem Milevskiy gave Kyiv the lead after 21 minutes when he fired home past Porto goalkeeper Helton from the edge of the area.
Porto equalised after half-time through Jorge Rolando before an injury-time winner from Lucho González moved Porto into second place in Group G.
Unfortunately, the Argentine midfielder was given a second yellow card and sent off for his excessive celebration.
Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at home by Fenerbahçe, just two weeks after winning 5-2 in Istanbul against the same opponents.
Robin van Persie missed the hosts’ best chance when Volkan Demirel tipped his close-range effort on to the crossbar.
Arsène Wenger brought on Mexican wonder kid Carlos Vela for Nicklas Bendtner, but the change, though, did not create a goal for the Gunners.
GROUP H
Zenit St. Petersburg registered their first Group H victory after a 2-0 away win over BATE Borisov.
The visitors took a deserved lead 11 minutes before half-time through striker Pavel Pogrebnyak before Sébastien Puygrenier was sent off in the 73rd minute.
But a late second from Danny secured the victory for the Russians.
Juventus booked their place in the last 16 after two goals by Alessandro Del Piero gave the Bianconeri a 2-0 victory at Real Madrid.
With new Argentina coach Diego Maradona watching from the stands, Italian veteran Del Piero stunned their hosts in the 17th minute, striking a superb effort from 20 yards.
Del Piero then continued his impressive form in Europe as he scored his fourth goal in four Champions League matches from a trademark free-kick on 67 minutes.
"I'm pleased to have scored in front of Maradona. I hope Diego comes to watch us play more often," said Del Piero, who received a standing ovation from the Madrid fans.
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Gordon Strachan's side recorded a memorable 1-0 victory over United in the group stages in 2006 and it was almost the same story this year as Scott McDonald netted an opener.
The Australian striker lobbed goalkeeper Ben Foster in the 13th minute to give the Hoops the lead at Parkhead.
It was the first goal Celtic had scored and the first United had conceded in Group E.
But the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession and finally broke through with six minutes to go when a mistake from Artur Boruc allowed Giggs to head home a rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo’s long effort.
The draw means that United, who would have advanced to the last 16 with three points, has eight points from four games, the same as Villarreal.
| 2 - 2 |
| ||||||
| Giuseppe Rossi 41 | Jeppe Curth 54 | |||||||
| Guillermo Franco 75 | Anders Due 81 |
Villarreal missed an opportunity to move top of Group E after a 2-2 home draw with Aalborg.
The hosts took the lead four minutes before half-time through former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi, but Aalborg equalised on 54 minutes with Jeppe Curth netting his first Champions League goal.
Guillermo Franco restored the lead for Villarreal in the 75th minute before Anders Due curled a brilliant left-footed free-kick to give the Danes a point.
GROUP F
| 1 - 1 |
| ||||||
| Adrian Mutu 11 | Tim Borowski 78 |
Bayern Munich were forced to wait for their place in the last 16 as they drew 1-1 with Fiorentina at Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina, who had not won a Champions League match in six attempts, were in front after only 11 minutes when Adrian Mutu volleyed home a Luciano Zauri cross beyond Michael Rensing.
However, Tim Borowski replied in the 78th minute for Bayern, smashing home from close range.
| 2 - 0 |
| ||||||
| Juninho 44 | ||||||||
| Anthony Reveillere 89 |
Lyon are in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages as they beat Steaua Bucharest 2-0 thanks to goals from Juninho and Anthony Reveillere.
Dead ball-specialist Juninho opened the scoring with a clever free-kick on 44 minutes, and right-back Reveillere doubled the advantage in the final minute.
GROUP G
| 1 - 2 |
| ||||||
| Artem Milevskiy 21 | Jorge Rolando 69 | |||||||
| Lucho 90 |
Portuguese champions FC Porto fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Dinamo Kyiv.
Artem Milevskiy gave Kyiv the lead after 21 minutes when he fired home past Porto goalkeeper Helton from the edge of the area.
Porto equalised after half-time through Jorge Rolando before an injury-time winner from Lucho González moved Porto into second place in Group G.
Unfortunately, the Argentine midfielder was given a second yellow card and sent off for his excessive celebration.
| 0 - 0 |
|
Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at home by Fenerbahçe, just two weeks after winning 5-2 in Istanbul against the same opponents.
Robin van Persie missed the hosts’ best chance when Volkan Demirel tipped his close-range effort on to the crossbar.
Arsène Wenger brought on Mexican wonder kid Carlos Vela for Nicklas Bendtner, but the change, though, did not create a goal for the Gunners.
GROUP H
| 0 - 2 |
| ||||||
| Pavel Pogrebnyak 34 | ||||||||
| Danny 90 |
Zenit St. Petersburg registered their first Group H victory after a 2-0 away win over BATE Borisov.
The visitors took a deserved lead 11 minutes before half-time through striker Pavel Pogrebnyak before Sébastien Puygrenier was sent off in the 73rd minute.
But a late second from Danny secured the victory for the Russians.
| 0 - 2 |
| ||||||
| Alessandro Del Piero 17 | ||||||||
| Alessandro Del Piero 67 |
Juventus booked their place in the last 16 after two goals by Alessandro Del Piero gave the Bianconeri a 2-0 victory at Real Madrid.
With new Argentina coach Diego Maradona watching from the stands, Italian veteran Del Piero stunned their hosts in the 17th minute, striking a superb effort from 20 yards.
Del Piero then continued his impressive form in Europe as he scored his fourth goal in four Champions League matches from a trademark free-kick on 67 minutes.
"I'm pleased to have scored in front of Maradona. I hope Diego comes to watch us play more often," said Del Piero, who received a standing ovation from the Madrid fans.
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