Champions League Begins

(Photo Credit - Google Images)

The group stage of The Champions League got under way this week. That’s when it really is “league play”. Here is my take on those opening salvoes.

Let’s get one thing straight. If you are a Manchester United fan then never expect anything supportive about “Them” from me. As a lifelong Leeds United supporter it is in my DNA to support any team that might beat them. That’s why I Love Chelsea and Manchester City these days. Arsenal and Liverpool too, but neither are doing so well in recent seasons. So don’t expect an unbiased account here.

This week most of our teams in the Champions League got disappointing results. The exceptions were Manchester United and Arsenal. All the pundits agreed they both played badly but won. United won 1-0 from an early Carrick goal against Turkish side Galatasaray.

But they were very lucky. Galatasaray had at least one stone-walled penalty turned down. They also hit the post and bar. On the other hand Nani missed a penalty for Manchester, prompting lengthy discussions about why Van Persie didn’t take it (answer unknown).

Manchester City, on the other hand, contrived to lead 2-1 at Real Madrid after 85 minutes only to go down 3-2. Ronaldo scored a last minute winner as those City defenders ducked under the ball! All that great defensive work wasted! Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory by City.

Meanwhile Chelsea let slip a two goal lead against Juventus. Young Brazilian debutant Oscar bagged two goals, the second a beauty into the top corner. But then Chelsea seemed to switch off and concede straight away. The rest is history.

To be fair, Celtic got a solid 0-0 draw at home to Benfica. A win would have been welcome, but they were satisfied to have matched a class side. These are not the days of Celtic being 1967 Lisbon Lions I’m afraid. A point is a point.

Like Real Madrid, Barca had to come back from 2-1 down to beat Spartak Moscow 3-2. They didn’t leave it as late as Real, but inevitably it was Lionel Messi who bailed them out with a final brace of goals. The pundits had much to say about Barca needing at least one new central defender in their squad this season. Messi can only rescue them so many times.

I have to say that overall these groups are not very even in strength. To be honest I’ve never heard of at least one team in Manchester United’s easy group. Arsenal have a relatively easy mini-league too. “Unseeded” City, however, are in a “group of death” along with Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and of course Real. The rest are sort of “middling” groups at this level.  

Tonight it’s the turn of the much maligned “Europa League”. Please don’t ask me why it’s named after one of Jupiter’s big four moons. Anyway, Newcastle are away at Maritimo (Portugal), Liverpool are at “Young Boys” (Switzerland) and Spurs are at Home to Lazio (Italy). Good to see Newcastle playing in Europe again. Nuff Said. Out.

Paul Butters

PS Spurs were aggrieved to have three goals dodgily disallowed as they were held 0-0. Newcastle were also unlucky to be frustrated at 0-0. However, Liverpool won 5-3!