…….Champions League and UEFA Cup

Match Day II is over, and what a day it was. A lot went according to plan, but, as normal, a lot didn’t as well. Marseille came to Anfield and showed Liverpool that they were going to have to work for a win, and work they did. AC Milan and Celtic also played, along with Real Madrid v Lazio, and Chelsea v Valencia. On to the gamecaps!

Marseille headed into Anfield not having won since September 1999. Liverpool, at best, were bad. Their only attempt on goal came in the 92nd minute as Fernando Torres got a lucky ball played into him at the 6, only to blast it off the post. Marseille’s goal was pure magic, as the ball was played and Mathieu Valbuena finished it wonderfully.

AC Milan faced Celtic on Celtic’s home ground. Celtic lead for a time, but Milan’s Kaka put away a penalty six minutes later. The home team ended up winning on a 90th minute rebound by Scott McDonald as Brazilian goalkeeper Dida fumbled the ball away inside his own six. The crowd, understandably jubilant, ran onto the field. One spectator even got close to Dida. As Dida ran after him, the fan grazed him across the face, then Dida pulled a new “Rivaldo”.

In the first Champions League fixture without coach Jose Mourinho, Chelsea faced Valencia and David Villa. After losing to United mid week, the “Ambrovich’s” were due for a good match. David Villa put away a goal in the first 25 minutes. An own goal (Which was mostly credited to Joe Cole was the equalizer. Valencia looked like they could win the game, but a beautiful pass from Cole to striker Didier Drogba put the Blues up 2-1. Chelsea hung on and won their first points without Mourinho.Finally, Italian side Lazio fought valiantly against Spanish giant Real Madrid to draw. The scorers were two for Madrid’s Ruud van Nistelrooy and Lazio’s Goran Pandev. The first goal was van Nistelrooy putting home a beautiful free kick, only for Lazio to equalize before the end of the half. Ruud once again put Madrid on top early in the second half, with a chip over the Lazio keeper. Lazio of course equalized in the 74th minute as Fabrio Cannavaro and Gabriel Heinze were both beat and Pandev put keeper Iker Casillas low corner.