IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Benfica 0-2 Zenit St Petersburg: Witsel returns to haunt Jesus
Alec Fenn
Sep 16, 2014 21:39:03
The Belgium midfielder scored against his former employers to continue the Russian club's impressive start to the campaign in Portugal
Axel Witsel returned to haunt Benfica and Hulk also got on the scoresheet as Zenit St Petersburg came away from the Estadio da Luz with an impressive 2-0 win in their opening Champions League game on Tuesday night.
Hulk's classy dink gave the Russian Premier League side an early lead and, after goalkeeper Artur was dismissed for preventing what would surely have been a second goal, Witsel headed home against his former club to complete a comfortable victory.
It gave Zenit an 11th successive victory in all competitions and left Benfica to reflect on their first defeat of the season.
Victory will be particularly sweet for Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas and Hulk, who previously impressed at Benfica’s rivals Porto and were booed before kick-off.
Resounding chants reverberated around the Estadio da Luz in the lead-up to kick-off, but it took just five minutes for Zenit to silence the home supporters.
Oleg Shatov burst through the midfield and slid the ball behind the Benfica backline for Hulk to run onto. Artur raced from his line to close down the Brazilian, but the 28-year-old produced a delightful dinked finish to break the deadlock.
Hulk almost doubled the lead minutes later, crashing a fierce, low free-kick against the post.
It awoke Benfica. Eduardo Salvio made a purposeful dart forward, but his shot, albeit fierce, was comfortably parried by Yuri Yodygin.
Yet just as they were beginning to threaten, the hosts' hopes were all but extinguished.
Shatov once again unlocked the Benfica defence with another fine through ball. Danny latched onto it and knocked it past the onrushing Artur, who hauled the Zenit captain down just outside the box.
Referee Svein Oddvar Moen brandished the red card to the keeper, prompting Jorge Jesus to sacrifice playmaker Talisca for reserve goalkeeper Paulo Lopes.
Hulk's ferocious, goal-bound strike from the resulting free-kick was deflected wide by an outstretched leg, but from the following corner Danny found the unmarked Witsel, who fired home despite the best efforts of Lopes.
The hosts began the second half by taking the game to their opponents, as Salvio cleverly cut inside Domenico Criscito, only for his penalty appeals to be waved away before Luisao's header forced Lodygin into a smart save.
Shatov then sent Hulk through on goal, but his strike across goal came back off the post.
After 72 minutes, Nicolas Gaitan then tricked his marker down the left and cut inside, only to fire straight at Lodygin.
Zenit defended astutely thereafter to hold out for a precious away victory, leaving Benfica with it all to do with Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen in wait.
Galatasaray 1-1 Anderlecht: Late Burak goal saves point for hosts
Sep 16, 2014 21:38:21
The former Italy boss went close to watching his team suffer a shock defeat at the Turk Telekom Arena before his star striker netted in stoppage-time
Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz scored in stoppage-time to salvage a point at home to Anderlecht in their Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday which finished 1-1.
The away side looked considerably better for long periods at the Turk Telekom Arena and appeared destined to secure a deserved win until Burak popped up to spare Gala's blushes in the 91st minute.
Both sides look set for a tough task in getting to the knockout phase after being drawn alongside Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal in Group D.
And Cesare Prandelli's side were seconds away from making that job even harder, with Dennis Praet's fine strike handing the Belgian side a deserved lead.
Aleksandar Mitrovic should have added a second a few moments later when he somehow missed the target and Yilmaz made him pay in the dying embers of the contest.
Despite the pre-match suggestion from Prandelli that the partisan support would give the Turkish giants an edge, Anderlecht refused to look overawed in the opening stages.
Chances were infrequent at both ends of the pitch during the first 20 minutes, but Besnik Hasi's men stroked the ball around confidently.
The game's first chance finally arrived in the 26th minute as Ibrahima Conte almost marked his maiden start for Anderlecht in fitting fashion.
The Guinea winger did well to latch on to Matias Suarez's lofted pass at the back post, but the 23-year-old's shot rolled just wide of the target.
Galatasaray's final ball was lacking and again Anderlecht should have capitalised in the 29th minute.
The hosts failed to deal with a Steven Defour free kick and, after the ball landed kindly for captain Olivier Deschacht, the centre-back poked an effort straight at a grateful Fernando Muslera.
Prandelli's charges eventually stirred in the final 10 minutes of the first half and their best chance fell to Felipe Melo, who saw a low effort deflected just wide from 20 yards.
As part of a pre-planned protest against the Turkish football authorities, the home fans turned their back on proceedings for the first five minutes of the second half.
Galatasaray supporters did turn their eyes back towards the action just in time to see the first goal, although it will not have improved their collective mood.
Praet took down Defour's cross-field pass, jinked in from the left and lashed a low effort in off Muslera's right-hand post.
Mitrovic inexplicably failed to double their lead two minutes later as the Serbian skewed wide when one-on-one, while Davy Roef denied Goran Pandev with his legs a few moments later at the other end.
Galatasaray piled on the pressure in the latter stages and eventually salvaged a point as Aurelien Chedjou marched into the left side of the area and cut an inviting pass back to Burak to smash home.
Real Madrid 5-1 Basel: Bale, Ronaldo & Co. slice through Swiss
Sep 16, 2014 21:37:42
Carlo Ancelotti's men had been under pressure heading into their first European clash of the season, but a first-half flurry ensured they eased to three points
Real Madrid bounced back from successive defeats by thrashing Basel 5-1 to open the defence of their Champions League crown on Tuesday.
A scintillating display provided the perfect tonic for Saturday's 2-1 loss to fierce rivals Atletico Madrid, with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez on the scoresheet after Marek Suchy's own goal had set them on their way in the first half of the Group B clash.
Derlis Gonzalez reduced the arrears before half-time but Real - who achieved La Decima last season - ultimately sent out a clear signal of intent to their European rivals, with Karim Benzema scoring the goal of the night 11 minutes from time.
Carlo Ancelotti has come under some pressure after overseeing an underwhelming start to the domestic campaign but, despite the defeat to Atleti, he made just one change as Nacho came in for Alvaro Arbeloa.
And it was the right-back who was celebrating when Real took the lead in the 14th minute, although he surely realised that the goal would not be his.
James' back heel found Nacho in the box and his cross hit Suchy, wrong-footing Czech compatriot Tomas Vaclik in the Basel goal.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and, after Marcelo fired over, Luka Modric stung Vaclik's palms from long distance by way of another warning shot.
But there was nothing the goalkeeper could do when Real struck three times in seven minutes before the break.
Modric was influential in the first two, setting up Bale to net with a composed two-touch finish, before his superb outside-of-the-boot pass found the Welshman who in turn fed Ronaldo to tap in.
The game was over as a contest when James pounced to stab home after Benzema's shot was parried.
Basel, smarting from a 3-1 defeat against Grasshopper Zurich that prompted four changes, pulled one back immediately as Gonzalez - one of those to have been drafted in - capped a swift break with a precise finish.
The tempo dipped after the break and some of Real's defensive frailties were exposed, Iker Casillas producing a fine reflex save from Gonzalez following a mistake by substitute Raphael Varane.
Bale should have grabbed his second in the 72nd minute after gathering James' pass and bearing down on goal, but his toe-poked effort was turned around the post for a corner by Vaclik.
Fabian Schar struck a post from 20 yards in the last 15 minutes to underline an apparent sense of complacency among Ancelotti's charges, but the hosts were just saving the best until last.
Benzema and Ronaldo combined on the edge of the box to bamboozle the Basel defence and the Frenchman unleashed a stunning strike that struck the underside of the bar before bouncing in.
But Real will now turn back to the harsh reality of their plight in the Spanish top flight, where a return of just three points from three games has left them 13th.
Liverpool 2-1 Ludogorets: Talisman Gerrard scores dramatic late winner
Sep 16, 2014 21:38:00
The Reds skipper stepped up to score from 12 yards in injury time, just moments after the Bulgarian minnows had grabbed a dramatic equaliser at Anfield on Tuesday
Steven Gerrard's late penalty meant Liverpool's blushes were spared as their Champions League return ended with a 2-1 win over Ludogorets.
Gerrard sent debutant goalkeeper Milan Borjan the wrong way from the spot in added time to earn a win amid a chaotic and stunning finish to the game.
It appeared that the Bulgarians, in the group stages of the competition for the first time, had stolen a remarkable point when Dani Abalo coolly rounded Simon Mignolet and slotted home just before the 90-minute mark.
But Borjan, only signed on Friday due to the visitors' two main goalkeepers being ruled out, made a critical error when bringing down Javi Manquillo in the area.
And Gerrard made no mistake, adding to Mario Balotelli's 82nd-minute strike - his first for the club - to steal the points in Group B on the night Liverpool returned to Europe's elite club competition after a five-year exile.
Canadian Borjan - who has not played regular club football in over a year - took his place between the posts, having been signed following an unsuccessful spell with Sivasspor in Turkey.
His inclusion came as first-choice Vladislav Stoyanov - whose sending off infamously paved the way for defender Cosmin Moti to save two penalties in the qualifying penalty shoot-out win over Steaua Bucharest - served his suspension, while deputy Ivan Cvorovic missed out with a shoulder injury.
Canada's number one was not tested during the early exchanges, though, as Ludogorets more than held their own.
Borjan passed his first test when showing strong hands to keep out Adam Lallana's deflected effort following good work from Balotelli, but it was the visitors who enjoyed the better of the opening half.
Liverpool were restricted mainly to efforts from distance, the best of which came when Balotelli drew a smart stop from Borjan.
A good move finally brought their first significant opening in the 38th minute, Jordan Henderson sliding a pass to Lallana - whose goal-bound effort was blocked.
Liverpool emerged from the break with purpose and came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Manquillo poked a shot just over after receiving a fine cross-field pass from Henderson.
Ludogorets were quick to offer a reminder of their threat, however, with Junior Caicara stinging the hands of Mignolet.
Brendan Rodgers' side were still the more dynamic, although further moments of alarm came when Roman Bezjak narrowly shot over.
The game was suddenly end to end, with Borjan turning Gerrard's powerful header over the crossbar.
Bezjak was then denied by the woodwork following a wonderful ball from Marcelinho.
There were further nervy moments for Liverpool, including Alberto Moreno making a wonderful last-ditch challenge to deny the impressive Marcelinho, until Balotelli finally broke the deadlock with eight minutes left.
The Italian brought the ball down inside the area before turning and slotting beyond Borjan with a delicate volley.
It proved to be only the first act in the late drama, though, as Abalo then capitalised on a lapse in concentration to level on the stroke of full-time - producing a composed finish after rounding Mignolet.
Yet that error paled in comparison to the dreadful moment from Borjan, who miscontrolled a back-pass and then brought down the marauding Manquillo - allowing Gerrard to once again step up and be the hero on a big European night at Anfield.
The German side threatened to run riot against the north Londoners, with the two goalscorers particularly impressive in a high-intensity performance from BVB
Borussia Dortmund made it third-time lucky against Arsenal with a dominant 2-0 Champions League Group D triumph on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp's team found themselves paired against the Premier League side for a third time in four seasons, having lost 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park last term and shared a 1-1 draw in 2011.
All over the place in defence, a lack of creativity and poor finishing - Arsene Wenger will have to answer some difficult questions following what really could have been a drubbing by Borussia Dortmund.
Ciro Immobile, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan ran them ragged from the first minute, and only Wojciech Szczesny stopped things from becoming embarassing.
Things may have been different had Danny Welbeck converted a big chance at 0-0, but there are bigger issues that Wenger must address.
But Arsenal had no answer to waves of furious, pacey attacks from the Bundesliga outfit, who scored either side of half-time through impressive attacking duo Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Italy international Immobile netted his first goal since joined Dortmund from Torino with a superb solo effort, while Aubameyang's display of speed and incision punished Arsene Wenger's men again in the 48th minute.
Tellingly, Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck passed up good chances shortly before both Dortmund goals but the scoreline was ultimately flattering to the England international and his team-mates.
Former Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa started on the bench following a goalscoring return to Dortmund colours against Freiburg on Saturday, while Sven Bender made his first appearance in midfield since February having recovered from a thigh injury.
Arsenal's defensive problems was well documented before kick-off and, with Calum Chambers only among the substitutes due to a bout of tonsillitis, 19-year-old Hector Bellerin made his full debut at right-back.
Mikel Arteta, starting in midfield due to Matthieu Flamini's thigh problem, had an early scare when Henrikh Mkhitaryan went down under his fifth-minute challenge but the Armenian was rightly booked for simulation.
Dortmund enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but had to wait until the 27th minute for a clear opening, when Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny spread himself to deny Aubameyang on the end of Kevin Grosskreutz's cutback.
Two minutes later Mkhitaryan blazed over under pressure from Jack Wilshere after Szczesny parried a low cross from Immobile.
Sebastian Kehl dispossessed the ineffective Alexis Sanchez and fed Aubameyang, whose tame 34th-minute finish allowed Szczesny to tip wide at the near post.
Welbeck spurned Arsenal's best opening of the half, shooting wide after Aaron Ramsey's deft pass got him in behind the Dortmund defence and the visitors were made to pay on the stroke of the interval.
Immobile stormed forward on the break from his own half and burst between Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs to arrow a clinical low finish across Szczesny.
Kehl made way for Matthias Ginter at half-time but it did nothing to disturb Dortmund's momentum as they once again tore forward with an intensity Arsenal's defence had no answer to.
Aubameyang forced the Premier League team to backpedal on this occasion and, although he stumbled in rounding Szczesny on the end of Grosskreutz's sumptuous return pass, he managed to steer a bouncing ball past Koscielny on the line.
Szczesny then tipped over a rasping Immobile strike as Dortmund threatened to run riot.
Welbeck could not turn home Gibbs' 57th-minute cross on a rare foray forward, which was was almost punished by Aubameyang - the 25-year-old's electric pace again reducing Arsenal to shreds as he found space to fizz a shot against the top of the crossbar.
Sluggish errors from Szczesny and Arteta were almost capitalised on by Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan as Arsenal's performance threatened to unravel completely.
As the clock ticked down on Wenger's first opening-day loss in the Champions League for 11 seasons, Welbeck turned cutely but blazed over to repeat another theme of the evening.
And the final whistle brought an end to a punishing experience for Arsenal, who will count themselves lucky not to have suffered a heavier loss.
Juventus 2-0 Malmo: Tevez at the double in Bianconeri cruise
Sep 16, 2014 21:41:54
The Argentine struck twice in the second half to edge Massimiliano Allegri's side past a resolute Swedish outfit on Tuesday night
A second half double from Carlos Tevez gave Juventus a 2-0 win over Malmo as they kicked off their Champions League campaign in polished fashion in Turin.
The 30-year-old lifted the frustration inside Juventus Stadium to end a 14-game barren run in the competition - which stretched back five years to a clash with Porto while playing for Manchester United - as Juventus went top of Group A.
His first came in the 59th minute, as he coolly fired home after a perfect backheeled pass from Kwadwo Asamoah, while the second arrived in the last minute via a curling free-kick.
Massimiliano Allegri's side controlled possession in the opening half but a lack of quality in front of goal saw group stage debutants Malmo hold them at the break.
Tevez finally proved the difference, though, and the scoreline could have been even bigger had Fernando Llorente's close-range effort not been disallowed for offside by the assistant referee.
It was a tough evening for the Swedes in Turin, and their plight may yet get even worse after a second-half injury to top scorer Markus Rosenberg.
While Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo were both missing for the hosts through injury, Allegri was able to call on Giorgio Chiellini after injury and suspension, but the defender had little to do in the opening half.
Instead, all the action was at the other end as Juventus toyed with their opponents.
Paul Pogba, Llorente and Asamoah all failed to convert chances, with the latter appearing all over the pitch in an impressive display that only lacked a goal.
The Ghana star had the clearest chance of the opening period in the 19th minute when he met Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross, but his header sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Tevez's first effort on target was then easily saved, before his strike partner Llorente was denied by a deflection.
The Spaniard received a pass from Pogba inside the penalty area and held off two defenders with his back to goal before spinning to shoot, but his effort struck a defender and was diverted away for a corner.
With half-time approaching, the deadlock should have been broken as Lichtsteiner was released behind the Malmo defence. He squared a low cross to the back post but his team-mates failed to anticipate it and the danger was cleared.
The second half appeared to be going the same way as the first when the defender saw two crosses well blocked, but a minute shy of the hour mark Tevez finally opened the scoring.
Having played a pass into the penalty area, the Argentine striker received a superb return ball from Asamoah before stroking it past goalkeeper Robin Olsen to end his Champions League drought.
Llorente thought he had doubled the lead a minute later when he tapped in a Lichtsteiner cross from close range, however the assistant referee's flag denied him.
Low crosses from Patrice Evra and Lichtsteiner saw Juventus go close to doubling their lead but when Pogba miscued a spectacular effort from outside the penalty area it seemed they would have to settle for a one-goal advantage.
With seven minutes remaining Olsen produced a heroic save to deny Llorente before Malmo, who had rarely been out of their own half, were caught on the counter-attack by substitute Alvaro Morata.
The youngster was felled by Filip Helander on the edge of the penalty area and from the resulting free-kick Tevez curled home his second in style to get Juve off to a winning start.
Gerrard demands better from Liverpool after narrow win
By Nicholas McGee
Sep 16, 2014 23:37:00
The Reds captain netted a late spot-kick to give the Reds all three points from their opening Champions League fixture but he was far from satisfied with the performance
Steven Gerrard wants Liverpool to improve in the Champions League after his late penalty secured a narrow 2-1 win over Ludogorets on Tuesday.
The Reds captain stepped up to score the winner from 12 yards in the third minute of injury time in a hard-fought game at Anfield that marked the Merseyside club's return to Europe's premier club competition following a five-year absence.
Striker Mario Balotelli had given Brendan Rodgers' men the lead in the 82nd minute with his first goal since joining from Milan last month, only for Spanish midfielder Dani Abalo to hit back at the beginning of injury to seemingly seal an unlikely point for the Bulgarian minnows.
Gerrard, as he has done so often in the past, rescued Liverpool after Ludogorets goalkeeper Milan Borjan was adjudged to have brought down Javi Manquillo, but the 34-year-old midfielder was far from satisfied with his side's performance, despite praising the impact of goalscorer Balotelli.
"We did okay but it wasn't better than okay," Gerrard told Sky Sports.
"There's a lot to learn, we were caused problems on the counter-attack.
"You have to give Mario Balotelli credit, it didn't go his way for long periods, but the sign of a good goalscorer is to keep going and get a chance. What's more important is his work rate.
"If we win in Basel [on October 1] now it puts us in a good position but we must do better."
The €21 million deadline day signing from Manchester United again failed to open his account for his new club against Borussia Dortmund but was defended by his manager
Arsene Wenger defended Danny Welbeck after the €21 million signing from Manchester United missed several opportunities against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening.
The England international had a number of chances to score for the Gunners but spurned them all, with Dortmund eventually running out comfortable 2-0 winners.
Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck either side of half-time to put Jurgen Klopp's men in control of Group D after just one game.
But Wenger refused to single Welbeck out for criticism following the defeat, instead praising his work-rate at Signal Iduna Park.
"He [Welbeck] was dangerous but he tired in the second half," Wenger told Sky Sports. "He couldn't finish tonight but he looked lively and for all the rest of the game he did well. He needs a goal to get that off his shoulders."
Wenger also insisted that his side created enough chances to win the game, though he conceded that Dortmund deserved their eventual victory.
"I think we were not at the requested level tonight," he added. "They deserved their win. I still believe that we were a bit unlucky because [we conceded] 10 seconds before half-time and after that goal it was difficult of course.
"Despite our very average performance we had plenty of chances. That's a little bit of a paradox of the night. We could've been leading the game. They as well had plenty of chances.
The Italian coach wants supporters to back the goalkeeper after he was again the subject of taunts from the Santiago Bernabeu faithful on Tuesday night
Carlo Ancelotti has called for Real Madrid fans to drown out those whistling Iker Casillas following their dominant 5-1 win over Basel on Tuesday.
The club captain was heckled at by some at the Santiago Bernabeu when he was on the ball, however even more home supporters reacted by cheering him, creating a bizarre contrast whenever the goalkeeper was involved in the game.
Ancelotti has pleaded for positivity after goals from Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema capped off a perfect Champions League group stage opener, to move on from their defeat to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday.
"We have to be positive," the Real Madrid coach told reporters in response to being asked what his message to the whistlers was. "We would not hear the whistles if the fans sing loud enough over them.
"I’ve said I’m not going to talk about the goalkeepers before this game. I look at what Casillas did on the pitch, though, and I liked it.
"We’ve improved from Saturday and we’ve reacted well. The game was made easy because we started superbly. We pressed, we played good football, we had speed and tried to control from kick off."
Real Madrid top Group B on goal difference ahead of second-placed Liverpool, who they face in the middle of next month after a clash with Ludogorets on October 1.
'Play like that against Dortmund and you're dead' - Arteta rues poor Arsenal performance
By Gill Clark
Sep 16, 2014 22:41:00
The midfielder says the Gunners were sloppy in their defeat to Jurgen Klopp's side and simply did not perform well enough to win their Champions League opener
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta rued his side's performance after the Gunners slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
The Gunners handed 19-year-old Hector Bellerin a full debut for the clash, due to Mathieu Debuchy's injury, but Arsene Wenger's side were well beaten by Jurgen Klopp's men.
Ciro Immobile opened the scoring for the hosts before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled their lead in the second half.
Arteta admitted that Dortmund were the better team and says conceding the first goal right on the strike of half-time made their task almost impossible.
"We faced a top side, one of the most difficult stadiums in Europe," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"We knew that from the start, they put us under pressure, it was very sloppy from us to concede the goal with 20 seconds to go in the first half.
"After you go 1-0 down here it's very difficult, they're very good on the break. We didn't perform well enough tonight.
"We couldn't cope with them. We gave the ball away too many times in our own half in difficult positions. When you do that against this side you are dead. They were the better side tonight."
Arsenal's next game in the competition comes against Galatasaray on October 1, a match that is sandwiched between Premier League games against Tottenham and Chelsea.
Real Madrid make it 1,000 European goals with thrashing of Basel
Sep 16, 2014 22:24:06
The Spanish giants opened the defence of their Champions League crown with an emphatic win at the Bernabeu - and made history in the process
Real Madrid have become the first side to score 1,000 European goals, reaching the landmark during Tuesday's 5-1 thrashing of Basel.
Madrid were in complete command by half-time, establishing a 4-1 lead thanks to an own goal from Marek Suchy and efforts from Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. Derlis Gonzalez's goal was of little consolation to the Swiss.
The game drifted in the second half but Madrid's night was capped by a fifth goal - the club's 1,000th in continental competition - from Karim Benzema 11 minutes from the end.
The France striker played a lovely one-two with Ronaldo before hammering a left-foot strike in off the bar.
The result will come as a huge relief to a Madrid side who have won just one of their opening three La Liga fixtures.
The coach says his side are purely focused on getting out of the group stage and warned his team not to take anything for granted in their opening Champions League game
Laurent Blanc has warned his Paris Saint-Germain players to be careful when they take on Ajax in their first Champions League game on Wednesday.
The Dutch and French champions meet in the Amsterdam Arena to open their European campaigns, having been drawn in Group F alongside Barcelona and Apoel.
And Blanc says his side have analysed Frank de Boer's team in preparation of the game, but insists his side don't get complacent against the underdogs.
"Gregory van der Wiel has told us a few things about Ajax and their players. He was part of the club from when he was a boy and he knows them inside-out," Blanc told reporters.
"But we have also watched a lot of tapes. I think El Ghazi is a good player. We will have to be careful.
The former France coach was asked about Serge Aurier and David Luiz, who have been struggling with injuries lately.
"For now they are in the group but the last training session will be important for them and for us. We will wait to see how the final session goes. I think and hope that both will play against Ajax."
Ajax boss De Boer said in his press conference that PSG have what it takes to reach the "absolute top" of European football, with Blanc admitting that while he hopes the Dutchman is correct, his sole aim at present is advancing beyond the group.
"At European level PSG have gained more recognition recently for the players we've signed and the results we have secured. It is one thing to be among the favourites but it's another thing to make it happen. I hope the words of Frank de Boer will become reality but I think it will be tougher than that.
"Our only goal is to go as far as possible. At the start of the competition you can always say that your goal is to win it, but the problem is that so many clubs say they want to win there's almost no sense saying it. The most important thing is just to get through the group stage."
The Argentine was less than impressed with his players after watching them lose their opening Champions League game of the season in Greece
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone rued his side’s profligacy in front of goal as last season’s beaten finalists opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Olympiakos.
The visitors were two goals adrift by the 31st minute following Arthur Masuaku's driven effort and a composed finish from on-loan Barcelona forward Ibrahim Afellay.
Mario Mandzukic reduced the deficit before half-time, but Kostas Mitroglou, who returned to the club in the summer transfer window after a short and unsuccessful spell at Fulham, converted from close range to make it 3-1 after the break.
France international Antoine Griezmann enjoyed an impressive performance off the bench and he gave Atleti hope with a close-range finish in the closing stages, but his strike proved to be in vain.
Juventus’ win over Malmo in the other Group A clash means the Spanish champions are already playing catch-up in a tricky group.
Simeone told reporters afterwards: “It was a tough game, we knew it from the start. Olympiakos can qualify and they will fight with us and Juventus, who are also well positioned.
"The team attacked well, had chances in the first half, but they were stronger when attacking. Olympiakos were lucky in front of goal and we were not with the chances we had."
Bayern Munich v Manchester City: Kompany urges belief
15 September 2014
Vincent Kompany wants Manchester City to show no fear in their UEFA Champions League Group E campaign opener at Bayern Munich.
The Premier League champions are paired with their German counterparts in Europe's elite competition for the second season running.
Having bowed out at the group stage in their previous two Champions League excursions, the signs were ominous as Bayern trampled early season optimism at the Etihad Stadium last term, leaving Manchester with a swashbuckling 3-1 victory.
But City bounced back to win their next four European games, including a thrilling 3-2 comeback triumph at the Allianz Arena.
A last-16 exit at the hands of another heavyweight, Barcelona, followed, although City captain Kompany believes his team-mates have nothing to prove as they prepare for a return to Bavaria.
"We're confident," the Belgium defender told reporters. "This is the first game of the Champions League, an away game against one of the hardest teams to play against in the world right now.
"But we should take confidence out of the last game we played in Munich. We're up for the challenge anyway.
"I don't think we've got a point to prove in Europe. I dissociate Europe from the league. But I just want to win games."
Kompany missed the previous trip to Munich and City will be without another key defender on Wednesday night due to Pablo Zabaleta's red card at Camp Nou in March.
Bacary Sagna is poised to step in at right-back, while manager Manuel Pellegrini should welcome back Yaya Toure after the midfielder sat out last Saturday's 2-2 draw at Arsenal having returned fatigued from international duty with the Ivory Coast.
Toure could capitalise on a troubling injury list for Pellegrini's opposite number Pep Guardiola in central areas.
Talisman Bastian Schweinsteiger and long-term victims Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez (all knee) remain on the sidelines. And Guardiola voiced concerns over the weekend that too great a burden could fall on fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder has enjoyed a seamless transition since his close-season move to Bayern and impressed in Saturday's 2-0 Bundesliga win over Stuttgart.
Bayern's injury problems are not limited to midfield, with further doubts surrounding influential attacking duo Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
Robben missed training on Sunday with a knee complaint and match fitness could be an issue for Ribery, despite the former France international marking his season debut with a goal from the bench at the weekend.
Defender Holger Badstuber requires surgery after tearing a thigh muscle against Stuttgart to hand Guardiola more problems as Bayern attempt to bounce back from the disappointment of being thrashed 5-0 on aggregate by Real in the Champions League semi-finals last season.
The coach feels his side must "impose" their game on Wednesday's opponents but insisted they must be wary of the Russian club's counter attacks
Rudi Garcia says he expects a difficult test for his Roma side when they take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday, warning his players to be wary of the Russian team's counter attacks.
After finishing second behind Juventus in Serie A last season, Roma return to Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 2010-11, when they reached the last 16.
CSKA have started the new campaign well and sit in second place after seven matches in the Russian Premier League.
Roma, meanwhile, have taken six points from their opening two league fixtures.
CSKA's European experience is also causing Frenchman Garcia concern ahead of the clash at the Stadio Olimpico, but he has called for his team to have a positive attitude towards the match.
"There are no weak sides in the Champions League," he said. "CSKA have much more European experience than we do.
"We need to be on our game tomorrow and make sure we do the right things at the key moments of the match.
"CSKA have their qualities and weaknesses. We'll do everything we can to impose our game on them. CSKA are dangerous on the counter [attack] and have strong defenders who are good in the air.
"We worked really hard last year to get into the Champions League and now we're going to enjoy it."
Liverpool's Champions League exile has been excruciatingly painful and cost £400m to bring to an end
Anfield board might be grateful for joining European elite but they will expect Liverpool to show the quality needed to remain there for long term
In charge: Brendan Rodgers oversees Liverpool's training session ahead of their return to the Champions League against Ludogorets Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Chris Bascombe
6:27AM BST 16 Sep 2014
It has taken 1,742 days, four managers, 44 first team signings at a cost in excess of £400 million, a change of club ownership and one of the grubbiest legal squabbles in Premier League history.
For Liverpool – the club that displays their European Cup at the training ground – the Champions League return has come at a price.
It is a repaired club that welcomes the Uefa anthem and accompanying paraphernalia, vastly different to that defeated by Fiorentina on their last appearance in 2009. The Kop banners will celebrate a club synonymous with European success, but their recent history serves as a warning about the consequences of being a grandee in exile.
Liverpool have only recently stopped the bleeding caused by their prolonged elimination, and for all the sentimentality about the club returning to a competition to which they feel they ‘belong’, it has been an excruciatingly painful getting back. Recapturing football romance is an expensive business.
In real terms, Liverpool lost a minimum of £120 million in Uefa funds from their four seasons out of the Champions League – spending almost four times as much trying to get another slice of the pie – and the lost status and revenue ripped the club apart in the immediate aftermath of their exit.
It was on Dec 9, 2009, in the third minute of stoppage time, when Alberto Gilardino’s side-footed a first-time shot past reserve goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri to give Fiorentina a 2-1 win at Anfield. It was a decisive blow.
Graeme Souness, a TV pundit on that night, said he feared the club was on the verge of “meltdown” as they came to terms with the repercussions of not only group-stage elimination, but likely failure to qualify the following season. That proved an understatement.
The impact on and off the pitch defined the next five years, precipitating the dismissal of Rafael Benítez, the fall of Tom Hicks and George Gillett and subsequent takeover by Fenway Sports Group via the High Court. The reigns of Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish ended swiftly because they never threatened to get the club near to the top four.
Being pushed off the money train was debilitating. When Liverpool failed to qualify for the competition at the end of the 2009-10 season, the perilous business plan of Hicks and Gillett was exposed as much as the poorly performing team.
The Royal Bank of Scotland had sanctioned loans and refinancing packages to the Americans on the basis of Champions League football. Without it, Hicks and Gillett found himself up the proverbial creek begging every broker on Wall Street for a paddle.
Liverpool had been budgeting for participation in the competition since Gérard Houllier led them back to it in 2001. The club’s yearly accounts defined qualification as the “minimum requirement”. Hicks and Gillett took this policy to the extreme, risking the future of the club on Champions League participation.
This sense of brinkmanship defined Benítez’s reign, as European success prevented the club from suffering deep-rooted divisions and its risky financial projections from turning destructive. Every time Anfield braced itself for internal war, along came a victory over Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona or AC Milan to perpetuate the uneasy truce between manager, board and the banks.
Once the Champions League was no longer around to keep the investors happy and redeem another season without a Premier League challenge, carnage ensued. Hicks and Gillett were shoved out, managers came and went, players such as Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres did a runner at the first opportunity and countless others decided the signing-on speech about the dream of playing in front of the Kop was not for them without the Champions League. Such is the turnaround in personnel, only Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel remain from the last Champions League outing.
Unlike Hicks and Gillett, FSG have never been in a position to budget for the Champions League. Until now, that is. Once you are dining at Europe’s top table, the shareholders are in no mood to concede their seat.
This is the pleasure and peril for Brendan Rodgers as he becomes only the sixth Liverpool manager to lead the club in a European Cup tie.
It does not take long for the gratitude towards him to surrender to a feeling of entitlement. Qualification becomes the least the board expects. “This is our competition,” Ian Ayre said at the Champions League draw.
Do not be surprised if the minimum-requirement policy returns as FSG realises how much easier it is to attract sponsors, players and those corporate partners who will help to pay for the Anfield stadium upgrade they hope to start in December.
In an era where Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United can solve their problems by investing more in three days than Liverpool would be capable of in three years, it was harder for Rodgers to qualify for the Champions League than any of his predecessors.
In setting such high standards so soon, he has also created instant pressure not only to maintain but elevate them. The euphoria of Liverpool finally making it back into the European elite will be short-lived. The attention has already shifted to ensuring they avoid all those financial, commercial and, lest we forget, footballing pitfalls by staying in.
44 Liverpool have bought 44 players since last playing in the Champions League in 2009-10
4 Only a quartet of players remain from their group-stage exit in the 2009-10 Champions League - midfielders Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva, and defenders Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel
4 Liverpool have employed four managers in that time - Rafael Benitez, who left at the end of the 2010 season, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers
£400m Liverpool have spent a shade over £400m on players since the summer of 2009, including £35m on Andy Carroll
The 27-year-old is full of respect for the Premier League outfit and has made it clear Schalke's injury problems should not be an excuse
Schalke defender Dennis Aogo has warned that there is more to Chelsea than Diego Costa ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.
The Spain international has been in sublime form in the opening weeks of the 2014-15 campaign, netting seven goals in four Premier League appearances, but Aogo believes Jose Mourinho boasts several world-class players to whom the Germans must play close attention.
"In Germany we have seen [Diego Costa] has had a great start to the season, but it's not just him," Aogo told reporters.
"The whole team is playing very well and they are not top of the Premier League for nothing.
"We are a playing against some of the best players in the world here so we don't need any extra motivation.
"Who is to say that we won't have a great day and compete at the highest level..."
Schalke are without a number of first-team regulars due to injury, but Aogo has insisted this should not be an excuse.
"Our captain [Benedikt Howedes] is missing, but we also have quite a few more players missing.
"Of course it is not easy but the players on the pitch have to stand up and compensate for that situation – and take responsibility. We can't just sit here and feel sorry for ourselves – we have to give our best on the pitch and try and make up for that."
Robben: Bayern must aim for Champions League final
By Stefan Coerts
Sep 17, 2014 12:58:57
The Dutchman is full of ambition as the Bavarians prepare to take on Manchester City in their Group E opener
Arjen Robben has stressed that a team of Bayern Munich's stature should always be aiming to win the Champions League.
The Bavarians were eliminated in the semi-finals in 2013-14 after winning European club football's elite competition the year before and Robben is desperate to bring back the trophy to Munich once more this term.
"Bayern Munich should be aiming for the Champions League final again," Robben told Sport/Voetbalmagazine.
"You always have to be careful and make sure you don't get arrogant, but you must have that ambition with the team Bayern have.
"You simply don't start your European campaign with the ambition to make it to the quarter-finals or perhaps a bit further.
"Of course, it's extra special because the final is in Berlin. That stadium suits us quite well. I won three out of four DFB-Pokal finals there.
"The further you go into the competition, the closer you get to the final, but I still enjoy the games in the group stages as well. It's something completely different with the Champions League hymn and the evening games."
Bayern open their Champions League campaign with a home game against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Sebastian Kehl is the latest player to join Borussia Dortmund's injury list after picking up a groin injury against Arsenal.
The former Dortmund captain managed just 45 minutes of Tuesday's 2-0 win over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League before being replaced by Matthias Ginter.
Goals from Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did the damage as Dortmund dominated their Premier League opponents at Signal Iduna Park.
But the win came at a cost, with Kehl joining the likes of Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan in the treatment room.
Though the 34-year-old's injury is not thought to be serious, Kehl put his involvement in Saturday's trip to Mainz in doubt.
"I had groin problems and it made no sense to continue," he said.
"I don't know if I will be fit in time for Saturday."
Immobile opened the scoring late in a first half which Dortmund had completely overrun, bursting through Arsenal's midfield and defence before slotting past Wojciech Szczesny.
And Kehl believes a first goal in Dortmund colours will do the Italy forward the world of good.
Kehl added: "He made a big step forward. The fans cheered him wildly. This will do him good."
Olympiacos coach Michel said his plan to replicate Atletico Madrid's playing style worked a treat after Tuesday's UEFA Champions League win.
The Greek champions opened their Champions League campaign in stunning fashion, upstaging 2013-14 finalists Atletico 3-2 in Group A action at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
Olympiacos were arguably second best throughout but made the most of their opportunities, with goals from Arthur Masuaku and loanee Ibrahim Afellay helping the hosts to a two-goal lead inside 31 minutes.
Mario Mandzukic pulled a goal back for Atletico before half-time but Greece international Kostas Mitroglou restored Olympiacos' two-goal cushion after the break and that proved enough, despite Antoine Griezmann's late strike.
Speaking post-game, Michel said the La Liga champions were caught off guard by his team's tactics that mirrored their opponent's.
"We forced Atletico out of their comfort zone, which is what they usually do to their opponents," said the 51-year-old, who guided Olympiacos to the quarter-finals last season.
"We played like a team, like [Diego] Simeone's side does. All of my players understood what they had to do. We are very happy. We tried to spoil their game and we succeeded.
"Atletico haven't conceded three goals [in a game] in a very long time."
Michel added: "All coaches study their opponents closely, but today my players worked incredibly hard. We have got the win and we are delighted.
"We played a bit like Atletico usually do and we took them by surprise. It worked out very well for us and we got our tactics spot on.
"You don't achieve things like we achieved tonight every day. Getting into the last 16 again would be great news for us – it would even better than when we did it last season."
