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UEFA Champions League 2010/11

Groove Armada

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UEFA cuts Mourinho ban to one match and reduces fine

17:49 GMT, Mon 6 Dec 2010

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MADRID, Dec 6 (Reuters) - UEFA has reduced on appeal a fine and two-match ban given to coach Jose Mourinho after allegations that two of his Real Madrid players engineered deliberate red cards in last month's Champions League game with Ajax Amsterdam.

European soccer's governing body, which originally ruled Mourinho, the club and four players guilty of "improper conduct", cut the Portuguese's fine to 30,000 euros ($39,780) from 40,000 and Real's to 100,000 euros from 120,000.

It also reduced the coach's suspension to one match -- Wednesday's Group G game at home to Auxerre -- from the initial punishment of a one-game suspension and a second game deferred for a probationary period of three years.

Fines of 20,000 euros and one-match suspensions for Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, who were shown second yellow cards near the end of the match for wasting time, will stand, UEFA said in a statement on its website (www.uefa.com). Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas and reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek, who appeared to relay messages from Mourinho to Alonso and Ramos, were fined 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively and those sanctions will also stand.

Spain internationals Ramos and Alonso will serve their bans against Auxerre -- a 'dead' game as Real are already assured of first place in Group G and qualification for the last 16. Both players had accumulated two yellow cards in the group stage before they were sent off and a further caution in a subsequent game would have meant a one-match suspension during the knockout rounds.

The pair will start the knockout stage with one yellow card each against their names as the cautions picked up before the Ajax game still stand. Mourinho last week called UEFA's decision a "medal" and not a punishment and complained there was one rule for him and another for other coaches.


 

Groove Armada

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Shakhtar, Arsenal and Braga take it to the wire

By Mitch Phillips
02:00 GMT, Mon 6 Dec 2010

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LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Braga could complete a memorable Champions League turnaround by reaching the 12-point mark this week but it is likely to be a bitter-sweet success as they could still fail to progress to the knockout phase despite four wins.

Having badly lost the first two games of their debut Champions League season and won the next three, the Portuguese club face an unprecedented scenario going into the competition's final round of fixtures this week when only four of the 16 qualifiers are still to be identified.

Group H is the only one where both places are still available and Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk, who they visit on Wednesday, and Arsenal could all finish on 12 points. No team has ever earned 12 points and failed to progress. Shakhtar sit top on 12, three clear of Arsenal and Braga. A draw would send the Ukraine league leaders through for the first time and in top spot and even defeat is unlikely to derail them.

If all three teams end on 12 points the qualifiers will be decided by goal difference in games between the three. Arsenal, with a 6-0 thrashing of Braga and 5-1 win over Shakhtar in the bag, would almost certainly come out top in that equation should they beat Partizan Belgrade at The Emirates. Shakhtar have a goal difference of 0 from the "mini-group" with Braga on -7, leaving the Portuguese side needing a four-goal victory to swing things in their favour.

LONG SHOT

If their domestic form is anything to go on, that looks a long shot. They lost 3-1 at Uniao Leiria on Saturday when they conceded two penalties and had three players sent off. The defeat was their fourth in the last five games and leaves them still without an away win all season.

Having begun their first Champions League campaign with the Arsenal humiliation and then a 3-0 home defeat by Shakhtar it is something of a surprise that they are still in contention but coach Domingos Paciencia still sees the domestic league as his main focus.

"The most important goal for Braga is the national championship and finishing in the top four," he said. "We know the toll will be very different to previous years because taking part in the Champions League for the first time has a big physical and emotional cost."

Arsenal warmed up by beating Fulham 2-1 to go top of the Premier League and they will expect to progress to the knockout phase for the 11th successive season by making it six defeats out of six for Partizan.

SHOCK WIN

Barcelona have already secured top spot in Group D and Copenhagen will join them if they beat Panathinaikos in Denmark. The Danes have seven points to the six of Rubin Kazan, who visit Barcelona where they pulled off a shock 2-1 win last season.

Bayern Munich, on 12 points, are assured of finishing first in Group E and AS Roma, second on nine, are likely to join them in the last 16. A point at CFR Cluj would guarantee it but a defeat would allow Basel to overtake them with a win in Munich. The only other issues at stake are the top two finishing order in three groups and the identity of some of the third-place finishers who will go into the Europa League.

Manchester United will finish first in Group C if they do not lose at home to second-placed Valencia. A clean sheet for United would make them the first team to go through the group stage without conceding.

Tottenham Hotspur can cap a memorable first foray into the Champions League by finishing top of Group A. Their superior head-to-head record against Inter Milan means they just need to match the holders' result when Spurs visit Twente Enschede and Inter travel to Werder Bremen.

Schalke 04's one-point lead over Olympique Lyon and a superior head-to-head record gives them the advantage in Group B but the remaining fixtures, where Schalke travel to Benfica and Lyon host Hapoel Tel Aviv, leave the group interestingly poised.

The draw for the first knockout round take place on Dec. 17.


 

Groove Armada

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Rubin out to shock Barca - again


7 December 2010

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Rubin Kazan coach Kurban Berdyev said his side cannot rely on Barcelona resting a host of star players when the two clubs meet on Tuesday.

Rubin Kazan coach Kurban Berdyev said his side cannot rely on Barcelona resting a host of star players when the two clubs meet on Tuesday.

Barcelona have already qualified for the knockout stages and are free to tinker with their line-up, while Rubin are one point behind second-placed FC Copenhagen and a mathematical chance of progressing. To do so, Rubin will need to secure the three points at the Camp Nou and hope that Greek champions Panathinaikos can hold or upset Copenhagen in Denmark.

While the notion of Rubin defeating Barca seems improbable, it happened as recently as last season, when the Russian club stunned the Catalan giants 2-1 in Barcelona. Barca have rested Xavi, Daniel Alves, Pedro Rodríguez and David Villa for Tuesday's match, but Berdyev acknowledges that Pep Guardiola's men will still pose a difficult challenge.

"Tactically Barcelona won't change their style. I don't think the player changes will affect that," Berdyev said. "The players don't make them strong, because all the players are very good and they prepare well whatever the starting XI is." "The whole team and I are proud not to have lost here at the Camp Nou. Barcelona teach us all lessons and we have learned a lot from them."

"We saw Barcelona versus Real Madrid, of course. Barcelona were at their highest level and wanted to achieve an important result. It's the first time I have see them play with so much motivation." "If we don't qualify, it'll be disappointing, but I think we will leave with our heads held high."

Guardiola acknowledged Barca had already accomplished their goal of qualification, but said his side still wanted to perform well for its supporters. "We have no goal tomorrow because we've already completed our task," Guardiola said. "We've done the job and qualified and nobody can take that away from us.

Out of respect for the public we'll try to play a good, dynamic football and create as many chances as possible." "We were also going to rest (Andres) Iniesta and (Lionel) Messi but as the B team also have an important match this week, we couldn't take any more players from them."


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group A preview: Spurs, Inter eye top honours


6 December 2010

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With both teams already through to the last 16, Inter Milan and Tottenham will vie for top spot in Champions League Group A on Tuesday.

With both teams already through to the last 16, Inter Milan and Tottenham will vie for top spot in Champions League Group A on Tuesday. Spurs travel to the Netherlands to take on reigning Dutch champions FC Twente, while Inter make the trip to Germany to face the group's bottom side Werder Bremen.

Both teams are locked on 10 points but with Spurs holding a superior head-to-head goal difference than the reigning European champions, Harry Redknapp's side would seal top spot if they remain on equal points after Tuesday's fixtures.

Twente, meanwhile, have already booked a Europa League spot, despite leading last-placed Bremen by just three points. The Dutch champions are assured of a third-place finish in the group by account of a superior head-to-head record over Thomas Schaaf's side.

Nevertheless, Twente have plenty to play for against Spurs given that they have the chance to be one of the four best third-placed teams in the Champions League, which would see them seeded for the Europa League knockout stages draw.

With qualification already secured and injuries to the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Younes Kaboul and Jonathan Woodgate, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp may opt to freshen up his stretched squad by fielding an under-strength side.

Embattled Inter boss Rafael Benitez, whose side slipped to sixth place in the Serie A standings after Friday's 3-1 loss to second-placed Lazio, may not have such a luxury with speculation in the Italian media mounting about his immediate future at the club.

For Bremen, their clash with Inter will be seen a chance to restore some pride after a dismal performance in Europe this season. Victory over Inter may also go a long way in breathing life into their stuttering domestic campaign which sees them languishing in 10th place in the Bundesliga.


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group C preview: First place for the taking


6 December 2010

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Valencia will aim to be the first side to score against Manchester United in Europe this term when they travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Valencia will aim to be the first side to score against Manchester United in Europe this term when they travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday.

With both sides already guaranteed progress to the final 16 of the Champions League, the fixture will decide who will finish at the top of Group C, with United currently three points clear of the Spaniards. Despite losing to United in the reverse fixture in September, Valencia need a victory by any score to leapfrog the Premier League giants at the top of the group.

The form of Sir Alex Ferguson's side has been somewhat erratic in recent weeks, with a 7-1 annihilation of Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League last month followed by a 4-0 Carling Cup quarter-final loss to West Ham on Tuesday.

Valencia, who sit in fifth place in La Liga, will also head into the fixture on the back of a loss after a strong-willed performance was not enough to avoid defeat at the hands of Real Madrid at the weekend.

In the group's other match to be played Tuesday, Scottish champions Rangers journey to Turkey to take on group minnows Bursaspor. The Turkish champions are yet to record a point from their five Champions League matches, which sees them trail Rangers by five points and means they have no hope of taking part in European competition after Christmas.

Rangers have plenty to play for and as well as the chance of securing a seeding in the draw for the Europa League knockout stages, the cash-strapped Glasgow club will earn a prize in the vicinity of 750,000 pounds for victory.

A lack of match practice may pose a problem for Rangers, however, after wintry weather conditions led to a postponement of their last two Scottish Premier League matches. That means Walter Smith's side have not played competitively since their 1-0 loss to Manchester United a fortnight ago.


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group B preview: Lyon hope for Schalke slip


6 December 2010

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Schalke and Lyon have already secured their passage into the Champions League knockout stages, but the winner of Group B is yet to be decided.

Schalke and Lyon have already secured their passage into the Champions League knockout stages, but the winner of Group B is yet to be decided. Schalke are languishing in 15th place in the German Bundesliga standings - just four points outside the relegation zone - but sit on top of Group B on 10 points, with Lyon just a point adrift on nine.

Because Schalke have superior head-to head goal difference over Lyon, the French side need a victory from their home clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv on Tuesday to have any chance of finishing top. Additionally, they must hope that Schalke are beaten or draw their clash with Benfica in Portugal.

Lyon are in good form domestically, sitting in sixth place on the Ligue 1 standings after their 2-1 away win over Montpellier on Saturday, just two points behind leaders Lille.

Despite only trailing Lyon by three points heading into the final match, third-placed Benfica cannot overtake the Ligue 1 outfit because of their inferior head-to-head record. That makes for an enthralling battle for third place in Group B, with a spot in the Europa League on the line for both Benfica (six points) and Hapoel (four points).

With a superior head-to-head record over their Portuguese rivals, Hapoel need to beat Lyon in France and hope that Benfica draw or lose at home to Schalke to secure a berth in the Europa League's last 32.

But a Benfica victory will automatically eliminate Hapoel, who also have to make history to keep their European campaign alive having never before won a Champions League match away from home.


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group D preview: Rubin not scared of Barca


6 December 2010

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Rubin Kazan travel to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming for a repeat of last season's heroics.

Rubin Kazan travel to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, aiming for a repeat of last season's heroics. Barcelona have already secured first place in Group D, leaving Rubin and FC Copenhagen to battle it out for the runners-up spot.

The Russian side are second going into the final matchday, with Copenhagen one point behind in third. The Danish champions have a winnable game at home to last-placed Greek side Panathinaikos, meaning Rubin must look to win in Camp Nou to guarantee passage to the knock-out stages.

Victories at the home of the imperious La Liga champions do not come easily, but Rubin are one side to have tasted that rarest of commodities in recent times. Goals from Aleksandr Ryazantsev and Karadeniz Gokdeniz secured a famous away win over the then European Champions during a Group F match of the competition in October 2009.

Many dismissed the upset as a one-off, but Rubin held Barca to a 1-1 draw in the return fixture at Kazan's Central Stadium the following month. Drawn in the same group as the Spanish giants, Rubin repeated the trick a year later, holding out for a 0-0 draw at home to maintain an enviable undefeated record against Pep Guardiola's world beaters.

But Barca come into the match in devastating form. They beat Osasuna 3-0 away from home on Saturday, following on from a historic 5-0 demolition of Real Madrid and an 8-0 win away to struggling Almeria.

With top spot already secured, Guardiola is likely to rest key players, including midfield lynchpin Xavi Hernandez, who has been battling an Achilles injury throughout the season. Regardless of who takes to the field for the home side on Tuesday, they are sure to be keen to end Barca's hoodoo against their unlikely Russian nemesis.

Copenhagen meanwhile will be confident of securing victory against a Panathinaikos that have nothing to play for and - with just two points from five matches - have shown little to suggest they can trouble their motivated Danish opponents.

Copenhagen won 2-0 in their previous meeting at Athens' Olympic Stadium back in September and are undefeated at the head of the Danish league this season. Brazilian midfielder Claudemir said Copenhagen's fate was entirely in their own hands.

"I think it's the biggest game of my career, and not just for me but for the whole team here," Claudemir said. "We have the ability and our aim is to qualify for the next round, and we know that depends on us and no one else. We have a good chance of winning and getting through to the next phase."


 

Groove Armada

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United, Spurs desperate to avoid Barcelona trial


United, Spurs desperate to avoid Barcelona trial

7 December 2010

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Manchester United´s Wayne Rooney is seen during his squad´s Champions League group C football match against Glasgow Rangers. United and Barcelona are set to complete the formalities of the footballing championship group phase, desperately playing down their roles as favourites but also keen to get their mathematics right.

PARIS (AFP) - Manchester United and Barcelona complete the formalities of the Champions League group phase on Tuesday, desperately playing down their roles as favourites but also keen to get their mathematics right. United face fellow second-round qualifiers Valencia at Old Trafford with the only issue at stake being who finishes top of Group C.

The Spanish side are three points behind but to take top spot they must become the first team to score against Sir Alex Ferguson's men in Europe this term. Ferguson will play a competitive side as he wants to make sure United finish top and avoid the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona until the latter stages of the competition.

"We will be playing a strong side because we want to top the group," said Ferguson. "Real Madrid are top of their group, Barcelona are top, Bayern (Munich) are top. "It's not that you're afraid of them but you want to keep them out of the road until later."

Owen Hargreaves and Antonio Valencia remain long-term absentees for United, although Michael Owen is close to making a comeback from a hamstring injury. Barcelona, buoyed by their 5-0 demolition of Real Madrid and Saturday's 3-0 win at Osasuna, have already ensured top spot in Group D.

Fringe players such as Bojan Krkic, Jeffren and Thiago Alcantara could be drafted in for the home clash with Rubin Kazan, who can grab the runners-up spot. "We have managed to take first place in the group, which is very important," said Barcelona star Pedro Rodriguez.

"However, it's far too early to talk about winning the Champions League." Rubin Kazan, who stunned Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou last season, have six points to Copenhagen's seven, with the Danish side finishing their first stage fixtures with a home game against Panathinaikos.

In Group A, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admitted he is also desperate for his side to secure top spot with a victory over FC Twente because that would ensure they avoid facing Barcelona in the first knockout round.

Spurs have already qualified for the last 16 but Redknapp isn't taking their trip to Holland lightly because he knows failure to win could see them surrender first place to defending champions Inter Milan, who currently trail the Londoners on goal difference.

"Inter Milan will go to Germany (to face Werder Bremen) looking to win because that top position is important," said Redknapp, who saw Barcelona demolish Real Madrid last week. "I think anyone wants to avoid Barcelona. It (the win over Real) was just amazing; it was as good as I have ever seen. I don't think I've ever seen a better performance."

In Group B, Schalke and Lyon are also already assured of qualification with the German side a point ahead. To overhaul the leaders, Lyon must beat Hapoel Tel-Aviv and hope Schalke fail to win at Benfica.

Schalke travel to Portugal buoyed by their 2-0 win at home to defending Bundesliga champions Bayern on Saturday, with goals from Spain midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado and defender Benedikt Hoewedes.


 

Groove Armada

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Rested United to field strongest side against Valencia


By Sonia Oxley
16:51 GMT, Mon 6 Dec 2010

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MANCHESTER, England, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Manchester United will field their strongest side against Valencia in Tuesday's Champions League game despite having already reached the next round, manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

Ferguson, whose team's next two Premier League matches are against leaders Arsenal and champions Chelsea, could have rested players for the final Group C match but after 10 days without a game is keen to use his best ones to seal top spot.

The English side lead the group with 13 points from five matches, while Valencia have 10 and could snatch first place -- and a better chance of avoiding the big guns in the next round -- with a win at Old Trafford due to a better goal difference.

Teams who finish top will be drawn against group runners-up in the Dec. 17 draw for the knockout stages. "The sensible approach is to avoid the bigger hitters like Real Madrid and Barcelona and Bayern Munich, they are the teams that are number one in their groups at the moment," Ferguson told a news conference.

"We can only do that if we finish top of our group and that's what we want to do." United's players have had extra rest after their weekend league fixture at Blackpool was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Many first-team players have not played since the 7-1 demolition of Blackburn Rovers on Nov. 27, with a second-string side thrashed 4-0 by West Ham United in the League Cup quarter-finals last week.

"We'd have preferred to have played a game on Saturday. The only advantage we've got is that no one gets injured," said Ferguson. "They haven't played for 10 days. "I will play my strongest side tomorrow and then we have six days to prepare for the Arsenal game so it's OK."

Ferguson has this season experimented with some of his younger players in Champions League games and it has paid off as United stand on the verge of becoming the first team to get through all their group matches without conceding a goal.

It has, however, been a different story domestically and some of those young players were involved in the West Ham humiliation which ended the team's 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions. "In European games, they realise that maybe concentration has got to be 100 percent," Ferguson said.

"It's a different atmosphere and a different challenge. All players like to be involved in the European cup. You know that if you win your group you are into that stage of the tournament where it becomes very interesting." Ferguson has no new injury concerns but said he would not risk playing striker Michael Owen, who returned to first team training last week following a hamstring problem.


 

Groove Armada

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Copenhagen and Rubin vying for last 16 spot

02:00 GMT, Tue 7 Dec 2010

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MADRID, Dec 7 (Reuters) - FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan bid for the one knockout round berth left in Champions League Groups A-D later on Tuesday, with six of seven teams already through aiming to secure top spot.

The Danes have seven points to the Russians's six and if Copenhagen beat Panathinaikos they will join Group D winners Barcelona in the Dec. 17 draw for the round of 16. A draw would also be enough as long as Rubin, who won 2-1 at Barca last season and held the 2009 winners 1-1 in Kazan in September, do not triumph again at the Nou Camp.

"I think it's the biggest game of my career and not just for me but for the whole team," Copenhagen midfielder Claudemir told UEFA's website (www.uefa.com). Holders Inter Milan and debutants Tottenham Hotspur are vying for first place in Group A against Werder Bremen and Twente Enschede respectively.

In Group B Schalke 04 will be top if they triumph at Benfica but, should they fail to win, Olympique Lyon would finish ahead of them with a victory at home to Hapoel Tel Aviv. To grab top spot in Group C Valencia need to become the first team to score against Manchester United in Europe this season as the Premier League side will win the group unless the Spaniards defeat them at Old Trafford.


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group E preview: Roma, Basel battle for second

7 December 2010

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Claudio Ranieri's Roma will be wary of an upset when they travel to face CFR Cluj in Champions League Group E on Wednesday.

Claudio Ranieri's Roma will be wary of an upset when they travel to face CFR Cluj in Champions League Group E on Wednesday.

Second-placed Roma are in pole position to join Bayern Munich in the knockout stages, and only need a point from their trip to the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu to guarantee their passage to the last 16. Roma are three points clear of third-placed FC Basel, but a goal worse off than the Swiss title holders.

If Basel spring a surprise in Munich and Roma conspire to lose in Romania, the teams will trade places, leaving Ranieri to settle for Europa League football in the second half of the season.

Cluj have nothing to play for after being consigned to fourth place with a defeat at the hands of Basel on matchday five, a loss that led to the sacking of coach Sorin Cartu.

The Romanians may be out of form in Europe, but they have won four of their last seven in the league and are undefeated since October.

They may also wish to bow out of the competition with some pride restored, spurred on by the memory of their first ever Champions League victory - secured against Roma in September 2008.

Roma come into the game on the back of a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Chievo on Saturday, and they went down 3-1 away to Palermo the week before.

German champions Munich are top by three points and only an improbably heavy defeat at home to FC Basel, coupled with a big win for Roma, can prevent them from claiming top spot in the group.

Bayern, who reached the final of the competition last season and also collected the Bundesliga title, are struggling by comparison this time around.

While their European form has been respectable, they are well off the pace in the league, with their latest reverse coming in the form of a 2-0 defeat away to Schalke on Saturday.

Basel meanwhile have three wins in a row in all competitions, and may yet spring a surprise at the Allianz Arena.


 

Groove Armada

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Champions League Group F preview: Chelsea aim for 18 points


7 December 2010

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Chelsea visit Marseille and Spartak Moscow travel to Slovakia to play MSK Zilina in Wednesday's final matches in Champions League Group F.

Chelsea visit Marseille and Spartak Moscow travel to Slovakia to play MSK Zilina in Wednesday's final matches in Champions League Group F.

But the standings are already decided, with Chelsea top on 15 points from Marseille on nine, while Spartak are third with six. Although Spartak are only three points behind Marseille, the French side's superior head-to-head record against the Russians mean they are secure in second place.

That means Chelsea and Marseille have already qualified for the last 16, while Spartak has secured a spot in the final 32 of the Europa League.

Zilina are bottom and will be searching for their first point of the campaign when they welcome Spartak on Wednesday. The Russians will not be lying down against the bottom side, with the four best-performed third-place finishers from the group stages being awarded a seeding in the draw for the Europa League knockout stages.

With their passage into the next round already secure, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will probably field a weakened side in France and with his beleaguered squad's form slipping in the English Premier League, several of his stars could use a break.

Frank Lampard, Alex and Yossi Benayoun are still out injured, while John Terry and Ashley Cole are not expected to make the trip ahead of a difficult league game against Spurs on Sunday.


 

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Champions League Group G preview: Ajax, Auxerre eye Europa berth

7 December 2010

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With Real Madrid and AC Milan already into the knockout stages, Ajax and Auxerre will fight for a Europa League berth on Wednesday.

With Real Madrid and AC Milan already into the knockout stages, Ajax and Auxerre will fight for a Europa League berth on Wednesday.

Ajax travel to the San Siro to do battle with Milan, while Auxerre visit Madrid to take on Jose Mourinho's side.

Real Madrid will finish on top in Champions League Group G with 13 points, five clear of Milan. But the real intrigue in Wednesday's matches is who will take out third spot and a place in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Ajax are third with four points, with Auxerre just one behind on three - meaning a win for the Dutch side in Milan would see them through automatically. They will have to do it with a new coach at the helm, with former Dutch international Frank De Boer handed the reins in a caretaker capacity on Monday after Martin Jol resigned in the wake of some poor domestic form.

Ajax will also be helped by news AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will rest key striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the match. Ibrahimovic has been a central figure for Milan this season as they surged to the top of the Serie A table, but Allegri said the Swede would be rested in favour of Brazilian's Robinho and Ronaldinho.

"Ronaldinho has not trained after a knock he sustained on Sunday, but if he has recovered then he will play alongside Robinho," Allegri said. "Ibrahimovic? He will be on the bench." "Tomorrow's game is not a friendly. It's a Champions League match and I always want to win."

Should Ajax lose and Auxerre draw - meaning both sides would finish on four points - Auxerre would progress because they have the superior goal difference. Despite the fact they are one point ahead, Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg said his side would be giving their all against Milan - the Serie A league leaders.

"When you draw Real Madrid, Milan and Auxerre, you know it will be very difficult," Stekelenburg told UEFA.com. "Of course you focus mostly on third place, for the Europa League, and you hope for what everybody thinks would be an upset."

"The second round of the Champions League won't be possible (now) but the Europa League is the highest thing we can achieve at the moment, so we'll go for that." "I don't expect Auxerre to win in Madrid, but you never know, so actually we need to try to get a good result against Milan."


 

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Champions League Group H preview: Three vie for two qualifying spots

7 December 2010

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Group H remains wide open with both places into the Champions League knockout stages still up for grabs.

Group H remains wide open with both places into the Champions League knockout stages still up for grabs. No team has ever earned 12 points and failed to progress to the last 16, but Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal are facing that prospect ahead of Wednesday's final group stage matches.

Shakhtar lead the group with 12 points, three clear of Arsenal and Braga. A draw against Braga on Wednesday would send the Ukrainian side through and even defeat is unlikely to halt their progress. If all three teams end on 12 points the qualifiers will be decided by goal difference in games between the trio.

Arsenal, who have a healthy goal difference following a 6-0 thrashing of Braga and 5-1 win over Shakhtar, would almost certainly come out top in that equation should they beat Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium.

Shakhtar have a goal difference of 0 and Braga sit on -7, leaving the Portuguese side needing a four-goal victory to swing things in their favour. Having begun their first Champions League campaign with the Arsenal humiliation and then a 3-0 home defeat by Shakhtar, it is surprising that Braga remain in contention.

Nevertheless, coach Domingos Paciencia still sees the domestic league as his main focus. "The most important goal for Braga is the national championship and finishing in the top four," he said. "We know the toll will be very different to previous years because taking part in the Champions League for the first time has a big physical and emotional cost."

Arsenal warmed up by beating Fulham 2-1 on Saturday to go top of the English Premier League and they will expect to progress to the knockout phase for the 11th successive season by condemning Partizan to their sixth consecutive defeat in the competition.


 

peterbrowns

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I am waiting For This Championship and also interested and crazy to watch all match from UEFA Championship League.I Love All Teams and their players.
 

Groove Armada

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset

Copenhagen clinch place in last 16, Inter slump
By Martyn Herman
22:11 GMT, Tue 7 Dec 2010

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LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - FC Copenhagen made sure of a place in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday but holders Inter Milan will wait for the draw in trepidation after ending their group matches with a 3-0 defeat by Werder Bremen.

Goals from Martin Vingaard, Jesper Gronkjaer and an own goal by Djibril Cisse gave Copenhagen a 3-1 win over Panathinaikos to snatch one of four remaining places in the knockout stages still available as the group phase concludes this week.

Copenhagen finished runners-up to Barcelona who ended Russian side Rubin Kazan's hopes of squeezing through with a 2-0 victory in the Nou Camp despite fielding a second-string side. Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez were on target for the Catalans.

Inter slumped in northern Germany and finished behind Champions League debutants Tottenham Hotspur in Group A after the London club featured in another goal-fest by drawing 3-3 against Twente Enschede. By failing to win their group Inter now face the prospect of being drawn to play Barcelona in the next round.

Manchester United's defence was finally breached after some eight hours of group-stage football when they conceded their first goal in this season's competition at home to Valencia in what was a shoot-out for first place in Group C.

United's hopes of becoming the first club to go through the group stage without conceding ended in the 32nd minute when Pablo Hernandez fired Valencia in front. Anderson earned United a 1-1 draw to ensure they topped the group.

Schalke will enter the draw as group winners after winning 2-1 against Benfica in Lisbon. Olympique Lyon were runners-up in Group B after drawing 2-2 at home to Hapoel Tel Aviv and Benfica will drop into the Europa League.


 

Groove Armada

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Barca second string end Kazan hopes


Barca second string end Kazan hopes

8 December 2010

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Barcelona´s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) and Barcelona´s Adriano (R) congratulate Barcelona´s Vazquez (back) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match FC Barcelona vs FC Rubin Kazan at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Barcelona won 2-0.

BARCELONA (AFP) - A second string Barcelona side proved too strong for Rubin Kazan on Tuesday as the Russians fell 2-0 at the Nou Camp to miss out on a berth in the Champions League knockout phase.

Last season, Rubin, unbeaten in 15 in their domestic league, briefly caused a sensation with a 2-1 pool phase win at the Nou Camp. The return was a draw, as was this campaign's opener in Russia - hence leaving the Catalan club winless in three previous meetings.

But they put the record straight as they picked off their rivals with second-half goals from Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez to send Barcelona streaking on with 14 points while Danish side FC Copenhagen won 3-1 against Panathinaikos to claim second spot with ten.

Kazan's hopes of a win to pinch second place from under the Danes' noses looked as if they had received a boost when Barca coach Pep Guardiola sent out a virtual reserve side, resting David Villa as well as Xavi. Xavi's fellow FIFA Ballon d'Or hopefuls Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta started on the bench.

Even so, the game was an opportunity for fringe players such as Maxwell, Jonathan and Fontas to impress while Jose Pinto made a rare start in goal in place of usual first choice Victor Valdes. Two up-and-coming names - Bojan Krkic and Jeffren - had little opportunity to stake their claims, however, as both had to leave the action before the break to be replaced by Marc Bartra and Vazquez.

Kazan coach Kurban Berdyev had forecast that Barca would not change their fluent style even with so many top names out and yet it was the Russians who had the better of things in a tight first half. But after the restart Barca's young bucks turned on the style and Fontas broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half before Vazquez wrapped up the points eight minutes from time.

Defender Fontas was delighted to have the opportunity to shine on his competition debut. "It was impossible to do better - and I get a goal into the bargain so I can't be happier, though I was a bit nervous to start with," he told Spanish television.


 
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