CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW

I have been off for a while. The biggest club competion in the world is back again and I guess football fans all over are excited about this. Below is a review of first round matches played yesterday.

GROUP E:
It was a goalless affair in this group, with the games at both Celtic Park and Old
Trafford ending 0-0.

Manchester United welcomed back Cristiano Ronaldo, making his first appearance of
the season after injury, but they were frustrated by Villarreal. Franco hit the post for
the visitors, Jonny Evans struck the woodwork for the home team.

Celtic were equally frustrated by Danish side Aalborg, Barry Robson missing a first-
half penalty and the Bhoys having a goal disallowed as Aalborg ended with 10 men
after Michael Beauchamp was dismissed.


GROUP F:
Bayern Munich celebrated being back in the Champions League with a 1-0 victory
away at Romanian side Steaua Bucharest.

Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten, who once played for Manchester City, bagged
the only goal of the game with a first-half header.

The game of the group was in France, though, as Lyon came from 2-0 down at home
against Italian side Fiorentina to steal a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Striker Alberto Gilardino twice headed in from fine crosses, before Frederic Piquionne tapped in a Karim Benzema pass and then Benzema rescued a point with an angled
shot from inside the box.


GROUP G:
FC Porto romped to the top of Group G with a comprehensive victory at home against
Turkish outfit Fenerbahce 3-1.

The hosts went 2-0 up in the first half, Lisandro Lopez converting Raul Meireles'
cross with an unstoppable finish, before Lucho Gonzalez was teed up by Cristian
Rodriguez to double the advantage.
Spanish striker Daniel Guiza tapped in a rebound to get Fenerbahce back in it, but
Dorvalino Lino capitalised on some weary defending to seal it at the death.

In the group's other game, Ismael Bangoura put Dynamo Kiev ahead from the
penalty spot against Arsenal, but Gunners captain William Gallas slotted in a late, late
leveller to make it 1-1.


GROUP H:
In the so-called 'Group of Death', Juventus had to wait until 14 minutes from time to
earn the three points in a 1-0 win against Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.
It was veteran Italian forward Alessandro del Piero who grabbed the crucial goal, his
30-yard free-kick swerving and deceiving Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Real Madrid joined Juve at the top of the group with a very routine, unspectacular 2-0
victory over minnows BATE Borisov of Belarus.

Sergio Ramos slotted in Guti's pass in the 11th minute to put them in front, before
Ruud van Nistelrooy tapped in a second after Raul's shot was saved. BATE had Anri
Khagush sent off for two yellow cards to cap a miserable evening.