UNITED PULL THROUGH

 

 

Now the season really has started. The Champions League is a competition that gets the attention of football fans all over the globe and United have been in the mixer pretty much every year going back to the mid 90s. Last time round, we even made the final of the tournament. only to get outclassed by Barcelona. Back in '08 we went one better and saw off Chelsea in an all-Premiership final in what turned out to be an unforgettable match. Overall we're used to being there or thereabouts and despite an overhaul, it would take an idiot to underestimate us. Still you always have to take each round as it comes while crossing your fingers.

Last time around, we found ourselves in Group E with Villareal, Aab Aalborg and Celtic. We had an iffy start to the campaign only to cruise to a win at the second time of asking. Then came a surprisingly each home win followed by two ground out away draws that left us qualifying with a game to spare not doing so particularly smoothly. A scrabbly draw from the reserves summed up the campaign. Mission accomplished, we even finished top of the group. I would rather we get a smoother run this time around. As allways, I'll settle for United winning all three of our home games as a solid base for qualification for the last sixteen and then see who comes next.

This time around, the first team we have to deal with is Besiktas. Set up in 1903, they're one of three major teams based out of Istanbul and the only one we have no history with. However, they also claimed the Turkish League and Cup double last season. We do have history with other Turkish clubs though, the most recent of which was in Group D in the 04/05 season against Fenerbache. The first encounter saw Rooney have an explosive United debut as we won 6-2 at Old Trafford. However the reserves went on to collapse 3-0 at the Ali Sami Stadium. The other problem with the Turks are always their fans - they and English fans never seem to mix.

Having said that Besiktas fans are said to be saner than their locals rivals. However they've had a rough start to the season and the rumours before facing United in a Champions League Group B encounter at the Besiktas Inonu were that their gaffer might get sacked if the team failed to get a result. For United the biggest headache was just hauling themselves out to Turkey, Fergie will be glad to get this match out of the way. In the meantime, United played a 4-3-3 formation, Neville back as captain and right back, Vidic and Evens in central defence, Carrick, Scholes and Anderson in midfield, Valencia, Nani and Rooney up front. Time to see what this season's team can do on the biggest stage.

Well the answer was originally, a fair bit. In fact we dominated the early stages of the match but the Besiktas defence proved stubborn if slightly dirty at times, and the inevitable seeming early goal did not come in the end. What did happen though was the Besiktas attack getting their act together and they surged forward with Serder Ozkan firing in a scorcher of a shot which just dipped over the bar. That proved to be the inspiration for further Besiktas raids and it was the home side that was giving us trouble for the rest of the half. Still, we managed to hold out. I wasn't going to complain too much about a goalless draw away from home but I knew we could do better.

United's attack turned up the heat again early in the second half but still, nothing doing and Besiktas weremn't laying down either. As things stood it looked like the two sides would be cancelling each other out. Fergie switched things around as the match went on but still it looked as though we'd have to settle for just the one point. Scholesey though was allways going to have other ideas and after the Besiktas goalie was unable to handle a 77th minute Nani shot, the veteran slotted in the rebound, like he does. An equaliser was never completely off the cards but when the final whistle blew, we were sorted. Three points and no MUFC fans coming home in body bags - as good as it gets in Turkey.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg faced CSKA Moscow at the Volkswagen Arena. Grafite opened the scoring for the Budesliga side and went on to get his second goal before half time from the penalty spot with the visitors not in the picture at all. Alan Dzagoev finally hit the net for CSKA but for them to have equalised would have been an injustice and Grafite went on to complete his hat-trick before the end of the match, the home side having gotten everyone's attention. That leave United 2nd in Group D and on course for the next round. They're three points ahead of Besiktas and a Europa League spot and level on points with group leaders Wolfsburg with the virtual tie 0-0 on aggregate but the Reds have a -2 goal difference deficit.

In Group E, Liverpool faced Debrecen at Anfield. The Scousers went on to have the much better first half against a club that was making it's Champions League debut and their performance was capped by a Dirk Kuyt goal just before half time. The second half was a bit more even however Pool hadn't made the most of their chances early on and looked to be taking the game for granted a little too much in the latter stages. Still, they got the three points. That result leaves them joint top of the group, three points ahead of Debrecen and a Europa League spot but level on points, the virtual tie and goals scored with Lyon with the two sides probably drawing lots if things remain that way.

In Group D, Chelsea faced Porto at Stamford Bridge. Both sides had early chances that they were unable to take advantage of and the result was a fairly even game and Chelsea knew they needed to find another gear if they were going to win. They found it with Nicolas Anelka hitting the net early in the second half and that provided a cushion when Porto turned on the class late on. Chelsea managed to hold out even though this wasn't a classic display from the current Premiership leaders. Still, it leaves the Blues top of the group, two points ahead of both Apoel Nicosia and a Europa League spot and Athletico Madrid and second place in the group.

In Group H, Arsenal faced Standard Liege at the Stade de Sclessin and the home side promptly set about mugging them, the Gunners finding themselves two down off the back of goals from Eliaquim Mangala and Milan Jovanovic before the Gunners started to get their act together just before half time with a goal from Niklas Bendtner. They then managed to turn the game round with second half goals from Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo. That leaves the Gunners top of the group, three points ahead of Standard Liege and a Europa League spot and level on points with second placed Olympiakos with the virtual tie 0-0 and level on goal difference as well. The Gunners have still scored two more goals than the Greek side though.

In Group G, RAngers faced Stuttgart at the Mercedes Arena. The Budesliga side dominated procedings from the start and Pavel Pogrebnyak opened the scoring for them. To be honest, the Gers were lucky they didn't concede more goals before half time. The SPL side got their act together a bit better in the second half but were really looking for a special moment from someone. That moment came from Madjid Bougherra and the Blues went home happy with a point. That leaves them 2nd in the group and on course for the knockout stages, three points behind group leaders Sevilla and level on points with Stuttgart with the virtual playoff 1-1 with Rangers leading by away goals.

Going down a level, the Europa League group stages also started up. In Group I, Everton beat AEK Athens 4-0 at Goodison Park(putting them top of the group). In Group E, Fulham drew 1-1 with CSKA Sofia at the Balgarska Armiya(putting them 2nd in the group) and in Group C Celtic were beaten 2-1 by Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Bloomfield Stadium in what was one of the shocks of the night(and putting Celtic 3rd in the group). Overall, certainly a mixed bag for the three British teams. The two Premiership sides are on course for the knockout stages(though in Fulham's case it's by the skin of their teeth) but Celtic have some work to do.

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