Matches will be played over two legs on 24/25 February and 10/11 March. In the ceremony staged at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, the eight winners of the group-stage pools were paired with teams that finished second. No clubs from the same association could be pitted together, while sides that met in the group stage were also kept apart. The draw for the remaining rounds will be made on 20 March, with this season's final taking place in Rome on 27 May.
First leg : 24 & 25 February 2009 Second leg : 10 & 11 March 2009
Chelsea FC (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) Villarreal CF (ESP) v Panathinaikos FC (GRE) Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) v FC Bayern München (GER) Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v FC Porto (POR) Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Barcelona (ESP) Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Liverpool FC (ENG) Arsenal FC (ENG) v AS Roma (ITA) FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
Wayne Rooney saved Manchester United from an embarrassing UEFA Champions League defeat at home to Aalborg on Wednesday, but the striker was lucky to avoid a red card for a first-half foul on Kasper Risgard during the 2-2 draw.
Even without Ronaldo, United would not have expected to be troubled by an Aalborg team treading water in mid-table in the Danish League, and the European champions appeared to be threatening a rout when they took the lead from their first attack after just three minutes. A swift one-two between Ryan Giggs and Rooney led to Giggs releasing Tevez inside the Aalborg penalty area, and the Argentina striker ruthlessly took his chance by guiding a first-time left foot shot past goalkeeper Karim Zaza.
Tevez then sent a glancing header from Rooney's cross wide of the far post on 23 minutes as United maintained the pressure, but Aalborg were able to withstand the pressure and they stunned United by equalising on 31 minutes. Anders Due's in-swinging free-kick from the right flank was met with a backwards header from Michael Jakobsen and his contact was enough to take the ball past goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
Four minutes before half-time, Rooney then had his lucky escape when French referee Laurent Duhamel failed to spot his foul when he placed his studs in Risgard's chest. Aalborg were angry at the referee's failure to spot the incident, but they made United pay in perfect fashion by grabbing a shock lead when Jeppe Curth headed in Due's cross two minutes into injury time.
United responded well in the second-half, though, and Rooney hauled them level when he rifled in from 20 yards after being released by Brazilian midfielder Anderson to extend United's unbeaten run in the Champions League to 19 games, a record shared with Ajax and Bayern Munich.. But although the home side poured forward in search of a winner, Aalborg held out and the visitors claimed a deserved draw.
Porto defeated Arsenal 2-0 at home on Wednesday to finish top of Champions League Group G. Arsene Wenger's side needed only a draw at the Dragao Stadium to guarantee pole position and the advantage of a home second leg tie in the second round.
Wenger made seven changes to the team that defeated Wigan on Saturday, and Emmanuel Eboue was given a chance to silence the boo-boys who jeered him off after a poor substitutes' appearance. But Wenger was without injured midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and opted to rest Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
Arsenal threatened for the first time when Mexican teenager Carlos Vela won a free-kick and Denilson's deep set piece was headed over by Abou Diaby. A neat combination between Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey opened up the Porto defence in the 25th minute. Welsh teenager Ramsey cut into the penalty area, turned his marker and fired in a low shot, which Helton did well to push around the far post. Porto stepped up the pressure and got their reward in the 39th minute as Diaby was punished for a slack piece of defending. Diaby completely lost Bruno Alves at an inswinging corner and the Arsenal midfielder could only watch in dismay as the Porto star headed powerfully past Almunia.
Arsenal were just as lethargic after half-time and it was Eboue who was the villain again as the right-back allowed Lisandro to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute. Fernando's pass split the Arsenal defence but Eboue played Lisandro onside, and the striker took full advantage, racing clear to drive past Almunia.
The defeat was Arsenal's first of the group stages but, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Roma among the potential group winners lying in wait in the last 16, it could prove fatal to their chances of advancing to the latter stages.
Real Madrid 3 - 0 Zenit St. Petersburg
Juande Ramos made a winning start as Real Madrid coach with a 3-0 victory over Zenit St Petersburg in UEFA Champions League Group H on Wednesday. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla boss, who replaced Bernd Schuster on Tuesday, saw his side take the lead through Raul midway through first half following an error from visiting goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.
The new Madrid coach had called for focus and commitment ahead of Los Merengues' final UEFA Champions League Group H encounter and got just that as his charges dominated from the start. Raúl profited from a Vyacheslav Malafeev error to break the deadlock on 25 minutes but from then on the hosts did all the hard work themselves. The lively Robben doubled the advantage five minutes after the restart with an adroit chip and, soon after, Raúl sealed the victory in similar fashion. It was the cue to ease off as Ramos rang the changes and though Zenit twice hit the woodwork in the closing stages, it was too little, too late.
After a poor run of form, a victory with a clean sheet will give Real a much needed lift ahead of Saturday's trip to face arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga. fifa
Chelsea 2 - 1 CFR Cluj Didier Drogba made a scoring return to ease Chelsea FC's nerves and carry them to a narrow victory against CFR 1907 Cluj as Luiz Felipe Scolari's team advanced to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
It was a far from convincing display from Scolari's men, however, and the Chelsea boss will have to get more from his team if they are to reach the final again. Scolari had insisted it wouldn't be the end of the world if Chelsea failed to qualify; the Brazilian's laid-back approach was clearly meant to relax his players, but they still looked nervous in the early stages.
Chelsea were spluttering rather than moving smoothly through the gears, and Scolari jumped from the bench to berate his players. But the breakthrough they desperately needed finally arrived in the 40th minute after a lapse in concentration from the Romanians. Ballack tumbled under Eugen Trica's challenge and, when Deco whipped in the free-kick, Kalou was left unmarked six yards from goal. Kalou took a sublime first touch before lashing his shot past Nunu Claro.
Chelsea were on top at the start of the second half, and Nicolas Anelka wasted a chance to double Chelsea's lead when John Obi Mikel picked him out. The France striker pulled the trigger too slowly and Claro blocked. Cluj were never overwhelmed, however, and they hit Chelsea with a pefectly timed sucker punch in the 55th minute. Culio back-heeled to Cristian Panin and the defender's cross reached Kone, who rose above Alex at the far post to bury his header past Cech.
Scolari sent on Drogba for Kalou for the final 25 minutes and the powerful forward, who received a rapturous reception from the home fans, made an immediate impact. In the 72nd minute, Mikel and Joe Cole combined to carve open the Cluj defence and Drogba's low finish gave Claro no chance.
AS Roma topped Group A after comfortably defeating a disappointing FC Girondins de Bordeaux 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Second half goals from Matteo Brighi and captain Francesco Totti were enough to send Luciano Spalletti's men into the knockout stages for a third successive season and consign Bordeaux to the UEFA Cup.
Roma took the lead on 61 minutes after Bordeaux's defence went missing. Julio Baptista played Simone Perrotta in behind the backline and he pulled the ball back for the unmarked Brighi who also struck twice on Matchday 5 in the 3-1 victory over CFR 1907 Cluj, to slot home with Bordeaux's defence completely at sixes and sevens.
Blanc reacted by throwing on three attacking players, including former Manchester United forward David Bellion, who played alongside Blanc at Old Trafford a few years back. Still they struggled to create much, but on 76 minutes Gourcuff did force Doni into a save low to his left. But only three minutes later, Roma clinched the victory they just about deserved as Frenchman Jeremy Menez released Totti to fire home under Rame's body. Soon after that Bellion had a great chance to pull a goal back, but he volleyed wildly over from inside the box.
Roma now go into the hat on 19 December as group winners and, as well as playing the second leg at home, will avoid some big guns in the first knockout round.
Werder Bremen 2 - 1 Inter Milan
Werder Bremen ended their UEFA Champions League with a bang as second-half goals from Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg earned the German side the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup, leaving FC Internazionale Milano to settle for second in Group B.
Werder deserved their victory and finish third by leapfrogging Anorthosis Famagusta, who lost 1-0 at group winners Panathinaikos. Inter, who had already qualified, must be content with progressing as group runners-up after another lacklustre European performance.
Pizarro, who scored in the 1-1 draw at San Siro in October, netted from close range on 63 minutes after an unusually shaky Julio Cesar could only parry Mesut Ozil's drive. Strike partner Rosenberg added a similar second nine minutes from time after more poor Inter defending before substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted in a consolation for Inter from just outside the area.
Inter talisman Ibrahimovic started on the bench with his side already through, and Werder, without the suspended Diego, lacked creativity in the first half. Wingers Mancini and Ricardo Quaresma again underperformed for the visitors, who lost 1-0 at home to Panathinaikos in their previous group game. Pizarro had two other good chances for the hosts, already out of contention for Champions League progression before the game.
Barcelona 2 - 3 Shakhtar Donetsk
It took Mircea Lucescu 35 years of trying as a player and a coach but Matchday 6 finally brought the Romanian his first competitive victory in Spain as FC Shakhtar Donetsk took full advantage of an inexperienced FC Barcelona side to earn a memorable UEFA Champions League success. Barcelona were already assured of first place in the group and rested eight first-choice players at a half-empty stadium.
Forward Gladkiy put Shakhtar ahead on 31 minutes, sidefooting Willian's pullback past Albert Jorquera in the home goal, and doubled the visitors' lead with 58 minutes gone when he rose unmarked to head home from a free kick. Their two-goal advantage was short-lived, as a minute later Silvinho exchanged passes with Seydou Keita and rifled a shot past Andriy Pyatov from the edge of the area.
Fernandinho made it 3-1 with just under quarter of an hour left, tapping the ball into an empty net, and Sergio Busquets pulled one back shortly afterwards when he latched on to Eidur Gudjohnsen's clever chip and sidefooted home. Shakhtar midfielder Brandao was lucky to escape a sending-off near the end when he caught Busquets with his arm, prompting some ugly pushing and shoving between the players.
Barca pressed for an equaliser but were unable to carve out any clear openings as the match drew to a close. The Catalans were now concentrating on Saturday's home Primera Liga clash with arch-rivals Real Madrid, he added.
PSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 Liverpool
Goals by Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David N'Gog took Liverpool FC comfortably into the UEFA Champions League first knockout round as the winners of Group D and left PSV Eindhoven languishing at the bottom of the table with only three points.
Ryan Babel equalised on the stroke of half-time, and second-half goals from Spanish winger Albert Riera and back-up striker David Ngog delivered what was ultimately a straightforward victory for Rafael Benitez's side.
The final outcome had appeared unlikely when Javier Mascherano's failure to clear a corner at the near post gave Lazovic the chance to put PSV ahead with a close-range shot that went between the legs of Liverpool goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, who was making a rare start in place of the rested Jose Reina. The equaliser came within seconds of half-time and courtesy of a fine free-kick from Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva. Babel's glancing header may not have been perfectly timed, but the bounce of the ball ensured former Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson could only get a hand to it and help it into the net.
Liverpool looked brighter after the restart and Ajax old boy Babel came close to silencing the crowd's jeers with a shot that found the side netting just before the hour mark. Ten minutes later, Liverpool got their noses in front thanks to a superb 30-yard strike from Spanish winger Riera that left Isaksson with no chance as it glided into the top corner of the net. Riera made way shortly afterwards for homegrown prospect Jay Spearing, and two minutes later a fine breakaway strike put the contest beyond any doubt. Robbie Keane was the architect, releasing Ngog with a fine pass from just inside his own half and the youngster raced away before producing a cool finish to claim his first Champions League goal. fifa
Steven Gerrard celebrated his return from injury by firing Liverpool into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win over Marseille on Wednesday. The Liverpool captain's first-half header from Xabi Alonso's cross proved enough to secure a victory over opponents who deserved better after a display every bit as spirited as the one that had seen them become the first French club to win at Anfield 13 months ago.
Ultimately it was the sloppy marking that allowed Gerrard to claim his fifth goal in as many games in this season's competition that snuffed out Marseille's last chance of progress to the last 16. But Erik Gerets' men could also count themselves unfortunate not to have enjoyed the breaks that would have enabled them to capitalise on a string of good chances as they put Liverpool under intense pressure after the interval.
It was a night of milestones for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. His 66th European match in charge of the club eclipsed Bill Shankly's record while a 39th victory on the European stage saw him draw level with Bob Paisley's mark. The Spaniard, though, could scarcely have been satisfied with another lacklustre display from his side which, even with Gerrard returning at the expense of Robbie Keane, lacked the attacking intensity he had promised in the wake of Saturday's sluggish display against Fulham.
Barcelona coasted to a 5-2 victory over 10-man hosts Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday to win UEFA Champions League Group C after running riot at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on Wednesday. Both sides had already ensured their passage to the last 16 inside their first four games, leaving makeweights Shakhtar Donetsk and Basel trailing in their wake.
Henry, starting out as a lone spearhead with fellow former Arsenal man Alex Hleb and Messi foraging wide, put them ahead on the quarter hour. Messi, a candidate for the prestigious Ballon d'Or awarded by French magazine France Football in December, tore down the right flank and set Henry up on a plate barely three metres out. Three minutes later Gerard Pique bundled in the second after Eidur Godjohnsen unwittingly deflected a loose ball to him in a melee.
Four minutes after the restart Messi poached the third, gliding in to score unmarked following a Daniel Alves freekick to all but end the contest. Barca then endured a sloppy few moments as Miguel Veloso smacked home a ferocious freekick in the 65th minute and Liedson then netted almost straight after the restart. But within a minute Caneira screwed the ball into his own net under pressure and the roof then fell in on Sporting as Rui Patricio was red-carded for fouling Krkic, who coolly dispatched the resulting penalty in the 73rd minute.
Chelsea must wait on a seventh straight appearance in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League after Bordeaux held them 1-1 while the Blues also had Frank Lampard sent off on a night of European drama. Alou Diarra headed home from a corner with seven minutes remaining to cancel out Nicolas Anelka's opener as the French side carved out a well-deserved point to send Group A down to the final round of action on 9 and 10 December.
It was not a virtuoso performance from last season's finalists and they were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point despite taking the lead on the hour mark. The West Londoners had to wait until the 60th minute for their first shot on goal but when it came, Anelka made Bordeaux pay for all their wasted first half chances in the most clinical fashion. It was harsh on the French runners-up, who had given their more illustrious opponents a torrid time up to Anelka's strike. The goal rattled Bordeaux as Scolari's side sensed the perfect away win that would send them into the next round and they settled back into their possession game, assuming the hard work had been done.
But Diarra sent the Bordeaux faithful home happy with his near post header that also keeps Laurent Blanc's side in the chase for a place in the last 16. Chelsea must now get a result at home to CFR Cluj in their final match while Bordeaux travel to Roma to determine who claims the top two spots in the pool. However, the London side will be without Lampard who was sent off for a second bookable offence with four minutes left.
A resurgent AS Roma moved to the top of UEFA Champions League Group A with a 3-1 win at CFR Cluj that eliminated the Romanians from the competition. The result, coupled with Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Bordeaux, means Roma can book their place in the knockout phase with a draw against the French side in their remaining group game.
Cluj claimed a shock 2-1 win when the sides met in the reverse fixture in September but it was Roma who drew first blood at the Dr Constantin Radulescu stadium when Simone Perrotta galloped onto a pass down the inside-right channel and centred for midfielder Matteo Brighi to convert from close range. Eugen Trica should have restored parity 10 minutes later, but somehow contrived to place the ball wide from eight yards after being picked out at the back post by Sebastian Dubarbier.
And within minutes his side were 2-0 down. Cluj conceded a free-kick 25 yards from goal in a central position and Roma skipper Francesco Totti stepped up to shape a superb strike into the top-right corner.But just as Roma were beginning to look assured, Cluj responded on the half-hour mark. Roma keeper Doni made a real mess of Alvaro Pereira's tame toe-poke and Burkina Faso striker Yssouf Kone was on hand to nod home the rebound and halve the deficit.
Kone then spurned two chances to level either side of half-time, but in the 64th minute Brighi put the game beyond the hosts when he controlled Rodrigo Taddei's square pass before finishing into the bottom-left corner. fifa
Holders Manchester United failed to secure top spot in UEFA Champions League Group E but qualified for the knockout stage of the competition after another 0-0 draw with Villarreal at El Madrigal on Tuesday. Villarreal, still undefeated at home in the competition, join United in the last 16 and the final round of group matches will now decide who tops the group.
Manchester United, who have the superior goal difference, host Aalborg BK on 12 December while Villarreal have a tougher trip to Celtic on the same day. Once again there was no separating these two teams who have failed to produce a goal in 360 minutes of European football having played each other four times in the Champions League with every game ending 0-0.
Ferguson received a major boost with Ronaldo being declared fit after overcoming a leg injury sustained against Villa at the weekend. With Dimitar Berbatov injured Carlos Tevez was expected to start but the Argentine, becoming increasingly used to life out of the first eleven, was surprisingly left on the substitutes bench with Wayne Roooney as a lone striker. For Villarreal, Giuseppe Rossi faced his former club for the first time after finding competition too fierce at Old Trafford.
Cesc Fabregas led by example as Arsenal booked their place in the UEFA Champions League second round with a 1-0 win against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. Just 24 hours after being installed as Arsenal's new skipper in place of William Gallas, the Spanish midfielder showed how to inspire a team with a typically sublime pass for Nicklas Bendtner's late winner at the Emirates Stadium.
For long periods, Arsenal looked as lacklustre as they had done recently under Gallas's captaincy, but Fabregas took the game by the scruff of the neck to ensure Arsene Wenger's side can look forward to playing in the knockout stages of European's elite club competition. It was more than Arsenal deserved for another lacklustre display and Dynamo's frustration was clear as midfielder Olexandr Aliyev was sent off for a petulant shove on referee Alain Hamer.
As expected, Wenger ended Gallas's brief exile for criticising his colleagues and restored the disaffected defender to his starting line-up. Despite Gallas's stinging criticism of Arsenal's youngsters last week there was no outward sign that he had been frozen out. The France centre-back exchanged hugs with his team-mates before kick-off and there were no jeers from the home fans. Gallas's return was born as much of necessity as desire however. With a host of key players sidelined through injury, Wenger could hardly afford to leave out such an experienced player after a run of three defeats from four matches. Even so, Wenger still had to field a youthful team including a first Champions League start for Mexican striker Carlos Vela.
Spanish giants Real Madrid clinched a berth in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions' League beating Belarus champions BATE Borisov 1-0 in their Group H clash on Tuesday. Raul Gonzalez netted the only goal of the match to add three points to Real's balance leaving the Spanish side with nine points from five matches, four ahead of second-placed Zenit St Petersburg.
Chasing the win to make sure of their passage, Real got off to a lively start through veteran forward Raul, who fired in from close range with a ricochet effort off the crossbar from Royston Drenthe's cross just six minutes into the game. Raul's goal put him equal with AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi as the competition's all-time top scorer with 64 goals. Real dominated the proceedings before the break and created several more chances but failed to increase their lead as BATE defended stoutly, the back line well marshalled by goalie Sergei Veremko.
In the closing stages the visitors kept the match under complete control, stifling BATE's attacking efforts to render their final group match with Zenit at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium a meaningless affair.
Two second-half goals from striker Miroslav Klose sealed Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Steaua Bucharest to put the Germans into the UEFA Champions League's knock-out stages. Klose's goals either side of a superb header from Italian FIFA World Cup™ winner Luca Toni at Munich's Allianz Arena made sure Jurgen Klinsmann's side will definitely qualify from Group F alongside seven-time French champions Lyon.
French midfielder Franck Ribery was again the ace in Bayern's pack of stars as he bossed the midfield. But the night belonged to Klose, who has three goals from the last two games after scoring in last Saturday's 4-1 Bundesliga win. Dorinel Munteanu-coached Steaua remain anchored to the bottom of the table and were playing for pride, but still have a chance of UEFA Cup berth.
Bayern's Argentina defender Martin Demichelis missed his first group stage match with a calf strain he picked up in Munich's victory against Energie Cottbus last Saturday. Belgium's Daniel Van Buyten took over, while Lukas Podolski, who has applied for a transfer in January's winter break, was again on the bench and is suffering from a back problem. fifa
A late equaliser from Ryan Giggs denied Celtic a famous victory as Manchester United emerged from Parkhead with a 1-1 draw that virtually ensures the defending champions' passage to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage on Wednesday. A memorable first-half strike from Scott McDonald had put the Scottish champions on track for another big win in front of their supporters.
United were a shadow of the side that had cruised to a 3-0 victory in last month's first meeting between the two clubs in Group E, but their late pressure finally yielded an equaliser when Giggs finished off a rebound from Cristiano Ronaldo's shot six minutes from the end. The gulf between the two clubs in terms of resources was reflected in starting line-ups born of the ease with which Celtic had been swept aside at Old Trafford.
The proximity of Saturday's Premier League encounter with Arsenal ensured United's goalscorers on that night, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, both started on the bench while goalkeeper Ben Foster was given the opportunity to make his second start for the club. Celtic's desire to stiffen a midfield that had been overwhelmed at Old Trafford resulted in Shunsuke Nakamura being left on the bench while Irish teenager Cilian Sheridan was drafted in to support Scott McDonald in attack.
See the highlight;
Real Madrid 0 - 2 Juventus
Two superb goals by Alessandro Del Piero handed Juventus a 2-0 win at Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, and a place in the knockout stage with two games to spare. Del Piero inspired double European champions Juventus with a low left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty box in the 17th minute, and sealed the win with a trademark free kick midway through the second half.
Juventus top Group H with 10 points from four matches, Real have six while Zenit St Petersburg are on four after a 2-0 triumph at bottom club BATE Borisov.
See the highlight;
Arsenal 0 - 0 Fenerbache
Arsenal's hopes of securing an early place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League ended in frustration on Wednesday, as Group G's bottom club Fenerbahce clung on for a 0-0 draw at the Emirates.
After a disappointing week in the Premier League left them off the pace in the title race, the Gunners appeared to run out of ideas against a Fenerbahce side they destroyed 5-2 in Istanbul a fortnight ago. They remain top of the group with two matches remaining, but Porto's victory in Kiev means things have suddenly become a lot tighter than they might have been. FIFA
Other Results;
Group E Aalborg BK 2 - 2 Villarreal Celtic 1 - 1 Manchester U.
Group F Fiorentina 1 - 1 Bayern Munich Lyon 2 - 0 Steaua Bucuresti
Group G Arsenal 0 - 0 Fenerbahce Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 2 FC Porto
Group H BATE Borisov 0 - 2 Zenit St. Petersburg Real Madrid 0 - 2 Juventus
AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti's job is looking a lot safer following his team's stunning 3-1 victory over 10-man Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma gave themselves a Group A lifeline with the victory that moves them up to second, just a point behind the Londoners. Defeat would have almost certainly signalled the end of their European ambitions but the struggling Romans picked the right moment to rediscover their form against the English Premier League leaders.
Roma have lost six of their nine Serie A matches this term and sit one point and one place above the relegation zone. But a goal from Christian Panucci and a brace from Mirko Vucinic will have done wonders to their fragile confidence. Chelsea captain John Terry scored a consolation but the Blues finished with ten men after Deco was shown two yellow cards.
Liverpool 1 - 1 Atletico Madrid
Steven Gerrard came to Liverpool's rescue once again as his fortunately awarded last-gasp penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. With the final seconds of stoppage time ticking away at Anfield, Rafa Benitez's side were heading for a shock defeat thanks to Maxi Rodriguez's first-half strike. But Gerrard has a habit of digging his team out of trouble in European matches and the Liverpool captain did it again by winning and converting a penalty in the 95th minute.
The England midfielder's spot-kick kept Liverpool on course for the second round and stopped Atletico securing a place in the last 16, but Benitez must be concerned by the way his team continue to squander chances to turn their dominance into goals. Just four days after losing to Tottenham despite out-playing them for long periods, the Reds once again struggled due to their lack of cutting edge. Benitez had opted not to risk Fernando Torres as the Spain striker makes recovers from a hamstring injury, but Liverpool looked toothless without their talisman.
See the highlight (Maxi Rodriguez goal)
Barcelona 1 - 1 Basel
Barcelona qualified for the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with two games to spare despite losing their 100 per cent record in the competition following a 1-1 home draw with FC Basel. Argentine international Lionel Messi scored his fourth Champions League goal in as many games to put Barcelona ahead on 62 minutes - just 120 seconds after coming on as a substitute - but Eren Derdiyok equalised for the Swiss visitors eight minutes from time.
It spoilt Barca's flawless Champions League start and ended their run of 11 successive victories in all competitions but qualification is secure. Barcelona's next European game is against Sporting Lisbon on 26 November when they will tussle for top spot but they can now focus on the league knowing they are already in the last 16. With a perfect nine points before the game and big matches to come Barca coach Pep Guardiola gave fringe players a chance with Sylvinho, Sergio Busquets and Victor Sanchez starting while Samuel Eto'o, Messi and Xavi started on the substitutes bench. FIFA
Other Results
Group A AS Roma 3 - 1 Chelsea CFR Cluj 1 - 2 Bordeaux
Group B Anorthosis 3 - 3 Inter Milan Werder Bremen 0 - 3 Panathinaikos
Group C Barcelona 1 - 1 Basel Sporting Lisbon 1 - 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Group D Liverpool 1 - 1 Atletico Madrid Marseille 3 - 0 PSV Eindhoven
John Terry shattered Roma's spirited resistance as the Chelsea captain's late goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were frustrated for three quarters of a tense encounter, but Terry finally broke the deadlock with 13 minutes to play at Stamford Bridge. Terry's first goal of the season couldn't have come at a more timely moment. Just as it seemed Chelsea would have to settle for a second successive goalless draw in Europe, the England defender intervened to keep the Blues top of Group A and firmly on course for a place in the second round.
The Blues started brightly enough and when Wayne Bridge's cross was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area, Frank Lampard drove in a half-volley that forced a fine save from Doni. But Roma were clearly determined to restore some pride after their recent struggles and gave as good as they got.
John Obi Mikel tried to wrestle back the initiative for Chelsea with a surging run that Philippe Mexes ended with a cynical trip. Lampard almost made Mexes pay from the free-kick as his fierce strike grazed the crossbar. That was as good as it got for Chelsea in the first half. Although Salomon Kalou tested Doni with a low strike, for once Scolari's side weren't getting it all their own way.
Barcelona 5 - 0 Basel (Group C)
Teen sensation Bojan Krkic scored twice as Barcelona cruised past Basel 5-0 Wednesday to keep their 100-per cent record in the UEFA Champions League Group C. Coach Josep Guardiola left Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry out of the starting lineup, but the French striker came on for Xavi Hernandez in the middle of the second half. That left 18-year-old Krkic to lead the attack.
It was Argentine winger Lionel Messi who opened the scoring in the fourth minute, beating the Basel offside trap and picking up a superb cross from Daniel Alves to knock the ball past his compatriot Franco Costanzo in the Swiss goal. Barely 10 minutes later, Xavi Hernandez lobbed a ball across the Basel defence to Sergi Busquets at the far post and the Spanish under-21 international slotted it home. Messi played a ball to the feet of Krkic, who sent it to the corner of the net of the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 22nd minute.
Krkic, whose Serbian father, also named Bojan Krkic, played for Red Star Belgrade, doubled his tally at the start of the second half when Barcelona launch a counter-attack after a rare Basel foray into Spanish territory. Xavi Hernandez made it five for the Catalan side just two minutes later. Barcelona now have a perfect nine points from three games in Group C, which also includes Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting Lisbon.
See the highlight (Messi goal)
Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Liverpool (Group D)
A late slip cost Liverpool dear in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League group match at Atletico Madrid as Portuguese winger Simao struck an 83rd minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Irish international Robbie Keane, yet to score in the English Premier League, had put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute for his second Champions League goal at the Vicente Calderon stadium.
The 83rd minute goal for Simao, whom the Merseysiders tried to sign two years ago, was a blow for Liverpool although both they and Atletico have seven points from nine in Group D. Atletico and Liverpool, who both lost their 100 per cent European records, face off again in the next group match at Anfield on 4 November.
It is a big week for Liverpool who have a title tussle with co-leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
With Atletico old boy Torres, who captained the club at the tender age of 19, missing with a hamstring injury, Benitez started with a 4-5-1 formation with Keane as the target man. Surprisingly Dirk Kuyt - the match winner in a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday - was left on the substitutes' bench with Javier Mascherano taking his place.
Atletico, reeling from their weekend derby defeat to Real Madrid, handed a debut to 19-year-old defender Alvaro Dominguez with Tomas Ujfalusi out injured. Sergio 'Kun' Aguero was on the bench with coach Javier Aguirre claiming the Argentine was tired and former Liverpool man Florent Sinama Pongolle started in attack.
Other Results
Group A Bordeaux 1 - 0 CFR Cluj Chelsea 1 - 0 AS Roma
Group B Inter Milan 1 - 0 Anorthosis Panathinaikos 2 - 2 Werder Bremen
Group C Basel 0 - 5 Barcelona Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 1 Sporting Lisbon
Group D Atletico Madrid 1 - 1 Liverpool PSV Eindhoven 2 - 0 Marseille
Dimitar Berbatov helped himself to a poacher's double as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 win over Celtic that leaves the Scottish champions on the verge of UEFA Champions League elimination. Wayne Rooney's ninth goal in seven matches for club and country completed what was an almost embarrassingly comfortable victory for the defending champions.
The knock that forced Cristiano Ronaldo off ten minutes from the end ensured it was not an altogether positive evening for United but Sir Alex Ferguson's side now know a victory in Glasgow in a fortnight's time will be enough to put them through to the knockout stages with two matches to spare.
For Celtic, with just one point from their opening three matches, the chances of survival now look slim after what was their tenth consecutive away defeat in the competition.
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Fenerbache 2 - 5 Arsenal (Group G)
Arsenal produced a counter-attacking masterclass to shatter Fenerbahce's long unbeaten home record with a 5-2 victory in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.The Gunners made a mockery of the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium's intimidating reputation as they handed Fenerbahce their first European home defeat for nearly three years. It was 15 matches since Fenerbahce had last been beaten in front of their fiercely-passionate fans and Inter Milan and Chelsea were among the illustrious names dispatched in the Turkish capital last season.
But Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott put Arsene Wenger's side in control with two goals in a minute early in the first half. Mikael Silvestre's own goal reduced the deficit, but Abou Diaby and Alexandre Song made 4-1. Daniel Guiza's late strike was no consolation for Fenerbahce as Aaron Ramsey completed the rout in stoppage time.
The win keeps Arsenal top of Group G with seven points and firmly on course for the second round, while Fenerbahce are on the brink of elimination.
Juventus 2 - 1 Real Madrid (Group H)
Juventus produced a stunning rearguard action to hold on for a famous 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League here on Tuesday to take control of Group H. Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri gave the hosts a two-goal lead before Real's Dutch contingent laid siege to the Italians' goal but could only muster a single reply through Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The victory leaves Juve top of the group on seven points, one ahead of Real and well clear of Zenit St Petersburg and BATE Borisov, who drew 1-1 in Russia earlier in the day. The result also eases the pressure on under-fire Juve boss Claudio Ranieri, whose team have been faltering in Serie A. fifa
Other Results
Group F
Manchester U. 3 - 0 Celtic Villarreal 6 - 3 Aalborg BK
Group F Bayern Munich 3 - 0 Fiorentina Steaua Bucuresti 3 - 5 Lyon
Group G FC Porto 0 - 1 Dynamo Kyiv Fenerbahce 2 - 5 Arsenal
Group H Zenit St. Petersburg 1 - 1 BATE Borisov Juventus 2 - 1 Real Madrid
Matches will be played over two legs on 24/25 February and 10/11 March. In the ceremony staged at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, the eight winners of the group-stage pools were paired with teams that finished second. No clubs from the same association could be pitted together, while sides that met in the group stage were also kept apart. The draw for the remaining rounds will be made on 20 March, with this season's final taking place in Rome on 27 May.
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