Group E - Real Madrid, Lyon, Steua Bucharest, Dynamo Kyiv

Another easy win for Lyon against a not easy team. Awesome Lyon.

Napoléon wrote:Another easy win for Lyon against a not easy team. Awesome Lyon.

I'd love them to go all the way

why do some places say malouda scored goal 3 but others say some other guy

livescore say it was Malouda

La Saeta Rubia wrote:livescore say it was Malouda

I know but uefa and eurosport say someone else

uefa say it was Benzema so .... i gues it was Benzema

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Napoléon wrote:Another easy win for Lyon against a not easy team. Awesome Lyon.

I'd love them to go all the way

I Lyon. They'd be worthy winners of the CL.

Masterful Madrid back on track
by Paul Bryan

Real Madrid CF bounced back from losing their first match in UEFA Champions League Group E as a clinical display of attacking football brushed aside ten-man FC Dynamo Kyiv with Raúl González and Ruud van Nistelrooy both scoring twice.

First-half flourish
Beaten at Olympique Lyonnais two weeks ago, Madrid were eager to make amends in front of their home support and took the lead midway through the first half with a typically opportunist finish from Van Nistelrooy. Raúl and José Antonio Reyes looked to have sealed the points before half-time - the former with his first club goal since October - and although Artem Milevskiy replied early in the second period, Raúl restored the four-goal cushion before Van Nistelrooy rounded off a highly satisfactory night's work for Fabio Capello's side from the penalty spot having been brought down by Olexandr Shovkovskiy.

Quick opening
Despite scoring three times without reply in the opening 45 minutes, Madrid did not have the first half entirely their own way. Oleh Gusev might have given the visitors the advantage with a dipping attempt that dropped over while Iker Casillas was forced to deflect Maksim Shatskikh's strike wide. Madrid were always probing the Dynamo back line, however, with Guti, Roberto Carlos and Mahamadou Diarra all testing Shovkovskiy from distance and it was a trademark burst from the Brazilian full-back that led to the first goal in the 20th minute. He sped through on the left and hit a shot that the goalkeeper could only palm into the path of Van Nistelrooy, who tapped in.

Madrid take charge
Despite Dynamo's efforts a second goal arrived six minutes later with Reyes its architect, providing a deep curling cross from the right for the waiting Raúl to head in his 52nd UEFA Champions League goal. With the home fans in full voice in appreciation of their team, Reyes appeared to have ended the match as a contest in added time, connecting perfectly with Diarra's square pass just inside the area to curl in Madrid's third with the outside of his boot.

Raúl response
Dynamo nevertheless emerged for the second half in determined mood and quickly reduced the deficit. Milevskiy turned in the rebound after Casillas had been unable to hold Carlos Corrêa's shot from the edge of the area. Any hopes of an unlikely comeback were soon dashed, however, when Goran Gavrančić's loose back pass allowed Raúl to round Shovkovskiy and roll in Madrid's fourth. The keeper then hauled down Van Nistelrooy as the visitors were undone again and was sent off, the Dutchman picking himself up to slot the spot-kick calmly past replacement Olexandr Rybka.

Ronaldo return
With Madrid in complete command, Capello introduced Ronaldo for his first appearance of the season after knee surgery, and the striker received a rapturous reception from the Bernabéu crowd. While Madrid will head to FC Steaua Bucuresti on Matchday 3 with confidence renewed, Dynamo must overturn the odds against section leaders Lyon having lost their first two games at a cost of nine goals.


MOTM Van Nistelrooy

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116338/Report=RP.html

Benzema scored the third.

Benzema is a future very good, remember his name, only 18 years of age, scored 3 goals in 7 games in League 1 (while being mostly a late sub), and 1 goal in two champions league games (also late sub). This guy is the French Rooney, great great potential. A good thing is that if Lyon wins the next game against Dinamo Kiev, which is more than possible, the team will be automatically qualified and key players will be rested, while sub will be able to play some full games, including Benzema. I feel that Lyon will be hard to beat this year, they have been trashing or should I say correcting all the teams they have faced:

These are their last games (going from more recent to old)

Bucharest - Lyon: 0-3
Lyon - Lille (who drew 0-0 with Milan yesterday): 4-1
Lorient (who aren't that bad) - Lyon: 1-3
Lyon - Real: 2-0 (and could have been worst)
Lyon - Troyes: 2-0
Nice-Lyon: 1-4
Bordeaux-Lyon: 1-2
Lyon - Toulouse: 1-1 (the only draw)
Nantes-Lyon: 1-3

Total 9 games 8 victories, 1 draw

7 victories in the row with all away games won.

Hope they can continue in that form for a while, and hope they can go further the 1/4 finals this year.

Alive and Kicking wrote:Benzema is a future very good, remember his name, only 18 years of age, scored 3 goals in 7 games in League 1 (while being mostly a late sub), and 1 goal in two champions league games (also late sub). This guy is the French Rooney, great great potential. A good thing is that if Lyon wins the next game against Dinamo Kiev, which is more than possible, the team will be automatically qualified and key players will be rested, while sub will be able to play some full games, including Benzema. I feel that Lyon will be hard to beat this year, they have been trashing or should I say correcting all the teams they have faced:

These are their last games (going from more recent to old)

Bucharest - Lyon: 0-3
Lyon - Lille (who drew 0-0 with Milan yesterday): 4-1
Lorient (who aren't that bad) - Lyon: 1-3
Lyon - Real: 2-0 (and could have been worst)
Lyon - Troyes: 2-0
Nice-Lyon: 1-4
Bordeaux-Lyon: 1-2
Lyon - Toulouse: 1-1 (the only draw)
Nantes-Lyon: 1-3

Total 9 games 8 victories, 1 draw

7 victories in the row with all away games won.

Hope they can continue in that form for a while, and hope they can go further the 1/4 finals this year.

Saw him at the start of the season for lyon and was really impressed; can easily go past players and has an eye for goal.

Steau: Fernandes, Goian, Badea, Dica, Bostina, Nicolita, Marin, Lovin, Paraschiv, Saban, Ghionea

Real Madrid: Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Diarra, Raul, Emerson, Robinho, Guti, van Nistelrooy, Helguera

--------------------Casillas

S. Ramos----Helguera----Cannavaro----R. Carlos

---------------Diarra-----Emerson

---------------------Guti

Raul---------------------------------------Robinho

---------------------van Nistelrooy

Anyone watching Lyon tonight?

theflyingfrenchman wrote:Anyone watching Lyon tonight?

I would if I could...we're stuck with Milan - Anderlecht...

SERGIO RAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good goal?

Header from a corner, very nice cross from Guti.

Tweedledum wrote:good goal?

headed goal from a corner

0-2: RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUL!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAULLLLLLLLLLLL!

Kallstrom scores a beauty, Juninho with a sexy freekick, 2-0 at halftime.

Abidal and Malouda are shite though.

If there is one team I do not want to get drawn against until the very last possible moment its Lyon. They are scary to be honest.

Owen Thomas wrote:If there is one team I do not want to get drawn against until the very last possible moment its Lyon. They are scary to be honest.

Well apparently it's 5 degrees in Ukraine AND THEY'RE STILL WINNING!!!

Kallstrom is playing just . For his goal he does a perfect control from a ball in mid air on a fifty yard cross, then immediately plays it bast two player with the same foot.

It's impossible to do without dislocating your ankle. Except he just did it.

Juninho's freekick is funny as well;

Roooooooooooooooooobinhoooooooooooooooo

MAJESTIC MADRID SWEEP STEAUA AWAY

Ruud van Nistelrooy became only the third player to score 50 goals in the European Champion Clubs' Cup with an astute chip as Real Madrid CF moved to within striking distance of a place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a commanding victory at FC Steaua Bucuresti.

Masterful Madrid
Madrid took an iron grip on the Group E game with first-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Raúl González before Robinho effectively settled the match as a contest shortly after the restart. Valentin Badea offered Steaua faint hope when he pulled a goal back on 64 minutes but Van Nistelrooy crowned an excellent performance from the visitors when he chipped superbly over Carlos Fernandes with 14 minutes remaining.

Expectant crowd
The Steaua Stadium was packed long before kick-off and the expectations of a raucous home crowd were close to being met straight from the start as Iker Casillas rushed from his line to punch clear from Banel Nicolita. Madrid, though, soon took the game to the Romanian champions. Robinho, in for the injured José Antonio Reyes, forced Carlos Fernandes into an early save before the visitors produced the riposte they so needed following Saturday's defeat by Getafe CF. Guti sent in a corner from the left on nine minutes and Ramos climbed highest to head Madrid in front.

Dica chance
Somewhat surprisingly this was the first meeting between these two illustrious sides and they were putting on a show worthy of the occasion. Carlos again saved well from Robinho then Casillas produced an even better stop at the other end, spectacularly clawing away Nicolae Dica's curling shot. Robinho's deft touches and clever flicks were a joy to watch and it was the Brazilian's delicate pass infield to Emerson that led to Madrid's second goal eleven minutes before half-time. His compatriot fed Van Nistelrooy and though Carlos again blocked his shot, Raúl was on hand to turn the rebound into an open goal.

Robinho class
Even Steaua fans stood to applaud when Robinho curled in Madrid's third eleven minutes into the second half. Coach Fabio Capello's decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench was thorougly vindicated as the 22-year-old calmly sidestepped Rahamin Klemi Saban before shooting beyond Carlos, albeit with the help of a deflection off Dorin Goian. Eight minutes later Badea had the home support back on their feet, this time in celebration of a Steaua goal as he made the most of some uncertainty in the Madrid defence to turn in substitute Cyril Thereau's low cross.

Perfect chip
Unexpectedly Steaua were back in the game, but their hopes were dashed by Van Nistelrooy, the Dutchman somehow digging the ball up and over Carlos from eight metres to join Raúl and Andriy Shevchenko with 50 European Cup goals. On a night of milestones David Beckham came on to make his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance as Madrid rounded off the night in style. They have now scored nine times in two European games and will qualify with another victory against Steaua in a fortnight's time.

MOTF, Robinho

La Saeta Rubia wrote:MAJESTIC MADRID SWEEP STEAUA AWAY

Ruud van Nistelrooy became only the third player to score 50 goals in the European Champion Clubs' Cup with an astute chip as Real Madrid CF moved to within striking distance of a place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a commanding victory at FC Steaua Bucuresti.

Masterful Madrid
Madrid took an iron grip on the Group E game with first-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Raúl González before Robinho effectively settled the match as a contest shortly after the restart. Valentin Badea offered Steaua faint hope when he pulled a goal back on 64 minutes but Van Nistelrooy crowned an excellent performance from the visitors when he chipped superbly over Carlos Fernandes with 14 minutes remaining.

Expectant crowd
The Steaua Stadium was packed long before kick-off and the expectations of a raucous home crowd were close to being met straight from the start as Iker Casillas rushed from his line to punch clear from Banel Nicolita. Madrid, though, soon took the game to the Romanian champions. Robinho, in for the injured José Antonio Reyes, forced Carlos Fernandes into an early save before the visitors produced the riposte they so needed following Saturday's defeat by Getafe CF. Guti sent in a corner from the left on nine minutes and Ramos climbed highest to head Madrid in front.

Dica chance
Somewhat surprisingly this was the first meeting between these two illustrious sides and they were putting on a show worthy of the occasion. Carlos again saved well from Robinho then Casillas produced an even better stop at the other end, spectacularly clawing away Nicolae Dica's curling shot. Robinho's deft touches and clever flicks were a joy to watch and it was the Brazilian's delicate pass infield to Emerson that led to Madrid's second goal eleven minutes before half-time. His compatriot fed Van Nistelrooy and though Carlos again blocked his shot, Raúl was on hand to turn the rebound into an open goal.

Robinho class
Even Steaua fans stood to applaud when Robinho curled in Madrid's third eleven minutes into the second half. Coach Fabio Capello's decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench was thorougly vindicated as the 22-year-old calmly sidestepped Rahamin Klemi Saban before shooting beyond Carlos, albeit with the help of a deflection off Dorin Goian. Eight minutes later Badea had the home support back on their feet, this time in celebration of a Steaua goal as he made the most of some uncertainty in the Madrid defence to turn in substitute Cyril Thereau's low cross.

Perfect chip
Unexpectedly Steaua were back in the game, but their hopes were dashed by Van Nistelrooy, the Dutchman somehow digging the ball up and over Carlos from eight metres to join Raúl and Andriy Shevchenko with 50 European Cup goals. On a night of milestones David Beckham came on to make his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance as Madrid rounded off the night in style. They have now scored nine times in two European games and will qualify with another victory against Steaua in a fortnight's time.

MOTF, Robinho

I think you lot should stick with a 4-4-2 mate. Surely you should also drop 1 of the defensive midfielders.

I think Robinho proved today that he has to play and Capello was wrong not playing him. Id like to see if Capello plays the same team against Barça on sunday !

La Saeta Rubia wrote:I think Robinho proved today that he has to play and Capello was wrong not playing him. Id like to see if Capello plays the same team against Barça on sunday !

Would you prefer to keep that team? I'd tweak it a bit.

yours truly wrote:

La Saeta Rubia wrote:I think Robinho proved today that he has to play and Capello was wrong not playing him. Id like to see if Capello plays the same team against Barça on sunday !

Would you prefer to keep that team? I'd tweak it a bit.

Id keep it the way it was today, unless Reyes is match fit, then id play Reyes & Robinho down the wings and take Emerson or Raul off, depends.

La Saeta Rubia wrote:

yours truly wrote:

La Saeta Rubia wrote:I think Robinho proved today that he has to play and Capello was wrong not playing him. Id like to see if Capello plays the same team against Barça on sunday !

Would you prefer to keep that team? I'd tweak it a bit.

Id keep it the way it was today, unless Reyes is match fit, then id play Reyes & Robinho down the wings and take Emerson or Raul off, depends.

I'd definitely get Reyes back in. Barca's full backs are pretty weak apart from Zambrotta but he's off form at the moment.