Updates from Match Day 4 (November 2) of UEFA Champions League 2011-12 Part-II

In the last post we had a look at the UEFA Champions League 2011-12 Match-day 4 matches. We cast our eyes on teams from Group A and B. So today we would go through the results of matches in Group C and D. 


GROUP-C


MANCHESTER UNITED 2 [Antonio Valencia 8’, Christian Sarghi (o.g.) 88’] vs. OTELUL GALATI 0

Wayne Rooney Stood Out in his Midfield Role

Wayne Rooney started in an unusual position of midfield. There was neat interplay in the midfield between Valencia, Nani and Rooney. Manchester United always had their noses in front in the opening exchanges. Then the first goal came about, Wayne Rooney passed to Dimitar Berbatov who released Phil Jones, though Jones’s pass was long for Micheal Owen but it found Valencia to perfection who tapped in the opening goal. Many fans would have expected many other goals simply due to the dominance of Manchester United but then they somehow lost their path. Berbatov and Javier Hernandez shot wide. Only significant chance for Otelul arrived when a stray pass found its way to Ionut Neagu but his decent shot was saved by David De Gea. In the second half there were a number of lost opportunities when Berbatov, Phil Jones and Hernandez all shot wide. Adrain Salageanu’s free-kick which found its way through half a dozen Otelul players was the best chance for the Romanian side. Rooney ended the anxiety for Manchester United when his long range shot took a deflection of Sarghi to find its way into the net. 


BENFICA 1 [Rodrigo 4’] vs. BASEL 1 [Benjamin Huggel 64’]

Rodrigo Scoring the Goal for Benfica

Benfica started as the dominant side and got a goal through Rodrigo in the 4th minute. It was a dangerous corner that led to the first goal. The ball was nodded down by Nicolas Gaitan and Rodrigo volleyed the ball from 12 yards. There were many other chances that came Benfica’s way to extend the lead. Rodrigo had a chance to double his score when he headed a cross from Pablo Aimar wide in the 8th minute, then in the 19th minute Ezequial Garay headed an excellent cross from Aimar wide from a very close range. The second half started with Gaitan volleying a ball wide. Similar was the fate of Rodrigo and Garay’s chances. But these misses proved costly Benfica. Chipperfield broke down the left for Basel and played a perfect ball into the centre for Huggel to slide it home. This goal opened up the game as both sides looked for the winning goal. But none of them achieved it. 


GROUP-D


REAL MADRID 2 [Christiano Ronaldo (24’, 69’ P)] vs. LYON 0

Christiano Ronaldo was All Over Lyon Defenders

Lyon seemed to be up for the challenge of facing Real Madrid. Jimmy Briand tested Real keeper Iker Casillas with a long range shot, Ronaldo also tested Hugo Lloris on the other end of the park. Lyon keeper also had to deal with shots from Karim Benzema and  Dejan Lovren had to block a shot from Ronaldo. Real took the lead in the 24th minute when Yoann Gourcuff pushed Benzema allowing Ronaldo the pleasure of scoring with a low free-kick. Xabi Alonso also had his long range effort saved by Lloris. Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria all had their chances of extending the lead but they could not find the target. In the second half Lloris had to dive and clear rushing Benzema and Kone excaped a penalty call when he handled Sergio Ramos’ header. But just two minutes later a penalty call finally went in Real Madrid’s favour when Ronaldo was fouled inside the penalty box by Dabo. Ronaldo shot home from the penalty spot to provide a two goal cushion to Real Madrid. There were not many meaningful opportunities for Lyon and Real Madrid managed to keep a clean sheet. 


AJAX 4[Gregory Van der Wiel 20’, Miralem Sulejmani 25’, Siem De Jong 65’, Nicolas Lodeiro 90+2’] vs. DINAMO ZAGREB 0

Vand der Wiel Scores Opening Goal for Ajax

It was a scrappy game but Ajax settled down quickly. Theo Janssen won a corner but whipped it wide of the goal post. Simo Vrsaljko had his cross blocked by Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer. Ajax soon began to have the upperhand. Then in the 20th minute they got the opening goal when Christian Eriksen’s back-heel found Van der Wiel who hit the ball into the roof of the net. After five minutes Ajax doubled their lead when De Jong passed a ball through for Sulejmani who took an excellent first touch and put the ball past the Dinamo keeper into the open net. De Jong made another potent pass to Boerrigter but he failed to convert it. Dinamo had their chance when Ante Rukavina went through the defence and forced Vermeer to come out of his goal to save the situation. In the second half Ajax dominated the proceedings. They were rewarded in the 65th minute when Eriksen flicked a ball to De Jong which he slotted to the bottom left hand corner. Lodeiro then put the final goal past Dinamo in the injury time, when he accepted a pass from Lorenzo Ebecilio and steered the ball in. 

Can Manchester United Exist Among the Big Spenders?

It’s been a dream ride for Manchester United over the last few years and Paul Scholes was very right in describing Manchester United as a “fortress” hard to breach. Being the holders of the English Premier League the expectations from Manchester United are very high. Though they have not been able to win the UEFA Champions League in the last 3 years yet their domestic record is one to be envious about. The Scottish master Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the club to new heights. His reign as the Manager of Manchester United has been filled with light.

Red Devils with EPL 2010-11 Trophy

While many clubs in Europe (such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, etc.) believe in spending huge sums of money to get the ideal players for their club, Manchester United have a philosophy of their own. They like to invest in the future players and not on the superstars already. They have sound youth system which provides them with ample scope to groom tomorrow’s superstars. Who had heard about Christiano Ronaldo, Nani, Wes Brown, etc. before they were fielded in the Manchester United first team. But there is a serious concern on teams like Manchester United who rely on their youth talent. In the recently concluded transfer window we saw the debacle that Arsenal faced. Good players like Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas left the club seeing lure from high paying clubs. So far Manchester United, though have been able to keep most of their talents intact (barring the likes of Christiano Ronaldo and David Beckham who left for Real Madrid). Even when the club has lost key players, Sir Alex has ably replaced them.

David De Gea, Phil Jones & Ashley Young

In the 2010-11 transfer window Manchester United went about signing in players very silently. Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea (from Atletico Madrid for £17.8m), defender Phil Jones (from Blackburn for £16.5m) and midfielder Ashley Young (from Aston Villa for £16m) were drafted in. Ever since Javier Hernandez, the crafty Mexican and Danny Wellback have become commendable performers for the Red Devils.

They are doing quite well in their competitions. In the EPL they have won 6 out of their 8 matches and are just 2 points behind the leaders Manchester City. They have handed defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea already, but had to settle for a draw against Liverpool. But in the UEFA Champions their struggle continues as they had to settle for two draws in two matches against the likes of Benfica and Basle.

New Brigade is Already Showing Inspiring Signs

So whether they can have domestic and European glory this time around is a fact that only time will tell. But for now their team seems to be going in the right direction and the absence of Paul Scholes (their key playmaker) and Edwin Van Der Sar (their number 1 goalkeeper) is not been felt yet.