Champions League 2012-13: The week-end after Champions League Day 2

We enjoyed Champions League matches during the week, but let’s look back and see what happened in Europe in the week-end preceding the Champions League matchday 2. And there was a lot to watch! 

Champions League will be discussed right before the 3^rd matchday, and before this we will have a chance to watch closely the only two teams that not only won their two first matches, but also kept clean sheets. These two teams are Porto and Malaga.

Let’s start with Eredivisie.

Ajax won the big battle against Twente and… fell a step down in the table. Twente had 6 wins in 6 matches before this match. The much-criticized Christian Eriksen improved his performance in this crucial match. He was Ajax’s most dangerous man, constantly sharpening the situation in front of Twente goal. The Eredivisie leaders became more confident in their actions in the second half, but the attacks didn't bring anything tangible. On the 68^th minute the score was opened, after Ajax’s long positional attack. When it seemed that Ajax had no chances to break through, Christian Eriksen took his chance and took a low shot from a 25-meter distance.  Twente was not in stand to respond anyhow, so the match ended 1-0. Now Ajax is one of the two remaining unbeaten teams in Eredivisie.  

Dinamo won a principal match called Croatian Eternal Derby. These two have won 18 out of 19 Croatian championship titles. This time they played at the beautiful Maksimir in Zagreb. Of course, the match was full of traditional provocations from players and fans; clashes, fireworks, banners, etc. But the match quality didn't suffer. Teams showed beautiful passionate football. But even more beautiful was the aftermatch scene of players hugging and kissing each other, as if it was not them fighting minutes ago. The visitors opened the score on the second minute, but couldn't hold on the advantage. The Croatian champions were quick and full of great ideas. In the end of the day Sammir (twice) and Cop scored for Dinamo and secured the deserved win. 

Arsenal's first defeat took place at the big London derby. The things went wrong for Arsenal from the beginning, when Abu Diaby got injured. The substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain is a great player, but not the right man to continue carrying Diaby's responsibilities. The first half ended level after Fernando Torres and Gervinho scored each. But Juan Mata's tricky free kick and Cech's saves strengthened Chelsea's leading positions in the Premier League. As in the previous match, Arsenal conceded goals after Koscielny's mistakes. That evening the number of goals was two, but it could be more, had the referee appointed a penalty after Koscielny was robbed by Torres. Anyway, Giroud could equalize in the dying seconds of the match, but he missed after dribbling away from Cech.

MU players had to leave the pitch with their heads down, too. It was Tottenham, that defeated them this time. The Spurs started too aggressively. After a very inert first half the home side was losing by two goals to nil. Manchester United defenders were dribbled away very easily when these goals were being scored. Sir Alex Ferguson's players turned from audience to spectators in the second half. By the 53rd minute there were 3 more goals scored; two of them – by Manchester players (Nani and Kagawa). The score remained unchanged, despite the several chances created by the home side. A heavy defeat at Old Trafford, which confirms the theory about Manchester United not being 100% ready for the season yet. The only hope for the upcoming matches is Rooney's return, who, coming in from the bench after the pause, assisted Nani's goal.

Roma's Zdenek Zeman has lived all his football life criticizing Juventus for all the reasonable and unreasonable grounds. It was his time to meet the unbeaten Italian champions. Both of the teams were aware of the match importance, but if Juventus could easily convert preparedness into goals, Roma's awareness brought only nervousness. The home side was absolutely gorgeous, scoring three and hitting the post two times in the first 30 minutes. However, they pardoned Zeman; also because they had a Champions League match waiting for them in three days. But if Juvetus starts like this in every match, I am not sure there will be many teams preferring to meet them in the future. The teams scored a goal each in the second half to set the final score 4-1- Juve goalscorers were Pirlo, Vidal, Matri and Giovinco.

Sevilla had already beaten Real Madrid this season. And they were very close to win the other arrogant guests. The way the home crowd sung to greet their heroes was impressive enough not to show any brilliant football that evening. It was one of the loveliest matches ever played this season. Both of the teams were excellent in front. But one of them had to lose. And it seemed to be Barcelona by the 48th minute, when the score became 2-0 in favor of the hosts. But Barcelona didn't repeat Real's fate. First they scored one, scored the equalizer on the 89th minute and organized the winner on the 93rd to complete one of the most astonishing comebacks of the season. I must admit, that the circumstances didn't let Sevilla get a point in that match. They went a man down on the 72nd minute and Barcelona scored their second goal after the player hand-balled it. Fabregas scored two in that match.

In the other important matches of the week Shakhtar won against their second competitor, Dnepr. The final goal was scored in the last minutes of match. This was Shakhtar's 19th consecutive win in the league. Any comments needed?

The Scottish champions seem to be in the middle of a very easy season for them. They were fifth a couple of weeks ago, but now they took the leadership last week-end by beating Motherwell. Celtic has got 14 points in 7 matches, while the others have less points and more games in their actives.

We are very pleased for such a great week-end in the European pitches, but the coming week-end is going to be the best one not only so far, but also for the whole season. The Ukrainian challengers Dynamo and Dnepr will fight for the title "nr. 2 in Ukraine" on Saturday. On Sunday we will experience the Valencia derby between Levante and Valencia from 12:00 CET and Moscow derby between Spartak and CSKA from 16:00 as a warm up. A very principal match between Steaua and Cluj in the Romanian league will start at 19:30. Then the things will get hotter, as the Milan derby will get underway at 20:45. 15 minutes later we'll have the chance to choose the biggest match of the French League first round, where the leaders Olympique Marseille will get the noisiest guests of the league – PSG. If this is not enough, watch the big match between the teams on the second and third places in the Spanish league – Atletico Madrid and Malaga. It starts at 21:30. 15 minutes later there is a supermatch in Portugal. Porto will play against Sporting. If you already build a system on how to watch all of these matches, please add a small detail as well – El Classico number 253 will take place in Barcelona. Turn the volume higher on the 18th minute, when the home side fans will yell the word ”Independence” all together.

Have a nice week-end!  

Club	Last Matches	Next match	Position in the domestic league
Ajax (Netherlands)	29.09 Twente (H) 1-0 03.10 Real Madrid (H) 1-4	07.10 Utrecht (H)	4
BATE (Belarus)	28.09 Neman (H) 5-1 02.10 Bayern (H) 3-1	06.10 Belshina (A)	1
Anderlecht (Belgium)	29.09 Lokeren (H) 3-0 03.10 Malaga (H) 0-3	07.10 St. Liege (A)	2
Dinamo Z. (Croatia)	29.09 Hajduk (H) 3-1 03.10 Dynamo (A) 2-0	06.10 Slaven (A)	1
Arsenal (England)	29.09 Chelsea (H) 1-2 03.10 Olympiacos (H) 3-1	06.10 West Ham (A)	8
Man. City (England)	29.09 Fulham (A) 2-1 03.10 Borussia (H) 1-1	06.10 Sunderland (H)	4
Man. Utd. (England)	29.09 Tottenham (H) 2-3 02.10 Cluj (A) 2-1	07.10 Newcastle (A)	3
Chelsea (England)	29.09 Arsenal (A) 2-1 02.10 Nordsjælland (A) 4-0	06.10 Norwich (H)	1
FC Barcelona (Spain)	29.09 Sevilla (A) 3-2 02.10 Benfica (A) 2-0	07.10 Real Madrid (H)	1
Real Madrid (Spain)	30.09 Deportivo (H) 5-1 03.10 Ajax (A) 4-1	07.10 Barcelona (A)	6
Valencia (Spain)	29.09 Zaragoza (H) 2-0 02.10 Lille (H) 2-0	07.10 Levante (A)	10
Malaga (Spain)	29.09 Betis (H) 4-0 03.10 Anderlecht (A) 3-0	07.10 Atletico M. (A)	3
Bayern (Germany)	29.09 Werder Br. (A) 2-0 02.10 BATE (A) 1-3	06.10 Hoffenheim (H)	1
Borussia D. (Germany)	29.09 Borussia M. (H) 5-0 03.10 Man. City (A) 1-1	06.10 Hannover (A)	3
Schalke 04 (Germany)	28.09 Fortuna D. (A) 2-2 03.10 Montpellier (H) 2-2	06.10 Wolfsburg (H)	4
Benfica (Portugal)	28.09 Pacos de Fer. (A) 2-1 02.10 Barcelona (H) 0-2	06.10 Beira-Mar (H)	1
Porto (Portugal)	29.09 Rio Ave (A) 2-2 03.10 PSG (H) 1-0	07.10 Sporting L. (H)	2
Sp. Braga (Portugal)	28.09 Vitoria Guim.(A) 2-0 02.10 Galatasaray (A) 2-0	07.10 Olhanense (H)	3
CFR Cluj (Romania)	29.09 Gloria (H) 5-1 02.10 Man. Utd. (H) 1-2	07.10 Steaua (A)	6
Galatasaray (Turkey)	28.09 Orduspor (A) 0-2 02.10 Sp. Braga (H) 0-2	07.10 Eskisehirspor (H)	1
Juventus (Italy)	29.09 Roma (H) 4-1 02.10 Shakhtar (H) 1-1	07.10 Siena (A)	1
Milan (Italy)	29.09 Parma (A) 1-1 03.10 Zenit (A) 3-2	07.10 Inter Milano (H)	11
Montpellier (France)	29.09 Nancy (A) 2-0 03.10 Schalke (A) 2-2	06.10 Evian (H)	13
PSG (France)	29.09 Sochaux (H) 2-0 03.10 Porto (A) 0-1	07.10 Olympique M.(A)	2
Lille (France)	28.09 St. Rennes (A) 0-2 02.10 Valencia (A) 0-2	06.10 Ajaccio (H)	15
Nordsjæland (Denmark)	28.09 Esbjerg (H) 3-0 02.10 Chelsea (H) 0-4	05.10 OB (A)	3
Olympiacos (Greece)	29.09 Atromitos (A) 1-0 03.10 Arsenal (A) 1-3	07.10 Asteras (H)	1
Shakhtar D. (Ukraine)	28.09 Dnipro (H) 2-1 02.10 Juventus (A) 1-1	06.10 Metalist Kh. (A)	1
Dynamo K. (Ukraine)	28.09 Zorya (H) 1-0 03.10 Dinamo (H) 2-0	06.10 Dnipro (A)	2
Zenit (Russia)	29.09 Lokomotiv (H) 1-1 03.10 Milan (H) 2-3	07.10 Krasnodar (A)	7
Spartak M. (Russia)	29.09 Amkar (A) 3-1 02.10 Celtic (H) 2-3	07.10 CSKA (H)	5
Celtic (Scotland)	29.09 Motherwell (A) 2-0 02.10 Spartak (A) 3-2	07.10 Hearts (H)	1