UEFA Champions League Review

Another round of matches in Europes Premier Club Competition has passed. While each team has only played two of six group games, the tables are already starting to take shape. Some favorites are stuggling, while some of the smaller clubs look to play spoiler come the knock-out rounds in the Spring. So after two of six rounds, here is a group-by-group of all the groups throughout the tournament.



Group A: Bordeaux followed up a draw on the road by defeating Israeli Champions Maccabi Haifa 1-0 in France. Bordeaux controlled the match and outshot Maccabi Haifa 19-13, but it took 83 minutes until Michael Ciani to put the host ahead 1-0. Maccabi's comeback effort was hampered by a red card in the 88th minute. In the other match German giants Bayern Munich played Juventus to a scoreless draw. The Barvarians outshot the Italian club 15-8 at home, but could not find the back of the net. Bayren Munich and Bordeaux are tied atop the group with 4 points, while Juventus is in third with two draws. Maccabi Haifa is not off to a good start, being last with a 0-2 record.



Group B: CSKA Moscow got thier first win of the tournamet winning at home against Turkish Champions Besiktas. Alan Dzagoez put the Red Stars up in the 7th minute, and then a 61st minute tally by Milos Krasic made it 2-0 for the Russian club. Besiktas pulled one back in the 90th thanks to Ekrem Dag, but it was not enough as Moscow won 2-1. In one of the more anticipated match-ups of the round English Champions Manchester United downed German Chapmpions Wolfsburg 2-1. Edin Dzeko silenced the Old Trafford crowd in the 55th minute to put Wolfsburg up 1-0. But Ryan Giggs equalized in the 59th minute. The winner for the Red Devils came in the 78th minute in the form of a Michael Carrick goal. With the win Manchester United is a perfect 2-0 and in first place, Wolfsburg is still in second on goal differencial while Moscow is in third. Besiktas is 0-2, and quickly falling behind.



Group C: Real Madrid continue to roll in the tournament as they put away Marseille 3-0 at the Spanish capital. Cristiano Ronaldo put the Spanish side up 1-0 in the 58th minute. Kaka scored off a PK three minutes later, then Ronaldo sealed the win with a goal in the 64th minute. Madrid looked like contenders after dominating posessions againt the French Club. In what might be the biggest upset so far in the tournament Swiss Champions FC Zurich traveld to AC Milan and beat the Italian jugernaut 1-0. A quick goal in the 10th minute by Hannu Tihinen was all the underdogs needed to shock the Milan fans at the Giuseppe Meazza. Despite outshooting Zurich 21-10, Milan could not find a way past Keeper Johnny Leoni, who recorded the clean sheet. Madrid are in controll being 2-0 with a crucial game against second place Milan coming up. Zurich trail Milan only two tallies in goal differential. French side Marseille are in shock in awe witha disapointing 0-2 start.



Group D: Last year's Cinderella FC Porto continue to have a strong run in this competion. Radamel Falcao and Rolando scored in the 75th and 82nd minutes respectivly to get the Portugeese Champions a 2-0 at home over Atletico Madrid. Madrid had more of the ball but only required Porto Keeper Roberto Gago to make 3 saves to post a shutout. In the other match Chelsea went 2-0 thanks to a goal by Nicolas Anelka in the 18th minute, to give the Blues a 1-0 win on the road against Apoel Nicosia. Chelsea only got two shots on target against the Cyprus Champions. Petr Cech only had to make one save to get the shutout for Chelsea. Chelsea's 2-0 record has put the Blues on top of the group, Porto bounced back from a loss agianst Chelsea to go 1-1 and move into second. While Atletico Madrid and Apoel Nicosia are at the bottom with a point a piece.



Group E: Steven Jovetic scored in the 28th and 37th minute to give the Fiorentina 2-0 victory over Liverpool and get them back in the thick of things in the group. Liverpool outshot the Italian side 13-10, but Sebastian Frey made four saves for the for the Italians side to secure three points at home. Liverpool dominated possesion, but the Reds could not find a way to put the ball into the net. In the other match French powerhouse Lyon cruised to a 4-0 victory over Debrecen. Kim Kallstorm put Lyon on top early in the 3rd minute. Miralem Pjanic and Sidney Govou put two more in for Lyon before the half. Bafetimbi Gomis drove the stake through the heart in the 51st minute, giving the Hungarian Champions a difficult 4-0 home loss. Lyon is now the surprise leaders of the group with a 2-0 record, Fiorentina is in second with a 1-1 mark. Liverpool trail Fiorentina by two marks in goal differential, while Debrecen is 0-2, and has been outscored 0-5.



Group F: Rubin Kazan probablly will not make it out of group stage, but the Russian Champions are proving one thing. A match against Rubin Kazan will be a difficult match. After giving Kiev a scare at home Kazan pulled out a draw at home against Italian power Inter Milan. Alejandro Damian Dominguez put the Russian side up 1-0 in the 11th minute. Inter avoided the upset when Dejan Stankovic found the net in the 27th minute, and Inter came out with a point on the road. The defending Champions are in form as Barcelona beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0. Lionel Messi scored in the 25th minute (every team needs the spark), and Pedrito finished off the Ukrainians in the 76th minute. After two rouncds Barcelona is first in the group with four points, followed by Dynamo Kiev with three. AC Milan is a surpise third place team with 2 points, and Ruban Kuzan is still in the hunt with a point, this group will be fun to watch throughout this stage of the tournament.



Group G: Stuttgart pulled of the clubs second draw in a row as they split the points with Unirea Urziceni. The South German club went up 1-0 early thanks to a 5th minute strike from Serdar Tasci. However, the Romanian Champions answered back with Dacian Vargo goal in the 48th minute to force a 1-1 draw in Romania. In the other match the Rangers home tilt verses Sevilla was going well for the Scottish club-then they played the second half. Abdoulay Konko broke open the scoring in the 50th, Adriano added another in the 64th minute. Luis Fabiano put the match away in the 72nd minute with a goal, and Frederic Kanoutoe made the win sure measure, as Sevilla went to thrash the Rangers 4-1 in Scotland. Sevilla now controlls the group with a 2-0 record, while Stuttgart is in second with 2 points, Urziceni and Rangers both have a point, it is too early to tell who will come out of this group as all the teams have a legitamit shot at advancing.



Group H: Traore Moussa saved Stadard Liege's hope for advancement as the Belgian powerhouse pulled out a 1-1 draw thanks to Moussa's last minute strike. Mounir El Hamdaoui struck in the 48th minute to give the host AZ Alkmaar the lead. The Dutch side looked certain to take three points till a last second heartbreak forced the teams to split the points. In the match of the two group favorites to advance it took Arsenal 76 minutes to break Olympiakos. Robin Van Percy put the Gunners up 1-0 with his strike at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal insured a 2-0 victory on the night thanks to Andrei Arshavin's goal eight minutes latter. Vito Mannoe had to only make two saves for the North London side. Arsenal lead the group with a 2-0 record, Olympiakos is in second with a 1-1 record. In the lowerlands both AZ Alkmaar and Stadard Liege are struggling for advancement with a point each.



While there is plenty of matches left to be played some interesting stories are brewing in the UEFA Champions Leage. While the group stages never really get the glamore of the knock-out stages, much drama can happen as teams try to navigate through their respective groups. With four rounds remaining the action is sure to be exciting.