8 matches took place on Tuesday afternoon in the second round of the Champions League group stage. Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Arsenal and AC Milan were some of the big clubs in action as the typically exciting UEFA Champions League took place.
In Italy AS Roma defeated Romanians CFR Cluj 2-1 thanks to goals from Phillipe Mexes and Marco Borrielo. The Romanians managed to score a late consolation and even threatened a late equaliser but they could not quite manage it and Roma recorded their first points of this seasons Champions League, after losing in Germany to Bayern Munich in the previous round of fixtures. In the same group FC Bayern Munich won 2-1 in Switzerland against Basle. Alexander Frei had put the Swiss side ahead but Bastian Schweinsteiger scored a penalty to bring the scores level and then he also managed to score a late winner to give Bayern Munich, last season’s runners up in the Champions League, another 3 points. Bayern Munich now have 6 points out of a possible 6.
Chelsea defeat Marseille 2-0 although the French champions did have opportunities of their own but somehow they couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. Nicolas Anelka and John Terry scored the goals for Chelsea whilst some players, like Ramires and Didier Drogba, were rested. Didier Deschamps, the Marseille coach, was returning to Chelsea where he once played a decade ago. He had also returned there several seasons ago when he was in charge of Monaco and he then defeated the Londoner’s, at the time managed by Claudio Ranieri, on the way to the Champions League final, where his Monaco team then lost to Porto, at the time managed by Jose Mourinho. In the same group SPartak Moscow defeated Zilina 3-0 in Russia.
Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan drew 1-1. Ajax took the lead thanks to Hamdaoui but Ibrahimovic, once of Ajax, scored an equalsier for the Italians. After the match Clarence Seedorf stated his satisfaction with the result but urged his team mates to stop relying on Ibrahimovic to score and to help the team themselves. In the same group Real Madrid won in France against Auxerre courtesy of a goal from super sub Angel De Maria. The Spanish side were again unconvincing, with Auxerre even hitting the woodwork and Jelen missing a late chance for the French team, but they recorded the 3 points to the satisfaction of coach Jose Mourinho.
Arsenal recorded a 3-1 victory in Serbia against Partizan Belgrade despite Arshavin missing a penalty. Fabianski played in goal for the gunenrs, making a timely penalty save too. In the same group Braga, of Portugal, lost 3-0 at home against the Ukrainians Shaktar Donetsk.