Champions League round-up

Owen bags a hat-trick; Blues sloppy at the Bridge; Juve stunned by Bayern

Last updated: 9th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Champions League round-up

Owen: Fantastic hat-trick

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Atletico Madrid 0 Porto 3
Besiktas 1 CSKA Moscow 2
Chelsea 2 Apoel Nicosia 2
FC Zurich 1 AC Milan 1
Juventus 1 Bayern Munich 4
Maccabi Haifa 0 Bordeaux 1
Marseille 1 Real Madrid 3
Wolfsburg 1 Man United 3

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Manchester United progressed to the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League as group winners as Michael Owen scored a brilliant hat-trick in Wolfsburg, while elsewhere Chelsea signed off with a disappointing draw at home to Apoel Nicosia and Bayern Munich battered Juventus 4-1 in Turin.

AC Milan sneaked in the next round despite failing to beat FC Zurich as Real Madrid did them a favour in Marseille, while United's win in Wolfsburg allowed CSKA Moscow to progress at the Bundesliga club's expense as they won in Besiktas.

The story of the night was in Turin though as Juve were miserable as they crashed out to Bayern.

Man United started the evening in Wolfsburg with the most unfamiliar of backlines as Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher were paired at centre-half and Park Ji-sung employed at right-back. Sir Alex Ferguson's side survived a couple of early scares before finding a footing without looking threatening themselves.

With the game heading for a stalemate going into the break Owen reminded Ferguson, and Fabio Capello, what he is capable of as he drifted in between his markers to deftly nod home Nani's left wing delivery.

Owen was not the only striker showing Ferguson what he was capable of though as Edin Dzeko - a reported United target - restored parity ten minutes after the break as his bullet header from Marcel Schafer's devilish delivery gave Tomasz Kuszczak not a prayer.

United were on the back foot thereafter but on a rare counter-attack Gabriel Obertan demonstrated brilliant foot work down the left before sliding the ball across goal for Owen to tap in.

Owen capped a memorable individual performance with the best goal of the night courtesy of another Obertan pass, as he raced clear before clipping a brilliant finish beyond Wolfsburg's crestfallen goalkeeper.

Wolfsburg's inability to beat United opened the door of opportunity for CSKA Moscow and it was one they stepped through on their travels to Besiktas.

Milos Krasic's effort four minutes before half-time gave CSKA the lead but Besitkas hit back at the death when Deivson Bobo found a leveller in the 86th minute.

The Russians secured progression in style in the final minute when Yevgeny Aldonin drove home a late, late winner.

Chelsea started the evening safe in the knowledge they had already claimed top spot in Group D and a relaxed atmosphere in the stands seemed to filter down to the pitch as they fell behind to Apoel Nicosia in just the sixth minute.

Constantinos Charalambides caught Chelsea napping down the left and from his delivery Marcin Zewlakov was able to steer a neat finish beyond Ross Turnbull.

It was a lead that was to prove short-lived as Michael Essien's swerving drive from range deceived Dionissis Chiotis in the Apoel goal, before the influential midfielder had to be replaced after pulling up with a hamstring injury.

Concern over Essien's injury was softened somewhat before the break as Didier Drogba's crisp low strike, following a bright interchange between Gael Kakuta and Yuri Zhirkov, gave Chelsea the lead.

John Terry had a goal disallowed late in the second half and his frustration was increased three minutes from time when John Obi Mikel's sloppy pass presented Nenad Mirosavjevic with the most unlikely of levellers.

Atletico Madrid secured third spot in the group despite slumping to a 3-0 defeat in the Vicente Calderon against Porto. The Portuguese, who started the game guaranteed of second place, were cruising by the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Bruno Alves' header set them on their way in just the second minute before Radamel Falcao doubled the gloom in the Spanish capital.

With 15 minutes remaining Hulk etched his name on the scoresheet with a well deserved third for Porto.

Real Madrid progressed as Group C winners as they claimed an impressive 3-1 win on their travels to Marseille.

Cristiano Ronaldo's fifth goal in four Champions League appearances for Madrid gave the Spanish giants a lead in the crunch clash.

The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a trademark free-kick before Marseille's Argentine schemer Lucho Gonzalez restored parity for the home side.

On the hour mark Raul Albiol's goal for Madrid all but ended Marseille's hopes and Real's superiority was underlined by Ronaldo's second of the night with ten minutes left.

Marseille's failure to beat Madrid meant AC Milan could afford to drop points against FC Zurich and they did just that. Milan Gajic's stunning free-kick gave the home side a first half advantage that they held until the 64th minute when Alain Rochat saw red and conceded a penalty after bundling over Marco Borriello in the box.

Ronaldinho showed customary composure as he slotted home from 12 yards.

Bayern Munich marched into the next round with the most emphatic of 4-1 victories against Juventus.

David Trezeguet calmed nerves in Turin as he gave Juventus a 19th minute lead but it was to prove a false dawn. The Frenchman's finish was impressive but overshadowed by Bayern's leveller on the half hour mark.

When Ivica Olic went down in Juventus' box under challenge from Martin Caceres few expected Hans-Jorg Butt to run the length of the field to take the resulting penalty. Bayern's goalkeeper was a model of composure amid the nervous tension though, as he feinted before slotting past a bemused Gianluigi Buffon with aplomb.

It got even worse for the Old Lady after the break as Bayern forged ahead through Olic's tap-in after Buffon had parried Daniel van Buyten's free header into his path.

With the natives restless Bayern striker Mario Gomez exacerbated their woes in the 83rd minute with a third and decisive goal for Bayern and it got even worse for the home side as Anatoliy Tymoschuk made it four at the death.

French champions Bordeaux were afforded the luxury of travelling to Maccabi Haifa already assured of top spot and their excellent campaign continued with a win.

Abdou Traore was the architect of their winner in Israel as his cross was converted by Bordeaux striker Jussi.