Champions League: first matches 1/8

It is clear that nothing is clear - these are the outcomes in four games Tuesday environments. No team secured a comfortable result. Although the "Spurs" and "Miner" has turned out better than anyone.

But we start with the Spanish-German confrontation "Valencia" - "Schalke 04". There is certainly nothing was clear. The team is playing better defense than in attack, although the advantage in ball possession the "bats" was evident.






In the 17th minute a defender Mathieu hung, and Roberto Soldado successfully substituted leg. Next possession "Valencia" to anything not lead explanatory.





In the second half a chance to realize his "old friend" Raul Gonzalez Blanco. Jurado gave a pass and Raul scored meters with 13 his 70th goal in the Champions League.







Then the game went very boring and ended plans for the future. The fate of the exit in the quarter-finals will be decided in Gelsenkirchen. However, without the Schmitz, received at the third minute of the compensated second yellow card.





Valencia - Schalke 1: 1Goly: Soldado, 17 - Raul, 64
Valencia: Guaita, Mathieu (Alba, 79), Navarro, Ricardo Costa, Miguel, Mehmet Topal, Banega (Vicente, 69), Tino Costa, Dominguez (Joaquin 69), Soldado, Adurits
Schalke: Neuer, Uchida, Höwedes, Metzelder, Kluge, Schmitz, Jurado (Edu, 83), Matip, Farfan (Draxler, 79), Raul, Huntelaar (Yongming, 90)
Warning: Ricardo Costa - Matip, Schmitz, Neuer, Jurado
Removal: Schmitz, 93


Video review
The second match between "Milan" and "Tottenham", also turned out rather dull and fans often "wake up" to the violations and other events okolofutbolnoy.





From the very start the ball more possession of the guests, who now and then threw the ball to the lanky "Mantis" - Peter Crouch. The main fighter with Peter was the goalkeeper of "Milan" Abbyatti. After 18 minutes, once the struggle Crouch inadvertently "charge" the goalkeeper, after which he was never able to return to duty.





The first half the team showed almost nothing. And the most dangerous moment was a player, "Spurs" - Rafa van der Vaart, but with a forehand substitute Marco Amelia. With the release of the game in the second half Pato, "Milan" played more fun, but the team still looked "wet».



As a result, a favorite "dish" guest called and worked counterattack. Lennon ran on his flank, simultaneously beating Yepes and gave a pass to Crouch. Peter did not disappoint.













The "Rossoneri" was another 10 minutes to save the game. But "Nabal" did not help.





During the match the referee made two significant errors in favor of the "Milan". First, he gave a yellow card Mathieu Flamini for a rough tackle on Vedran Corluka, who was brought from the field on a stretcher.





And then just I do not see how Gennaro Gattuso slyamzili face and grabbed by the throat deputy head coach, "Tottenham" - Joe Jordan. Reno can understand, because the Englishman the entire match did nothing that his remarks provoked.







After the match, Rhino still wanted to "negotiate" with clever, but he was saved by a team-mate. The fate of the captain of "Milan" UEFA will decide on February 21.









Milan - Tottenham Hotspur 0: 1Gol: Crouch, 80
Milan: Abbiati (Amelia 18), Abate, Nesta, Yepes, Antonini, Flamini, Thiago Silva, Gattuso, Seedorf (Pato, 46), Ibrahimovic, Robinho
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka (Woodgate, 59), Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Sandro, Palacios, Pienaar (Kranjcar, 77), Van der Vaart (Modric, 62), Crouch
Warning: Flamini, Gattuso


Video review
Matches environment turned more vivid, and the goals were scored almost three times as much. The most productive turned the match "Roma" - "Shakhtar". The favorite is definitely considered "novel." But when you consider that the Romans last three matches "Series A" can not win, then the chances of the "miners" were. Although the beginning of the match did not bode well. Up to 20 minutes, could not in any way share the midfield. And then the initiative passed to the owners. 8 minutes perseverance and remove the ball from the net. Canopy locked Taddei Perrotta, to rebound from Razvan Rat.





But in less than 30 seconds, as the removal of the defense and being picked up by Jadson in the middle in front of the opponent's penalty powerfully struck in the middle. The ball ricocheted from De Rossi flew into the net.







And after 6 minutes, Douglas Costa has shifted a little bit from the right flank to the center and the left foot, beautiful Stroke stroke into the far corner displays the visitors the lead.





"Wolves" were in complete shock and it allowed "miners" in another 6 minutes to score the third goal. Rize all on the same left side defense fell for no apparent reason. Costa instantly picked up the ball and put Luiz Adriano. Forever Brazilian anointing this one is not missed.









In the second half, the hosts pressed and visitors fought back and tried by all means to shoot down the pace of play. But on 61 minutes Menez took over, and ran 20 meters, bitingly struck from outside the penalty area. Pyatov not got.





Then moments were for both teams, but the match and ended in an away win.





Roma - Shakhtar Donetsk 2: 3Goly: Rat, 28 (own goal), Menez, 61 - Jadson, 29, Costa, 35, Luiz Adriano, 41
Roma: Doni, N. Burdisso, Mexes, Cassetti, Riise (Castellini, 46), Taddei, De Rossi, Perrotta, Totti, Vucinic (Borriello, 68), Menez
Shakhtar: Pyatov, Srna, Rakitskiy, Chygrynskiy, Rat, Hyubshmann, Jadson (Teixeira, 85), Mkhitaryan (Vytsenets, 78), Willian, Costa (Eduardo, 66), Luiz Adriano
Warning: Cassetti, Menez, Perrotta - Chygrynskiy, Luiz Adriano, Pyatov, Rakitskiy


Video review
But the loudest opposition. Of course, the match was in London, where the "Arsenal" took "Barcelona».





The result is a pleasant surprise. It is not weakness "Barsik". It seems that "Gunners" are still able-bodied team. Although the beginning of the match, suggests otherwise. Guardiola's team is completely swallowed up the midfield and confidently go forward. Given the fact that Koscielny is almost the main loser of the season - could hope for another "bloopers." Especially that Djourou and Clichy may also nachudit. And Messi did "shake" tsentrbekov.



And then he gave the ball David Villa, who knows exactly how to beat the goalie.





The goal was scored in the 26th minute to mid second half, the score could only rise, but not equal. Wenger increases attack Arshavin and Bendtner - immediately activated! Razduharilsya Clichy, after his failure in the 26th minute, played up with Robin van Persie, who burst into the penalty area and shoots from an acute angle to the near. Valdes helpless.







But after 5 minutes fast counterattack hosts Fabregas - Nasri - Arshavin gives victory to the hosts!







Photo: AP, Getty Images, Reuters



Arsenal - Barcelona 2: 1Goly: Van Persie, 78, Arshavin, 83 - Villa, 26
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song (Arshavin 68), Wilshere, Walcott (Bendtner 77), Cesc, Nasri, Van Persie
Barcelona: Valdes, Dani Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta (Adriano, 89), Pedro, Messi, Villa (Keita, 68)
Warning: Nasri, Van Persie, Song - Pique, Iniesta


Video review