Tuesday's Champions League Review

Going into tonight's Champions League action, Manchester United having already qualified for the knock-out round.. There fellow British counterparts, Celtic and Chelsea had the chance to both qualify or strengthen their respective positions in the groups. Having witnessed Barcelona defeat Spartak in Moscow 3-0 with the little man Lionel Messi scoring his 79 and 80th goal for club and country this calendar left Celtic in the knowledge a point in Lisbon would be enough to send the Bhoys through to the knock-out round next February. 

Benfica, are a side not be taken lightly at home in Europe as I know all to well with Liverpool's visits there in a couple of occasions in the last decade. Celtic couldn't have got off to a worse start when they failed to retain possession in their own half and Ola John made them pay by firing into the bottom right of Fraser Forster's net to give Benfica the lead after 7 minutes. Celtic not be unturbed, continued to forage their way into the game. They were rewarded on the half hour mark when in swinging corner from Charlie Mulgrew evaded the awful attempt by Artur in the Benfica goal to get to the cross. Which allowed probably throughout Celtic's run in the competition this season their talisman, Georgios Samaras, with the easiest of headers he will ever have from a yard out at the back post to head home Celtic's equaliser. Celtic grew more in confidence as the half wore on, the conditions in the Stadium of Light hindered any sort of classic football match. It was a war of attrition as they headed into the break. 

As the second half began, you could see Lennon's side play more on the counter-attack and his side dropped deeper and deeper as the half wore on. A string of brilliant saves from Fraser Forster keeping Celtic within touching distance of their hosts. When I see this lad in goal, he is getting better and better which Celtic need to beware of the vultures that will circle if he continues his form and inclusion in the English set up. But Luisao, recently returning from a long suspension stayed up from a corner kick moments earlier to knock-on the ball for his centre back partner former Real Madrid player Ezequiel Garay. The Argentinian fired a blasted volley of top quality which Forster had no chance in getting too. 

The impressive Victor Wanyama picked up a booking which will see him miss the Spartak game at Parkhead in two weeks, almost equalised from a curling shot but for Artur getting down well to parry the shot. The only other chance Celtic produced near the end was from Barcelona goal hero Tony Watt, unfortunately for Lennon it was a weak effort on target which Artur easily gathered. Celtic were defeated but ask any Celtic supporter at the beginning of July having to go through those qualifiers and the group they were handed. To have a chance at home to clinch the win needed to go through with their rivals having to go to the Nou Camp to get a result. I think any supporter would have snapped your hand off, for Neil Lennon in a season domestically when they are expected to win the League at a canter due to the poor quality of the SPL  and no Rangers. It makes his achievement in Europe this season as a shining light for not only Celtic Football Club but for the badly maligned Scottish football.

Moving onto Chelsea, the Champions of Europe. Their fans have let everyone know "we know what we are, we know what we are, we're the Champions of Europe, we know what we are", again very original vocal support for the flag waving crew of the Shed End. You will have noticed the sarcasm, seriously Spurs supporters still 6 months on are moaning over Chelsea's inclusion and their exclusion from this seasons competition. I am by far an admirer of Chelsea FC, but like Liverpool in 2005 to have the holders not in the competition to defend their trophy is farcical that it was nearly allowed to happen almost 7 years ago. Thankfully for Chelsea supporters, they have got the chance to do so albeit after tonight's result in Turin their brief hold on the trophy their owner Roman Abramovich courted so much since his takeover of the club almost a decade a go is slipping from his Russian grip so early. 

Right from the get go, Juventus without their suspended manager Antonio Conte who has being watching his side from the stands the last 3 and half months due to match fixing. This dating back to his time at Siena, his Juventus side set the tone for what would be a footballing master-class by the Old Lady of Italian football. Chelsea discarded their 50 million former Liverpool goalscorer extreme Fernando Torres to the bench for this crunch tie.  Torres's form in front of goal is widely known so there is no need to go over old ground. Roberto Di Matteo, used their 35 million ace Eden Hazard in the "false 9" position that we have become accustomed since Pep Guardiola introduced us to this back in 2008/2009. 

In probably the most funniest and comedy gold on TV commentary for a long time, the aforementioned Hazard was put clean through on goal by the ever impressive Oscar. In fact it was a great save by Buffon, but a cart before the horse moment was spoken by Clive "That Night In Barcelona" Tyldesley. Just as Hazard hit the ball, thus sending the ball into the side netting from a great save with his legs from the Legend Gianluigi Buffon. "And Chelsea Take The Lead" was bellowed out by Clive and comedy gold ensued. Link: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/lolz-clive-tyldesley-fail-and-chelsea-take-the-lead/

As I mentioned from the get-go Juventus set out their stall to attack Chelsea thus causing Mikel and Ramires all sorts of problems in midfield. In fairness to Chelsea, they set up to counter-attack and looked threatening but in general play Juventus were in very much control of the ball. The magician Andrea Pirlo, sporting a movember beard that puts many to shame bar possibly Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Like a fine wine, Pirlo gets better with age and orchestrated the demise of Chelsea tonight alongside his willing amigo's Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal were causing Chelsea loads of problems through the centre. 

The ever available former Lazio man, Stephan Lichtsteiner busting up and down their right made Ashley Cole think a lot more of his defensive duties. Lichtsteiner almost broke the deadlock when a great cross to the back post from Mirko Vucinic was turned onto the post by Petr Cech. Juventus were not be denied, maybe unlucky or  great piece of improvisation from Fabio Quagliarella to deflect Pirlo's shot wrongfooting Cech in the process who got a fingertip to the shot only to see it hit the back of the net. Juventus went into the break with the lead and the result in Denmark where Willian equalised right on half time for Shakhtar to heap more pressure on. 

As the second half kicked off, Juventus picked up where they left off, Vidal   began to roam. Chelsea brought off the ineffective Cesar Azpilicueta for Victor Moses to change things, which Di Matteo had to do, but such was the power and pace of this Juventus side. This was none more so shown with former Udinese man, Kwadwo Asamoah asserted more pressure on Ivanovic who was decent for Chelsea tonight. Kwadwo's run into the box was skillful as it was powerful, laid it back on a plate for Arturo Vidal. 

The former Bayer Leverkusen man, dispatched the ball with an aide of a deflection into the Chelsea net beyond Petr Cech, 2-0 Juventus and now Chelsea were in serious trouble. Shakhtar in that time had were already 4-2 in the lead in Copenhagen. 

In a last ditch effort to save the day, Fernando Torres was dispatched from the bench to replace Mikel. Much like Torres's previous 86 appearances in which he has scored just 19 goals, he was like a lost sheep in a side which knew their fate. The Fernando Torres I knew and loved is a pale shadow to this Fernando Torres playing in blue for Chelsea. Yes, he has won the Champions League and FA Cup with Chelsea contributed little to those exploits and yes he left Liverpool to win things, which he probably feels vindicated to some extent. The love he was given at Liverpool by the supporters hasn't being forthcoming with Chelsea supporters, especially after he spoke glowingly of Liverpool a few weeks ago in a interview. Deep inside this Fernando Torres is torn and embattled by his own inner demons. He spoke glowingly about Liverpool but why the need to go there. Harbouring for a move back? Who knows. 

As we approached the 90 minutes, one last piece of action in the game where Sebastian Giovinco was sent in the clear with Ashley Cole in position to probably get back and make a challenge. Petr Cech did his best impression of David James post-Tomb Raider marathon when he raced from his goal, making it easy for Giovinco to dispatch it underneath the big Czech Repubic International to seal at 3-0 defeat for Chelsea and a great night for the Old Lady. 

This was Chelsea's biggest defeat in the Champions League since Barcelona dispatched Chelsea 5-1 after extra time in the Nou Camp at the Quarter-Final stage of the 1999/2000 Champions League season. The defeat tonight was only compounded by the fact Shakhtar booked their place in the knockout round with their 5-2 victory over FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

Meaning Chelsea, have to hope that Shakhtar beat Juventus in two weeks and they to beat FC Nordsjaelland to have a chance of keeping a hold of their crown as European Champions. It should make for a nervy night at Stamford Bridge as they hope in hope that they get help from elsewhere. Meanwhile elsewhere in the Champions League tonight, Bayern secure their qualification alongside Valencia with a point in the Mestalla. Doing just enough after Lille beat Bate Borisov in Minsk. 

Manchester United lost 1-0 in Istanbul with a makeshift side in what seemed according to reports a feisty atmosphere, in turn losing their unbeaten winning sequence but having qualified already it was a case for Ferguson to try out the likes of Nick Powell also to get the game out of the way. While the second qualifying spot will go down to shoot out between Galatasaray and Romanian Champions CFR Cluj, both sides head into the last match day away from home. Much depends I think on what side both Braga and Manchester United send out but makes for an interesting night.

Now we roll on to Wednesday night's games, where the big game is at the Etihad when the aristocrats of European Cup football "Los Blancos" Real Madrid come to town. Which will sure to be a tasty encounter if the clash in Bernabeu was anything to go by, with David Silva back in the side City have the ability to get at Real's defence. 

In the tandem of Aguero/Tevez, Pepe and co. will be in for hard night on English soil not seen since they came to Anfield in March 2009. In a 4-0 defeat, that ended Juande Ramos's case for the position of Real manager on a full time basis. 

It all depends on Mancini, can he finally get it right in Europe that remains to be seen.