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ECS Master League
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Arsenal 1-3 Barcelona
It was a typical Thierry Henry goal that give Arsenal the early edge. Ashley Cole's good work saw Hleb receive his pass and the midfielder found Henry in space who run at Marquez before curling a shot around the Mexican and into the far corner. Barcelona adopted a better tempo through the rest of the first half, but couldn't convert their better chances. Deco and Ronaldinho forced good saves from Cudicini and Gio van Bronckhorst had a rare shot on goal that cannoned of the crossbar. It took the Spanish outfit just 29 seconds to equalize in the second period. Deco's deflected shot was unfortunate for Arsenal and Cudicini in particular. Arsenal pushed for a winning goal and were by far the better team in the second half, with Henry leding the way. Robin van Persie twice went mighty close with shots skimming the post. He set up a brilliant chance for Robert Pires too, but he scuffed his shot against Puyol who got in the way. It was a shuddering blow for The Gunners when full-back Juliano Belletti fired into the bottom corner on 88mins to give Barcelona the lead against the run of play. Samuel Eto'o completed the misery and gave the result a deceiving look to it. The Cameroon forward diving headed the ball into the goal at the far post from Ronaldinho's cross.
Man of the Match - Robin van Persie
Bayern Munich 2-1 Ajax
Ajax's Luca Toni went closest in the first half, while van der Vaart and John Carew missed good chances for Bayern. A slip by Martin Demichelis let in Christian Vieri early in the second half, but his lack of pace allowed Philip Lahm to track back and make an important challenge to put the Italian off. On 61mins Claudio Pizarro kept the pressure on Hernan Crespo with a goal out of the blue. A corner from Deisler was too deep and Hatem Trabelsi seemed to have it under control when he picked up the ball, but his touch took it too far and gave it straight to van der Vaart who crossed instantly for Pizarro to power the header past Lobont. It took just 4mins for Bayern to double their lead. Rafael van der Vaart made the first and scored the second. Philip Lahm's well timed tackle got the move going. His long ball found Kallstrom who's lovely step over took him past Sneijder and a inch-perfect ball through found the former Ajax man who made no mistake in scoring against his old club. Luca Toni quickly restored hope for the Dutch side with a glancing header into the far corner from Julien Escude's corner. Ajax were in no mood to sit back and accept defeat as they surged forward constantly looking to equalise as Bayern retreated everyone back in their own half. Steven Pienaar went close as to did Toni forcing a one hand save from Kahn. Alessandro Del Piero curled a shot over in stoppage time, all Bayern could manage, but they held on to win.
Man of the Match - Rafael van der Vaart
Celtic 0-0 Rangers
Chelsea 3-2 AC Milan
Arjen Robben made a great impact in his last game since returning from injury and turned in a magnificent performance here to guide his team to a well fought 3-2 win. It took the speedy dutchman just 2mins to score. He was put through by Cesc Fabregas before drilling the ball past Dida. AC Milan were the better side for much of the first half and had something to show for that with a goal from Fernando Torres, his tenth of the season. The young Spaniard was one of plenty of young stars in the starting twenty-two between both sides. He crept in at the far post to convert Seedorf's low cross along the goal mouth after 33mins. AC Milan kept their momentum in the second period and looked the more likely to score, and did just that. Andriy Shevchenko linked well with Torres before stroking the ball into the corner from the edge of the box. It was a sublime finish from the Ukraine forward and the goal looked an inevitable winner when it went in with barely 20mins left to play. Chelsea somehow turned it around though. Just 5mins after going behind John Terry popped up with a captains goal to powerfully head in Frank Lampard's free-kick. 4mins from time Arjen Robben blasted in the winner from twenty-yards after Eric Abidal squared it to him.
Man of the Match - Arjen Robben
Inter Milan 2-0 Benfica
Ibrahimovic has been somewhat disappointing since arriving as part of a part-exchange deal involving Adriano who set off to Juventus allowing Ibrahimovic to join Inter. The Swede had barely scored a goal not so long ago, but has started to re-settle in his new Italian surroundings. He has started scoring an took just 10mins to grab his fourth of the season so far. Like all good strikers, he gambled correctly to pounce on the goalkeeper's parry after an effort from range by Dejan Stankovic proved very awkward to handle as it skidded across the turf. Inter Milan were cruising along and should have been several goals up by half-time. Walter Samuel went close with a header that sailed over from a corner. Luis Figo and D'Alessandro both fired wired before the break, but it remained just the one goal to nil. Obafemi Martins attempted an acrobatic effort in the second half along with a header later on that was well palmed wide by the 'keeper before he was eventually substituted for Michael Owen. Owen made an immediate impact and was looking sharp as numerous efforts were desperately blocked by the sprawling Benfica defence. On 81mins Owen fired in the second from just inside the box after a good passing move ended with a neat dink into his path from Stankovic for the England frontman to finish off a fine display from the Italian giants.
Man of the Match - Dejan Stankovic
Lyon 1-2 Liverpool
Lyon appeared to have the game under control for the first half an hour and dictated play very well before Craig Bellamy soared clear of the defence with his lightning pace and struck the ball low underneath Gregory Coupet's body. A fabulous pass from Steven Gerrard made the goal, though it was against the run of play in all fairness. Harry Kewell was instrumental on the left flank. His pace also proved a lot to handle for full-back Francois Clerc. Kewell crossed wonderfully for his strikers on several occasions. Tuncay went the closest before half-time. He shaved the crossbar with a well hit volley. Tuncay made his shot count just minutes into the second period though. The Turk forward struck on the half-volley this time from Harry Kewell's long ball from his own half. Tuncay timed his run well and was onside. Bitter luck for Sidney Govou however, as he broke clear of the Liverpool backline and slotted past Reina with ease only to be flagged offisde despite being onside by at least half a yard. This moment of injustice may have cost Lyon who later scored what could've been an equaliser had Govou's goal had stood. John O'Shea also went close, but it was striker Fred who tapped into an empty net from substitute Diego's long range effort, which was parried by Reina. Only 3mins remained and Liverpool held on to bag the three points.
Man of the Match - Harry Kewell
Manchester United 2-2 Real Madrid
It took Reyes just 17mins to silence the 60 plus thousand supporters inside the ground. The former Gunner let fly from thirty-yards as the shot took a wicked dip and turn of direction, burying itself in the far corner. 10mins later it appeared as if United were totally falling apart. They went 2-0 down thanks to the same man. Reyes this time gained posession from Baptista and took on Rio Ferdinand before shooting between the defender's legs and past the rooted van der Sar at his near post. The home side were facing a bad reception from their own supporters at half-time unless they pulled together and they got hope for the second period when midfielder Claude Makelele rarely, yet traditionally cropped up to score against his old club. He got forward to strike first time from the edge of the box after a corner from Giggs was nodded down at the back post by Nemanja Vidic for Makelele to run on and hit through a crowd of bodies and past Iker Casillas who'd seen it late. It gave the English side the edge and they were the better side in the second half and the comeback kings were prowling to strike yet again. Ruud van Nistelrooy had a case for a penalty when he tumbled under the challenge of Carlos Marchena. Cristiano Ronaldo struck from an acute angle, but shaved the far post. Ryan Giggs free-kick deflected, but Casillas did well to react and push it clear with his trailing leg. After withstanding some really heavy United pressure Real cracked with 6mins to go. Louis Saha was back on the scoresheet after replacing van Nistelrooy shortly after the hour. The former Fulham hitman finished well with a powerful left-foot shot inside the box completing a quick counter attack involving Giggs and Rooney. Man of the match Julio Baptista hit the crossbar in stoppage time.
Man of the Match - Julio Baptista
PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Juventus
It was Adriano who set up French defender Lilain Thuram to score too. Thuram burst forward while Adriano held the ball up with back to goal. His neat pass was slipped behind the PSV defence and into the path of the on running Thuram who lashed the ball between Gomes' legs for 1-0 after just 12mins. PSV would've been proud of themselves for their display in the rest of the opening half despite going behind. They retaliated in the right manner to put Juve on the back foot, but had to wait until near the end of the half to get a goal. Numerous chances fell their way before. Santa Cruz and Jarosik went close while Freddy Adu chipped into the path of Farfan who somehow connected poorly with a close range header and skimmed it well wide. Full-back Gianluca Zambrotta had to be replaced due to injury by young German defender Per Mertesacker, but it's reported that the problem for the Italian isn't serious. It was Farfan who scored to level the game on 41mins after some good foot-work by Edu allowed him to carry the ball deep inside the box and his chip was deflected higher by Cannavaro. Juve didn't need long to restore their winning advantage in the second half. Just 5mins in and David Trezeguet continued his push for the golden boot with a well-taken strike from close range under the challenge of Yepes as Adriano delicately lofted the ball into the box. Adriano nearly made it three. He picked up the ball on the halfway and advanced into space before firing low towards the bottom corner and seeing his shot flash inches wide. The Brazilian set up the third and final goal for Spanish winger Joaquin. The former Real Betis youngster darted into centre midfield to pick up an Adriano pass and he curled the ball around Owen Hargreaves and in-off the post on 74mins completing the win.
Man of the Match - Adriano
Valencia 1-2 FC Porto
Valencia started the brightest and deserved their lead. Angulo's passing was influential as he operated in the right side of midfield rather than up front this time. He set up Pablo Aimar who lashed his shot over. David Villa also failed to convert a well timed Angulo pass. It turned out to be Jerome Rothen who set up the opening goal on 32mins. Villa pulled away from his marker to head in Rothen's well delivered diagonal cross from outside the box. Mark van Bommel and Zinedine Zidane were proving tough opponents in midfield too. Porto found it difficult to break those two down in particular. Their best chance fell to Julio Cruz who scuffed his shot wide. Porto's first corner of the match came on 54mins and they took full advantage of it. Belgian centre back Kompany got up to power home the header past Canizares and it was a deserved goal after Porto began as brightly in this half as Valencia did in the last. Jaap Stam almost gifted Porto a winner when his short backpass let in Cruz who yet again failed to capitalise. He was foiled by some great goalkeeping from veteran Canizares. The Argentine striker finally scored on 76mins and was a goal all good strikers like to score. His movement was fantastic as he pulled back further towards the edge of the box who stroke the ball in first time from Esteban Cambiasso's low cross and Port had the lead for the first time. Cambiasso then hit the post late on before Valencia substitute Vagner Love fired wide.
Man of the Match - Esteban Cambiasso
Werder Bremen 1-2 VfB Stuttgart
Xabi Prieto came mighty close in his first league start for Werder Bremen just minutes into the game. Jan Kromkamp's cross found Donovan who's headed attempt was interrupted. The ball dropped nicely for him as he layed it back to Prieto who dummied his shot past two Stuttgart defenders and was fantastically foiled from six-yards out by Timo Hildebrand. Hasan Salihamidzic saw a free-kick clip the top of the bar. Ivan Klasnic also went close. A shot from an acute angle was tipped just inches around the post by Hildebrand. Morrocan forward Abdelaziz Ahanhouf volleyed wide on the stroke of half-time. No goals, but a dominant half for the home side. Stuttgart had other ideas and seconds after Ahanhouf's miss the goal-kick caused chaos in the Bremen defence after Pauleta flicked it on. Cacau met the header, but Kaladze stuck a foot out to deny him, but Hitzlsperger smashed the ball at goal as it smacked off the inside of the post and nestled in the Bremen goal. Werder Bremen were rewarded early in the second half when they managed to level at a stage that gave them a great chance of going on to win a game they'd dominated completely. Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze thumped the header past Hildebrand form Boulahrouz's corner. The Dutch international had a great game individually too and deserved to score when he got into a good position in the area, but his effort was brilliantly blocked by Francisco Pavon. It proved crucial when Jeronimo Cacau raced away and managed to stay onside when Bierofka slid the ball through for him to run onto. He slotted the ball coolly around the 'keeper as he came out with 20mins to go and it was completely against the run of play. Boulahrouz set up Blasi late on, but it was a poor finish from the midfielder. There was suspicion of handball by Pavon too, but nothing was given. A bad day for Werder Bremen.
Man of the Match - Khalid Boulahrouz
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