Champions League Game – Gameweek 5 Review

English sides take hit, Spanish teams aside!

By Shivashankar

Gameweek 5 in the Champions League decided most of the qualifications for the knockout phase and thrilling in every aspect. English sides tumbled as Spanish and German sides made headlines and of course, displayed some scintillating play.

Group A

Manchester City came down to earth as Edison Cavani struck twice, one in wach half, to sink the citizens. Elsewhere, Bayern qualified as league toppers with a regulation victory over Villareal, as Ribery mesmerized the capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena, the destination for the 2012 UCL grand finale.

Player(s) of the Group: Riber and Cavani for simple reasons. They were unstoppable!

Best Game of the Group: Napoli vs Manchester City

Champions league is not a piece of cake. Citizens got a hard lesson at Italy.

Group B

Inter get respite, as they qualified for the knockouts after a 1-1 draw with Trabzonspor. A Eden Hazard inspired Lille won 2-0 at Moscow and also threw the group wide open, as all the three sides have a chance to qualify for the knockouts.

Player(s) of the Group: Eden hazard. He has a 50 million price tag, so soon. And he proved why.

Best Game of the Group: CSKA Moscow vs Lille

Even though the game was far below standards, Hazard was a treat to watch!

Group C

Yet another shock in England, as another Manchester club clung on to a 2-2 draw to Benfica. Man Utd, who travel away to Basel in GW6, have a very very tough task ahead to atleast get a draw against the swiss side. Meanwhile, Basel won 3-2 vs Otelul Galati. Frei, the man was unstoppable.

Player(s) of the Group: Alexander Frei. He made waves at Old Trafford, now he toyed with Otelul.

Best Game of the Group: Man Utd vs Benfica

Entertaining, thrilling and what not?!

Group D

This group is filled with history. Europe’s biggest and most successful club Real Madrid, Eredivise Champions Ajax, Croatian Champs Dinamo Zagreb and French power house Lyon.

Jose Mourinho’s ambition to win his 3^rd champions league may come true soon as his secong string side thrashed Dinamo 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Although Real Madrid had its clean sheet record blemished, they still deservedly hold the record for being the only side to win all the group games this season. Jose Callejon and Benzema made merry. With both Lyon and Ajax fighting for a qualification spot, they played out a dull draw at Stade Gerland.

Player(s) of the Group: Benzema and Callejon. Mourinho always gets the best of his players and these two are classic examples, yet again.

Best Game of the Group: Real Madrid vs Dinamo Zagreb

Champions league nights are always special and entertaining at the Bernabeu. This one was no different. Attacking football at its very best.

Group E

Yet another English shock. Ex-Chelsea man Michel Ballack inspired Leverkusen to a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at the Bay Arena. Not many would have predicted Leverkusen to qualify to the knockouts. Schalke 04 demonstrated the German resilience last season, perhaps Leverkusen following in their glory path. Chelsea has never failed to qualify for the knockouts in the Roman Abrahamovic era. Andre Villas-Boas will know that very well as well as the numerous ‘sacks’!

Valencia dismantled Genk 7-0 at the Mestella (as Sahil and I concurred, the Vampire symbol in their logo was personified in the team!)

Player(s) of the Group: Roberto Soldado. Scored a majestic hat-trick that destroyed Genk.

Best Game of the Group: Bayern Leverkusen vs Chelsea

A thrilling game. It was great to see Ballack marshalling his troops to a emphatic victory.

Group F

Arsenal became the only English team to qualify, as van Persie’s tremendous form continued as he scored a brace to virtually kick out Borussia Dortmund out of the competition. Olympiacos shocked Marseille at France to a keep them alive in the competition.

Player(s) of the Group: Robin van Persie. The Gunner’s skipper produced yet another splendid performance and led from the ‘front’!

Best Game of the Group: Bayern Leverkusen vs Chelsea

Group G

Apoel Nicosia announced the entry of Cyprus into the footballing map, as the qualified for the knockouts. They continued their dream run in the competition with a draw against Zenit. Porto, last year’s Europa league winners, won 2-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk as they claimed crucial points in a must win game for them.

Player(s) of the Group: Hulk. Had an impressive game and is probably finding his feet again.

Best Game of the Group: FC Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Porto had a must win game, and they responded well.

Group H

The highly anticipated clash between the giants, AC Milan and Barcelona , produced yet another classic at the San Siro. Barca edged out Milan, as both the teams qualified for the knockouts. Boateng scored a beauty of a goal for Milan. Ex-Barca players, Van Bommel and Ibrahimovic made their presence in the score sheet (btw, I meant an own goal when I mentioned van Bommel as a scorer!). Bate Borsisov and lost of Viktoria Plzen as, Plzen have great opportunity to qualify for the Europa league.

Player(s) of the Group: Boateng, for his wonder goal and solid performance.

Best Game of the Group: AC Milan vs FC Barcelona

What are your reactions? How do you sum up the Game Week?

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