Three goals in four minutes
“Levski” - “Bremen” - 0: 3. The home match against Bremen was the last hope of Levski, even flying past the UEFA Cup. Hooking a draw, or even defeating a nominal strongest opponent, meant accomplishing a feat on a national scale. However, the Bremen with special cynicism trampled the hopes of the Sophians into the Vasila Levski lawn, entrusting the initiative to the defender of the hosts Eromoigbe and goalkeeper Mikhailov. The goalkeeper turned a clumsy pass back into a goal much less spectacularly than Paul Robinson in the last match of the English national team, but just as effectively. The absurd own goal “Werder Bremen” was accompanied by two exemplary attacks with goals of Baumann and Frings. For the demoralized Mikhailov, the whistle for a break was final: another goalkeeper Mitrev came out of the locker room. The Bremen made it clear that the upcoming matches with Chelsea and Barca might be even more interesting than the opposition of the latter.
Record, another record
Shakhtar 2-0 Valencia. Record aspirations of Ukrainian clubs are confirmed in each round of the Champions League. Dynamo and Shakhtar are competing according to the old habit: the Kyiv team have the worst goal difference, but the Pitmen are ahead of everyone in the number of yellow cards. To eleven already existing “mustard plasters” Mircea Lucescu’s wards added five more, while playing their best match in the tournament. Jadson opened the free-kick account, but after 16 minutes Fernando Morientes answered Shakhtar, catching Didier Drogba briefly in the League scorers' dispute. The author of the third ball in the match was related to the two previous ones: also a Brazilian and also Fernando, only a small one - Fernandinho. Roberto Ayala closed the goal protocol, delegating Valencia to the playoffs, but without depriving the Donetsk club of chances for third place.
The death of intrigue in group C
“Liverpool” - “Bordeaux” - 3: 0, PSV - “Galatasaray” - 2: 0. The winner and semifinalist of the year before last of the League prematurely issued a pass to the playoffs of the current. The talent of Stevie Gerrard and Luis Garcia made his way through the ongoing rotation of the Liverpool squad. First, the captain of the “Reds” gave the Spaniard an assist, then scored on his own and only then he allowed himself to relax and not take a direct part in the execution of the rout. Garcia scored the third goal alone. Bordeaux’s strength was only enough to knock out the eyes of Jon Arne Riise through the head of Fernando Menegazzo. Meanwhile, PSV rolled “Galatasaray”, who remained ten with ten after Tomash’s removal for a foul of last hope, and joined the Merseysiders on the test lines of the table.
Atonement Totti
“Roma” - “Olympiakos” - 1: 1. The match at Stadio Olimpico resembled a Georgian feast: the hero of the current episode passed the baton to the next person. Defender of the guests Julio Cesar visited the opponents' penalty box during a corner - goal. Twelve minutes later, he fouled already near his goal, identifying Totti as a penalty kick, and the goalkeeper Nikopolidis - as saviors. Once in focus, the Greek could not remain a hero, and allowed the captain of the Romans to atone for the unscored penalty in the 66th minute. Having failed from eleven meters, Francesco hit the target from half the distance, and now he is on horseback! However, Totti could not adequately wear laurels until the whistle - at the fourth minute added, the Portuguese referee showed him a yellow card for a skirmish with the goalkeeper of the guests.
Kang continues the festival
Bayern FC - Sporting 0-0. The final whistle in Munich, the public reinforced the whistle. The only goalless match of the day turned out to be really boring. But he was marked by at least two noteworthy milestones. Oliver Kahn, although using the crossbar after a strike by João Moutinho, continued the dry run, reaching four games in a row. And his Bayern early guaranteed a place in the playoffs. Heretically, Munich and Sporting and Inter can still get around. But they will not be able to do this together - someone inevitably does not have enough points lost at the meeting.