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I bet a lot, and i make a lot of money in it, but i don’t like cup games for the obvious reasons. Pitting big teams against so-called-minows, whose only time for fame and fortune is when they play the big boys.

Before this season’s CPL, did  you know a certain Kazan, Rubin Kazan actually. I bet you did not.I certainly never heard of them until they made it to the league stage of Europe’s elite cup affair.

Well, whether you heard of them or not, they have come to the party in style. And the big boys better sit up because they will bite you in the ass. And that is exactly what they did to Barcelona yesterday at none other place than the Camp Nou. Not an easy task you would say, but they did it.

That game was not the only game in match-day 3. Infact, yesterday was war. Inter could not beat Dynamo Kyiv. For a full load-down of all group games yesterday, read on.

Fiorentina moved above Liverpool and into second place in Group E following a dramatic 4-3 win against Debrecen as the Reds went down 2-1 against Lyon at Anfield.

Six of the seven goals came in the first half in Hungary.

Peter Czvitkovics gave the hosts an early lead after converting a Jozsef Varga cross, but a fine finish from former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu soon levelled the game.

Mutu then turned provider for Alberto Gilardino who calmly slotted home after 10 minutes, with Gilardino returning the favour by setting up Mutu to drill home from outside the box shortly after.

Gergely Rudolf curled into the top corner to bring Debrecen back to 3-2 but a powerful left-footed shot from Mario Santana restored the Italians’ two-goal cushion just before the break to cap an incredible first half.

Adamo Coulibaly headed home for the hosts late on to set up a grandstand finish, but Fiorentina held on for the points.

In an incredible night of action, Barcelona suffered an amazing 2-1 home defeat to Rubin Kazan, while Inter Milan were held to a surprising 2-2 draw by Dynamo Kiev.

There is now a three-way tie for top spot in the group table, with Kazan, Barcelona and Kiev all on four points. Jose Mourinho’s Inter are rock bottom with only three points from their three games.

But the result at the Nou Camp will send shockwaves around the footballing world after Kazan pulled off one of the greatest upsets in club football history.

Aleksandr Ryazantsev gave the visitors a shock lead after just two minutes, picking up the ball and letting fly from 25 yards with a stunning drive that flew into the top corner – the fastest ever Champions League goal scored by an away team at the Nou Camp.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised with his first Champions League goal for his new club early in the second half after being set up by Xavi.

But Gokdeniz Karadeniz finished off a superb breakaway move following a mistake in the Barcelona midfield late on to stun the reigning European champions.

At the San Siro, Taras Mykhalyk gave Kiev the lead after five minutes before Dejan Stankovic smashed home an equaliser for Inter on the half-hour.

An own goal from Lucio restored the visitors’ lead but a Walter Samuel header secured a deserved draw for the Italian side just after the break.

Sevilla eased past Stuttgart 3-1 and qualified from the group stages in record time following Rangers’ 4-1 defeat against Unirea Urziceni .

The Spanish side only needed Rangers to draw to go through after just three games, providing they were victorious in Germany.

Sebastien Squillaci headed the visitors into the lead after a fine cross from Adriano after 23 minutes – the defender’s first Champions league goal in more than five years.

Jesus Navas made it two with a right-footed shot after 55 minutes before Squillaci (72) headed home his second to restore the cushion.

Brazilian Elson pulled one back for the hosts only a minute later but it was never going to be enough to stop a rampant Sevilla securing their passage to the next round.

Arsenal have had their lead at the top of Group H reduced to just one point after their 1-1 draw against AZ Alkmaar and Olympiakos’ late 2-1 win against Standard Liege.

The Greek side looked in trouble when Liege took something of a surprise lead in the first half – Igor de Camargo slipping the ball past home goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolis after being put through by Milan Jovanovic.

But a free-kick from Luciano Galleti was headed in by Kostantinos Mitroglou to bring the hosts back on terms and a late winner by Ieroklis Stoltidis sealed the victory, and prompted some wild celebrations from the home crowd.

The Greek side are now just one point behind the Gunners in the group table.

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Guys, Champions League match-day 3 is suddenly upon us, and as a Red Devil, i am worried. I have never been to Moscow before, but i have seen endless pictures of the Russian capital, i imagine how cold it gets there and by implication, how difficult it can be to play football.

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At last, we are going to watch action in the UEFA Champions league.

Personally, i believe this season’s competition is going to be very exciting for some reasons. For instance, Christiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United, and a couple of very new and small clubs have made it to the group stage of this season’s affair.

How about the fact that champions Barcelona are drawn in the same group with Inter Milan. Remember Barcelona telling Samuel Eto’o they don’t want him again, and offloaded him to Inter Milan with Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving the opposite direction? they play tomorrow, how will that turn out.

How about Christiano Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid, how will he perform in his first champions league match for Madrid? very exciting indeed.

Here below are  tomorrow’s matches.

Besiktas v Man Utd

Chelsea v Porto

FC Zurich v Real Madrid

Juventus v Bordeaux

Marseille v AC Milan

Wolfsburg v CSKA Moskow

Atletico Madrid v Apoel Nicosia

Have fun guys.

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In my last post, i did talk about Emmanuel Adebayo scoring against his former club, he not only score today but he also enjoyed himself.

Adebayo scored the third goal of their 4-2 rout of a harpless Arsenal. And i would say that Man City also played very well in the second half after a rather lack-luster first half.

I had earlier said that the traditional top four in the English Premier League were under a real threat from City, and they have started looking like the team that spent well in the transfer market.

Okay, so they have beaten Arsenal, let’s wait and see how they cope when they play Champions Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool during the season. They are really getting their money’s worth.

Just to remind you guys that Chelsea also won today to maintain their 100% start to the season, Malouda scoring deep in injury time to give the Blues all three points at Stoke who played valiantly.

Win also for Liverpool 4-0 at home to Burnely with Benayoun scoring a hat-trick.

What a season this is turning into, and we are hardly into it.

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A not so convincing display, but nonetheless, the win secures 3 vital points for United, and puts the first dent on the Gunners otherwise cool start to the season.

But one just wonders what might have been the outcome had the penalty not been given, or Diaby’s late own goal. Anyhow, somebody had to win the match and i am glad that it’s Man Utd that won it.

Other results of note are that of Spurs’ 2-1 win over Birmingham to keep their 100% start to the new season, their best in years.

Liverpool finally came good today beating Bolton by 3-1, delight for Benitez, and of course Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Burnely. End of a fairytale two weeks for Burnely you would say.

Rooney's moment

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Aston Villa produced an outstanding defensive display to secure their first win against Liverpool in eight years as Rafael Benitez’s side continued their stuttering start to the new Premier League campaign.

Villa had been heavily criticised after losing their opening home game to Wigan Athletic and slumping to defeat in the Europa League against Rapid Vienna – but they answered all the questions in emphatic fashion at Anfield.

Liverpool faded after a bright start, and have now lost as many league games as they did last season following losses against Spurs and now Villa.

Anfield was left frustrated as Liverpool wasted the opportunities that came their way, but ultimately they were reduced to running up blind alleys, and out of ideas, in the face of Villa’s resilience.

Villa were set on their way after 34 minutes when Lucas deflected Ashley Young’s free-kick into his own net, and they grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time when Curtis Davies headed in Nicky Shorey’s corner at the near post.

Liverpool surged forward after the break, but met a white wall of resistance as Villa defended their precious lead, with Carlos Cuellar outstanding and goalkeeper Brad Friedel a commanding presence.

Fernando Torres gave Liverpool hope with a close-range strike after 72 minutes, but any hopes of a dramatic revival ended three minutes later when Steven Gerrard brought down Nigel Reo-Coker and Young scored from the spot.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill was elated – and rightly so as his side got their season up and running with a landmark victory.

For Liverpool, they will now simply have to produce better – and more creative – performances as they chase their first title in 20 years.

One just wonders what will happen to the much touted acclaim by a lot of people that Liverpool’s wait for the premier league title could be over this season.

Quite frankly, i don’t see the Reds picking it this season with such displays, and with the other big boys and Manchester City started so well already.

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If i knew today was a match day, then may thunder strike me dead. This is ho we swear in my place, nothing bad really. How about that for a wish for oneself. I really did not know that the 1st leg of the champions league semi-final was already upon us. What this means is that i have not prepared for today, but i guess i could be pardoned.
My club, Manchester United is not playing until tomorrow. But the thing with me is that i love watching real good football such as the one played by Liverpool in the champions league.
Okay, so i now suddenly realize that the last 4 of the world’s leading club competition starts today, and that Liverpool will for the 4th season in a row try to outdo Chelsea at this stage of the champions league. Can they do it?
I am neither a fan of the 2 clubs, but if you ask me, i think Liverpool will take the day again.Lets look at it this way.
The same group of players that played for Chelsea will probably still play for them this time around, albeit they might be more motivated to not allow the same team triumph over them for the 4th time in a row.
Liverpool on the other hand still basically the same group of players, but with the addition of arguably the deadliest, fastest striker in Europe besides Christiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres.
Torres is a nightmare for any defender on his good day, and he doesn’t have many off-days. He is a real poacher.
Didier Drogba has not really been the man we knew him to be. He hasn’t scored much goals this season either in the premier league or in the champions league this season. The mid-field is going to be stuffy, both teams have a compact mid-field, and it will take sheer pace and accuracy for this match to be won.
On the whole, i think that Liverpool packs just the right punch to win this match on both legs. But like they say, the journey of a million miles starts with a step. First leg out of the way first, and we will have the right pointers.

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I don’t mean to be rude, but i think that Arsenal are gonna get their sorry asses beaten by Liverpool over both legs of the tie. Now get me wrong, Arsenal play good passing football, but without scoring goals.
In the premiership, i would have given the tie to Arsenal, but this is the champions league and Liverpool don’t mess around in the champions league. They did very well when they beat AC Milan, but Liverpool beat the other Italian giant Inter . But between both teams, i will readily pick Liverpool over Arsenal in the champions league. Liverpool play the champions league like it is the only thing out there for them, and they are very in-form right now with Fernando Tores firing on all cylinders. As for Arsenal fans, this tie will teach them to appreciate other teams. I like good football, and that is what Liverpool will give you guys over 2 legs

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