Champions League Matchday 4
This week's Champions League was the reverse of the match day 3 fixtures. Some teams were bidding to make the knockout stages with two games to spare. David Moyes was hoping for a big win in Spain along with his neighbours looking to make it third time lucky by advancing to the knockout stage under new boss Pellegrini. This round also saw PSG having to fight to keep an immaculate home record and Arsenal dispel any doubts about their own credentials.
Group A
Group A provided for little or no entertainment. With Manchester United bidding to move a step closer to the knockout stage, they experienced a set back as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Real Sociedad despite having two perfect goal chances through Hernandez and van Persie as well as the latter missing a penalty. Elsewhere in the group, Shakhtar Donetsk played out a dour scoreless draw with Bayer Leverkusen in order leave Group A a three horse race for the remainder of the fixtures.
Group B
Real Madrid got the best of Juventus last time out but this fixture was a shoot out. Vidal slotted home a penalty for the home side before Ronaldo hit his 14th Champions League goal of this calendar year. Madrid struck next through the linking up of Ronaldo and Bale who struck low and hard past Buffon. But that wasn't to be it as Llorente, who is a thorn in the side of Madrid, fired a header into the Madrid net. The fixture of the night ended 2-2 with Juventus remaining bottom of the group. Elsewhere Copenhagen had a surprise victory at home against a poor Galatasaray side 1-0 to lift them off the bottom of the group.
Group C
After hammering Anderlect 5-0, PSG were bidding to reach the Champions League knockout stages early. But the visitors struck first through de Zeeuw. The stunned home crowd had their minds eased as King Zlatan scored yet again to equalise. This was to be it and PSG will have to wait until game five to reach the knockout stages. Elsewhere the battle for second went to Greece as Olympiakos welcomed Benifica. The home side ran out winners of this cagey affair and take pole position for second place.
Group D
Bayern Munich continued their domination of Europe with a 1-0 win in Viktoria Plzen. Manchester City also secured their place in the knockout stages with a 5-2 thumping of CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium. A hat trick from Negredo handed City their place in the next round.
Group E
Samuel Eto'o struck twice along with Demba Ba to win 3-0 at Stamford Bridge against Schalke and put one foot into the knockout stages. Steaua Bucharest and Basel played out a 1-1 draw leaving themselves and Schalke in a battle for 2nd place.
Group F
In the tie of the round Arsenal visited Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund dominated the game for 65 minutes with fast paced football. But it wasn't to be much use as Giroud headed down a floating ball from Ozil onto the head of Ramsey which saw Arsenal complete a famous snatch and grab. In the other game of the group Napoli ran out 3-2 winners over Marseille thanks to a Higuain double. Group F is undoubtedly the most competitive with Arsenal and Napoli on nine points and Dortmund on six.
Group G
Atletico Madrid continued their amazing form this year with a 4-0 win over a below par Austria Vienna team. The win leaves them on top with 12 points and into the knockout stages. In Russia, Hulk who was once Porto's messiah, scored against his old club as Zenit St. Petersburg drew 1-1 with Porto. Only one point separates the sides going into the final two games with second place still really up for grabs.
Group H
Barcelona booked themselves a place in the Champions League knockout stages with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the Nou Camp. Two goals from Messi and a goal from Busquets saw off a very poor Milan team. Ajax beat Celtic 1-0 to climb back into the Europa League place and also make Celtic's task a lot harder. Despite being bottom Celtic only remain two points adrift of second place with a tight three-way battle for second place forming as we approach Matchday 5.