Roma 1-7 Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich produced a scintillating display to batter Roma
7-1 and take firm control of Champions League Group E on
Tuesday.
The Germans were expected to face a difficult task in Rome, but
Pep Guardiola's men made a mockery of those predictions as
they ran riot.
Roma had lost just one competitive home match in 2014 and
conceded only once in five wins at the Stadio Olimpico this
term, but Rudi Garcia's side were left shell-shocked by Bayern's
blitz of five goals in the space of 28 first-half minutes.
Arjen Robben started the rout before Mario Gotze - who scored
twice in Bayern's 6-0 demolition of Werder Bremen on Saturday
- doubled the advantage.
Robert Lewandowski's header made it 3-0 after 25
minutes before Robben's second and a contentious Thomas
Muller penalty added further gloss.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had kept clean sheets in his
last eight matches and appeared destined to extend that run
with superb saves in the second half from Alessandro Florenzi
and Gervinho before the latter scored a consolation in the 66th
minute.
It proved brief respite for Roma, though, as substitutes Franck
Ribery and Xherdan Shaqiri capped a wonderful evening for the
Bundesliga champions, who can now reach the knockout stages
by beating Roma in the return match at the Allianz Arena on
November 5, as Manchester City could only draw 2-2 at CSKA
Moscow earlier on Tuesday.
It took Bayern just eight minutes to find the breakthrough as
Robben played a swift one-two with Philipp Lahm before
cutting inside former Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole down the
Roma left and providing a trademark curling finish into the far
corner.
Roma almost found a quick response when Gervinho latched on
to Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's through ball, but he was thwarted by a
smart stop from Neuer.
However, Roma's evening soon unravelled in stunning fashion.
First, Gotze finished a wonderfully crafted move after 23
minutes, receiving a flick from Muller and side-footing into the
left-hand corner from the edge of the box.
It became 3-0 less than two minutes later when the unmarked
Lewandowski adjusted his feet well in the penalty area to head
home Juan Bernat's left-wing cross.
Lewandowski then turned provider for the fourth with a well-
weighted pass for Robben and his strike was too powerful for
Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
The fifth arrived 10 minutes before the break when Kostas
Manolas was harshly adjudged to have handled while sliding to
block David Alaba's low cross and Muller placed the resulting
penalty into the bottom right-hand corner.
With the game essentially over as a contest, Bayern relaxed after
the break and Roma almost capitalised when Gervinho's shot
rebounded off the post in the 54th minute.
Shortly after, substitute Florenzi's half-volley brought the best
out of Neuer, who stood tall to beat away the shot.
Neuer then showed why he is considered one of the best
goalkeepers in the world when he somehow kept out Gervinho's
point-blank shot inside the six-yard box after he met Miralem
Pjanic's free-kick.
Gervinho finally got the better of Neuer, though, when he
nodded home Radja Nainggolan's cross at the back post.
Bayern were not finished, though, and Ribery's sublime deft
chip restored his side's five-goal lead before De Sanctis spilled
Rafinha's 20-yard shot and Shaqiri rounded the goalkeeper to
slot home.
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Schalke 4-3 Sporting

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's 93rd-minute penalty earned
Roberto Di Matteo's Schalke an incredible 4-3 win over Sporting
Lisbon.
Choupo-Moting was the beneficiary of a questionable decision
from referee Sergey Karasev, who felt Jonathan Silva handled
the ball in his penalty area.
And the Cameroon forward held his nerve, slotting home the
stoppage time spot-kick to give Schalke all three points in an
incredible Champions League match on Tuesday.
Sporting took a 16th-minute lead through Nani, but Patricio's
second yellow card - given 17 minutes later after he barged into
Marco Hoger - swung the match in Schalke's favour.
Chinedu Obasi first levelled proceedings, and further goals from
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Benedikt Howedes after the break gave
Schalke a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead.
Adrien Silva had other ideas, though, first scoring a penalty
before he headed in a 78th-minute equaliser for the 10 men
from Portugal.
But just when Di Matteo - who saw his side beat Hertha Berlin
2-0 on Saturday in his first match in charge - was contemplating
how his side snatched a draw from the jaws of victory, Choupo-
Moting stepped up, giving Schalke their first Group G triumph of
the campaign.
The result marked a successful return to the Champions League
for Di Matteo, who led Chelsea to glory in Europe's premier club
competition in 2012, only to be sacked later that year.
Sporting - buoyed by a 3-1 Taca de Portugal win over Porto on
Saturday - started brightly, with Nani and Islam Slimani having
early efforts on goal.
The hosts, meanwhile, were lacklustre and could have few
complaints when Sporting took the early lead.
Joao Mario's corner - rolled along the ground towards the top o
the penalty area - caught Schalke napping and Nani pounced,
sending a deflected 15-yard effort beyond Ralf Fahrmann.
Julian Draxler almost produced an immediate response,
volleying just wide at the back post, while Slimani's night ended
early when he limped off clutching an apparent hamstring
injury - Fredy Montero replacing him in the 25th minute.
Mauricio's red card swung the match in Schalke's favour,
though, and they levelled proceedings from the resultant free-
kick.
Dennis Aogo's free-kick was nodded towards goal by Obasi from
10 yards and, despite getting two hands to it, Sporting
goalkeeper Rui Patricio could not keep it out.
Schalke took the lead five minutes into the second half, when
from a quick break, Draxler burst down the left and found
Obasi, who slipped a neat pass through to Huntelaar.
And the Netherlands man made no mistake, holding his nerve t
slot into the bottom-left corner from 12 yards.
Obasi shot just wide four minutes later but Schalke did not wait
long to extend their lead - Howedes heading Kaan Ayhan's free-
kick in on the hour mark.
Sporting kept themselves in the contest when Ayhan brought
Andre Carrillo down in the box, Adrien Silva coolly dispatching
the resultant penalty.
And the goalscorer was not done yet, heading in Cedric's
excellent cross with 12 minutes left to set up a grandstand
finish.
Schalke surged forward in search of a fourth goal, but looked
like they may have to settle for a draw until Karasev pointed to
the spot, as Choupo-Moting saved the day for his new coach.
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APOEL 0-1 PSG:

Edinson Cavani netted a late winner as Paris Saint-Germain
secured a vital 1-0 win at APOEL on Tuesday night.
With talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic still on the sidelines through
injury, Cavani fired home in the 87th minute to keep PSG top of
Group F.
Having beaten Barcelona 3-2 in their previous Champions
League encounter, PSG will have expected to run out
comfortable winners in Tuesday's clash in the Cypriot capital of
Nicosia.
But they were frustrated for long periods by the hosts, who
produced a stern defensive performance and threatened PSG
sporadically in what was a largely uninspiring game.
Yet just when the contest appeared to be meandering to a draw,
Uruguay international Cavani produced a determined solo effor
to seal a dramatic victory.
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Chelsea 6-0 Maribor

Didier Drogba scored his first goal for Chelsea since the 2012
Champions League final as the Blues thrashed Maribor 6-0 at
Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
The veteran striker, who netted with both a late equaliser and
the deciding penalty versus Bayern Munich in Germany two-
and-a-half years ago, obliged from the spot again in a welcome
easy win.
Chelsea had begun their European campaign with a lacklustre
draw against Schalke and a hard-fought victory at Sporting
Lisbon, but they are now firmly on course to top their group for
the ninth time in 12 seasons.
The one negative on a comfortable night for Jose Mourinho's
side was a groin injury suffered by opening scorer Loic Remy.
With Diego Costa nursing a hamstring problem, the Premier
League leaders could now be short of attacking options for
Sunday's domestic trip to Manchester United.
Maribor were unbeaten in eight Champions League games this
term prior to this, including a win at Celtic and two draws in
Group G, but they were outclassed by Chelsea's slick passing an
movement on this occasion.
Captain John Terry also netted for the hosts and Eden Hazard
scored a late double, while the visitors' misery was compounde
by an own goal from Mitja Viler and a missed spot-kick by Agim
Ibraimi.
Petr Cech enjoyed his second start of the season, with Thibaut
Courtois rested on the bench alongside Gary Cahill, as Kurt
Zouma also came in.
Filipe Luis featured at left-back in front Cesar Azpilicueta – sent
off against Crystal Palace on Saturday - with Remy up front as
Costa and Andre Schurrle missed out through injury and illness.
Chelsea survived an early scare when Damjan Bohar headed
over from a Viler cross, but they were in front after 13 minutes
when Remy latched onto a through ball from Terry, cut inside
and clinically found the bottom-right corner of the net.
However, the France forward suffered a groin injury in making
that shot and had to be replaced by Drogba, who doubled
Chelsea's advantage when sending the goalkeeper the wrong
way with a 23rd minute spot-kick after Ales Mertelj was
somewhat harshly penalised for handball.
It was three on the half-hour mark as Chelsea broke away from
defending a corner and a superb move involving Hazard and
Cesc Fabregas was rather surprisingly finished off by Terry at
the far post.
The fourth came nine minutes into the second period when
Filipe caused havoc by surging down the left and his cross was
cut back by Hazard, before deflecting into the net off Viler for
an own goal.
Maribor were offered a chance to hit back when Nemanja Matic
bundled over Ibraimi in the box, but the striker then hit the post
with his penalty.
England youth international Dominic Solanke was given his
Chelsea debut shortly after his 17th birthday when replacing
Oscar.
Willian hit the crossbar with a thunderous long-range strike
before Branislav Ivanovic went down in the area and this time
Hazard coolly slotted home from the spot.
The Belgium international then put the icing on the cake in the
90th minute when racing onto a long throughball from Nathan
Ake before firing in his second and Chelsea's sixth.
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Manchester United confident Di Maria will be fit for Chelsea clash.

Manchester United are confident that Angel Di Maria will be fit for Sunday's clash with Chelsea despite suffering a dead leg against West Brom, Goal understands.  The Argentina international felt pain in his thigh and was withdrawn in the 76th minute, appearing to be in some discomfort and seen clutching an ice pack on the substitutes' bench. Di Maria will undergo a scan at United's training complex on Tuesday as a precaution but the former Real Madrid star is expected to be fit for the showdown with Jose Mourinho's table-yoppers at Old Trafford.  The 26-year-old has been in outstanding form since his switch from the Santiago Bernabeu and recorded his fourth assist in six games by creating Marouane Fellaini's first goal for the club in Monday night's 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns.  Despite his own scintillating performances, United already trail Chelsea by 10 points and have won just three of their first eight league matches under new manager Louis van Gaal.  After the Red Devils were rescued by a last-minute Daley Blind equaliser on Monday, his fellow Dutchman admitted that his start at the helm has been less than impressive.  Of United's points tally so far, Van Gaal told the media: "It's not too good. When we see the games, normally we are the better team. When you have 12 points out of eight games, in my opinion eight points is too few.


                        

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Man city 4-1Tottenham:

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Sergio Aguero is among the
world's top strikers after the forward scored four goals against Tottenham on
Saturday.
The Argentina international took his league tally to nine goals for the season as he
twice converted from the penalty spot and provided two curled finishes to move the
Premier League champions to within two points of leaders Chelsea.
And his boss believes the 26-year-old is beginning to play at the very top of his
game after an injury-hit campaign in 2013-14.
"I think Kun, in the way in which he can work with normality in the whole week, that
he's one of the best three or four strikers in the world," he told reporters.
"Last year when he had so many injuries it's difficult to play as he did today. This
season, I think he is working very well. He is 100 per cent fit and he is
demonstrating how he can play.
"Maybe he will not score four goals each game but he will demonstrate why is one
of the best players in the world."
After dropping points against Chelsea and Stoke City in their two previous home
league matches, Pellegrini admitted he was pleased to have excited the club's fans
with a display of attacking vibrancy.
And though he bemoaned some lapses when in possession, the former Malaga coach
was pleased with the way his team were able to hit the ground running after the
international break.
"We had chances to score, and I think that's very important for the fans as I always
say it's important to be an attractive team.
"Maybe we need to not make so many mistakes, especially with the ball at our feet,
but it's important to win this game after the international break. It's very difficult
without having the players in the week to work."

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Suarez: I thought I'd ruined my career

Luis Suarez has revealed that he cried tears of relief when his move to Barcelona
was confirmed as he feared he had ruined his career by biting Giorgio Chiellini at
World Cup 2014.
The Uruguay international was hit with a four-month ban for sinking his teeth into
the Italy defender during their nations' meeting in Natal on June 24.
Despite the suspension, Suarez, who initially denied deliberately biting Chiellini, was
still able to leave Liverpool for Barca when the summer transfer window opened.
However, the striker has now revealed that in his darkest hours, he was worried that
he would never be allowed to complete his dream move to Camp Nou.
"I felt I had ruined my career," Suarez told TV3.
"At first, I did not want anyone to know anything. I locked myself away with my
family, but then I reflected on what I had done, I apologised and felt liberated.
"By then discussions with Barca had begun, and when Pere [Guardiola, his agent]
called me to tell me it was done, I began to cry, because of the situation I was living
and the support that the club was offering me.
"I felt happy about the commitment the club had shown me.
"But I was still afraid that the repercussions of the incident might halt the deal. I
knew that could happen."
As it stands, though, Suarez is now set to make his Barca debut in next Saturday's
Clasico clash with Real Madrid.
Suarez is understandably desperate to resume his club career but he says that he
has not been begging coach Luis Enrique to start him at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"I'm not imagining myself playing in the game but I am preparing for it with my
colleagues," he explained.
"But it's not in my personality to ask the coach to let me play that game.
"I hesitate to tell Luis Enrique I want to play at the Bernabeu."
Suarez, though, already feels right at home in Catalunya and says he would like to
finish his career with Barca.
"if I have the opportunity to retire here, that would be the perfect career for me," the
27-year-old stated.
Suarez signed a five-year contract when he joined Barca for a reported €94 million
on July 11.

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Man city 4-1Tottenham:

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes Sergio Aguero is among the
world's top strikers after the forward scored four goals against Tottenham on
Saturday.
The Argentina international took his league tally to nine goals for the season as he
twice converted from the penalty spot and provided two curled finishes to move the
Premier League champions to within two points of leaders Chelsea.
And his boss believes the 26-year-old is beginning to play at the very top of his
game after an injury-hit campaign in 2013-14.
"I think Kun, in the way in which he can work with normality in the whole week, that
he's one of the best three or four strikers in the world," he told reporters.
"Last year when he had so many injuries it's difficult to play as he did today. This
season, I think he is working very well. He is 100 per cent fit and he is
demonstrating how he can play.
"Maybe he will not score four goals each game but he will demonstrate why is one
of the best players in the world."
After dropping points against Chelsea and Stoke City in their two previous home
league matches, Pellegrini admitted he was pleased to have excited the club's fans
with a display of attacking vibrancy.
And though he bemoaned some lapses when in possession, the former Malaga coach
was pleased with the way his team were able to hit the ground running after the
international break.
"We had chances to score, and I think that's very important for the fans as I always
say it's important to be an attractive team.
"Maybe we need to not make so many mistakes, especially with the ball at our feet,
but it's important to win this game after the international break. It's very difficult
without having the players in the week to work."

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Barcelona 3-0 Eibar: Messi gets closer to Liga record in Camp Noucruise

Lionel Messi edged one closer to La Liga's all-time goalscoring record as Barcelona
easily beat Eibar 3-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday.
The Argentina international went into the match needing just two goals to go level on
251 top-flight strikes with Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra, but he could only
notch once as he was frustrated by Eibar goalkeeper Xabi Irureta.
Messi saw a couple of chances go begging in the first half, as he was first denied by
the right leg of Irureta, before flashing an effort just wide.
In fact, Eibar should have taken the lead themselves before the break, as Ander Capa
and Saul Berjon both failed when through on goal.
Xavi eventually gave Barca the lead with an hour gone following a clever pass from
Messi and Neymar netted the second 18 minutes from the end to effectively secure
the victory.
Messi rounded off a delightful move in the 74th minute to ensure Barca stay four
points clear of Real Madrid, with the Argentinian now eyeing a record-breaking day
against their bitter rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu in a week's time.
Luis Enrique was keen to divert his players' attentions away from records in the
build-up, demanding focus on the match itself instead.
But unsurprisingly all eyes were on Messi and he took centre stage, seeing
numerous opportunities slip from his grasp before the best chance to break the
deadlock arrived in the 20th minute.
The Argentine played an incisive one-two with Dani Alves down the right flank, before
seeing his effort well blocked by Irureta from point-blank range.
Messi's determination was obvious and he went close again five minutes later,
sending a fierce drive just wide of the top-right corner from 20 yards.
The hosts continued to monopolise possession as the first half progressed, but the
visitors spurned good sights of goal just before the break.
Capa coolly took the ball past Claudio Bravo before shooting into the side of an
empty net, while the Chilean was forced into making a save as he denied Berjon
when one-on-one.
The hosts seemed to struggle during the early stages of the second period, but they
did eventually break the deadlock.
Although Messi may not have got the goal himself, the 27-year-old played a pivotal
role as he fed a fine throughball into the area for Xavi , who lifted a clever finish over
Irureta.
Barca ensured the final stages would not be remotely tense as Neymar volleyed in a
Dani Alves cross 18 minutes from time, before Messi played a fantastic one-two with
the Brazilian forward and fired into the bottom-right corner.
Though Messi went close to equalling the record late on, the 250th goal of his Liga
career sets him up nicely as he looks to equal - if not surpass - Zarra's fabled
milestone on the grandest of stages next week.

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Arsenal 2-2 Hull city

Arsenal narrowly avoided an embarrassing home defeat to Hull City after Danny
Welbeck struck to secure a 2-2 draw for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts went ahead through Alexis Sanchez's well-taken finish early on but Hull
equalised through a controversial Mohamed Diame goal.
Abel Hernandez put Steve Bruce's side in front at the start
of the second half, but with time running out Welbeck
combined with Alexis to beat second half substitute Eldin
Jakupovic in the Hull goal.
Hull goalkeeper Steve Harper was required to make a smart
double-save from Welbeck and then Jack Wilshere as well
as tip Santi Cazorla's free-kick over as the hosts - who
handed a league debut to Hector Bellerin - began strongly.
But Harper could do nothing about Alexis' opener, as the
Chilean bamboozled Curtis Davies in the right channel with
a skilful stepover before cutting inside and firing across
Harper.
Arsenal's lead last just five minutes however, when Diame
trundled into the area and dinked home his fourth Premier
League goal in five games for Hull, as the hosts fumed at
the lack of a free-kick from referee Roger East for a
perceived tug on Mathieu Flamini.
Harper, continuing in goal due to the injury-enforced
absence of Allan McGregor, was himself forced off just
before the interval with a shoulder problem and replaced by
Jakupovic.
But Bruce's men made an ideal start to the second half
when Hernandez stole in ahead of Per Mertesacker to head
Tom Huddlestone's delivery from the right and put Hull
ahead.
Behind for the first time, Arsenal swiftly sought an equaliser
with Michael Dawson denying Welbeck a one-on-one chance before wayward passing
in the final third from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla frustrated the home
support.
Wilshere's withdrawal after tweaking his knee in a challenge with Gaston Ramirez
looked to have capped a miserable day for the hosts as Hull's defence were standing
firm with a string of brave blocks.
But Alexis proved the inspiration, slaloming through the midfield before feeding
Welbeck in the area to slam home and rescue a draw.
The Gunners pushed for a winner late on and Aaron Ramsey made his return from
injury, but the hosts were forced to settle for a point.

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Crystal palace 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea restored their five-point lead at the Premier League summit with a 2-1 win at
Crystal Palace as both teams finished with 10 men.
Oscar gave the visitors a sixth-minute lead thanks to a stunning free-kick but
tempers boiled over as Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and his Palace
counterpart Damien Delaney received red cards within three minutes of each other in
a feisty conclusion to the opening period.
Chelsea adapted better to the reduced numbers as Cesc
Fabregas instigated and finished a brilliant team move to
score his first Premier League goal for the club after half-
time - ensuring Jose Mourinho's men found the appropriate
response to Manchester City's Sergio Aguero inspired 4-1
win over Tottenham in Saturday's early kick-off.
Palace threatened sparingly as Chelsea dominated second-
half possession until Fraizer Campbell, who came close
three times during a lively opening, converted Wilfried
Zaha's cross from close range to set up a grandstand
finale

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Sassuolo 1-1Juventus

Juventus dropped points for the first time in Serie A this season as they were held to
a shock 1-1 draw at struggling Sassuolo on Saturday night.
Massimiliano Allegri's men claimed a sixth win from as many games prior to the
international break when beating Roma 3-2, but failed to find top gear at Stadio Citta
del Tricolore.
Sassuolo claimed an unlikely lead after 13 minutes through Simone Zaza, a player
previously co-owned by Juventus, only for the visitors to respond swiftly courtesy of
a stunning Paul Pogba strike

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Newcastle 1-0 Leicester City:

Newcastle eased the pressure on manager Alan Pardew after Gabriel Obertan 's goal
earned the struggling Magpies their first Premier League win of the season against
Leicester City on Saturday.
The Frenchman hit home in the 71st minute to give Newcastle victory at the eighth
time of asking and cap an unconventional day at St James' Park.
Kick-off on Tyneside was delayed by an hour due to issues
with the newly installed big screen at St James' Park, with
engineers scaling the stadium walls to fix the issue and
ensure the game went ahead.
Once the game did get under way Newcastle enjoyed the
better of the proceedings, though a lack of composure in
front of goal looked likely to cost them - with their
profligacy typified by Papiss Cisse missing an open goal.

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Lens 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain overcame their injury crisis to beat Lens 3-1 following a bizarre
spell of three dismissals in six minutes on Friday.
Referee Nicolas Rainville produced three red cards in quick succession early in the
second half at the Stade de France, as the champions had Edinson Cavani sent off
just moments after he had scored a penalty while Lens saw Jean-Philippe Gbamin
and Jerome Lemoigne given their marching orders.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc was without a host of star names including David Luiz,
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva for the Ligue 1 clash, and Adamo Coulibaly
opened the scoring after just 10 minutes following a swift Lens breakaway.
That put Lens boss Antoine Kombouare on top against his former club, but Yohan
Cabaye levelled just before the half-hour mark, before Maxwell's delightful lob -
which came after a poor piece of goalkeeping from Rudy Riou - put PSG in front.
Referee Rainville's decisions then proved the only second-half talking points.
Having awarded a soft spot-kick against Gbamin for a foul on Cavani, Rainville sent
the defender off before showing two yellow cards to PSG's Uruguayan striker for his
gun-firing celebration towards the crowd and then his reaction to his initial booking.

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