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Champions League round-up: Ronaldo leaves it late to break Man City hearts
The Champions League is back with a bang!
Billed as the biggest and best club competition in European football it is hard to argue when it produces nights of drama such as this.
Premier League champions Manchester City twice took the lead against the might of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu but Portuguese superstar Ronaldo ensured they went home empty-handed with a devastating last minute winner.
The game exploded into life in the 69th minute when City substitute Edin Dzeko punished Real’s profligacy in attack with a classic counter attacking goal.
The Spaniards had enjoyed the better of the play but Yaya Toure broke forward with real purpose before playing in the Bosnian striker to calmly slot past Iker Casillas and give the visitors a shock lead.
It wasn’t long before the home side were back on level terms though, a curling effort from Brazilian international Marcelo pegging City back.
An Alexander Kolarov free kick put Roberto Mancini’s side back in front with just five minutes on the clock and a famous victory beckoned.
But a late brace from Karim Benzema and former Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronaldo left City with nothing to show for their brave efforts.
The other game in Group D saw Borussia Dortmund sneak past Ajax 1-0 thanks to a late Robert Lewandowski strike.
In Montpellier, Arsenal’s opening Champions League game was slightly more straightforward.
The Gunners fell behind in the ninth minute when captain Thomas Vermaelen conceded a penalty and Younes Belhanda converted from the spot.
But a quick-fire double from Lukas Podolski and Gervinho in the 16th and 18th minute turned the game in Arsenal’s favour and left the French champions to chase Arsene Wenger’s experienced side to little effect.
Arsenal now top Group B with Schalke winning 2-1 at Olympiakos in the other game.
Arsenal Exclusive - Walcott must focus on football not cash, claims Parlour
Ray Parlour believes Theo Walcott needs to make a decision about his Arsenal future soon – because constant transfer speculation is harming his game.
The England winger’s contract expires at the end of the season and, earlier this summer, the 23-year-old was linked with moves to both Chelsea and Liverpool.
Walcott is yet to start a match for Arsene Wenger's men since news of his contract stand-off emerged and ex-Gunners star Parlour claims the former Southampton man might not be fully focused on events on the pitch.
All these contract talks can sometimes affect your game, he’s probably thinking more about money and less about his game
“Everyone wants to see Theo Walcott sign a new contract,” Parlour told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast. “He’s got a lot of work to do on the pitch though and, at the moment, he’s not playing.
“He’s a good player, but he needs to say whether he’s staying or he’s going and then concentrate on his football.
“All these contract talks can sometimes affect your game. He’s probably thinking more about money and less about his game.
“It’s one of those situations where the player has got to be happy with what he’s got. I can never understand these wrangles over contracts.
"Sure you have a figure in your head which you’re happy with and once that’s been agreed then it’s done. Whether Theo is holding his cards close to his chest and saying, 'well, I’ve got one year left on my contract, I want £100,000 a week', I don’t know."
Silva signs new City deal and sets his sights on Champions League glory
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David Silva has signed a new five-year contract at Manchester City - and set his sights on winning the Champions League. |
The Spanish international has followed captain Vincent Kompany and goalkeeper Joe Hart by committing his future to the club, and he will now remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2017.
Silva said: “I’m very pleased because I’ve been here for two years now and I feel very happy here at the club, in the city and with all the people. So now I’m delighted to be extending my contract and being here really does feel just like home for me.
“We’ve won the Premier League title and two other trophies too, and the team is growing and we are now aiming at the Champions League and so that also is another reason to want to stay here and try and win it. As I said, I feel very comfortable here and I want to try and win trophies like those.
“These last two years have gone very well and so let’s hope that the next five go as well or even better. The fans have always given me their support since I arrived here, and recently they‘ve been wanting me to sign, so hopefully this goes some way to thanking them for the affection they’ve shown towards me, something which also helped me decide to put pen to paper.”
Mourinho: Man City will win the Champions League... but maybe not yet
Jose Mourinho insists Manchester City will win the Champions League one day.
And he compares the investment made by Sheikh Mansour since he bought the club in 2008 to that of Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "I don't think it is very different to Chelsea. Since Roman bought the club, [Claudio] Ranieri was the first coach, then I came and we won the first league, some cups and some more titles.
"Carlo [Ancelotti] then came and they continued to win and finally they won the Champions League.
"With City it started off with Mark Hughes, they started spending money and buying good players."Then Roberto [Mancini] came and he has done a very good job. He has created a great squad, the first cup then the first title arrived.
"I don't know if it is this season or next season with Roberto, or with another person in the future, but normally in the direction the club is going, sooner or later they will win the big cup
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