Una formalità per gli azzurri il ritorno del preliminare contro gli albanesi del Vllaznia: finisce 5-0 con le reti di Rinaudo (doppietta), Pià, Lavezzi e Hamsik. Prova più che confortante degli uomini di Reja.

Liverpool played out a frustrating first half with Standard Liege heading into the break in deadlock. The second half was much better, Robbie Keane was replaced by Nabil El Zhar as the Reds still looked toothless up front. The game headed into extra time, but just as it looked like penalties were imminent, Dirk Kuyt relieved the anxiety at Anfield by getting on the end of Ryan Babel’s cross to direct the ball into the net from three yards. It wasn’t pretty but Liverpool are through.

Incredibile sofferenza per i Reds, che per 207 minuti non riescono a segnare un gol allo Standard Liegi. Dopo lo 0-0 in Belgio, il risultato resta inchiodato anche ad Anfield fin quasi alla fine del secondo supplementare. A evitare i rigori ci pensa il solito, impagabile e sempre troppo sottovalutato Kuyt: sua la zampata sul cross di Babel che toglie le castagne dal fuoco al Liverpool di Benitez.

La Fiorentina accede ai gironi del massimo torneo europeo forte dei due gol dell’andata e di una bella prestazione, macchiata solo dagli sprechi nel primo tempo, quando è andata a un passo dal gol con Gilardino, Santana e Felipe. Per il resto grande autorevolezza, e perle di Jovetic nel finale.

Trailing 1-0 to Schalke, Atletico Madrid drew level on aggregate after 19 minutes, Kun Aguero heading home a cross for the Spaniards. After the break Atletico got the crucial second goal, Diego Forlan scored a wonderful solo goal to send the home crowd wild. Luis Garcia added the third to ease any tensions, and after Cristain Pander was sent off Maxi Rodriguez scored the fourth from the penalty spot.

Le speranze dei tifosi juventini vengono esaudite: il 4-0 dell’Atletico Madrid (a segno Aguero, Forlan, Luis Garcia e Maxi Rodriguez su rigore) ribalta il successo dello Schalke all’andata e qualifica i rojiblancos alla fase a gironi. Ma soprattutto, libera la posizione in seconda fascia al sorteggio che i bianconeri andranno ad occupare, evitando così sicuramente avversari più forti.

Samir Nasri continued his impressive start at the Gunners by giving the lead at half time against FC Twente. Arsenal doubled their advantage after the break, William Gallas was in the right place to score after Bendtner’s shot had been initially saved. Theo Walcott scored a lovely third goal, showing his pace to burst through the Dutch defense before curling home a right foot shot. Bendtner wrapped up the win in the dying stages.

Se Steve McClaren sperava di prendersi una piccola rivincita sul calcio inglese dopo i disastri combinati da c.t. della nazionale dei Tre Leoni, sarà rimasto ancora una volta deluso. Il suo Twente, già regolato dall’Arsenal all’andata, frana all’Emirates Stadium e cede 4-0. Per i Gunners nessun problema: in rete Nasri, Walcott, Gallas e Bendtner.

Petrzalka took a surprise lead over Juventus with a specular back post volley from Fodrek. But the Old Lady of Italian football was soon back on level terms, Nedved’s cross was headed home by Amauri.

I bianconeri pareggiano 1-1 a Bratislava contro l’Artmedia e accedono alla fase a gironi. I gol nel primo tempo: vantaggio slovacco con Fodrek, poi pari di testa di Amauri.

Wisla Krakow broke the deadlock against Barcelona in the 52nd minute, Cleber was left unmarked at the back post and he scored with a flying header.

A Cracovia contro il Wisla Guardiola schiera la squadra titolare (manca solo Messi) ma perde 1-0 grazie al gol di Cleber. Sconfitta senza conseguenze, all’andata aveva vinto 4-0.

Paul Scholes tested David James just before the twenty minute mark at Fratton Park. Darren Fletcher broke the deadlock just after the half-hour, bagging his second goal in two games, after great work by Evra who was fed by a fine through ball from Tevez. Four minutes before the break, Wayne Rooney went close to doubling United’s lead. United continued to dominate in the second half but failed to turn their possession into a second goal and the best Pompey could manage was a long range effort from Papa Bouba Diop saved by Van der Sar.

Prima vittoria in campionato per il Manchester United. I Red Devils nel posticipo della seconda giornata della Premier League si sono imposti per 1-0 sul campo del Portsmouth grazie a un gol di Fletcher al 32′ del primo tempo.

Valencia extended their overall lead in the Spanish Super Cup when David Silva planted a low shot into the corner of Casillas’ net. Things got worse for Madrid five minutes before the break when new signing Rafael van der Vaart was sent off for a bad tackle on Mata. Three minutes after the break, Ruud van Nistelrooy pulled Real level on the night from the penalty spot after Albiol had handled. But, van Nistelrooy looked to have ruined Madrid’s chances of winning the tie when he was sent-off for a second bookable offence with a bad tackle on Baraja. Amazingly the nine men then took the lead through Sergio Ramos, before two goals in three minutes sealed the win. Ruben de la Red hit the third with a great long-range strike and then Higuain hit the fourth with an easy tap in after a poor back pass. Morientes pulled one back but Real won the two-legged Spanish curtain raiser with a famous late comeback with just nine men.

Incredibile rimonta dei madridisti nella Supercoppa spagnola: la squadra di Schuster ribalta il 3-2 subito al Mestalla e vince 4-2, segnando tre gol in doppia inferiorità numerica rispetto agli avversari. Di Silva, Van Nistelrooy (rigore), Ramos, De la Red, Higuain e Morientes le reti del match.

City were unlucky to go into the break deadlocked, after they had pressed West Ham throughout the first half. The Hammers were reduced to 10-men after Mark Noble was sent off for a second yellow card. Early in the second half the match was held up for ten minutes as Micah Richards was stretchered off in a clash with Tal Ben Haim. Eventually City took the lead, Daniel Sturridge firing in the opener after Upson’s poor clearance. Elano bagged the second after a cut back from Ireland, and the same two players combined again as Elano made it three.