Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

Goalless draws are not usually associated with the most exciting matches, but these two sides are getting good at such outcomes. This is the fourth time that they have produced such a result, but it did ensure that both sides progress to the knockout stage.

The Villarreal keeper was kept fairly busy, and it seemed that United were more interested in winning than their opponents, for whom not losing was more imperative. Unsurprisingly it was Ronaldo who came closest to scoring, after being set up by Wayne Rooney, but his fierce shot rattled the crossbar.

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Later on Capdevila was given a straight red card for a challenge, which severely bruised the Portuguese star's knee, and left him writhing in agony. There are some who would question the decision, and consider that a yellow card would have been appropriate. However, Ronaldo has been getting a lot of dubious attention recently, and whenever it is seen as unfair or dangerous, it should be dealt with accordingly. Just because a player is good, does not mean that he should be stopped at any price, otherwise his skills could be short lived, and the fans would lose out as well!

As a spectacle, the game was a bit disappointing. It could have been different if either side had got in front. Rooney had a goal ruled to be offside after eight minutes, but there wasn't really that much in it. Just after the interval the same player was involved in controversy when he appeared to be looking for a penalty. He seemed to go down without any contact, but it was a bit questionable because he is not a natural diver. Neither is it a skill that his many fans would like him to acquire! Later he nearly got a winner, when Capdevila deflected a cross towards goal, off the line.

Villarreal had a few chances on the counter attack, but the best efforts were all United's. At the end a draw was a fair result, although a bit of a yawn for the spectators.

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Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United
soccer and football
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal

The score line says it all, but it must be noted that Arsenal were without key players Toure, Adebayor, Walcott, Fabregas, and the controversial William Gallas.

Whatever is going on in the Arsenal camp they are a great club, with a great manager, but their loyal fans deserve more than what seems to be going on at the moment. It becomes critical, when it adversely affects action on the field, but one man does not make a team, and Wenger will have to quickly resolve what is being reported as the Gallas issue.

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City too have had their problems but got it together on this occasion, with recent signing Robinho excelling. However, it was a great team success and despite Arsene Wenger suggesting the result was flattering, with a bit more luck the home side could have doubled their score.

There was not much for either side to crow about in the first half, until just before the interval when Stephen Ireland shot his side ahead. However in the second half it was pretty much one way traffic. City were rewarded when Robinho's superb skill doubled the score in the 56th minute. He received a through ball from the revitalized Wright-Phillips, and chipped the ball over Almunia, in the manner of one of the best players in the world.

Afterwards Robinho thought he had scored again with a back heeled flick, but he was adjudged to be narrowly offside. Then with Almunia beaten, he had another shot cleared off the line by Djourou. At the other end Robin van Persie had a goal disallowed for unsporting behaviour, when he practically kicked the ball out of the keepers hands, as he was about to deliver a goal kick!

At the very end Sturridge was fouled and calmly scored from the spot, to send Arsenal packing after a convincing display by a side eager to prove their worth with the very best.

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Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal
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Manchester City 3-0 Arsenal

England Beat Germany In Berlin

Germany 1-2 England

In the absence of some of their regular players, through injury, England triumphed over a lack lustre German side, and thoroughly deserved their victory.

This made it five wins in a row for England manager Fabio Capello, and he is in danger of becoming popular, even with the often critical English press. Not everybody would have agreed with the team he selected on this occasion, but they did their job well. That is good for Capello, and good for the team as it ensures that there is increasing competition between players to be included in the squad, and fewer automatic choices.

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Up front Gabriel Agbonlahor and Jermain Defoe, linked well from the start, and were constantly threatening. Downing and Wright-Phillips, were busy creating problems down the wings, that the home side were finding it difficult to handle. Carrick, on his debut, was very strong in midfield, and for much of the game England were in charge.

After 24 minutes, the Germans succumbed to the pressure, and Upson was able to slide home a loose ball in a goal mouth scramble. Although they tried to retaliate David James was up to the task, and at the interval England were in front, but it was still all to play for.

Darren Bent replaced Defoe, who had taken a knock, and should have put England two up but slipped up when he seemed certain to score. It could have been a costly mistake, because at the other end John Terry, and substitute keeper Scot Carson, got into an almighty misunderstanding. It was painful to watch, but not so for Helmes, who took full advantage, with a nutmeg past Carson and onwards into the net. The game was now equal with about two thirds of the time gone.

To their great credit England came back strongly, and it was their captain, John Terry who redeemed himself with a splendid header from Downing's accurate free kick. With 84 minutes gone England were again ahead, and held on, without too much trouble, to secure a notable victory.

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Germany 1-2 England
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Germany 1-2 England

Manchester United 5 - 0 Stoke

It was a case of 50 for Sir Alec; celebrating fifty years in football, but 100 not out for Cristiano Ronaldo, who took his goal tally to 101 since he joined the club in 2003.

They used to say that 'no one could bend it like Beckham', but that is no longer true as the Portuguese winger has proved on many occasions. In this game the long throw 'secret weapon' of Rory Delap was neutralized by the sheer brilliance of the opposition in general, and Ronaldo in particular.

Only three minutes into the game a Faye challenge on Tevez resulted in a free kick from about 25 yards out. Ronaldo strode forward and struck a wicked, curling, swerving, ball past Sorenson and the writing was on the wall. Minutes later he narrowly missed with another shot on goal that was just blocked by Faye.

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Immediately prior to the interval Ronaldo again took a hand in the proceedings, and delivered the ball to Carrick, who obliged with United's second goal. It seemed that the game had slipped away from Stoke which was confirmed when Berbatov made it three up from a Tevez pass in the 49th minute. It was now a question of how much worse their plight would get before the finish.

Tevez and Ronaldo had further chances; before newcomer Welbeck scored a superb goal, and it seems that United have some great new talent eagerly waiting for their chance to emerge. Just before the final whistle Ronaldo stepped up again to deliver another free kick through a rickety wall and into the net. United move up to third in the Premiership and will not surrender their crown without one hell of a battle!

This game wasn't all about Ronaldo, but in this sort of form he is a pleasure to watch, and certainly delivers the goods. Rooney, was missing with a chest infection, and Rio Ferdinand was also on the sidelines. It seems that Fabio Capello will have to manage without them both in the England international against Germany on Wednesday!

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Manchester United 5-0 Stoke
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Manchester United 5-0 Stoke

Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United

Arsenal bounced back to form, after a spell in the doldrums, to prove that they are still up there with the best of them. Not that it was ever in doubt by anybody, except, perhaps, a few sports writer's looking for cheap headlines. Arsene Wenger has proved himself at the top of his profession, over and over again, and the silly sniping that followed the odd defeat or two, was unwarranted and foolish.

This was a fine display by the home side, but the same could not be said about their illustrious visitors who were not quite at their best. Both Rooney and Ronaldo had good chances, and missed openings that on other occasions have clinched matches.

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It was a brace of goals from Samir Nasri that settled the issue. He opened the scoring in the 28th minute, when his shot spun in off the usually reliable Garry Neville. Then three minutes after the interval he was at it again. He received a great ball from Cesc Fabregas, which he coolly drove past Van der Sar into the net.

Shortly afterwards Park delivered a good ball to Ronaldo, and Arsenal were greatly relieved as his shot drifted wide. Of course you can never write United off and they continued to press forward, without making the necessary break through. The home side were weakened in the 78th minute, when keeper Almunia was substituted with Fabianski, after an accidental clash with Carrick

United grabbed a goal back after ninety minutes but it looked as though Arsenal had done enough. Then the board came up announcing that there were to be six minutes injury time to play. That would normally be long enough for United to grab at least an equalizer, but this was not their day and the 'Gunners' held on for a deserved victory, at the end of a fine game of football.

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Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
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Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United

Roma 3 - 1 Chelsea

Roma Tame Roman's Chelsea!

Roman Abramovitch's Chelsea did not live up to their reputation and came unstuck against a competent Roma side.

Chelsea started confidently but an element of slack defending resulted in Christian Panucci putting the home side ahead after 34 minutes. It would be an understatement, to say that Chelsea were deflated after a good start, when any one of Lampard, Deco, or Malouda could have shot them ahead. However, it was Deco who assisted in starting the rot, with a foul that resulted in the first goal being converted from a free kick. He received his first yellow card for his questionable endeavors.

The pendulum had swung and it was now the home side that seemed the most confident. They were suitably rewarded, 3 minutes after the interval, when Vucinic, rifled the ball past goalkeeper Cech, from some distance, to put Roma two up. Ten minutes later he scored again, and Chelsea were shell shocked at being three goals down, with the game seemingly passed redemption.

John Terry got one back with the easiest of touches in the 75th minute, when he received the ball from Deco. Shortly afterwards, any hope of further recovery by the Premiership league leaders was hampered as Deco received a second yellow card. Of course two yellows equal one red and he was ordered off the pitch.

All in all it was not a good night for Chelsea, but Roma enjoyed themselves as they swept to a convincing victory.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Athletico Madrid

Lucky Liverpool's Late Equalizer

Liverpool had most of the possession and by far the greatest number of shots on goal. However, there will be many who will feel that they were very lucky to snatch an equalizer in the dying minutes.

Madrid had gone ahead with a fine counter strike, when Lopez found Maxi, who hammered the ball past Reina in the 37th minute. Afterwards the visitors defended their lead with some purpose but remained dangerous on the counter attack. After 90 minutes they were still in front and set to bag maximum points.

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In the dying seconds of injury time, Gerrard went down under a challenge from Pernia, that there didn't seem to be that much wrong with. Whether it should have been a penalty is questionable, but the Liverpool captain made no mistake in driving the ball home from the spot, to rescue his side from looming defeat.

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Roma 3-1 Chelsea
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Liverpool1-1 Athletico Madrid

Rory Delap Makes Arsenal Throw Up!

Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal

Yet again the incredible and accurate throwing ability of Rory Delap proved to undo the opposition. This time Arsenal were on the receiving end and seemed to have no answer to the Stoke man's unique ability. It seems that a ball can be thrown more accurately than it can be kicked, at least by Delap. He threw a ball in from about 45 yards, and found Fuller in the penalty area who opened the scoring after 11 minutes.

Stoke are not just about throw-ins, and Delap nearly scored himself, but Clichy cleared the ball off the line. Accurate long throw-ins have to be met by people in the box, who can deflect the ball into the net. So Stoke are not a one trick pony, but a side that has found a different and exciting way of achieving a favourable result. It's good fun to watch but not so much for Arsenal et al!

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Arsene Wenger had chosen a side he thought could handle Stoke's physical presence, with Walcott and Van Persie both on the bench. However, they were being missed, and Arsenal were either not at their best, and disrupted by a side they were finding it difficult to handle. Walcott and Van Persie came on as substitutes, but not for long as Van Persie was red-carded for a foolish attack on Stokes goalkeeper. The unfortunate Walcott was stretchered off, and it is to be hoped that his shoulder injury is not too bad.

The Gunners managed to salvage a goal in the 90th minute, but it was too late to make any difference to the result. At the end it was three points, and a notably deserved victory for Stoke, whose tactics outmanoeuvred their more illustrious opponents.

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Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal
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Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal

Tottenham's Gain Is Portsmouth's Loss

Spurs 2 - 1 Liverpool

Harry Redknapp already had a good reputation, before his recent departure from the South Coast to London. Now he is in danger of being considered a wizard! Spurs have been transformed back to the team they were always capable of being, but the speed of what is happening fair takes your breath away. The big losers may be Portsmouth, who may not perform so well, in the absence of Harry's undoubted skill at football management.

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This game was played out in appalling weather with torrential rain playing a part in the proceedings. Although it was the same for both sides, you might have thought the writing was on the wall, when Kuyt put Liverpool ahead after only 3 minutes. It was 'salt in the wounds' for Spurs as the able provider was their former striker Robbie Keane. Liverpool had most of the possession, but despite several good efforts, at the interval they had failed to consolidate their lead.

In the second half the Reds started where they had left off. Spurs keeper Gomes was both brilliant and awful on different occasions. He did well to save from Gerrard but then nearly set him up with a short misdirected throw, but the Liverpool captain's shot hit the bar. It seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would go further ahead. However, in succeeding to rise above the opposition, Carragher only managed to divert the ball into his own net, to level the scores on 70 minutes.

Tottenham were now back in the game with Liverpool beginning to look uncomfortable. The home side were rewarded in the final minutes when Pavlyuchenko slid in the winner. It was another good performance for Spurs and 'Arry, who is yet again proving his worth at the highest level.

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Tottenham's Gain Portsmouth's Loss
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Tottenham's Gain Portsmouth's Loss