Wednesday 2 October 2013

Champions League: Bundesliga Clubs victorious during matchday 2


Germany's Bundesliga clubs did themselves proud during Champions League matchday 2 play.   OnTuesday Borussia Dormund defeated Marseille 3-0 and Schalke despite a poor start in the domestic league defeated FC Basel 1-0.    FC Bayern played at Manchester City and demonstrated real class in its 3-1 victory over City.  Bayer Leverkusen edged out a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.  While Schalke and Leverkusen struggled to win, there was never much doubt for Dortmund and Bayern.

Bayer Leverkusen stand third in Group A with three points, behind Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester United  who have four points.  FC Bayern Muenchen leads Group D with six points followed by Manchester City and CKSA Moscow, with three points each.  Schalke leads Group E with three points, followed by Chelsea and FC Basel,with three points, while Borussia Dortmund, with three points, trails Arsenal in Group F, which has won their first two games.

Matchday 3 gets underway on October 22, when Schalke 04 hosts Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund travels to Arsenal.  On October 23 FC Bayern host Pizen, while Leverkusen hosts Shakhtar Donetsk. 
 
Manchester City vs FC Bayern Muenchen 1-3

FC Bayern dominated Manchester City from the start with an excellent possession game and a well thought out strategy.  Bayern had difficulty though to make it pay with a final stroke, missing a multitude of opportunities.  Frank Ribery put Munich on the scoresheet in the seventh minute, after Dante delivered a switch sides pass to the left to Ribery.  While David Alaba moved along the left side to place himself into position, the Frenchman saw a gap in midfield moved to the right and fired the ball into the net, surprising City's keeper Heart.   After the start of the second half Bayern turned up the tempo,which finally paid off when Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben netted at the hour mark for 3-0 lead.  Alvero Negredo pulled one back for City with ten minutes left.  City put on the heat and Jerome Boateng was redcarded with four and half minutes plus injury time to go.  Despite three minutes added on the Bavarians held on.   Bayern leads Group D with six points.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Sociedad 2-1

Bayer Leverkusen took the lead just before the end of the first half, when Rolfes put Bayer on the scoresheet.  Sociedad pulled one back at the 51 minute mark with Veta's goal.  Just as it appeared that the match would end in a draw, Jens Hegeler got the winning goal in injury time.  The win leaves Leverkusen in third spot in Group A, behind Shakhtar Dontesk and Manchester United.

Borussia Dortmund vs Marseille   3-0

Dortmund controlled the match from the beginning, creating several scoring opportunities.  Borussia moved ahead in the 19th minute with Robert Lewandowski's goal.  Marco Reus moved Dortmund ahead 2-0 after 52 minutes and Robert Lewandowski capped off Dortmund's win with his second goal of the night at the 80 minute mark.  With only ten minutes to go, Dortmund easily defended its lead.  Dortmund is in second spot in Group F, with three points, trailing Arsenal.  Arsenal is Dortmund's next challenge later on this month.

FC Basel vs Schalke 04  0-1

 A goal by Julian Draxler in the 54th minute on a corner kick by Aogo secured the 1-0 victory for the Knappen.  FC Basel lost to Chelsea during matchday 1, while Schalke won their second three points after a 3-0 victory over Steau Bucuristi.  The win puts Schalke into the lead of Group E, ahead of Chelsea and FC Basel.

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