soccer-europe.com

8 December 2004

AJAX 2-2 BAYERN MUNICH

Makaay punished a poorly headed clearance with another piece of exceptional finishing, lashing the ball into the net from wide left on goal. Galasek equalised with a deflected effort. Mitea stole the ball off Kuffour, who looks like he could lose a few pounds, and swapped passes with Sneijder before finding the bottom corner. Ballack equalised with a superb header, his first Champions League goal in over two years.

Makaay is the best finisher in the game today and I hope Van Basten gives him a chance in the national team.

Attendance : 51,000
Assists : n/a, n/a, Sneijder, Ze Roberto


MACABBI TEL AVIV 1-1 JUVENTUS

Dego became the first player to breach the Juventus defence when he converted a gift of a penalty. Del Piero slammed in the equaliser after Zalayeta headed on Zambrotta's free kick.

Once again Nedved played in an utterly pointless match. Don't rest him, see if I care.

Attendance : 18,500
Assists : Dego (won pen), Zalayeta


23 November 2004

JUVENTUS 1-0 AJAX

Capello can't be taking Inter seriously at the weekend as he played a full strength side despite having already qualified. The scoreline flattered the visitors.

Attendance : 6,875
Assist : Camoranesi


BAYERN MUNICH 5-1 MACCABI TEL AVIV

Even the completely rubbish Pizarro managed to look great in this match. He opened the scoring with an excellent shot from distance. Strauber made a fantastic save to deny Pizarro a second from a Scholl (why is he still playing) corner but Salihamidzic tapped in the rebound. Frings fired a ball through a ruck of players after the Maccabi defence failed to clear a corner.

Dego (who is Ethiopian not Italian) threw himself over Kahn to win a penalty. He sent Donkey Kong the wrong way. Makaay wrapped up the victory with a stunning first time strike and a tap-in.

Attendance : 45,000
Assists : R Kovac, n/a, n/a, Frings, Ballack


3 November 2004

BAYERN 0-1 JUVENTUS

Another blunder by Khan sealed Juve's passage into the next phase. Ibrahimovic ran at Frings and Ballack, back heeled the ball between them and strode into the box before hitting a firm shot at goal, Kahn spilled the ball and Del Piero put away the rebound. At the other end Buffon made a fantastic save to deny Makaay a last minute equaliser.

Attendance : 59,000
Assist : n/a

MACCABI TEL AVIV 2-1 AJAX

Addo flicked on Strool's long ball out of defence and Dego smashed a volley past Stekelenberg. Heitinga sold Stekelenberg short on a backpass, forcing him off his line and as he tried to clear Dego charged down the goal kick and the ball rebounded into the net. De Ridder diverted Sneijder's shot past Strauber.

Attendance : 32,000
Assists : Addo, n/a, Sneijder


19 October 2004

JUVENTUS 1-0 BAYERN

After the goal this was a great match but prior to that the only 'highlights' were provided by Buffon and Kahn who made a blunder apiece. Buffon came off his line to block from Makaay but dived at the strikers feet, Makaay turned and shot but Zebina cleared. Kahn's mistake was even worse. He watched Camoranesi's sliced shot balloon up in the air, caught it then dropped it at Del Piero's feet and like the choking twat he is, missed from a yard. Ibrahimovic headed on Thuram's long ball, Nedved controlled with his right and shot past Kahn with his left. Buffon saved brilliantly from Schweinsteiger (damn it someone needs to write a macro from his name) and Salihamidzic (need a macro for him too) missed a glorious chance from a corner and Ibrahimovic should have scored a second for Juve in injury time.

Attendance : 25,000
Assist : Ibrahimovic


AJAX 3-0 MACCABI TEL AVIV

Tel Aviv's 'keeper had a nightmare. Sonck tapped in after he parried from Sneijder then he got caught in no man's land on a free kick and De Jong headed in the second. van der Vaart made it 3-0 after another mistake by Strauber and Sneijder slammed a penalty against the crossbar.

Attendance : 48,000
Assist : Sneijder


28 September 2004

BAYERN 4-0 AJAX

Makaay underlined his reputation as one of the World's best strikers with a SENSATIONAL first goal. Hargreaves hit a 50 yard pass downfield, Makaay pulled down the ball, bounced it off his knee and despite having a clear run on goal from 30 yards out he sent a rising half volley screaming into the net. Lobont, who is one of the most spectacular shot stoppers, made a fantastic save from Pizzaro's header but was left standing as Makaay met Ze Roberto's free kick with a back header from just inside the box! Pizarro normally doesn't need an invitation to go down in the box but Lobont decided to give him a helping hand, or two to be more precise. Makaay completed his hat-trick then laid on a goal for Ze Roberto.

A host of Dutch forwards have been compared to Van Basten since the great man's retirement 12 years ago but no one comes closer than Makaay to match him in terms of finishing. Great off both feet, superb in the air, athletic and he scores outstanding goals from inside and outside the box.

Assists : Hargreaves, Ze Roberto, Pizzaro (won pen), Makaay


JUVENTUS 1-0 MACCABI TEL AVIV

Fittingly in an ugly match Camoranesi scored the only goal.

Assist : Nedved (ck)


15 September 2004

AJAX 0-1 JUVENTUS

The Ajax players were taking turns to cripple Nedved. Obodai looked like he succeeded as the abdicating European Footballer of the Year was struggling after a bruising challenge. He managed to score a great goal before Sneijder finished him off in the second half and he left the pitch limping just past the hour mark.

Assist : Camoranesi


MACCABI TEL AVIV 0-1 BAYERN

After almost breaking both of Ze Roberto's legs with an appalling challenge Pantsil had the temerity to claim that the Brazilian had dived. Makaay scored. Kahn almost parried Mesika's speculative shot into his own net and with him in goal they have no chance of winning this competition.

Assist : Ze Roberto (won pen)