9 December 2008

ROMA 2 (Brighi 61, Totti 79)
BORDEAUX 0

Brighi has been instrumental in Roma's turnaround and scored another important goal for the Giallorossi. Baptista and Perrotta traded passes down the right, the Brazilian sent Perrotta clear of Bordeaux offside trap and Brighi's flicked up his centre before volleying past Rame. With his back to play Menez juggled Panucci's longball on his chest before turning away from his marker and playing in Totti with a beautiful angled pass, Totti slammed the ball inside the left post as Diarra dived in with a desperate sliding tackle.

Roma will fancy their chances in the last 16 provided they avoid Manchester United.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Perrotta, Menez


CHELSEA 2 (Kalou 40, Drogba 71)
CLUJ 1 (Kone 55)

Terry fell over in the box as Chelsea were attacking a free kick and amid the confusion Kalou scored. Panin ran onto Culio's extravagant back heel volley and swung a cross to the back post and Kone, who looks much taller than his listed height of 6ft, got above Alex to head in the equaliser. Model professional Drogba came off the bench to score the winner, shooting Joe Cole's excellent lobbed pass under goalkeeper Claro.

Cheap bastard Abramovich has to spend some money in January if this team are to go one better than last season. Chelsea's midfield and attack are rubbish.

Attendance : 41,060
Assists : n/a, Panin, J Cole


26 November 2008

BORDEAUX 1 (Diarra 83)
CHELSEA 1 (Anelka 60)

Anelka raced away onto Lampard's excellent first time past and dropped the 'keeper with a series of dummies before tapping into an empty net. Diarra got above public liability John Terry, who is useless at set pieces due to back problems, to head in the equaliser from a Gourcuff corner.

Attendance : 34,307
Red Card : Lampard 86 (Chelsea)
Assists : Lampard, Gourcuff (ck)


CFR CLUJ 1 (Kone 30)
ROMA 3 (Brighi 11, Totti 23 fk, Brighi 64)

Cassetti released Perrotta with an excellent ball down the right channel, Perrotta just managed to keep the ball in play and lobbed a cross over Cluj's goalkeeper for Brighi to tap into an empty net. Totti whipped a free kick up, over and around the Cluj wall to put the Giallorossi 0-2 up. Doni failed to make what should have been a routine save from Pereira and Kone headed in the rebound. Brighi finished off a neat passing move to give Roma one foot in the last 16.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Perrotta, Baptista (fk), n/a, Taddei


4 November 2008

CFR CLUJ 1 (Dani 9)
BORDEAUX 2 (Gourcuff 6, Wendel 38)

Chamakh tuned on a throw in to Gouffran and Gourcuff side footed his centre into an empty net. Three minutes later Cluj were level. Kone headed Juan Culio's free kick across goal and Dani darted across two defenders to send a header crashing into the top right corner. Great goal. Wendel's superb free kick kept Bordeaux hopes of a place in the knockout stages alive.

Attendance : 20,500
Assists : Gouffran, Kone, Chamakh (won fk)


ROMA 3 (Panucci 34, Vucinic 48, Vucinic 58)
CHELSEA 1 (Terry 75)

Roma won a free kick miles from goal. With everyone expecting a cross Pizarro rolled a pass out wide to Cicinho and the Chelsea defence ball watched as Panucci, who briefly played for them at the turn of the century, converted the Brazilian's cross. Brighi and Vucinic worked the ball up Chelsea's left flank, Brighi drifted infield after exchanging passes with Totti then teed up Vucinic who hit an extraordinary first time shot with very little backlift which flew inside Cech's post. Vucinic mugged Mikel in his half own half and ran a good 70 yards, Mikel couldn't match him for pace and the Serbian rode a last ditch tackle before slamming the ball past Cech. Deco fired off a shot from the left flank, the ball hit Terry, Doni saved, and Terry controlled the rebound before tapping in a consolation goal. Deco was the victim of a ludicrous decision when the ref showed him a second yellow card for taking a free kick too quickly.

Spalletti's switch to 4-4-2 worked a treat. So far under Scolari are flat track bullies.

Platini was in the stands to witness the Roma fans rioting with Chelsea supporters. Roma continue to be an embarrassment to Italian clubs. A supporter ban and moving the final from Roma to another city would be a good start.

Attendance : 38,425
Red Card : Deco 81 (Chelsea)
Assists : Cicinho, Brighi, n/a, n/a


22 October 2008

BORDEAUX 1 (Cadu 54 og)
CFR CLUJ 0

Attendance : 24,000
Red Card : Trica 90 (Cluj)
Assist : n/a


CHELSEA 1 (Terry 77)
ROMA 0

Attendance : 41,002
Assists : Lampard (ck)


1 October 2008

CFR CLUJ 0
CHELSEA 0

Attendance : 22,000
Assists : n/a


BORDEAUX 1 (Gourcuff 18)
ROMA 3 (Vucinic 64, Baptista 71, Baptista 83)

Gourcuff gave Bordeaux the lead with a fantastic right footed strike from the edge of the box. Perrotta got Henrique sent off with a disgraceful piece of playacting, he fell to the ground clutching his throat as the defender caught him on the chest with a stray arm. The ref was Spanish so you'd expect him to fall for it. I wonder if the watching Platini is still against video technology? Vucinic header in a De Rossi corner and Baptista put Roma in front with a superb free kick then flew in at the back post to convert Taddei's brilliant volleyed cross.

Attendance : 27,000
Red Card : Bordeaux (Henrique 37)
Assists : Vieira, De Rossi (ck), Baptista (won fk), Taddei


16 September 2008

CHELSEA 4 (Lampard 14, J Cole 30, Malouda 82, Anelka 92)
BORDEAUX 0

Lampard began the rout with a late run into the box onto a Bosingwa cross and made the second for Joe Cole with a corner. The midfielder scoring with a rear header. Lampard back-heeled a Mikel pass for Malouda to sweep home a lovely third. Belletti floored Rame with one of his long range specials and Anelka gobbled up the rebound.

Even this early into his reign Scolari's Chelsea are considerably more enjoyable to watch than Mourinho's team. Malouda is unrecognisable from last season and almost playing at the same level he played at Lyon. Mikel is another whose game has seen instant improvements though I'm still not convinced by Anelka.

Attendance : 39,635
Assists : Bosingwa, Lampard (ck), Lampard, n/a


ROMA 1 (Panucci 17)
CFR CLUJ 2 (Culio 27, 49)

De Rossi mugged Culio on the right flank before whipping a cross into the centre circle for Panucci to powerfully head past Stancioiu. Culio passed into Trica as he ran forward, Trica returned the ball with a great back heel, Taddei intercepted but lost his balance and Culio rode the tackle before firing low into the bottom right corner. Culio got hold of Cassetti's poor defensive clearance and crashed a left foot volley past Doni.

It's going to be a long season for Roma.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : De Rossi, n/a, n/a