Champions League Matchday 4: Eight is Enough

By: Bob | November 6th, 2007

Liverpool was putting such a hurting on Besitkas on Tuesday in the Champions League that some of their players decided that it would only be fair if they played with another player on their back. It was do or die time for some of the teams in the competition. Some did, some died and some still have work left ahead of them. Here’s a down and dirty recap of what happened and what it all means.

Group A
It was a must win situation for Liverpool and win they did. The poor Besiktas keeper Hakan Amkan might have permanent damage from the whiplash he suffered letting in eight goals, a record in the Champions League. It will still be a must win situation for Liverpool the next matchday when they host group leaders Porto, who leapfrogged Marseille with a 2-1 home win. After starting off with a pair of wins and on top of the group, suddenly Marseille look like they are the ones who might be caught by Liverpool in the end.

Porto 8 pts, Marseille 7, Liverpool 5 4, Besitkas 3

Group B
Rosenborg? Really? For the second straight match the team from Norway took it to Valencia. With the victory, they remain in second place just a point behind Chelsea. The Blues picked up a hard fought point on the road against a disappointing Schalke. They’ll be on the road again next matchday to take on Rosenborg in what could be a match that determines the group winner. Valencia are toast. Hard to believe.

Chelsea 8 pts, Rosenborg 7, Schalke 4, Valencia 3

Group C
Playing at home after a pair of draws and a loss, Lazio were in desperate need of three points against Werder Bremen. They got it. With the victory they are right back in the thick of things tied with Olympiacos for second in the group. The Greek side appears to have had their bubble burst after blowing an away lead last matchday against Real Madrid. Today they could only muster a 0-0 draw at home. Bremen somehow are still alive despite playing poorly in this competition.

Real Madrid 8, Olympiacos 5, Lazio, 5, Bremen 3

Group D
The sound you just heard was everyone jumping off of the Shakhtar bandwagon. After winning their first two games, the Ukrainian club has been spanked by AC Milan twice. It was the Champions League killer combo of Inzaghi and Kaka that lifted Milan and pretty much assured they’ll be on to the next round. Meanwhile, Celtic grinded out a 1-0 home win against Benfica. The Scottish club still has their work cut out for them with a critical home match against Shakhtar before closing things out in Milan.

AC Milan 9, Shakhtar 6, Celtic 6, Porto 3

Your thoughts on the day’s happenings? Who’s going to advance from these groups?

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Category: Champions League, World Football

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rossi

Benitez 8 vs the 'experts'0....He proved he knows what his doing and that we are getting there.It wont be easy because Besiktas is no where near premier league standard but our new players are settling in and its still a long way for the premier league.Its still dificult to pat the group stages but i trust our team and coach(we went through harder times)......
YOU LL NEVER WALK ALONE
-a

If Liverpool had scored 10 goals against Beşiktaş, it still wouldn't erase their previous performances which were just godawful.
pla

Liverpool are toast as well, 8-0 may be spectacular, but it still means only three points in the table. They'll draw with Porto and will have to focus on the Premie...FA C...Carl...well, on qualifying for the next year's CL.
Diane

Sad to say LFC only have 4 pts.
Jan

I sketched out my favourite scenario for Group B:
Rosenberg lose at home against Chelsea and are stuck with 7 points. Valencia slowly find their form under Koeman and beat Schalke at home to get 6 points. While Schalke sit in fourth place with 4 points.

Last CL matchday:
Schalke hosts Rosenborg and beats them. Schalke gets 7 points and will be placed ahead of Rosenberg, since Schalke has the better head-to-head. Valencia draws in the 92 minute to get one point at Chelsea. Then Valencia has 7 points and the better head to head against Schalke but the worse head-to-head against Rosenborg and I would have no clue who of the three teams gets to the next round...