Very intense & fought out game at Juventus with their Group A match against Atletico de Madrid. The Italians needed to win or draw in case Olympiakos won their match against Malmo, while Atletico wanted to win to secure the top spot of the Group. Both sides did not speculate & each went according to their original plan, however fierce Spanish defending & tactical play & great Goalkeeping from both sides contributed to the end result of a 0 - 0 draw.
Both teams go through to the next stage of Champions League.
Real Madrid won their Group B match 4 - 0 against Bulgarian Club Ludogorets. In doing so they break the record for straight wins by a Spanish Club with 19 games undefeated, plus go through the next stage of Champions with all their Group games won.
The Spanish team played Ludogorets with 10 men from the 18th min when Marcelinho was sent off for hand-ball on the goal line. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty in the 20th min & put Real Madrid ahead. It was then all Real Madrid with Ludogorets goalie Stojanov making half a dozen saves to keep the scoreline reasonable. Although Bale in the 37th min, Arbeloa in the 80th min & young Medran in the 87th min scored the rest of the goals for Real Madrid, the conscious playing for Ronaldo to score more goals in his pursuit of the Messi European goal mark, hampered the teams general attacking play with missed chances when perhaps more direct Football was needed.
Gareth Bale was taken off with a bleeding nose - will need to hear news later - & players like Keylor Navas, Illaramendi & Isco put in good matches, along with defenders Nacho & Varane. Special mention to the Bulgarians for their brave performance with 10 men, they always looked for the goal & gave an excellent & brave impression of their Club.
Tomorrow more Champions League games with FC Barcelona & Athletic Club Bilbao scheduled.
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