Highlights : FC Bayern München 4 : 0 Olympiacos F.C. UCL on Tuesday Night

Bayern München

Tweet Football - Bayern marked their 100th home fixture in the Champions League by cruising into this season’s last sixteen as Group F winners with a deserved victory over Greek champions Olympiacos on Tuesday,

Champions League -The 70,000 full house at the Allianz Arena were treated to the sight of Douglas Costa, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller blasting the home side into a three-goal lead with only 20 minutes on the clock. The men in red had the match fully under control, and despite Badstuber’s 53rd-minute dismissal, added a fourth through Kingsley Coman with 20 minutes to play. It could even have been more but Müller struck the post with the last kick of the game.
With Arsenal overcoming Dinamo Zagreb in the parallel fixture, the result from Munich means the Reds are uncatchable at the top of Group F on 12 points, for although the second-placed Greeks can still theoretically draw level, FCB easily win the head-to-head comparison. The Bavarians are back in action on Saturday at the Arena in the Bundesliga clash with Hertha Berlin.
Four new faces

Pep Guardiola made four changes to the team from Saturday’s hard-earned victory away to Schalke, with Jerome Boateng, Rafinha, Badstuber and Coman coming into the side for Mehdi Benatia, Javi Martinez, Xavi Alonso and the injured David Alaba.

It was unusual to see Rafinha begin at left-back rather than over on his favoured right flank, but the really big and heart-warming news was Badstuber’s long-awaited return to the starting line-up.

The home team began with Manuel Neuer in goal behind a back four of Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber and captain Philipp Lahm, with Arturo Vidal taking up station in the holding role. The potent attacking unit comprised Arjen Robben, Müller, Costa and Coman, with Lewandowski up front.

 
Whirlwind opening

After Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson whistled the match underway on a chilly night in Munich with temperatures hovering around freezing, Guardiola’s men were soon on the attack and took an eighth-minute lead when Boateng unleashed a swerving 25-yard drive which visiting keeper and captain Roberto could only parry, Costa reacting fastest and firing a low shot over the line off the inside of the far post.

Müller’s shot was deflected wide but the Bundesliga leaders kept up the pressure and went two up after 16 minutes when Coman cut inside from the right and tried a shot that ended up as a neat through pass for Lewandowski, the Pole controlling with a single touch before cracking the second past Roberto with power and precision.

The men in red were on a roll and increased their lead just four minutes later, Coman’s miscued volley from Lahm’s cross looping to Robben at the far stick. The winger unselfishly headed back across goal where the unmarked Müller tapped home from close range.

There was a moment of concern for the Reds after 32 minutes when Robben, although not obviously injured, signalled a problem to the dugout and gave way to Joshua Kimmich. FCB lost their Dutch superstar but not the momentum with Vidal and Coman both going close, although the final chance of the half was actually the visitors’ first serious shot at goal, a Luka Milivojevic free-kick past Neuer’s left-hand post.
Controlled second half with ten men
The first chance of the second half fell to Kimmich only for the youngster to see his goalbound shot blocked, but Badstuber’s evening turned sour in the 53rd minute when the defender was red carded for a foul as last man on Nigerian danger man Ideye Brown. Guardiola reacted to the setback by sacrificing Lewandowski in favour of centre-back Benatia, but FCB still pushed on and Costa twice came close, whipping a free-kick into the side-netting and coming up just short in a one-on-one with Roberto.

Brown lofted a shot over Neuer’s bar as the Greeks sought to exploit their one-man advantage, but the next goal fell instead to the German champions, Coman nodding past Roberto from Müller’s lay-off and taking a hefty blow to the face from the flailing keeper for his trouble.

The French starlet was able to continue, with Costa now giving way to Martinez for the last 20 minutes. FCB still went for goal, but Müller mishit his effort after a fine Coman solo, Kimmich was thwarted with only Roberto to beat, and Müller's effort at the death hit the post as the home team eased into the last sixteen without undue difficulty.

FC Bayern – Olympiacos 4-0 (H-T: 3-0)
FC Bayern     Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Rafinha - Vidal – Robben (Kimmich 32), Müller, Douglas Costa (Martinez 72), Coman – Lewandowski (Benatia 56)
Substitute     Ulreich, Kirchhoff, Alonso, Rode
Olympiacos     Roberto – Elabdellaoui (Leandro Salino 78), da Costa, Siovas, Masuaku – Kasami (Fortounis 67), Cambiasso, Milivojevic – Pardo (Hernani 67), Ideye, Seba
Substitute     Kapino, Maniatis, Dominguez, Finnbogason
Referee     Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Viewers     70,000 (capacity)
Goals     1-0 Costa (8), 2-0 Lewandowski (16), 3-0 Müller (20), 4-0 Coman (70)
Yellow card     Boateng / Milivojevic
Red cards     Badstuber (53, foul as last man)

Source fcbayern.de

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Zenit Saint Petersburg beat Valencia 2-0 at the Petrovsky Stadium Petersburg, Russia

Tweet Football Zenit Saint- Petersburg managed five wins without a defeat in the group phase of the European Champions League H after beating Valencia 2-0 at the Stadium Petrovskiy St. Petersburg, Russia,

These results make the Zenit are already through to the last 16 of the packing 15 points were the result of five wins. As for Valencia now stuck in second place with six points, or two points clear of third-placed Gent.
Zenit winning goal recorded Oleg Shatov utilize Hulk action poking from the left side and then gave the ball to Artem Dzyuba who continued the ball to Oleg Shatov which directly struck the ball into the goal Valencia.
"We conceded the first goal and from then on it was difficult,. In the second half we were a better VCF, and that is the way to go for us. We're sad. There is nothing we can do except keep working and improving ; today things did not go our way, but the team tried. There is still a long way to go this season, the team would have to react now. We have to think about the next game. "
Zenit double the advantage to 2-0 through Artem Dzyuba that maximizes bait captain, Danny, from midfield on 76 minutes.
Valencia had to play with 10 men after Ruben Vezo sent off due to dropping Oleg Shatov who are conducting counter-attack in the 80th minute.
Valencia also has a chance to reduce the gap through a free kick following a foul Andre Gomez Hulk on 87 minutes, but the 2-0 victory Zenit survive until the fight was over.
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The composition of the players of both teams reported on the official website of UEFA:
Zenit St Petersburg (4-2-3-1): Lodygin; Smolnikov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito; Neto, Witsel; Shatov, Danny, Hulk; Dzyuba
Reserves: Kerzhakov, Zuev, Ryazantsev, Yusupov, Troyanov, Evseev, Dolgov
Valencia (4-3-3): Domenech; Cancelo, Vezo, Abdennour, Style; Perez, Parejo, Gomes; Feghouli, Alcacer, Mira
Reserves: Ryan, Santos, Orban, Danilo, Javi Fuego, De Paul, Santi Mina

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Highlights : Arsenal 3-0 D Zagreb UCL on Tuesday Night

Tweet Football - Arsenal kept their hopes of Champions League progression alive with a convincing 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.

Arsenal

Champions League - On a chilly night at Emirates Stadium, Arsène Wenger’s side initially had to display patience against their deep-lying opponents.

It took a superb goal to make the breakthrough after half an hour - no fewer than six players involved in a sweeping counter-attack finished by Mesut Ozil’s header.

It's back in our hands now! ⚽💪 Thanks to all Gooners for assisting us! 👏😉 #YaGunnersYa #AFCvZAG #BeTheDifference pic.twitter.com/IcJaUKNwWZ

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) November 24, 2015

The outstanding Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead soon after, guiding home Nacho Monreal’s low cross, before making the game safe after half-time with a composed finish.

This was a fine Arsenal performance, and these three points could still prove vital after Bayern Munich comfortably beat Olympiacos at Allianz Arena. As things stand, Wenger’s men will need to win in Piraeus by two clear goals or a score of 3-2 or higher on matchday six if they are to reach the last 16.
Champion League : Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Preview
On the evidence of this performance, they have every chance of doing just that.
SETTING THE SCENE

Saturday’s defeat at West Bromwich Albion was marred further by injuries to Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta.

The manager had spoken of Mathieu Flamini “having the engine required” to fill the holding midfield gap, so it was no surprise to see the Frenchman vacate the gap left by Coquelin's absence.

Flamini had previous against Zagreb - he scored the deciding goal in Arsenal’s first win at Emirates Stadium, a 2-1 success over the Croatian side in August 2006.

Elsewhere, Joel Campbell came in for Kieran Gibbs and there was a place on the bench for Aaron Ramsey too - the midfielder returning to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.

This was Arsenal’s 50th Champions League match at the Emirates but Wenger’s side came into it knowing they would have to win here and hope Bayern Munich won against Olympiacos to have any chance of adding to that number this season.
FIRST HALF

It took Wenger’s side some time to get going against their disciplined opponents. In fact, aside from Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin half-chances, the Gunners offered little going forward in the opening stages.

There was, however, good news from Allianz Arena, where Douglas Costa, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller had given Bayern an early three-goal lead.

Slowly, the pressure was starting to build back in N5. First, Olivier Giroud failed to connect with Monreal’s enticing left-wing cross, then Bellerin raced into the box before seeing his eventual effort blocked.

Zagreb had defended stoutly for the first half hour or so. But when they tried to launch an attack of their own, they were punished by a classic Arsenal counter.

After the Gunners had regained possession just outside their penalty, no fewer than five players were involved in the early stages of an intricate move that took Wenger’s side into the Zagreb half. Flamini eventually fed Alexis down the left and, after charging forward, the Chilean sent over a precise cross for Ozil to direct a diving header past the previously untested Eduardo.

Arsenal were in control and quickly doubled their advantage, when Leonardo Sigali’s pass was intercepted by Monreal on the edge of the area. The full back advanced into the box before squaring for Alexis to sweep home.

It could have been three soon after. Ozil - probably the first half’s standout player - wriggled his way past a series of challenges but, after working a sight at goal, saw his powerful low shot deflected off target by Eduardo. The goalkeeper was required to make another fine save from Ozil just before the break, diving to his right to keep the German’s placed effort out.
SECOND HALF

The half-time break had done little to quash Arsenal’s momentum and Eduardo was again called upon just 90 seconds after the restart, palming Cazorla’s well-hit shot wide before getting a hand to Giroud’s header from the resulting corner.

Another quick break almost yielded a third goal before the hour. Ozil fed Bellerin but, with both Giroud and Alexis unmarked and haring through on goal, the Spaniard’s cross was blocked behind.

Campbell was next to go close, sending a speculative volley off target and then seeing an inviting centre cleared just in front of Ozil.

With Arsenal firmly in control, Wenger reintroduced Ramsey after a five-week absence midway through the second half. Giroud was the man to make way, with Alexis moving to the central striking role.

The change paid instant dividends.

Campbell - enjoying an encouraging evening - darted in off the right flank and found Alexis with a superb reverse pass. The Chilean did the rest, rounding Eduardo and stroking the ball into the empty net.

Zagreb threatened to pull one back but were denied by the fine reflexes of Cech, the goalkeeper springing to his right to divert the ball wide after Laurent Koscielny’s clearance had hit Flamini.

At the other end, Alexis was continuing to dazzle. He looked set to complete his hat-trick after 77 minutes but, having sumptuously controlled Ramsey’s pass and cut inside Jeremy Taravel, he saw a strong-looking appeal for a penalty waved away when seemingly brought down by Eduardo.

Alexis then turned provider as Arsenal finished strongly, lifting a delightful pass over the top for Ozil, whose flicked header rolled just wide of the target.

The pair had combined particularly well on an evening that provided renewed optimism ahead of what will now be a decisive match at Olympiacos on December 9.

Read more at arsenal.com

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