Arsenal and Chelsea impress on Champions League return
After Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both drew on Tuesday night, Wednesday evening proved a better night for English clubs in the Champions League as Arsenal and Chelsea began the new European campaign with two eye-catching victories.
The two London clubs scored 10 goals between them, with Arsenal netting six against Braga and Chelsea firing four away against MSK Zilina.
The Gunners were at their imperious best at the Emirates Stadium. Cesc Fabregas was inspirational; Andrey Arshavin produced some breathtaking moments, while 18-year-old Jack Wilshere dominated the first-half despite his tender age.
In typical Arsenal fashion, Arsene Wenger’s side enjoyed large periods of possession, passed and moved Braga off the pitch and eventually ran out 6-0 winners.
As for Chelsea, a slightly more modest 4-1 scoreline was nothing less than Carlo Ancelotti’s men deserved in Slovakia.
Nicolas Anelka grabbed a brace, Michael Essien scored his third goal in two matches and Daniel Sturridge killed the match off with his first European goal.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho won his first Champions League match in charge of Real Madrid against Ajax at the Bernabeu.
The Primera Liga side were comfortable winners against the Eredivisie runners-up, helped by a first-half own goal by Ajax left-back Vurnon Anita. Midway through the second half, Mesut Özil set up Gonzalo Higuain for Real’s second, as the European giants sealed a 2-0 win and their first three points of the new Champions League campaign.
Last season’s Champions League finalists, Bayern Munich, left it late to secure all three points against AS Roma. World Cup Golden Boot winner Thomas Muller scored Bayern’s first 10 minutes before full-time at the Allianz Arena, before Miroslav Klose added a second – and the match’s final goal – four minutes later.
One of the night’s biggest shocks involved Marseille, who lost 1-0 at home to Spartak Moscow in Group F of the competition. The French side were left dejected in the 82nd minute as César Azpilicueta turned the ball into his own net, handing their Russian opponents all three points.
Meanwhile, Romanian side CFR Cluj got their campaign off to a dream start with a 2-1 win over FC Basel. Two early headers from Ionut Rada and Lacina Traore proved enough to put Cluj joint-top of Group E alongside Bayern Munich.
And 2009 Uefa Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk also secured three points with a 1-0 win against Partizan Belgrade at the Donbass Arena. Highly-rated wing-back Dario Srna scored the only goal of the match 20 minutes before full-time, to leave Partizan second to bottom of Group H.
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