Champions League: Gent, the lovely Belgian history

The champion of Belgium, Gent, created a surprise by qualifying for the League knockout stages of the Champions after winning at home against Zenit St. Petersburg (2-1) on Wednesday.

Gent is the second Belgian club, only to join the top-16 of the C1, fifteen years after Anderlecht.

The men of coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck, champions in 2015 for the first time in their history (long 115 years), were considered the minnows of a group that also included Lyon and Valence, teams at well above annual budget than the Belgian circle (€ 26 million only).

The Buffalos started the match, "the most important in their history" (according to their president Ivan De Witte) with much nervousness but real offensive intentions.

And from the 20th minute, the Flandrian team took the lead through Laurent Depoitre the Belgian international. The latter scored his first goal in a C1 uncrossed recovery from head to receive a center of Moses Simons.

Local training continued to dominate the game and to create more opportunities facing an already qualified Russian team for the 8th finals (after his run of five wins in a row) and deprived of some of its best elements, including the Brazilian international Hulk (rested) and Belgian Axel Witsel (suspended).

Zenit equalized just before the hour mark after a confused stage via the Russian Dzyuba.

But Switzerland Danijel Milisevic ensured the qualification of his team by taking advantage of a new balloon used by Moses (78th).

Champions League: Messi scores Barcelona snatched the draw at Leverkusen

Assured of first place Barcelona team took advantage of a goal Lionel Messi to snatch a draw (1-1) Tuesday in Leverkusen undefeated and finish the group stage of the Champions League.

 With this second draw to 4 wins, Barça, however, underperformed its great rival of Real Madrid, author of a festival the day before against Malmö (8-0) to clinch his fifth victory (1n).

With the 80th goal of his career in C1, Messi partially filled up on Ronaldo, author of a quadrupled the day before, the historical scorer on the big European stage.

For Leverkusen, hoped the miracle did not happen. Chicharito scored the only goal of a voluntary Rhine club but unrealistic finally returned in the Europa League with his 3rd place.

Already deprived of Neymar (groin), Iniesta, Pique and Alves, Luis Enrique Suarez has not retained in the eleven Barça, Messi leaving captain in charge for this match without stakes, with his side El Haddadi and Ramirez for their first C1.

And the great N.10 held his rank. Served at the limit of offside by Rakitic, "Chip" has played a Leno goalkeeper hook to open the scoring with his third European goal of the season (20).

Much more enterprising, Leverkusen was rewarded three minutes later by Chicharito equalised with a shot on the turn to the penalty spot (1-1, 23). The fifth goal in six matches Mexican C1 in its new German colours.

Defending champions suffered in the second half of the assaults a determined adversary but were saved by the lack of opposing realism and vigilance of their Ter Stegen German goalkeeper.

The International doorman multiplied parades through to block before Bellarabi and Chicharito particular, ruining the dream of the Rhineland club.

Luis Enrique will count on a rested workforce to receive the Liga Deportivo Saturday, before knowing his opponent on Monday 8th then travel to Japan for the World Club.

In Leverkusen, we must now redress the championship in bar (8th). And the next step looks dangerous with the reception of Mönchengladbach, the one who defeated Bayern last week.

Champions League: the "hat-trick" of Giroud fills the impossible mission of Arsenal

The mission was almost impossible, Arsenal was true: thanks to a hat-trick from striker shaped Olivier Giroud, the Gunners have managed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, by winning on Wednesday Lawn Olympiakos (3-0).

Obliged to win by two clear goals, or if they only marked at least three times during a final round of Group F in the final paces, Londoners finally managed to reverse a situation that seemed insurmountable.

Better, the incredible record of 16 consecutive qualifications in the 2nd round of the flagship event on the European scene, holding both "heart" in Arsene Wenger, has been reached.

Defeated 3-2 at home in the first leg against the Greeks, Wenger's men have finally taken their revenge in Piraeus to finish in 2nd place in Group F (9 pts), while Olympiakos is donated in the Europa League. And they can thank their striker Olivier Giroud, author of a "hat trick" decisive.

"It's fantastic for me and the team. We are really happy. It's great to qualify because we were not in a good position and finally we managed to do it. It was not so easy in this stage with this atmosphere, we are very glad we did, "said Giroud, after the meeting.

Traumatised by Leonardo Jardim last season, who defeated Arsenal in the second round of C1 with Monaco, Arsenal has managed this time to avoid the trap of tactical Portuguese coach Marco Silva by not throwing himself immediately in risky offensive.

Without their best ammunition, with Coquelin absences, Cazorla, and especially his fire-o'Sanchez, the Gunners favorite and left the ball to the Greeks.

To dynamite the opposing bloc, Wenger has trusted Walcott and Campbell, who was loaned one to Olympiakos in 2013-2014, to support her man like Olivier Giroud. A more than successful bet.

- Giroud off the volcano of Piraeus -

Because after a very difficult first quarter, dominated by Greeks without complex image Masuaku is attacking the Blues who showed the way.

Originally raid Campbell, who served perfectly behind Flamini, author of a strike repelled by the crossbar (25th), Giroud opened the scoring less than five minutes later.

On a central Ramsey, the former Montpellier headed in a strike, to deceive, also guilty of was a mistake (29th).

After a big scare his staff writhing alone ankle, from the restart, Giroud sprang from nowhere to double down with an impressive work of the former Lorient Campbell (49th).

While Cech managed to keep a clean sheet in a decisive judgment before Fortounis (58th), Giroud was digging the score on penalty the hour (67th) to definitively validate the ticket Arsenal in eighth and score his fifth goal C1 this season.

And finally extinguish the volcano Karaiskaki, who has never seen his players able to ignite the match to qualify the club of Piraeus, largely dominating the championship in his C1 to return next season.

Cristiano dedicates his second goal with Malmoe to Denis Cheryshev

The Portuguese striker of Real Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo dedicated his second goal marked the Swedish Malmoe Hispanic-Russian midfielder Denis Cheryshev , star of the improper alignment against Cádiz has cost his team the elimination Copa del Rey.

To score the goal in the 47th minute, Cristiano went to the bench to devote both Cheryshev and meet other players came the white team, which melted into a hug in the technical area of ​​the bench of Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks set about their future. If the press comes a series of speculations involving the Portuguese name in other big clubs in Europe, for him the path is quite sure: a stay at Real Madrid. Wearing the club merengue shirt, shirt 7 won two gold balls and said he wanted to give back everything that Real gave him during those years.

"These are speculations, takes place every year. We are already familiar with what goes on around me, but this club has helped me a lot since I arrived and I am very happy here. My case with Blanc (PSG coach) has no big deal. If someone is nice to you, be friendly with that person, whether it's Chelsea, Manchester or Barcelona. I have a contract with Real Madrid and I will stay, "he said.

On Tuesday the Portuguese accounted for four of the eight goals of his team in victory against Malmö, Sweden, by 8-0, in a match valid for the Champions League. Leader of Group A with 16 points, Real Madrid also featured three goals from Benzema, who face problems with the French justice by engaging in blackmail to mate selection, Mathieu Valbuena.

Cristiano Ronaldo also competes for the FIFA Golden Ball award in January with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Since 2008 the star of Real Madrid and the Argentine polarize the dispute for the post of best player on the planet. This time, the dude is likely to be superseded by a new star: Neymar Jr, which is the main highlight of Barcelona after Messi's injury.

Cristiano brand-kick over six months

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to score a goal from a free kick after half six months and trying without success.

 Malmo of Sweden was Tuesday, the Champions League , the latest victim of the Portuguese striker Real Madrid . An action game that he resisted the merengue star since 23 May this year.

Tonight, in the last match of the Real Madrid in the group stage of the Champions League, Ronaldo has broken his 'curse' to sign the partial 3-0 set of Rafa Benitez.

Cristiano Ronaldo with a wonderful freekick! pic.twitter.com/m22P1wKVWH

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cr7Prince4ever) December 8, 2015

Astro Lusitanian with a shot near the left corner of the box, surprised the keeper, Johan Wiland, loose answer. CR7 had armed the play of 1-0 of Karim Benzema and himself had attended the French 2-0 .

In addition, as reported by the renowned Twitter account @ 2010MisterChip, Cristiano Ronaldo (8) he has exceeded the Brazilian Roberto Carlos (7) and Real Madrid player with the most goals from free kicks in Champions League.

The same source indicates that in the last 97 attempts by the Portuguese, 38 had gone to the wall, 29 had been stopped by the goalie, 26 had gone out, one had hit the post and three had finished in goal.

Benfica 1-2 Atletico Madrid: The mattress win the battle for the lead Lisbon

Benfica and Atletico , already qualified for the next phase, were cited in Da Luz to play a nice battle with the group lead target. The whole Cholo, accumulating six consecutive games victory, returning to the stadium where he lost the final in 2014.

 Simeone surprised ushering in eleven Savic and Vietto and raised a very tactical game where his pupils began with high pressure and giving possession to the Portuguese.

Benfica played and played but without depth, Atletico was waking up with the passage of minutes. Godin told with a header in the small area that was ruled offside after Saul and then Gabi tried their luck with two bashes from outside the area that brought good stretched Julius Caesar.

With total shutdown of Gaitán and with a spectacular cut the pullover Savic arrived lethal combination in attack. Griezmann sought Vietto with a pass between lines, the Argentine received, looked back and attended the arrival of Saul pushed the ball into the back of the net.

Atletico ahead on the scoreboard, returned to the initial plan, folded and waiting for the opponent back to find a counter to end the game. After the break the scare gave Benfica a great chance to Mitroglou who shot off the post.

When more dump was Benfica for an equalizer Vietto decided to thank Cholo confidence in putting the second marker. Carrasco sent a gift in the form of cross to the near post, with the toe Vietto made the 0-2 for Atletico.

Benfica put fear in the body with both Mitroglou after a good move in the area. The Portuguese woke up and the whole tier of Lisbon, which was enough with the draw came up.

Even Raul Jimenez could become more focused executioner having a header that went near the corner of the goal of Oblak. The last minutes were a real burden for Atletico who failed to leave his country and seen as the minutes passed slowly.

But if something is specialized assembly and Cholo Atletico is in knowing how to manage pain. They endured and eventually got the goal: Atletico first group will spend the next draw for the second round.