All four clubs took a good option towards qualifying for the knock out phase after the 3rd day of play group matches on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The English teams continued to perpetrate their hegemony over European football on the third day of play of the group stage of the Uefa champions’ league. All four English clubs engaged in the competition, obtained important victories which places them in a good position to qualify for the 8th finals. In a Group A encounter, Manchester City edged Villarreal 2-1 to occupy the 3rd position in group A with four points, three points behind group leaders, Bayern Munich and one point behind the runner-up, Napoli. Meanwhile, their fellow brothers of Manchester United beat little-known Otelul Galati 2-0 to occupy the second position in group C, two points behind group leader, Benfica on seven points. An unimpressive Arsenal side, did just the essential, obtaining a goal against Marseille way into extra time to bag home the three points of the encounter. The victory propels Arsenal to the top of Group F on seven points, one point ahead of Marseille in the second place.
It was equally a pass mark for the Spanish clubs as two of the four club engaged in the competition also obtained victories. However it was not the goal festival that was expected at the Camp Nou as Barcelona edged little known Viktoria Plzen 2-0 to occupy the second place in the group behind AC Milan though on seven points equally like the group leader. Real Madrid trounced Lyon 4-0 to continue their unbeaten record in the group stage of the champions’ league this year. Real Madrid is in command in group D with nine on nine points, five points ahead of their closest rivals Ajax Amsterdam and Olympique Lyonnais on four points each. Villarreal and Valencia bid the dust.
The champions’ league this year has revealed new teams to the world like Apoel FC leading group G, with legendary clubs FC Port and Zenith St. Petersburg. There is also SSC Napoli which occupies the second position in Group A. It is worthy to note that the first two teams of each group qualify for the knock out stage starting directly with the 8th finals. At this level, the first in one group faces the second in the other group and no two teams from one country can be pitted against another but this rule does not apply at the quarter final stage. Contrary to the African champions’ league which is played on home and away basis, the European champions’ league final is played in just one match that will take place this year on May 19, at the Fußball Arena in Munich.
