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Jovetic double helps Fiorentina stun Liverpool
Teenage talent Stevan Jovetic struck twice to help Fiorentina sweep aside Liverpool 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday and earn their first points in Group E.
The in-form Montenegro forward ran unopposed on to Cristiano Zanetti's offside-splitting pass and coolly slotted the ball home to open the score in the 28th minute.
He doubled the advantage nine minutes later by directing Juan Vargas's diagonal thunderbolt into the net before his side rode out some intense pressure in the second half to claim a memorable victory.
The Italians, who lost their opener 1-0 at Olympique Lyon, have three points, as do Liverpool after they beat Hungarian champions Debrecen by the same margin two weeks ago. Lyon lead the group after two opening wins.
Five-times European champions Liverpool made a timid start, which encouraged the hosts to shake off their stage-fright and push forward. They were soon rewarded with two goals.
For a spell the visitors looked dazed by Fiorentina's speed and slick passing, but they were a very different proposition after the break.
Sebastien Frey saved shots from Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt and Lucas headed a corner just over the bar at the start of the second half, while Alessandro Gamberini produced an excellent challenge to deny Fernando Torres a shot in the 71st.
The Spaniard also came close with a volley and Steven Gerrard headed just over late on, but Fiorentina stood firm, showing no signs of being distracted by president Andrea Della Valle quitting last week.
'Statistics show that the champion never wins twice in a row'
Lionel Messi and substitute Pedro netted in each half to give Barcelona a 2-0 win over Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday and put the holders top of Champions League Group F.
A confident-looking Dynamo put plenty of pressure on the home side's goal in the early stages at a packed Nou Camp but it was Messi who opened the scoring in the 25th minute.
The prolific Argentina forward, top scorer in last season's competition, made a trademark dash in from the right flank and struck a low shot that had enough power to beat Olexandr Shovkovskiy at his near post.
Barca increased the pressure after the goal and Shovkovskiy had to sprint off his line to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Xavi's pass had sent the Sweden striker clear.
The Dynamo goalkeeper reacted superbly to keep out Xavi's first-time strike from a Messi centre five minutes before the break and Messi, Ibrahimovic and Daniel Alves all went close to doubling the lead.
A dominant Barca continued to press forward in the second half and the lively Ibrahimovic should have done better than head Xavi's pinpoint cross straight into Shovkovskiy's arms.
He made amends in the 76th minute when he released Pedro, who replaced Andres Iniesta at halftime, and the 22-year-old sent a precise shot into the bottom left corner.
The win put Barca top of Group F on four points from two matches after 10-man Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw at Rubin Kazan earlier on Tuesday. Dynamo are second with three points and Inter third on two.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola paid tribute to a superb defensive performance from captain Carles Puyol and said three more points at home to Rubin next month would be a significant step towards qualification for the knockout phase.
"It's great to be top because the group is terrible and we had really bad luck with the draw," he told a news conference.
"The statistics show that the champion never wins twice in a row," he added. "Everyone is gunning for you and it's easy to think you can get through with a little bit less effort and that's when you can get knocked out."
Van Persie, Arshavin help Arsenal beat Olympiakos
Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin struck late to give Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos in Champions League Group H on Tuesday after visiting keeper Antonis Nikopolidis produced wonders to keep them at bay.
Nikopolidis, Greece's formidable last line of defence in their triumphant 2004 European Championship odyssey, made a series of outstanding saves and at times appeared to be playing Arsenal on his own as he protected his goal.
Dutchman Van Persie spent most of the night locked in a personal duel with the grey-haired stopper but eventually found a way past to give Arsenal the lead they deserved after 78 minutes.
Russian playmaker Arshavin then put a realistic gloss on the scoreline with a tap-in second from a suspiciously offside position four minutes from time to send Arsenal clear at the top of the group with six points.
It was tough on Nikopolidis, but Olympiakos, managed by Brazilian great Zico, could have few complaints as they barely mustered an attack all night on the way to a ninth defeat out of nine away ties in England.
Arsenal could have been three up within 25 minutes.
Van Persie began his examination of Nikopolidis with a low shot from Gael Clichy's cut back and he then rocked the crossbar with a powerful left-foot drive before Tomas Rosicky's follow-up was beaten away by the over-worked keeper.
Nikopolidis then showed great agility to turn away Arshavin's low effort. The vocal visiting fans behind Nikopolidis's goal at least had a close-up view of the action but their side offered nothing to suggest that their dismal record in England was about to change.
Arsenal's only slight alarm in a first half of complete domination came 10 minutes before the interval when Vassilis Torosidis, scorer of the his side's goal in the 1-0 defeat of AZ in their opening match two weeks ago, headed straight at Vito Mannone when unmarked.
Olof Mellberg's header from Olympiakos's first corner of the game shortly after the break also caused a flutter in the Arsenal defence but normal service was soon resumed as Nikopolidis again thwarted Van Persie.
As the clock ticked down and with Olympiakos having long abandoned any pretence of attack, Eduardo combined with the hard-working Cesc Fabregas to tee up Van Persie for a chance that he tucked away to the relief of the majority of fans in the Emirates.
Arshavin, who had endured a frustrating evening, then ghosted in to side-foot Arsenal's second.
'Given the circumstances, it is a point gained'
Champions League debutants Rubin Kazan held 10-man Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw in their Group F encounter on Tuesday to earn their first point in Europe's premier club competition.
Rubin forward Alejandro Dominguez stunned the Italian champions with a great solo effort in the 11th minute when he evaded several Inter defenders before beating Julio Cesar with a rising shot into the roof of the net.
Dejan Stankovic equalised 16 minutes later when he was left unmarked to head in Maicon's cross at the far post past stranded Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov.
A couple of minutes later, Mario Balotelli could have given the visitors the lead but his long-range curving shot hit the crossbar.
However, Inter, who had Balotelli sent off on the hour for a second yellow card, were lucky to leave Kazan with a point after the Russians missed a host of chances late in the game.
Rubin captain Sergei Semak wasted their best chance, hitting the post from six metres nine minutes from time.
TORMENTING DOMINGUEZ
Argentine Dominguez, the most threatening Rubin player who also scored for the Russian champions in a 3-1 defeat at Dynamo Kiev two weeks ago, tormented the Inter defence before he was substituted with four minutes left.
At the other end, Samuel Eto'o, who joined Inter from Barcelona in the close season in a swap deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had a poor game.
The Cameroon striker created little danger around the Rubin goal after missing a good chance early in the match when he could not force his effort past Ryzhikov from close range.
Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev was left to rue his team's missed chances.
"I feel that we lost two points tonight rather than gained one," he told Russian television NTV.
"We dominated the game after Inter were reduced to 10 men, but unfortunately just couldn't capitalise on our chances."
Inter coach Jose Mourinho told Sky television: "Given the circumstances of the game, it is a point gained.
"Our opponents started better, they pressed and had their fans urging them on as it was their home debut."
The draw extended Inter's winless streak in the Champions League to seven matches following their 0-0 stalemate with Barcelona in their Group F opener two weeks ago.
'Our opponents lacked experience'
Olympique Lyon ruthlessly crushed Hungary's Debrecen 4-0 on Tuesday to maintain their winning start in Group E.
Lyon took an early lead when Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom volleyed the ball into the right side of the net from just outside the penalty area after Miralem Pjanic's corner after three minutes.
Debrecen were rattled again on 13 minutes when Bosnian Pjanic curled in a delightful free-kick and 11 minutes later he crossed for Sidney Govou's header to make it 3-0.
It took 34 minutes for the Champions League newcomers to threaten the opposition when Peter Czvitkovics shot from outside the box, forcing Hugo Lloris into a good save.
Bafetimbi Gomis scored the fourth with a brilliant lob six minutes after the break.
Debrecen coach Andras Herczeg admitted his side, playing their first ever home game in the Champions League group stages, failed to regain their composure after the loss of two early goals.
"We started poorly and were two goals behind after just 13 minutes. Lyon really showed the difference between the two teams, while our confidence got a hit.
"We knew that could happen to us right after the draw, but our objective for the game against Fiorentina is to make that match a tighter encounter."
Lyon counterpart Claude Puel, whose side sit pretty at the top of group E after two straight wins, was sympathetic with Debrecen's steep learning curve.
"Our opponents lacked experience at this level but I think they must profit from these type of games, even if they lose heavily, in the future," he told reporters.
Sevilla crush Rangers with four-goal salvo
Sevilla swept Rangers aside with an emphatic 4-1 win on Tuesday in their Champions League Group G clash at Ibrox with all their four goals coming in a devastating second half display.
Sevilla came close to an early opener as Frederic Kanoute lashed a first time shot at goal following a low cross from Jesus Navas, only for Rangers keeper Allan McGregor to pull off a superb reaction save.
Rangers responded with Lee McCulloch crashing a fierce volley from the edge of the box that zipped narrowly over before they had a strong penalty claim dismissed when Abdoulay Konko tripped Steve Naismith from behind as he prepared to shoot.
Sevilla took the lead with a cleverly worked free-kick on 51 minutes as Lolo shaped up to shoot from almost 40 metres on the left, then switched the ball crossfield to the unmarked Navas and his teasing cross was met by Konko who headed home.
Brazilian Adriano then swept in an easy second goal from 10 metres after a low cross by Luis Fabiano fractured Rangers defence on 64 minutes.
Fabiano headed home Kanoute's cross to make it 3-0 on 72 minutes and just three minutes later Kanoute tapped in the fourth as Sevilla made it two wins from two.
Rangers grabbed a late goal from substitute Nacho Novo but only have one point from two encounters.
'That one moment proved fatal for our confidence'
Standard Liege scored in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw and deny AZ Alkmaar victory in their first home match in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Morocco striker Mounir El Hamdaoui put the Dutch champions ahead three minutes into the second half before substitute Moussa Traore equalised in stoppage time just as Alkmaar's fans were preparing to celebrate a win over their Belgian neighbours.
Alkmaar, who had failed to score in their previous four matches, took the lead when El Hamdaoui turned and shot past Liege keeper Sinan Bolat.
Traore, who came on as a 77th-minute substitute, smashed the equaliser into the roof of the net from close range in the first minute of stoppage time.
El Hamdaoui could have settled the match minutes after his goal when a fine pass from Moussa Dembele set him up but Bolat blocked the effort.
The result left both teams with one point from their opening two matches in Group H. Arsenal top the group with six points, followed by Olympiakos Piraeus on three.
"We didn't start well but we had our best phase in the first 20 minutes of the second half, when we opened the scoring and had two or three chances to score a second," Alkmaar coach Ronald Koeman told a news conference.
"They got only one real chance from a corner kick but that one moment proved fatal for our confidence," added Koeman, whose team had lost four of their last five matches.
However, they put their recent poor form behind them and dominated for much of the game but could not find their way past Bolat again to put the issue beyond Liege's reach.
Koeman also had praise for his own goalkeeper Sergio Romero who tipped a powerful 16-metre effort from Mehdi Carcela Gonzalez over the bar.
Standard coach Laszlo Boloni was pleased his side had snatched a point at the end.
"Our organisation proved solid enough for the Dutch combination football, however Alkmaar had more initiative before the break," he told a news conference.
"We fought back but our passing game was not good enough to set up enough attacks. In the end though, we finally got rewarded for our efforts."
'We did not make fools of ourselves'
Champions League debutants Unirea Urziceni held VfB Stuttgart to a 1-1 draw in their Group G encounter on Tuesday to earn their first point in the European competition.
Serdar Tasci fired Stuttgart ahead after five minutes but the Romanian champions equalised three minutes after halftime when midfielder Dacian Varga curled a shot past keeper Jens Lehmann.
"This is the most important goal of my career so far," Varga told public television TVR 1.
"We did not make fools of ourselves. We played a good match and if we were more careful, we would have managed to get all the three points."
The Romanian side enjoyed good spells of possession but carved out few opportunities, the best of which fell to midfielder Tiberiu Balan who blasted over Varga's fine cross.
Stuttgart also had their chances but Romanian striker Ciprian Marica and midfielder Timo Gebhart failed to convert from close range.
"(Unirea) were disciplined and worked hard and I feel bad for our poor game today and I feel bad for missing a big chance to score in the second half," Marica told TVR 1.
"Now it is clear that Sevilla are the group favourites."
The German side, playing in their 150th European game, have now won only one of their last eight Champions League away games.
Unirea coach Dan Petrescu, who was in the Chelsea squad that beat Stuttgart 1-0 to win the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, said he was not satisfied with the result.
"I told the boys at halftime that if we increase pressure we will score," he told a news conference. "With a bit more inspiration we could have won. I actually regret that we lost two points today."
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