Patient Arsenal beat Dortmund to take group lead

 

1 hour ago

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Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey celebrates after defeating Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League Group F …

DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) - An Aaron Ramsey header gave patient Arsenal an important 1-0 win at last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, allowing them to take control of Group F with two games left to play.

Arsenal, who avenged a 2-1 loss to Dortmund in London last month, bided their time for more than an hour in pouring rain, soaking up Dortmund attacks before striking with their first effort on goal.

The visitors scored against the run of play with Wales international Ramsey sneaking into the box to head home in the 62nd minute.

The result lifts Arsenal to nine points from four games, ahead on goal difference of Napoli who beat Olympique Marseille 3-2. Dortmund drop to third on six.

"We were mature in our tactics, we made no major mistakes and had patience," Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger told reporters.

"We had problems creating chances and we had a brief difficult period early in the second half but then we scored and were not so much under pressure."

The hosts, who until Wednesday had never lost at home to English opposition in seven contests, wasted half a dozen clear chances but failed to make their dominance count.

"Dortmund fought really well. We were lucky to have scored," said Wenger. "It was a bit like the first game in London where they had one shot in the second half and scored. This time it was us."

Both teams brought a solid track record to the game with Arsenal unbeaten for 14 games away from home and Dortmund having won eight out of eight at home this season, including the German Super Cup.

"I told my team what everyone saw today, that we got nothing for our effort. Losing was not in our plans," said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp, back on the bench after a two-game suspension.

"Now it becomes more tense in the group. We still have all the chances to advance with two wins."

WAITING GAME

The hosts took the initiative from the start but found little space to launch their trademark quick breaks.

"We dominated, we worked, we had good runs and we did a lot of things right. We played good football and it was not boring," said Klopp. "But we lacked the finish. We should have done more from our possession."

The two sides cancelled each other out early on with a tactical waiting game in midfield.

It was fittingly a defender - Neven Subotic - who carved out Dortmund's first chance after 17 minutes, drilling his shot from a Sven Bender header just wide.

Jakub Blaszczykowski's volley sailed over the bar a little later and Henrikh Mkhitaryan's curling left-footed drive whizzed wide as the Germans upped the tempo a notch midway through the first half.

Arsenal worked hard to stifle German attacks but were toothless in attack with keeper Wojciech Szczesny called into action straight after the break, first saving a Marco Reus header and then denying Blaszczykowski once more.

The visitors struck with their first effort on goal when Olivier Giroud headed on a Mesut Ozil cross and Ramsey beat Subotic to the punch and nodded in from close range.

The goal was a turning point with Arsenal gaining in confidence and coming close twice more through Ramsey and Per Mertesacker as Dortmund gradually ran out of steam in their desperate search for an equaliser.

"Dortmund had more chances, that's true, but we kept them at bay pretty well," Mertesacker said. "We did not want to be overrun by them as had happened in London and then just wait for the break. That is what made the difference."

Messi magic returns to put Barca through

 

56 minutes ago

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) is congratulated by team mates Xavi (C) and Dani Alves after scoring his …

BARCELONA (Reuters) - The familiar sound of his name echoing around the Nou Camp signaled the end of a mini goal drought as Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-1 win over AC Milanthat put Barcelona through to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

Alarm bells had been ringing from the Catalan capital to the World Player of the Year's native Argentina and beyond after Messi failed to score in four consecutive La Liga outings, a barren run by his sky-high standards.

He grabbed his first with an emphatic strike from the penalty spot on the half hour, prompting the Barca fans inside the giant arena to begin the chants of "Messi, Messi, Messi" that have marked so many of his home appearances in Europe's elite club competition.

An unmarked Sergio Busquets nodded in Xavi's free kick 10 minutes later but Gerard Pique turned the ball into his own net moments before the break to make it 2-1 and give Milan hope.

The Italian side looked more threatening after Mario Balotelli replaced Robinho at halftime before Messi made a trademark dash between the defenders and dinked the ball over goalkeeper Christian Abbiati for his second seven minutes from the end.

It was the 26-year-old's sixth goal in three games in Europe this season and his 65th in 82 Champions League appearances and firmly put to bed concern he might have lost his cutting edge after a couple of brief injury absences.

Barca's comfortable victory lifted the Group H leaders to 10 points from four matches and put them through to the knockout round with two matches to spare.

Milan, struggling in both domestic and continental competition, have five points in second and Ajax are third on four after they won 1-0 at home to Celtic in Amsterdam.

"Mission accomplished," Busquets said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Canal Plus.

"I think we played a good first half and the own goal right at the end was a pity," added the Spain international.

"We suffered a bit in the second but we had chances for a third and when it came everything was much easier.

"It was only a matter of matches and in front of goal Messi is always a machine. Today he has scored two and I hope he can continue in the same vein."

USUAL APLOMB

Barca quickly settled into their customary rhythm, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta pulling the strings in midfield and Messi, Neymar and Alexis Sanchez roving up front.

Alexis came close to an opener in the 21st minute when he just failed to get enough on a Neymar centre to turn it into the net before the referee ruled Ignazio Abate had hauled the Brazilian down in the area.

Messi smashed the penalty straight down the middle and was engulfed by his team mates, obviously delighted their talisman was back on the scoresheet.

Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo clipped a swerving shot narrowly wide five minutes later but the visitors' was caught napping when an unmarked Busquets headed into the net from Xavi's free kick.

An impressive Kaka surge down the left wing led to Milan's goal when his low centre skewed off Pique's foot and past goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri brought Italy forward Balotelli on for Robinho at halftime and his physical presence lifted the visitors.

They enjoyed a lot more possession without really threatening and Messi brought the supporters to their feet when he exchanged passes with substitute Cesc Fabregas and finished with his usual aplomb to put the game beyond the seven-times European champions.

"We knew we were facing a great team which keeps possession well and make it tough for their opponents," Milan midfielder Andrea Poli said on UEFA.com.

"However, I think we played well especially when we were 2-1 down and we created a few chances to equalize," he added.

"We wanted to earn points tonight but I think we played a good game anyway. I think we could do better on the counter attack. Now we have to focus on the next two decisive games."

In the next round on November 26, Barca play at Ajax and Milan are at Celtic before Barca host the Scottish champions and Milan are at home to Ajax on December 11.

(Writing by Iain Rogers in Madrid, editing by Ed Osmond)