UEFA Champions League (SIGH)
The team scores as they stand
Real Madrid is the only team to make it through with 100% wins
The last sixteen await
Mario Mandzukic scores a hat-trick as Atlético Madrid crush Olympiakos
Mandzukic did that. He took a price cut to go to Atlético, because he wanted to work with Diego Simeone
A fired-up Atlético Madrid swept into the next round of the Champions League with a game to spare when Mario Mandzukic scored a hat-trick in a crushing 4-0 win at home to Olympiakos.
Last season’s beaten finalists secured a fourth straight victory since falling 3-2 to the Greek side in their opening game in September and have 12 points from five matches, three ahead of second-placed Juventus, who won 2-0 at Malmo.
After a typically intense start from the Spanish champions, Raúl Garcia struck in the ninth minute following a howler from the Olympiakos goalkeeper, Roberto Jiménez Gago, and another defensive error, this time from Roberto’s Spanish compatriot Alberto Botía, let in Mandzukic to tap home seven minutes before the break.
The Croatia forward made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute when he nodded in an Arda Turan cross and he completed his treble with another header, this time from Gabi’s free kick three minutes later as Atlético progressed from the group stage of Europe’s elite competition in two consecutive seasons for the first time. Altético Madrid, roar
Arsenal 2-0 Dortmund
Alexis Sanchez's shot made it two
Arsène Wenger can call off the search for the dictionary, at least for now. The Arsenal manager had said that he might have to delve for the tome to reacquaint himself with the meaning of crisis. After so many years and so many crises, he joked that he had forgotten how one could be qualified.
Many Arsenal supporters felt that the club was flirting with one as they took to the field here, on the back of three sobering results - the Champions League draw against Anderlecht, when they had led 3-0, and the Premier League losses to Swansea City and Manchester United. Per Mertesacker, the defender, said that the players had “dropped mentally”. This, he said, was a psychological challenge. oh my poor Dortmund
Carlo Ancelotti: 'Basel better than Liverpool'
That says it all, really
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that Basel are performing better than Champions League rivals Liverpool.
Los Blancos made sure of top spot in Group B with a hard-fought victory over the Swiss side, but the Italian is admant that the RotBlau has cause for optimism when they visit Anfield next month.
Ancelotti is quoted by UEFA.com as saying: "We have not played as we always do, a little slower, but good defending and we were concentrated. The most important thing was the victory.
"Basel played with a lot of heart and has appeared with another system. They showed an intense game and could therefore put us under pressure in the second half.
"I think Basel is currently better than Liverpool. I see a small advantage for Basel for the last round [of matches]."
Basel now know that a draw against Liverpool at Anfield next month will be enough to knock the Merseysiders out of the competition.Liverpool doesn't deserve to go through, tbh
Jurgen Klopp visibly angered by Borussia Dortmund's display in loss to Arsenal as he appears to berate Adrian Ramos... who only came on as a 61st-minute substitute
Whooo chile... because Klopp can go the eff awf when he has a full head of steam
Jurgen Klopp was furious with his Borussia Dortmund players following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Arsenal - and even appeared to berate Adrian Ramos following the final whistle.
Goals from Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez saw Dortmund lose their first European match of the season, although they do sit third-bottom of the Bundesliga having won just three times during their league campaign.
And manager Klopp was visibly incensed by his side's performance, barking instructions at his players and displaying his anger on the touchline during the match - before wandering on to the pitch at the full-time whistle and taking particular issue with Ramos. Klopp goes HAM
Simon Mignolet needs to be taken out of the Liverpool team, insists Jamie Carragher as Martin Keown says keeper 'must do better
Simon Mignolet's fumble allowed Ludogorets to open the scoring on Wednesday night, and adds to a catalogue of unsure performances from the Belgian between the sticks this season.
Former Reds ‘keeper Bruce Grobbelaar has put the blame for Liverpool’s poor start to the season on Mignolet, who he says is 'worse than Dracula'.
'He doesn’t command his area,' Grobbelaar told BBC this week. 'I’ve likened Mignolet to worse than Dracula because at least Dracula comes out of his coffin now and then.'
Here's what Sportsmail's Martin Keown and Jamie Carragher think about Mignolet's situation.
read more
To be fair to Mignolet, everyone looks shaky and shot. Manquillo is one of the few steady ones. Atlético, man
Real Madrid lose Christian cross from club crest to appease Abu Dhabi bank
The second picture shows it clearly it is the little cross on top of the crown
Real Madrid have removed the cross from their club crest as part of a lucrative three-year deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
It is believed the European champions' new crest, minus the Christian cross, was created so as not to offend Muslim sensibilities in the United Arab Emirates, where a marketing drive will take place.
Club president Florentino Perez labelled the deal as a "strategic alliance with one of the most prestigious institutions in the world".
But the redesigning of the famous club badge shows, according to Spanish sports paper Marca, how far top clubs are willing to go, including sacrificing part of their famous identity, to generate new revenue streams.
A new credit card, which doubles as a Real Madrid membership card, was paraded by Perez where the new design is clearly seen.Allah Madrid
Chatter from the sidelines
- Elche cf teams up with an ELche Pomegranate drinks trader The players will get the fruit and juice in their diets
- OMG Ander Herrera might be back playing Read more
- Mourinho personally talking with Marco Reus' agent Chelsea seems to manage their player injuries well, to tell the truth
- Arsenal suffer yet another injury blow as Arsene Wenger confirms Mikel Arteta will be 'out for a while' with calf injury another day another injury woe for Arsenal
- Platini: "The Ballon d'Or should go to one of the world champions" in 'no one asked you' news
- Ribery: "The Ballon d'Or is all about politics" The Bayern Munich players are getting right mouthy this season.
- Mourinho: "There's something new in our football: happiness" Oh, el mister, when you're happy, I'm suspicious
- Pogba, footballer of the future- youngest balon d'or candidate All hail Pogba
- Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas: I am playing the best football of my life go on
Social Media
Poldoski trying to hitch a ride. Uh oh...
No lies told, Dortmund weren't switched on
James serving up some team love in his Instagram. "Equipo siempre," he whispers, thoughtful brown orbs sheened with tears of reverence as he looks at his comrades. "Siempre"
Pic Spam
Lukasz Piszcek leads Dortmund players shake hands with travelling support. They're like... the German Liverpool up in this - like their English counterparts, they need to win the last match handily to go through. You do it to yourselves, you do- and that's what really hurts
Lallana, Coutinho, Moreno and Can. I can't believe that Rodgers didn't use a first substitute until the 82 minute and---yeah, that says it all really. Gerrard isn't getting younger, we need to build around the 'potential' we've bought.
On the bright side, like a diamond in a sea of poo bright- Lambert is getting match fit and looks keen. He's scored a goal in the top four English divisions, Champions League, PL and the NT.
I'll be glad to see the back of Glen Johnson, in January tbh. No industry, always gives away the ball and... Right, let me stop venting my spleen and move on
Dortmund line up against Arsenal. Probably it was a mistake to take this match as a holiday, Klopp?
Arsenal line up- oh! No Lucas Polksi? All right, then
Dortmund trained in Regent's Park before the match. I like the pictures, so there.
A local jogger had some company on her path! Man, if I had been there- I'd have glomped Klopp
I had to include the plane! Don't judge!
Atlético Madrid. If only my team had half your industry, intensity and conditioning, we'd be awesome!
Three goals by Mandzukic! Goddamn3
A dance, a celebration - of teamwork, self belief, industry and intensity. You go Atlético, play with the knives between your teeth
A couple of tourists wandered on to the field for the Basel vs Real Madrid match. "How quaint," observed one, "we're on a smooth, green field, with people surrounding it, as if waiting for something. What is this ancient and tribal ceremony?'
Isco is on it! Bless his cotton socks - sponsored by Adidas- and his boots by Nike
Ronaldo scored the only goal in the match. Ramos collected his 11th yellow card of the Champions League over the years. Eh, sounds legit.
A goal is an aria of victory in the physical sense- Fernando Llorente celebrates as he should
Juventus celebrate Llorente's goal with a group hug!They look like jumping petit pois
Pogba being cheered on. All right now, player of the future!
Yuri Lodygin of FC Zenit. He either saw his favoured deity, or his team won. In football, it can be both at times
Hulk showing skin. It's buttery smooth for living in cold Russia, tell a sister your secret, Hulk
Anderlecht pictures are thin on the ground. Like hen's teeth thin. Have a look at Chancel Mbemba Mangulu. Scored two goals. There's a joke running around about Chelsea and youth academies but not this time
Mangulu putting one past Galatasaray's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera the during the Group D Champions League match between Anderlecht and Galatasaray at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday Nov. 26, 2014.
Corrections, news, views, leave them all here. The post will be updated with said corrections when I'm not so frustrated with my teams