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Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 20:41 GMT 21:41 UK
Champions League as it happened
Group E
Barcelona 3-0 Lyon
Rangers 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
Group F
Roma 2-0 Dynamo Kiev
Sporting 0-1 Manchester United
Group G
Fenerbahce 1-0 Inter Milan
PSV Eindhoven 2-1 CSKA Moscow
Group H
Arsenal 3-0 Sevilla
Slavia Prague 2-1 Steaua Bucharest


By Charlie Henderson

Player of the day: It is that man Cesc Fabregas who is "unstoppable at the moment" according to Phil from RAF Waddington. You could say the Spaniard's soaring, and tonight he was flying higher than Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Gomes and Jean-Claude Darcheville with a mark of 8.58.


Group E: Eight positive results tonight and Barcelona enjoyed the biggest win along with Arsenal. The Spaniards go top of the pops from Rangers on goal difference. Walter Smith's squad are in Lyon in a fortnight.

Group F: Like Rangers, Manchester United slip into second in their group behind Roma. The teams meet at Old Trafford, scene of that 7-1 thrashing last season, next time out.

Group G: PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahce lead the way and the Turks are tipped as this year's "surprise" team by Ed in the text inbox after their "fantastic" win at home to Inter Milan.

Group H: The Premiership's top guns are also top of their group. A fine start from Arsenal who meet third-placed Steaua Bucuresti on the road in the second round of games.

2140: And be sure to stay across the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5live for all the reaction from the games involving Arsenal, Manchester United and Rangers. Thanks for the messages and texts... and no Tom, we're not being "picky".

2139: Have your say on a great night for the British clubs on BBC Radio Five Live's 606. Ray Stubbs is standing by for the second night in a row and is readying himself for your calls after 2200 BST. Call him on 0500 909 693 or drop Stubbsy a text on 85058. Alternatively get tapping on 606...

2138: What a night for British clubs. That's how you do it - take note Celtic, Chelsea and Liverpool.

"Rule Britannia! C'mon The Gers & The Gunners! Who Cares about Man United?"
follow_follow1872 on 606

2137: FULL-TIME Arsenal 3-0 Sevilla
A broad smile from Arsene Wenger as his side slay Sevilla, their major rivals in the group.

2136: GOAL Arsenal 3-0 Sevilla
The Gunners add a gloss to the scoreline and all those early departees into the north London night miss a goal from Eduardo da Silva. He was on the end of a crisp passing movement for a simple side-footed finish.

"Just the beginning for Eduardo. He's just the player we need. Let the midfielders do the fancy work and he's there to finish them off."
E15 Gooner on 606

2135: Just Arsenal still playing and they will make it a fine night for British clubs. Three games and three wins.

2134: FULL-TIME Rangers 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
Great from Gers. They looked dead and buried but Alan Hutton inspired a vital comeback. Home points will be crucial for Walter Smith's men.

2133: FULL-TIME Sporting 0-1 Manchester United
Just the one goal for United again, but it's enough and that is a fantastic start to their campaign. On the road as well.

2132: GOAL Barcelona 3-0 Lyon
A certain Theirry Henry scores with a simple tap-in after an initial shot from Giovani Dos Santos is only half saved.

2131: Two more minutes for the United defence to hold firm. Three minutes of added time at Ibrox which is building up for a big party atmosphere.

2130: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 2-1 CSKA Moscow
A late consolation for the visitors as Brazilian Vagner Love bags a goal.

2129: The yellow-booted Sporting substitute Simon Vukcevic fires a low effort just wide of Edwin van der Sar's left post.

2128: Stuttgart stopper Raphael Schafer tips over a rising shot from Barry Ferguson.

"Are any of tonight's stadiums any like as empty as the Bridge last night?"
James, in Tonbridge, via text on 81111
No chance. More than double that 24-thousand-and-something at Arsenal.

2127: Rangers are suddenly looking so comfortable and Cristiano Ronaldo is granted a fine ovation as he goes off to be replaced by Carlos Tevez at former club Sporting.

2126: Sir Alex Ferguson is prowling the touchline. United are not home and hosed yet as they go into the final five minutes.

2125: GOAL Barcelona 2-0 Lyon
And Barca double their advantage with Lionel Messi getting his name on the scoresheet.

2124: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 2-0 CSKA Moscow
Kenneth Perez makes it safe for PSV.

2123: Stuttgart's Ricardo Osorio goes looking for a penalty but he will have to be more snide than that to get anything from referee Stefano Farina.

"Why is no one sending any texts or can you just not be bothered typing them?"
Mike, from Carrick, via text on 81111
It's the former.

2120: An excellent save from Edwin van der Sar who claws away a header from Sporting's Tonel. Yannick Djalo hammers the rebound well over. United have yet to score two in a game this season so Sporting's second wind has come not a moment too soon from their perspective.

2118: We should see more of that. Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt gives Daniel Alves a booking after the Brazilian full-back gives the international sign for the referee to book an opponent.

2117: Another change for Manchester United. Anderson replaces Ryan Giggs.

2115: GOAL Rangers 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
Ibrox goes berserk as Jean Claude Darcheville scores from the spot after Fernando Meira up-ended the raiding Alan Hutton in the box.

2114: Emmanuel Adebayor heads a Bakary Sagna cross just wide.

2113: Wayne Rooney has lasted 71 minutes of his comeback. Louis Saha comes on.

2112: Oh no. Neat football from Rangers as Barry Ferguson drills a pass forward to Jean-Claude Darcheville who flicks it round the corner to Steven Whittaker, but his connection with the shot is terrible and the effort bobbles wide.

2110: GOAL Roma 2-0 Dynamo Kiev
Francesco Totti looks certain to have given Roma a winning start.

2108: That United goal could be enough as the wind seems to have gone from Sporting's sails.

2106: An important save from Allan McGregor. The Rangers keeper sticks out a left leg and gets a vital touch to Cacau's shot, deflecting it wide.

2105 GOAL Slavia Prague 2-1 Steaua Bucharest
Blimey, you wait all night and then all hell breaks loose at the same time. Tjani Belaid restores Slavia's advantage.

2104: GOAL Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla
A Cesc Fabregas free-kick from the left is flicked on by Bakary Sagna and Robin van Persie volleys in from three yards high into roof of the net.

2104: GOAL Sporting 0-1 Manchester United
A much better cross from Wes Brown that time and Cristiano Ronaldo meets it with a low diving header from six yards out.

2103: GOAL Rangers 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
Alan Hutton cuts infield and across the edge of the box before releasing Charlie Adam on the left. He steps inside and unleashes a delightful shot past Raphael Schafer.

2103: GOAL PSV Eindhoven 1-0 CSKA Moscow
It's that man Danko Lazovic. One down and one to go for him and 606er Aarfy_Aardvark who tipped the striker for success earlier.

2102: Barry Ferguson is back on for Rangers with three-and-a-half tubs of Vaseline covering up the cut on his crown and is straight into defensive mode. Rangers just about hold firm.

2100: Wes Brown is on the charge down United's right flank. A quick one-two with Paul Scholes and then the most hopeless cross. It's the sort of thing you see on a Sunday morning when someone has run out of puff and hammers it hopefully in the general direction of someone else.

2059: Rangers look for the quick reply, but Alan Hutton's effort from distance is always arcing wide.

2056: GOAL Rangers 0-1 VfB Stuttgart
Temporarily down to 10 men and Rangers go behind. Sami Khedira's low pass forward into the box from the left flank causes the home defence problems, Mario Gomez sticks out a leg and that's the deadlock broken. He diverts the ball in at the near post.

2054: Barry Ferguson clashes heads under a high ball in the box with Arthur Boka - AKA The African Roberto Carlos - and comes off second best and some. There's blood gushing out of a wound on his bonce.

2053: A change for Arsenal as Tomas Rosicky picks up a knock. Abou Diaby comes on for Arsenal.

2051: United have come out with a touch more intent. Just a touch. And a small touch at that.

2049: The players emerge at the Emirates to the most subdued of the three welcomes, by a long way. The middle tier of high rollers are still sipping complimentary drinks. Always first to go into the break and always the last to come back.

2046: Action resumes in both those games, but Arsenal and Sevilla stay in a different time zone and no sign of them yet.

2045: Players back out at Ibrox to a rousing welcome and there's a colourful one at Sporting where the fans are holding up squares of tinfoil which reflect the floodlights. Very pretty.

"Ferguson has always been clueless in Europe. One European Cup in 15 or so consecutive CL appearances aint good enough for a club with Utd's resources. Time for a new boss."
sandcastlejim on 606

Always like someone who goes with a flyer.

Player rater: Cesc Fabregas is leading the way at the Emirates and Cristiano Ronaldo has the edge on Portugal, ahead of Wayne Rooney and Sporting's Ronny. But Stuttgart duo Roberto Hilbert and Mario Gomez are top dogs at half time with a mark of nine.

"So far only six goals scored in 360 minutes of CL action. Boring."
legendaryhotdogman on 606

"Dreadful. An own goal is the thing that puts a British team up in a game for the first time this week. Abysmal."
dirk-kuyt18 on 606

2032: Out of nothing a chance for Sevilla in the last breath of the half. Christian Poulsen picks a delightful pass which curls into the box, but Freddie Kanoute can't quite get his head to the ball.

"I'd be happy if I was Arsene Wenger."
Graham Taylor, BBC Radio 5live pundit

"The whole of England would have been happy if Graham Taylor had been Arsene Wenger between 1990 and 1993. We might have got to USA '94!"
Jon via text on 81111
Yeah, but the FA would never have employed a foreign coach back then.

Time for a tea break for Rangers and Manchester United. A mite more action for Arsenal after that slightly delayed start.

2030: GOAL Fenerbahce 1-0 Inter Milan
The Italian champions go behind just before the break as De Souza Deivid finds the back of the net with an outstanding hooked volley from a pull back into the box from the right.

2029: The Arsenal-Sevilla game is the best of the trio involving British teams. Manuel Almunia parries a rasping Freddie Kanoute shot.

2028: Ivica Dragutinovic holds off Robin van Persie as the Dutchman breaks from halfway sniffing out a Cesc Fabregas through ball.

2025: All a bit scrappy at the Emirates. Diego Capel, who was linked with a move to Arsenal in the papers this morning, takes a tumble, Alexander Hleb is hobbling and Jesus Navas shoots wildly wide.

2022: Nani slides in and catches the ponytailed Miguel Veloso. That's a booking.

2021: Arsenal skipper Kolo Toure climbs well to meet a corner but his glancing header is wide. Too much glance and not enough power.

2020: Overhead kick from Stuttgart's Cacau straight at Allan McGregor inbetween the Rangers sticks.

2019: GOAL Slavia Prague 1-1 Steaua Bucharest
Group H is the place for goals. Dorin Goian squares things in the Czech capital.

2018: Edwin van der Sar saves well from Liedson. The pitch in Lisbon really is a shocker. It looks like there has been an outbreak of moles.

2017: A barrelling run from halfway by Jean-Claude Darcheville and when the Stuttgart defender slips in the box he has a sight of goal, but his flicked effort off the outside of the right boot is well smothered by Raphael Schafer.

2014: GOAL Arsenal 1-0 Sevilla
Cesc Fabregas is the new Thierry Henry, kind of. The Spaniard lets fly from distance and his shot takes a deflection off Julien Escude which leaves Andres Palop stranded in a different postcode. The PA gives it the big "Cesc Fabreeegaaaas", but that has to go down as an own goal.

"Cesc Fabreeegaaaas? Granted, I wasn't there, but shouldn't it be something like Ceeeeesc Fabregas!"
Phil, in Winchester, via text on 81111
They do things differently at the Emirates.

2012: Robin van Persie's dipping free-kick into the Sevilla box is hooked clear.

2010: Stuttgart are playing like the home team at Ibrox, carefully keeping possession and waiting for their moment. Rangers will want to step up the pace if they can and get in amongst their visitors.

2008: Cristiano Ronaldo's skimming shot zips off the turf and is parried round the post by Sporting's Vladimir Stojkovic. The keeper flaps at the corner but Sporting clear. United should test him a bit more.

2005: GOAL Barcelona 1-0 Lyon
Goals in each of the groups involving British clubs. Lyon's Francois Clerc puts the ball in the wrong net and it is an own goal at the Nou Camp.

2003: Nice from United and Wayne Rooney wins a corner. This is the city where the striker suffered his first metatarsal madness. Sporting clear the corner.

2001: Sevilla stopper Andres Palop is called into action again but is far from convincing as he fails to hold Mathieu Flamini's ripping, low shot. Emmanuel Adebayor follows up and catches the keeper... but not the ball.

2000: Robin van Persie is going left in the middle of the park and then right before unleashing a shot that is too close to Andres Palop.

1959: GOAL Slavia Prague 1-0 Steaua Bucharest
New boys Slavia have taken to this Champions League lark like ducks to water. Zdenek Senkerik gives them an early edge in the other game in Arsenal's group.

1957: Arsenal defender Phillippe Senderos is in a little bit of bother. No he's not. Why oh why does a big lump like him roll around like that as if he's got appendicitis?

"By the way, people with appendicitis don't roll about, it hurts too much." Dr Grayson, currently working in a very quiet children's hospital in Manchester, via text on 81111Can't argue with a quack. Are you allowed to use your mobile on the ward?

1956: Walter Smith, smart jacket and tie combo and all, didn't last long in the Ibrox stands. He had cut a concerned figure up in the Gods and scoots down to the touchline to get his point across.

1955: GOAL Roma 1-0 Dynamo Kiev
A first goal and it goes to Simone Perrotta, Roma's English-born international midfielder. That's the other game in Manchester United's group.

1954: Mario Gomez is in behind the Rangers rearguard but drags a left-footed effort wide under pressure from a blue-shirted defender.

1953: Sevilla have settled well. After an early corner impressive little winger Jesus Navas shoots just over.

1951: Cristiano Ronaldo fires a free-kick well over. He has had a decent response from the home fans on his return to Sporting.

1950: Joao Moutinho drives a shot in from distance which is easy for United keeper Edwin van der Sar. Of more concern for the visitors is the state of the pitch which is cutting up alarmingly early. There are great divots the size of plates out there.

1948: Arsenal and Sevilla start.

1947: Rangers are on the back foot early and Carlos Cuellar clears a cross with a sliding effort that clips the Rangers woodwork.

1946: Nemanja Vidic follows through from a thumping header and clobbers Sporting's Liedson. He's seeing stars.

1945: Rangers and Manchester United are up and running. Sevilla, new boys to all of this, don't know the script and look to shake hands with their opponents before the anthem.

1944: Here they come in north London. Some empty seats, but not as many as in west London 24 hours ago.

1943: Coin toss at Ibrox, the preliminaries at Sporting but the players are still yet to emerge at the Emirates. What in the blazes can be keeping them?

1942: Already a mighty delay at Arsenal. No sign of either team.

1940: Teams in the tunnel, which in Lisbon includes some sort of marble statue of a lion. There should be more of that stuff rather than dreary slabs of concrete as at Ibrox.

1939: General theme from your messages seems to be an Arsenal win, a United win and a Rangers defeat. Plus a random tit-bit from Aarfy_Aardvark who suggests putting a bet on PSV Eindhoven's Danko Lazovic to score two tonight. What were the odds? One to keep an eye on.

1937: The managers have had a good old love-in before this match. Arsene Wenger reckons Sevilla are one of the top five teams in Europe. All in all, two teams in form who relish open, attacking football. Should be a cracker so let's get on with it. Where are those players?

1935: Juande Ramos has spent much of the build up fending off questions about taking over the top job at Tottenham. Bad news for Spurs fans is that he has no intention of doing so just yet, and equally bad for the white half of north London is that he's a big admirer of the red half and the way they play.

1933: "We'll work hard to get as many victories as possible in the Champions League as Puerta would dearly have loved to play in it," said coach Juande Ramos of the 22-year-old Spanish international who was a Sevilla man through and through. His grandfather founded a supporters' bar within spitting distance of their Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

1930: On the face of it that suggests that not only are the Spaniards bang in form but that they have had a stupendously serene start to the season. Nothing could be further from the truth. Antonio Puerta's death, after collapsing in their opening match of the domestic campaign, has cast a pall over the club and the city.

1927: Arsenal's opponents Sevilla are also 100% in their La Liga campaign, have won their last two games 4-1 and have scored 18 goals in their previous five matches. Ominous indeed.

"Wow! Suddenly Arsenal are first in the league and now they suddenly have soooo many supporters..."
Kzrcfc26 on 606
"Wow! What a stupid comment..."
Body-Parts on 606

1923: Sporting coach Paulo Bento has given his side one last pep-talk and reminded them not to be "bystanders". Handy tip that. "We respect them but we don't fear them," said Bento. "We have to be good collectively because they're strong one-on-one, but United have their flaws and we must take advantage."

"Man U fans a bit confident seeming their strikers are not scoring goals. Tevez and Rooney are both support strikers not out and out strikers like Thierry Henry and Hernan Crespo etc"
ollyole on 606

Much the same debate has just been rumbling over the airwaves on 5live. You're in good company.

1919: Maybe not. Sir Alex Ferguson's men have a shocking record in Europe with just two wins in their last 14 trips away from Old Trafford.

1918: Sporting have a 100% record in their two home Superliga matches, but Manchester United are a bit of a step up in class compared to Academica and Belenenses... aren't they?

1916: Manchester United are also in action with a trip to Portugal and Sporting Lisbon at the frightfully colourful Jose Alvalade Stadium.

1913: There was a comprehensive weekend win over Energie Cottbus though for VfB with three second-half goals and coach Armin Veh has said: "We're not 100% yet, but we're getting there." Ominous or is he covering his bases?

1911: On top of which, German champions Stuttgart haven't exactly burst out of the blocks this season. They have won just three of their seven matches in all competitions and lost their last two on the road.

1909: Rangers head honcho Walter Smith can afford to be in a buoyant mood - even if Glaswegian Jamie isn't - as his side have not lost in their last dozen European home matches and kept a watertight defence throughout their four qualifying matches to reach this stage.

1908: There's a bit of tip-and-run going on somewhere in South Africa and judging by the texts - or absolute blinding lack of them but for Jamie - you'd think nobody cared about football. Do you?

1905: TEAM NEWS Rangers v VfB Stuttgart
Gers skipper Barry Ferguson has passed a fitness test on his knee to take his place in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Jean Claude Darcheville will lead the line.

"Now call me a pessimist, but Rangers are likely to finish bottom of their group anyway, so why only play one up top at home against the next best team in the group. Where is the ambition? Where?"
Jamie Lafferty, in Glasgow, via text

1903: TEAM NEWS Arsenal v Sevilla
Two changes for the Gunners as well. Phillippe Senderos returns to the heart of defence in place of Gilberto Silva, and Tomas Rosicky is also recalled with Abou Diaby dropping out.

1901: Sport on Five is up and running on BBC Radio 5live. Mark Saggers is your MC on 693 & 909 MW as well as digital radio and the BBC Sport website. They will have commentary from the Emirates with Alan Green and Mike Ingham sharing the commentary duties.

1858: TEAM NEWS Sporting v Manchester United
The big man's back in town. Wayne Rooney starts after his third metatarsal injury. Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo also start against their former club. Rooney and Nani are in for Mikael Silvestre and Carlos Tevez.

"United to destroy Sporting tonight. Near full squad - Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Saha, Scholes, Giggs... Carrick, Vidic and Rio can all score and threat as well. Is it finally time for Utd to come of age?"
whitworthsam on 606

1856: What is a touch disappointing is the lack of team news so far - not from you but some of Britain's premier clubs. All quiet on the continental front from them - although elsewhere news comes through that Thierry Henry is set for his Barcelona Champions League debut.

1855: Are you worth your salt? If so, as the big man says get involved in the banter action. 606 is up and running and the text inbox has braced itself for a flood of funny asides on 81111. Don't disappoint.

1853: Walter Smith's enthusiasm for the competition certainly hasn't been dampened by Tuesday's feeble fare. The Rangers boss said: "It's the best club tournament in the world and we're delighted to be involved - anyone worth his salt would want to be involved."

1850: Arsenal and Manchester United are pulling up their chairs to the Champions League table for another feast of football, but it is a welcome back to Rangers and a welcome to Sevilla and Slavia Prague, who have never competed at this stage before.

1847: Someone on 606 yesterday described Wednesday as "da real deal". One presumes they were a yoof. Well it better be - the real deal that is

1845: You give something the big build up and what do you know? Instead of a mega-magic night of matches you get a load of old dross. Tuesday's Champions League action was a major let down, like a souffle gone wrong if you will. No British winners and just 17 goals. Tonight must be better, mustn't it?

Arsenal 3-0 Sevilla
19 Sep 07 |  Europe
Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Man Utd
19 Sep 07 |  Europe
Rangers 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
19 Sep 07 |  Europe
Champions League photos
19 Sep 07 |  Europe


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