Arsenal, Schalke, Barcelona, Atlético prevail
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
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Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Schalke 04 moved on to six points while AFC Ajax and AC Milan played out a dramatic draw as Groups E to H continued.
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Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona, Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Schalke 04 moved on to six points while AFC Ajax and AC Milan played out a dramatic draw as the second set of matches took place in UEFA Champions League Groups E–H.
Schalke returned to the competition a fortnight ago with victory at FC Steaua Bucureşti and Julian Draxler was their inspiration again as his free-kick earned a 1-0 Group E win at FC Basel 1893. Chelsea lost their opener at home to Basel but tonight Ramires struck twice as they triumped 4-0 at Steaua.
Arsenal are in early control of the tough Group F after they followed up their success at Olympique de Marseille by beating SSC Napoli 2-0, Mesut Özil making the first and setting up Olivier Giroud for the second, both in the opening 15 minutes. Borussia Dortmund bounced back from defeat at Napoli by seeing off Marseille 3-0, Robert Lewandowski scoring twice either side of a Marco Reus free-kick.
Barcelona were beaten at Celtic FC last year and it looked like another frustrating night in Glasgow even after Scott Brown was sent off until Cesc Fàbregas struck for a 1-0 victory with 14 minutes left. Milan, who had overcome Celtic 1-0 on matchday one, drew 1-1 at Ajax, who went ahead with a last-minute Stefano Denswil goal only for Mario Balotelli to convert an added-time penalty.
Also leaving it late were Club Atlético de Madrid, Arda Turan netting in the 86th minute as they came from behind to win 2-1 at FC Porto in the meeting of the matchday one victors. It was goalless in the night's early game as FC Zenit, who had Axel Witsel sent off before half-time, welcomed FK Austria Wien, gaining the first point of their debut campaign
The next fixtures in these sections are on Wednesday 22 October while Groups A–D continue tomorrow.
Group E
FC Basel 1893 0-1 FC Schalke 04
FC Steaua Bucureşti 0-4 Chelsea FC
Group F
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Olympique de Marseille
Arsenal FC 2-0 SSC Napoli
Group G
FC Zenit 0-0 FK Austria Wien
FC Porto 1-2 Club Atlético de Madrid
