Champions League: Holders Barcelona disappointed after draw
The 22-year-old Brazil striker left the home defence for dead and stunned a packed Nou Camp to score the fifth-fastest goal in the Champions League since Europe’s elite club competition was created in 1992.
“Not even Usain Bolt would have been able to stop him,” Guardiola told a news conference. “I’d like my team to have legs with so much running in them.”
Holders Barca fought back through strikes from Pedro and David Villa in the Group H opener before Thiago Silva snatched a stoppage-time equaliser for a final score-line of 2-2.
“Certain things were against us, but all we can do is congratulate Milan and Pato,” added Guardiola.
Ballack enjoys bittersweet return
Bayer Leverkusen’s Michael Ballack cheered when his team were drawn with his former club Chelsea in Group E of the Champions League this season. His return to Stamford Bridge, however, left the former Germany captain with a bittersweet aftertaste as he took on his former club.
Ballack missed a huge chance for the lead in the 57th minute and was taken off a little later, 37 seconds before his team conceded the first goal. They went on to lose 2-0.
“I keep thinking about that missed chance because had I scored it could have been completely different for us,” said the midfielder. “Unfortunately it did not go in and nothing can change that.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas was pleased to see Fernando Torres involved in both of his team’s goals. Torres had been recalled to the side after being left out of Chelsea’s Premier League victory at the weekend because of poor form.
“He took the right decision,” Villas-Boas told the club’s website when describing Torres’s unselfish decision to pass to Mata rather than score himself. “He took a wise decision so we’re very happy for that.”
Arsenal concede late equaliser
Arsenal looked to be cruising to an unexpected victory after taking a first-half lead against the run of play through captain Robin van Persie despite being far from their best following considerable changes to their squad during the transfer window, following a disappointing start to their season.
Ivan Perisic, last season’s top-scorer in Belgium, had other ideas, however, snatching a point with a spectacular volley for the 1997 Champions League winners eight years after their last appearance in the competition.
“I think it was a good point because it is not easy to take some points in Dortmund,” said Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna. “They are a very good team. We were expecting this kind of a game, and we had it, and I think we can be happy with the point we gained from the match.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2011.
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