2007-08 UEFA Champions League: Matchday #1, Part 1

Tuesday marked the opening day of group stage play in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League:

GROUP A:

At Marseille, France:

Goals from Julien Rodriguez (76') and Djbril Cisse (90+1') propelled Marseille to a 2-0 home win over Besiktas. Here is the visiting Istanbul club's Edouard Cisse trying to stay in front of Marseille's Mamdou Niang. Photo © Getty Images



At Porto, Portugal:

Dirk Kuyt's equalizer at 17 minutes enabled Liverpool to gain a 1-1 road draw with FC Porto. Lucho Gonzalez had given the Dragons the early lead on his successful 8th-minute penalty kick. That's Lucho, pictured here, battling with the Reds' Ryan Babel (right). Photo © Getty Images


STANDINGS:

1. Marseille: 3 points (GD+2); 2 (tie). Liverpool and FC Porto, both 1 point (GD:0); 4. Besiktas, 0 points (GD-2)



GROUP B:

At London:

Andriy Shevchenko's goal at 53 minutes enabled Chelsea to salvage a 1-1 home deadlock with Rosenborg. Miika Koppinen put the visiting Norwegian club ahead 1-0 with his 24th-minute tally. Pictured here are some words exchanged between The Troll Children's Vidar Riseth and the Blues' Michael Essien. Photo © Getty Images


At Gelsenkirchen, Germany:

David Villa (pictured here) scored the lone goal (63') in Valencia's 1-0 road win over FC Schalke 04. Photo © Getty Images



STANDINGS:

1, Valencia, 3 points (GD+1); 2 (tie) Chelsea and Rosenborg, 1 point each (GD+0); 4. FC Schalke 04, 0 points (GD-1)



GROUP C:

At Madrid:

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his 50th career UEFA Champions League goal (pictured), which turned out to be the game winner at 74 minutes, as Real Madrid defeated visiting Werder Bremen 2-1. Photo © AFP











At Athens:

Thanks to Luciano Zauri's equalizer at 77 minutes, Lazio gained a 1-1 road stalemate with Olympiacos. Luciano Galletti put the homestanding Legend in front with his goal at 55 minutes. The Young Eagles' Gaby Mudingayi is pictured here surrounded by a pair of Olympiacos players. Photo © Getty Images





STANDINGS:

1. Real Madrid, 3 points (GD+1); 2 (tie) Lazio and Olympiacos, 1 point each (GD+0); 4. Werder Bremen, 0 points (GD-1)



GROUP D:

At Milan:

Defending European champion AC Milan began their title defense in winning fashion as they doubled up visiting SL Benfica 2-1. Andrea Pirlo (9') and Filippo Inzaghi (24', seen here celebrating) provided the scoring for the Rossoneri. Photo © Getty Images












At Donetsk, Ukraine:

Brandao (5', seen here celebrating) and Cristiano Lucarelli (8') provided early scores that held up as Shakhtar Donetsk blanked visiting Celtic 2-0. Photo © AFP

STANDINGS:

1. Shakhtar Donetsk, 3 points (GD+2); 2. AC Milan, 3 points (GD+1); 3. SL Benfica, 0 points (GD-1); Celtic, 0 points (GD-2)