10/23/2014

Champions League: Real Madrid overwhelms; Arsenal claws back


After 40 goals in eight group games on Tuesday, Wednesday's Champions League action brought a relative drought: 19 goals. But there were some beauties among them, and the day saw comfortable wins for Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, late twists at Arsenal and Ludogorets and a surprise defeat for Juventus.

Here is what caught our eye:

Player of the Day: Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund

How much more prolific might champion Germany have been at the World Cup had Reus been fit? The Dortmund forward, still the subject of back-and-forth interest from Bayern Munich – club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was asked about it earlier this week while Maro Goetze said "it would be nice" to have his friend with him at Bayern – had made his first start since suffering an ankle injury in June last weekend in Dortmund's 2-1 loss at FC Cologne, its fifth loss in eight games. The club's form is totally different in Europe, as Dortmund racked up a third straight win with an impressive 4-0 win at Galatasaray, and Reus was the architect.

He set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first goal with a smart burst down the left flank and a pinpoint cross that needed just a tap-in. He then scored Dortmund's third, a nonchalant 25-yard strike that arrowed into the far corner. Dortmund director of sport called BVB's recent run of form "a crisis" but with Reus in full flow, it could be over soon. The fixture against Bayern in 10 days, at least, could be interesting.

Goal of the Day: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

You could say Real Madrid's game turned on an early injury to James Rodriguez at Anfield. The game was stopped while the Colombian received treatment on a cut above his eye and it suited the visiting side quite well. Before then, Liverpool had been tigerish in the tackle and sharp in its movement; but minutes after James returned with a bandage over his eye, Real Madrid woke up. James scooped a pass over Dejan Lovren and Ronaldo, running past Martin Skrtel, swept the ball first-time past Simon Mignolet with the flick of his right foot.

- Read More: si.com

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