Barcelona 2-0 Rangers
FC Barcelona established themselves as favourites to win UEFA Champions League Group E with a 2-0 victory against Rangers FC which was sealed by a five-star performance from Ronaldinho.
Creator-in-chief
The No10 had a creative hand in the Blaugrana's two first-half goals, scored by Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, and supplied immense creativity throughout. Only a night to remember from Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor kept the scoreline to a minimum in this top-of-the-table encounter.
Early goal
Frank Rijkaard had asked his players to impose themselves with crisp play and, ideally, to score early. His esteem for Scottish club football, as well as the teams' goalless draw in Glasgow on Matchday 3, meant the Dutchman wanted Barcelona to prevent the opposition from breaking up their rhythm. His wish was granted when Henry struck his 44th UEFA Champions League goal after only six minutes.
Rare header
Ronaldinho caused the initial danger by wriggling free on the left wing. His cross was met by the diminutive Messi whose header back across goal beat goalkeeper McGregor, rebounded back off the far post, and was touched in by Henry – for his second goal in as many games – as the Frenchman slid in with defender Carlos Cuéllar. From that moment Barcelona's play became as incisive and high-tempo as at any time this season, though the visitors refused to wither.
Passing game
In Spain, Scottish sides have a reputation for resorting to direct football but Rangers' response to going one down flew in the face of such stereotyping. Barry Ferguson, Alan Hutton and Lee McCulloch all managed possession of the ball with economy and Rangers weathered the storm. Nonetheless, there were moments of menace. An electrifying and mazy run from Messi was thwarted by David Weir, only for Andrés Iniesta to take the loose ball in his stride and shave Rangers' left-hand post with a curling shot.
Tactical decisions
Rangers' 4-1-4-1 formation, built to withstand attrition but maintain parity, made it difficult to seek the equaliser. DaMarcus Beasley increasingly pushed forward to accompany Daniel Cousin up front, yet the next score always seemed likely to come from the irresistible hosts. Ronaldinho took charge, first drawing a top-class save from McGregor just before the half-hour, then helping his team to double their lead. Half-time loomed when the Brazilian jinked from left to right, played a wall-pass with Messi and shot hard at goal. McGregor saved again but the Argentinian gobbled up the rebound and made it 2-0.
Increased pressure
Barça offered no respite in the second half and peppered McGregor's goal. The overlapping Carles Puyol's right-wing cut-back found Xavi Hernández on the edge of the area yet his strike flew wide. Then the same midfielder threaded a pass through a wall of defenders for Messi to slip the ball between Weir's feet and shoot against the excellent McGregor's outstretched legs.
Ecstatic applause
Ronaldinho's man-of-the-match display would end without the goal it merited, but when he was withdrawn to give 17-year-old Bojan Krkić more UEFA Champions League experience, it was to a standing ovation. Rangers substitute Jean-Claude Darcheville registered their only meaningful shot on target just before full time, as Walter Smith's men departed to warm applause from their fans yet with no points to show for their efforts.
Lyon 4-2 Stuttgart
Olympique Lyonnais kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for a fifth consecutive year by defeating VfB Stuttgart 4-2 in a pulsating match at the Stade de Gerland.
Ben Arfa double
Early goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Kim Källström suggested a comfortable evening for Alain Perrin's men but that was far from the case as Group E's bottom club showed admirable spirit. Mario Gómez pulled one back and, though the hosts led 3-1 at the break courtesy of another strike from the excellent Ben Arfa, Gómez again halved the deficit before earning a penalty that was squandered by Thomas Hitzlsperger. Juninho Pernambucano rounded off the win with a simple late tap-in as Lyon moved a point behind second-placed Rangers FC – assuring themselves of UEFA Cup qualification at least – while Stuttgart, still point-less, dropped out of contention entirely.
Delightful flick
The Bundesliga title-holders were strengthened by the return of several key figures, including captain Fernando Meira, but soon found themselves in difficulty as Lyon, unchanged from their 2-0 victory in Germany a fortnight ago, scored from their first meaningful attack. Karim Benzema's deft flick started a delightful move that saw the ball switched swiftly from right to left by Sidney Govou and Källström before Ben Arfa struck a left-footed shot inside the far post via a deflection off Andreas Beck.
Källström volley
Benzema then screwed an effort wide after latching on to Juninho's delicate pass but the second goal was not long in coming. Govou skilfully found space before lobbing a cross to Källström on the edge of the penalty area and the Swedish international, after turning past Sami Khedira, volleyed home emphatically on 15 minutes.
Vercoutre saves
Stuttgart might have been forgiven for fearing the worst, yet to their credit they bounced back instantly, Hitzlsperger seeing his long-range drive spilled by Rémy Vercoutre, allowing Gómez to turn in the rebound. The goal sparked the visitors into life and they were soon peppering shots in on Vercoutre's goal. The Lyon custodian atoned for his earlier mistake, however, saving low to deny Cacau as the Brazilian raced clear on 21 minutes, then parrying ferocious strikes from Meira and Khedira.
Sublime strike
If Lyon looked vulnerable at the back, they remained dangerous on the counterattack. Stuttgart keeper Raphael Schäfer produced a fine stop to deflect Benzema's shot over, only to be beaten again eight minutes before half-time. There was little Schäfer could do about Ben Arfa's sublime strike, the 20-year-old bamboozling Ludovic Magnin on the right and unleashing a right-footed attempt high into the top corner.
Penalty save
Stuttgart came out fighting after the interval and were rewarded with a second goal on 56 minutes, Meira threading the ball through to a marauding Beck whose low cross was turned in by Gómez. Suddenly the French champions appeared edgy and Gómez broke clear again moments later, only to be clipped by Fábio Santos as he shaped to shoot. The referee pointed to the penalty spot but Hitzlsperger's powerful shot was brilliantly kept out by Vercoutre. The keeper frustrated Hitzlsperger again as Stuttgart pressed forward, but Lyon finished the stronger and after substitute Kader Keita had been denied, Juninho sealed the victory.
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