Lazio 2-1 Bremen
S.S. Lazio leapfrogged Werder Bremen in Group C and gave themselves a fighting chance of making the knockout stages after two second-half Tommaso Rocchi goals proved good enough for three points in Rome.
Cool finish
The Italian slid in to score after his own penalty had been saved three minutes before the hour before applying a cool finish after 68 minutes for what proved to be the decisive goal. Emílson Sánchez Cribari was sent off for Lazio in the 86th minute, and Diego converted a penalty for the visitors two minutes later before seeing red himself as Bremen dropped to the bottom of the section. Lazio, meanwhile, join Olympiacos CFP on five points following the Greek club's goalless draw with leaders Real Madrid CF.
Static defenders
With both sides knowing a defeat would seriously complicate progression from the group stage, the match began in attacking fashion. Lazio, who had lost their previous four matches at the Stadio Olimpico, immediately found Bremen's high back line to their liking. On six minutes, Mourad Meghni sent Tommaso Rocchi running past static defenders but the Lazio forward shot wildly wide instead of squaring to the unmarked Stephen Makinwa.
Frantic
Two minutes later the in-form German side signalled their own threat as Clemens Fritz hared down the wing. The returning right-back's deep cross was just too high though and Hugo Almeida headed over. It was a frantic opening and back at the other end, centre-back Guglielmo Stendardo, up for a corner, met a swirling Cristián Ledesma centre but his close-range header landed at goalkeeper Tim Wiese's feet.
High and wide
The home side poured forward and the Bremen defence was again stretched on 13 minutes. Rocchi fed the overlapping Luciano Zauri but the left-back's right-foot shot from the edge of the box was brilliantly turned around the post by Wiese. Makinwa, in for the injured Goran Pandev, should have given the home side the lead midway through the first half. Superbly found by Ledesma, the Nigerian expertly broke the offside trap but after delaying his first shooting opportunity rushed his effort and Wiese was able to stand big and parry.
Sweetly struck
Skippers Zauri and Frank Baumann were both casualties of the early first half pace but it was Bremen who almost broke the deadlock on 50 minutes when Diego flashed a shot wide after a flowing move. A minute after almost winning a penalty themselves, Bremen conceded one when Meghni was bundled over by Naldo. Rocchi's first effort was saved but he bravely followed up and managed to score with the ball trickling in off the post and ending up behind the sliding Italian and goalkeeper Wiese.
Flying veteran
Naldo, rapidly becoming a pivotal figure in the match, almost made amends on 66 minutes but the Brazilian's venomous 20-metre free-kick was brilliantly turned aside by the flying 43-year-old Marco Ballotta. Two minutes later and the centre-back was caught napping by Meghni's speculative pass. Rocchi latched on to the ball and expertly clipped it over the advancing Wiese for his and Lazio's second. There was late drama as Cribari and Diego were sent off either side of the Bremen spot-kick, although Lazio's work was done.
Olympiacos 0-0 Real Madrid
Olympiacos CFP produced a determined display to earn a point against Real Madrid CF as their Group C contest at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium ended in a goalless draw.
Lazio win
Madrid were twice denied by the woodwork and created a string of chances but the group leaders failed to break the resistance of their resolute Greek hosts. Madrid remain unbeaten and on top of a competitive pool with eight points, while Olympiacos stay firmly in contention despite being joined on five points by their next opponents, S.S. Lazio, who won 2-0 home at home to Werder Bremen.
Character
Despite being deprived of four first-team regulars Olympiacos made a confident start, Lomana LuaLua registering the first effort on goal with an audacious overhead kick in the second minute. Sergio Ramos then launched an early raid down the right for Madrid but his shot from distance was well wide. The Olympiacos coach Panagiotis Lemonis had urged his players to show character and his goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis did just that on 13 minutes when diving low to deny Robinho after the Brazilian was sent clear by a typically crisp Wesley Sneijder pass.
Absorbing contest
Next it was Michał Żewłakow who saved the home team with a brilliant last-ditch tackle on Ruud van Nistelrooy six minutes later as Madrid began to dominate. As vulnerable as Olympiacos looked, Darko Kovačević might have given them the lead had he connected with Predrag Djordjević's cross after 21 minutes. The match was by now end to end, and an absorbing contest. Seven minutes later Ieroklis Stoltidis deflected Sneijder's corner on to the post and Madrid came close again on 35 minutes when Sniejder dissected the Greek side's defence to free Van Nistelrooy who cleared Nikopolidis with a deft chip but not the bar and the ball was headed to safety.
Bravo injury
In between those opportunities, LuaLua incurred the wrath of Djordjević when he fired wide when a simple pass to his on-rushing captain was a better option. No one in red and white was keener to impress than Raúl Bravo, and the former Madrid defender signalled his intent with a rasping long-range drive late in the half which fizzed narrowly wide of Iker Casillas's goal. That proved to be the Spaniard's last noteworthy contribution, as he hobbled off in the 53rd minute to make way for debutant Rodrigo Javier Archubi.
Impressive Nikopolidis
The change did not initially affect Olympiacos as LuaLua had a shot blocked and Luciano Galletti miskicked the rebound with Casillas exposed, although Madrid were on top from the hour mark when Van Nistelrooy narrowly failed to connect with a Sneijder free-kick. Still, the home team were not without chances and LuaLua volleyed over on 67 minutes when well placed. Robinho was also guilty of profligacy, although Nikopolidis was the busiest man on the pitch as he repelled Madrid on a number of occasions to keep the scores level.
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