Steaua 0-2 Sevilla
A goal in each half from Brazilian midfielder Renato moved Sevilla FC to the brink of qualification for the knockout stage and left FC Steaua Bucureşti still searching for their first point in Group H.
Renato double
Steaua had already withstood some early pressure before Sevilla deservedly took the lead after 25 minutes when Renato tapped in after Robinson Zapata had kept out Christian Poulsen's header. The 28-year-old added his and Sevilla's second on 65 minutes, charging into the penalty area to meet Jesús Navas' cross with a flying header to move Manolo Jiménez's side to nine points, five clear of third-place SK Slavia Praha who drew 0-0 with Arsenal FC.
Early pressure
Marius Lăcătuş attempted to create a solid defence with both Ovidiu Petre and Florin Lovin acting as sweepers, while the creative influence was entrusted to wingers Bănel Nicoliţă and Marius Croitoru. Sevilla, though, looked more likely to score from the start. Tom De Mul had the first sight of goal but dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area on his UEFA Champions League debut. Renato then curled a shot just wide of the far post after a clever lay-off from Frédéric Kanouté.
Opening goal
The Malian striker should have given his side the lead shortly after when Daniel Alves found him in space in the box, but Kanouté lost his footing and was penalised for handball. The visitors did not have long to wait to break the deadlock. Poulsen was allowed a free header on goal from Navas' corner and, although Zapata parried the initial effort, Renato calmly dispatched the loose ball into the empty net.
Sevilla domination
Poulsen came close to scoring again when he redirected Navas' miscued volley centimetres wide of the far post as the Spanish side threatened to take the game beyond the hosts. Steaua finally gave Andrés Palop something to worry about just before the break when Nicoliţă's diving header skipped past the near post but Kanouté ensured the away side finished the half on a high when he burst through again only to sweep his finish past the upright.
Steaua changes
Lăcătuş realised changes were required to prevent Sevilla coasting to victory and the coach attempted to alter the pattern of the game by replacing Croitoru with Valentin Badea at the start of the second half, but they continued to be restricted to long-range shooting that failed to trouble Palop. Just as the Romanian side began to think an equaliser might be forthcoming, Sevilla secured the win with a sublime second goal.
Outstanding move
Alves quickly exchanged passes with Renato and surged to the byline before a cute backheel took out two defenders, giving Navas time to fire in a cross that Renato met with a diving header to make it 2-0. Renato was denied his hat-trick shortly after by Zapata. Badea finally called Palop into action on 81 minutes but the routine nature of the save summed up Steaua's lack of a cutting edge throughout the match.
Slavia 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal FC secured their place in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League, but were fortunate to pick up a point with a goalless draw at SK Slavia Praha as goalkeeper Manuel Almunia twice denied the Czech side revenge for their 7-0 thrashing two weeks ago.
Slavia battle
Slavia coach Karel Jarolím had urged his side to be more exacting in one-on-one situations than they had been a fortnight previously against the Group H leaders, and from the way his players snapped busily at their opponents in the opening exchanges, it was evident his message had been received. Abou Diaby – one of seven changes to Arsenal's starting lineup from the previous encounter – was the only man able to escape the shackles as he roamed forward promisingly from midfield.
Arsenal static
With their defence keeping Arsenal at arm's length, Slavia's confidence slowly grew and should have resulted in them taking a shock lead with 14 minutes on the clock after Zdeněk Šenkeřík's persistence had earned the hosts a corner. Daniel Pudil's pacy delivery left the Arsenal rearguard static, but having escaped the attentions of Alexandre Song, Slavia midfielder Mickaël Tavares was unable to keep his header down.
Intermittent threat
The threat from Arsenal – spearheaded by Nicklas Bendtner and Eduardo da Silva as Emmanuel Adebayor dropped to the bench – was intermittent as Diaby's influence faded. Slavia found their own brand of passing football could stretch the group leaders and a swift move down the left involving Vladimír Šmicer and the tireless Šenkeřík saw a Tavares shot blocked on 35 minutes.
Almunia saves
Barely 60 seconds later, Šenkeřík, who was proving a tailor-made replacement for injured top scorer Stanislav Vlček, almost took advantage when William Gallas slipped on the rain-sodden surface, though Almunia produced a fine flying stop to tip over the Slavia forward's fiercely-struck effort.
Slavia determined
A half-time downpour did little to dampen the buoyant atmosphere inside the sold-out Evzena Rošického Stadium nor diminish Slavia's determination when they returned to the pitch. Šmicer, leading the side on his first appearance in this season's group phase, whipped in a menacing ball which required a solid defensive header from Lassana Diarra three minutes after the restart.
Penalty appeal
Diarra was involved again just two minutes later when Slavia felt they were denied a penalty. Slovak international Matej Krajčík made a penetrating burst down the right before feeding the onrushing Šmicer. The former UEFA Champions League winner was unable to control the ball, but deflected it into the path of Šenkeřík. As the Slavia forward appeared poised to shoot he was clumsily barged into by Diarra, but referee Bertrand Layec waved away Slavia's penalty appeals.
Courageous block
Krajčík was the architect of Slavia's most dangerous move of the game 15 minutes from time as his pinpoint pass found Šenkeřík bursting past Gallas, though Almunia again came to Arsenal's rescue with a courageous block. The Gunners could have broken the deadlock themselves late on through Adebayor, but the substitute's header was comfortably gathered by Slavia keeper Michal Vorel.
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