Source: SKY_Sports
Champions League round-up
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} A miserable night for British interest in the UEFA Champions League saw Liverpool and Rangers both lose at home, while Arsenal dropped points on their travels as AZ Alkmaar grabbed a last minute leveller.[LNB] The night's other most noticeable result saw European champions Barcelona crash to a surprise defeat at home to Rubin Kazan. [LNB]Liverpool's dire start to the season continued as they suffered a last-gasp defeat to Lyon, while it was a similar tale of woe for Rangers at home to Unirea Urziceni as they were thumped 4-1 on a forgettable night in Glasgow.[LNB]Rafa Benitez's woes show no sign of abating as Liverpool slumped to a fourth successive defeat for the first time since 1987.[LNB]Any tension inside Anfield was only exacerbated when Steven Gerrard's much-feted return was curtailed in just the 25th minute with a reoccurrence of his groin injury.[LNB]The gloom was lifted before half-time when Yossi Benayoun showed customary composure from eight yards after Fabio Aurelio's cross-shot had rebounded into his path. It was to prove a false dawn. [LNB]Lyon substitute Maxime Gonalons restored parity in the 72nd minute when after Jose Reina twice saved superbly, he was on hand to head in at the Kop end to silence the Liverpool faithful. It got worse for Benitez when in the final minute another Lyon substitute, Cesar Delgado, steered in a low cross to add to the home side's misery.[LNB]Group E's other game saw Fiorentina win a seven-goal thriller in Hungary as they beat Debrecen 4-3. Adrian Mutu was the Viola's star man as his brace helped the Italians to a win that takes them three points clear of Liverpool into second.[LNB]A solid if unspectacular display by Arsene Wenger's Arsenal at AZ Alkmaar saw them take a lead in the 36th minute when Robin van Persie capitalised on a defensive howler to set up Cesc Fabregas to tap in from close range.[LNB]Arsenal squandered further chances to put the game to bed and such profligacy they were made to rue in the final minute, as Mendes Da Silva steered home an impressive leveller for the home side.[LNB]Olympiakos made home advantage count against Standard Liege as they claimed a hard fought 2-1 victory in Group H's other game. Liege took the lead against the run of play when Igor De Camargo finished smartly, before Kostas Mitroglou's header on the stroke of half-brought Olympiakos level.[LNB]With time running out substitute Ieroklis Stoltidis delighted a partisan home crowd with an 84th minute winner.[LNB]Rangers took the lead against Unirea Urziceni in just the second minute when Pedro Mendes' shot from the edge of the box took a sizeable deflection to loop over Daniel Tudor. It was to get no better for the home side.[LNB]Dan Petrescu's Romanian side were level by the break as Marius Bilasco was on hand to convert from close range after a Unirea counter-attack cut through Rangers' backline. [LNB]On 38 minutes Steven Davis had a moment to forget as he saw his penalty palmed away by Tudor, following Joao Bruno Fernandes' handball in the box.[LNB]It got worse for Walter Smith's side thereafter as Fernandes' clever back heel five minutes after half-time was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Kyle Lafferty to put Unirea ahead.[LNB]Rangers' misery was compounded on 59 minutes when Lee McCulloch scored his side's second own goal of the night as he inadvertently headed past Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.[LNB]With droves of fans heading for the exit door Pablo Brando's deflected free-kick made it four. [LNB]Sevilla made it three wins from as many Champions League games as they had too much for Stuttgart on their travels to Germany. [LNB]The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute by Sebastien Squillaci before Jesus Navas put Sevilla in complete control after half-time.[LNB]Squillaci's second of the night rendered Elson's strike for Stuttgart nothing more than a consolation.[LNB]Rubin Kazan shocked reigning champions Barcelona at Camp Nou, as Alexander Ryazantsev's searing drive beat Victor Valdes in just the second minute to put the Russian champions on course for victory.[LNB]It was a lead they held until three minutes after half-time when Zlatan Ibrahimovic turned smartly to fire home a leveller. The plucky Russians were not to be quelled though, as Gokdeniz Karadeniz converted Alejandro's clever through ball to seal the most memorable of victories.[LNB]It was a night of shocks in Group F as Inter Milan were held to a 2-2 home draw by Dynamo Kiev. Twice Jose Mourinho's side had to come from behind as Kiev struck first through Taras Mykhalyk before Dejan Stankovic exposed some sloppy defending to level. [LNB]Lucio's thumping header past his own goalkeeper gave Kiev the lead before half-time but it was Walter Samuel - with a brilliant header of his own - who had the final say as he scored a leveller after the break.[LNB]
