By Chris Wright

AQUILA!!!

With Benfica looking like the better side for long swathes of the match, it took a superb 42nd-minute equaliser from Ryan Giggs (who, as you are now probably aware, has scored in each of his 22 years as a pro an absolutely remarkable feat) to cancel out Oscar Cardozo's smartly taken opener.

Quite interesting comparisons being made ahead of Man United's match against Benfica tonight in the Champions League with Benfica coach Jorge Jesus claiming that Wayne Rooney is more Brazilian or Argentinian than English.

An interesting point, Rooney perhaps does play with the ability that often comes with Brazilians and Argentinians; he's not dissimilar from the likes of Carlos Tevez in the way he's stocky, powerful and a great goalscorer.

Oscar Cordoza gives Benfica a deserved 1-0 lead over Manchester United with a great finish at the Stadio da Luz.

Ryan Giggs will not just tear you apart again, he is still running down the wing! A wonderful strike into the top corner of the net from the Welsh legend gave United a good away draw against Benfica ...
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Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 Highlights Goals Video 2011 Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 Highlights Goals Video 2011 Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Benfica vs Manchester United 2011 ( SL Benfica vs Man Utd 2011) Final score and result:- Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 ( Cardozo/ Giggs) September 14, 2011- Stadium of Light, Lisbon- 19.

Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 Highlights Goals Video 2011 Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 Highlights Goals Video 2011 Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Benfica vs Manchester United 2011 ( SL Benfica vs Man Utd 2011) Final score and result:- Benfica vs Manchester United 1-1 ( Cardozo/ Giggs) September 14, 2011- Stadium of Light, Lisbon- 19.

By Chris Wright

In which Sir Alex Ferguson takes umbrage at ITV reporter Kelly Cates' line of questioning post-Benfica and has a bit of a snippy wee strop, claiming she is 'just looking for stupid little things' when repeatedly asking about United's goalkeeping situation ahead of this weekend's game against Chelsea.

By Liam "Wrestlemania" Brown Did Fergie get it right at Benfica? Well, on the surface, a 1-1 draw in a rather hostile Estadio da Luz doesn't look like too bad a result. The...
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By Liam "Wrestlemania" Brown Did Fergie get it right at Benfica? Well, on the surface, a 1-1 draw in a rather hostile Estadio da Luz doesn't look like too bad a result. The...
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Tuesday 13th September 2011

Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal

This looks like a tough start for the Gunners, especially on the back of their heavy defeat
at the hands of Manchester United in the Premier League. Current Bundesliga Champions
Borussia Dortmund are quietly fancied to do well in this season's Champions League
following some excellent performances in their domestic league last season.

Andre Villas-Boas' arrival at Chelsea obviously set a new start for the Blues and although things is still in process, David Luiz is confident that the tactician will be successful in the premier league.

Luiz himself is very excited with the former FC Porto's coach arrival since Villas-Boas speaks the same language as the Brazilian international defender, which is considered as a plus point for the ex-Benfica player.

SIR BOBBY CHARLTON believes that Wayne Rooney can be the leader of the young Manchester United pack evoking memories of Eric Cantona.
United great Charlton praised the important role Cantona played in helping nurture the careers of David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes in the 1990s.

A trip to a usually hostile Reebok Stadium probably isn't the ideal way to return from and international break, one which United headed into with great momentum, having put 8 past an abysmal Arsenal side and 3 past Spurs.

From the side that did so well last season, Bolton missed Elmander, Sturridge, Steinsson, Holden, Muamba and Lee, bringing in City loanee Boyata as an uncomfortable right back, Klasnic/Tuncay/N'Gog as poor replacements for Elmander and Sturridge, both of whom left Bolton without a penny coming in, and Eagles, Reo Coker and Mark Davies filling in for injured or unfit players in the midfield.

Week 4 commenced on Friday with defending Champions FC Porto maintaining their perfect start to the season as they defeated Setubal 3-0 for their fourth straight win and sit atop the Portuguese League. Saturday saw both Lisbon clubs in action as Benfica defeated Guimaraes 2-1 and Sporting came back from two goals down to Pacos Ferreira and scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to win 3-

Benfica forward Oscar Cardozo is set to pen a deal keeping him the club until at least 2016.
The Paraguayan's current deal will keep him at the club until 2014, how an offer of a two-year extension is expected to warn off interest in the striker.
Liverpool had reportedly been interested in the 28-year-old, however the player's agent Pedro Aldave says he is currently negotiating the extension.

The Pot 4 Club Trabzonspor is a post from: Just Football

The Pot 4 Club continues on Just Football with an analysis of Trabzonspor from the creators of Turkish-Futbol.com:

Club: Trabzonspor

Straight outta': Turkey

Group: B with Internazionale, Lille and CSKA Moscow

Brief History

Trabzonspor are a professional sports club based in the city of Trabzon which is located on Turkey's north east Black Sea coast.

Fernando Torres' performance since joining Chelsea has been below average on the field, and now the Spanish striker is taking a bit of heat for comments he has made off the field.

According to reports, Torres called out some of his older Chelsea teammates for being "very slow" in an interview with a Spanish soccer website.

Tomorrow night Manchester United kick off their Champions League campaign with an away game against Benfica. Team News: Benfica- midfielder
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UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: Benfica - Manchester United at 2:30pm and Manchester City - Napoli at 5pm (2:30pm on Fox Soccer Plus). Fox Soccer Plus has Dinamo Zagreb - Real Madrid at midnight. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Dallas - Tauro at 8pm and Herediano - Seattle at 10pm. On TeleFutura: UNAM Pumas - Toronto at 8pm and Comunicaciones - Monterrey at 10pm.

Manchester United midfielder Anderson acknowledges that tonight's encounter with Benfica could be the most difficult fixture for Sir Alex Ferguson's men thus far in the season.

Anderson rose to prominence during an impressive stint with FC Porto and although a reunion with former rivals Benfica excites the Brazilian, he understands that the Portuguese outfit has strengthened ever since his departure for Old Trafford in 2007.

So it's Matchday 2 of the Champions League today and some key match-ups include City/Napoli, Villarreal/Bayern and this one, featuring a solemn-looking Anderson. Ah, why did Man United chose him to sit the press conference with Sir Alex? Players are occasionally picked according to a 'roster' but this time they chose him because he was better suited for the Portuguese press!

The Pot 4 Club Otelul Galati is a post from: Just Football

Last but not least in The Pot 4 Club Just Football's analysis of all eight Champions League fourth seeded teams Romanian champions Otelul Galati. Analysis provided by Romanian football scout Radu Baicu:

Club: Otelul Galati

Straight outta': Romania

Group: C with Manchester United, Benfica and FC Basel

Recent History

Their first, probably their last, certainly their everything!

Cue the Heineken commercials, the unmistakable anthem, and the goosebumps the Champions League is here again. To be Manchester United is to be a perennial favorite in the competition, and that's no different this season, as United eye a fourth final in five seasons. And the first stop on the journey to next May's [.

Manchester United's Champions League campaign gets under way tonight in Lisbon, where last season's beaten finalists take on Benfica. Ahead of the game, coach Jorge Jesus has been talking about the disparity between Benfica and Manchester United, "Usually in the Champions League, the teams at the top are the ones who are strongest economically," said Jesus.

Lindegaard, Fabio, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Fletcher, Park, Rooney

"CONFIRMED LINE-UP: Benfica vs United" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Its been a decent game so far between Man Utd and Benfica, with the scores level 1-1 at half time. Cardoza put Benfica ahead with a great goal, set up with a wonderful past by the Benfica winger, and Cardoza easily turned Johnny Evans before firing hard past the outstretched Lindegaard.

Man United managed to equalize, deservedly, through another brilliant Ryan Giggs goal.

Last years Champions League finalists Manchester United opened up this years campaign with a 1-1 draw against Benfica at the
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By JOHN BOSCHINI

It seemed like an easy three points for Inter Milan as they opened UEFA Champions League play against Turkish replacements Trabzonspor, but the 2010 European champions were shocked with a 1-0 defeat at home.

Inter couldn't convert a plethora of chances and were eventually made to pay with a well-taken goal from Ondrej Celustka with 15 minutes to play.

Winners in 2010, Inter Milan were shocked at home by Trabzonspor, but there was better news for fellow former champions Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid opened their Champions League group stage campaigns with away victories, but 2010 winners Inter MIlan suffered a shock home defeat by Trabzonspor AŞ in the second set of matchday one games.

Estadio da Luz, the scene of United's first European assignment of 2011-12. Will it culminate with another appearance in the final in Munich? Time will tell and only God knows. What we do know is...
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By Chris Wright

In which Sir Alex Ferguson takes umbrage at ITV reporter Kelly Cates' line of questioning post-Benfica and has a bit of a snippy wee strop, claiming she is 'just looking for stupid little things' when repeatedly asking about United's goalkeeping situation ahead of this weekend's game against Chelsea.

Haven't we seen this before? I knew it wouldn't last. I mean Fergie could never let things just be. It was asking too much for us to carry our youth movement, scintillating pace and form over the Channel and into the continent and expect a similar starting squad and the tactics that have wowed us for [.

After playing in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Champions League last night, Anders Lindegaard has reiterated his desire to get the number one jersey.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already claimed that David de Gea is our first choice, although Lindegaard should expect plenty of appearances in the cup competitions.

Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has stated his intention to challenge David De Gea for the number one spot at the club.

The Danish keeper was in fine form for the Red Devils during last night's 1-1 draw with Benfica and now he has a taste for first-team action, he isn't prepared to give it up lightly.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Anders Lindegaard for his outstanding performance in his side's 1-1 draw with Benfica on Wednesday but insists David De Gea will return to the side for Sunday's game against Chelsea.

The young Spaniard has come in for substantial criticism following a hesitant start to his Old Trafford career leading his manager to protect him on a number of occasions.

This week was a busy one for Portuguese abroad.

Both Porto and Benfica began their Champions League campaigns earlier this week. Porto was able to climb from behind and beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at home. Hulk his a laser of a free kick and Kleber finished easily in front [read more]

It was interesting to see the media's contrasting reactions to our excellent point away to the German champions to Manu's draw against a Benfica. There is no doubt that Dortmund are a considerably stronger side than Benfica, but the media did not paint things like this, same old I say.The most encouraging thing was the way in which we defended well as a unit even when he came under a lot of

The Champions League and Europa League group stages began this week so therefore I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the different nationalities that featured in the matches this week. In the sixteen Champions League matches fifty-three different nationalities started matches, in the twenty-fourEuropa League fixtures seventy-three different nationalities started games.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Sunday's opponents Chelsea to once again be one of his team's closest challengers for the Premier League title. United are 6/1 with Bet 365 to win 1-0 at Old Trafford and customers can get a free In-Play bet for the game this weekend. Andre Villas-Boas' side have failed to impress in the league so far this season, although they have taken ten points from their first four matches, and are 11/1 to beat the league leaders 1-0 on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that the back-and-forth ball movement between Manchester United and Chelsea resulted in a very competitive fixture at Old Trafford on Sunday but praised Phil Jones and Nani for helping the champions win 3-1.

United were off to a flying start when Chris Smalling headed past Petr Cech in the early stages and although the Blues were to blame for lackluster marking, there is no doubt that the goal was scored in an offside position.