Ronaldinho Champions League Goal v Levski Sofia – GOLAZO!

When Ronaldinho stepped over and twice put his right boot to the ball, I just had a feeling.

When the curling strike found the side netting, I exhaled and laughed, like the millions of other people who’d quickly drawn in air when the ball left the foot of the world’s greatest player.

Golazo! Golazo! Golazo! Award to Ronaldinho’s wonderful Champions League goal against Levski Sofia.

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Barcelona Champions League Brilliance

Barcelona opened their Champions League title defense with a crushing 5 – 0 win over Levski Sofia at the Nou Camp.

The home side never looked threatened as Andres Iniesta put Barcelona ahead on 6 minutes. Ronaldinho controlled beautifully from Deco, left his marker on the touchline, and sent a low pass across the penalty area. Samuel Eto’o backed heeled to Iniesta who fired hard and low to beat Levski keeper, Georgi Petkov.

Barcelona were at it again in the 38th minute when Eto’o picked out Ludovic Giuly off a quickly taken free kick and the streaking forward cut inside the defense and tucked under Petrov, doubling the Barca advantage.

Even defender Carles Puyol got in on the act, knocking in the rebound from a Ronaldinho free kick that was too hot for the battered keeper to handle.

Eto’o would make it four, scoring with a brilliant left footed strike while surrounded by three Levski defenders at the top of the penalty area.

But the Spanish Champions saved the best for last, with Ronaldinho stepping over, touching the ball twice, and curling magnificently out of the keeper’s reach into the top corner of the net.

Total domination by the team everyone will be looking to beat if they want to claim the Champions League title.

Barcelona top Group A with rivals Chelsea, both on three points after Matchday 1.

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Chelsea Champions League Performance Lackluster

Chelsea were underwhelming in their 2 – 0 Champions League win over Werder Bremen.

The Premier League Champions needed a gift from the Bremen defense and a soft second-half penalty to grab three points in the Group Stage opener at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard’s misfortune continued as he hit the post late on and Michael Ballack stepped up to take the penalty earned by Didier Drogba.

Werder Bremen will rue missed chances that would have certainly changed the complexion of the match. Down by only a goal, Miroslav Klose headed over the top from Torsten Frings, during a spell where the visitors were dominating.

The German internationals must have liked what they saw as they repeated the play a few minutes later with Klose heading off the bar from another brilliant Frings cross.

Chelsea were less than impressive and new signing Ashley Cole was terribly off his game. John Terry was also not himself and was lucky not to pick up a second yellow for a sloppy challenge on 58 minutes.

Jose Mourinho’s side will take comfort in full points from a poor performance that sees them at the top of the Group with first-seeded, and Champions League rivals, Barcelona.

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Cole had previously stressed his agitation at Arsenal management in their handling of the very same tapping-up situation.

No word on whether Mourinho knew of the thrashing before signing the England international.

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David Healy’s Three Goals Video – Northern Ireland v Spain

Many people are still searching for the glorious hat-trick by Northern Ireland’s David Healy that shocked Spain.

Hence, I sifted through to find the highest quality footage available.

This video has over six minutes of highlights with all the goals and match commentary.

The match commentators’ complete bias is amusing as they say “us” when referring to NI. Great stuff.

In a new window:
YouTube – David Healy’s Three Goals Video – Northern Ireland v Spain

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