UEFA Champions League News: Manchester City Defeat All My Fault – Mancini

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THE LATEST UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said that he did not prepare his side well into facing Dutch football champions Ajax in their latest Champions League defeat.

Ajax played past through rival City when goals from Siem de Jong, Niklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen followed the English side’s lone goal from Samir Nasri.  Mancini made three formation changes in the team for the match – a factor that, according to defender Micah Richards, contributed greatly to the loss.

UEFA Champions League News: Celtic Manager Neil Lennon Laments Loss to Barcelona

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THE LATEST UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS – Top Scottish football club Celtic recorded an impressive performance against Spanish giants Barcelona, but their loss disappointed their manager Neil Lennon.

As Barcelona played past through rival Celtic through a tie-breaking free kick from Jordi Alba during extra time, Lennon remarked that he is “very proud but I don’t like losing”. He said that he does not want his players’ winning determination to go down as the competition is still in its early stages.

Lennon said that the match gave his players “a real taste of playing in the Champions League at the highest level”, as he noted that they had a remarkable performance.

The War of Champions: UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2012-13 Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid

Match Date: October 25, 2012 (Thursday)
Match Time: 2:45 am (+08:00 GMT)
Venue: Signal-Iduna-Park (HOME: Borussia Dortmund)

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German champions Borussia Dortmund and Spanish champions Real Madrid will clash in another exciting UEFA Champions League Group D fixture - their third group match. Dortmund is second in the league table with four points from a draw and a win. Madrid sits at the top with two wins making six points.

Real Madrid have played past through rival Germans Borussia Dortmund without losing in three previous fixtures, including two sets during the 2002-03 Champions League season. While both sides have not met in recent times, each squad pose relative degrees of danger.

Dortmund’s form, compared to last season, could have potentially declined based on their matches this season. From being last year’s champions, they are currently fourth in the Bundesliga tables with a record of 12 points in eight games – a sharp contrast to frontrunners and domestic league title rivals Bayern Munich’s current 8-game, 24-point winning streak. A dismaying 1-2 home loss to Revierderby rivals Schalke 04 further exposed their frailties. Playmaker Jakub Blaszcykowski will not be fit to face Madrid, while defender Marcel Schmelzer and midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Mario Gotze will return to the pitch as starters.

Having won the Champions League for a record nine times, Madrid is on the hunt for its 10th title and seems fixated in doing so. While being eight points behind El Clásico rivals and leaders Barcelona in La Liga, they have beaten English and Dutch top clubs Manchester City and Ajax in their previous Champions League group stage matches this season. Keen on going for another win, the Spanish top club will most likely make minimal, if no, changes to the club. Playmaker Mesut Ozil might make way for Kaka, while Gonzalo Higuain might serve as a replacement for Karim Benzema. Cristiano Ronaldo – the club’s chief talisman, will definitely be a starter.