Tuesday football as it happened

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

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By Caroline Cheese

2210: Time to go. Cracking night of Champions League action - and there's even more tomorrow when we'll see if Rafa Benitez can indeed hold his head up high while walking through the storm (see 1939). Bye for now.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba on being asked if he is in the form of his life: "I think so. A few years ago I was playing with the same confidence. It's always easier when you are playing injury-free."

2158: All over at Loftus Road where Crystal Palace earn a point with a 1-1 draw against QPR. Jim Magilton's side move up to sixth, while Palace stay 13th.

2155: "We are Bayern Munich, a club that always has to win," said Bayern boss Louis van Gaal before their game at home to Bordeaux. "Unfortunately that is not always possible." He's right, too. Bayern, without the injured Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery today, are now four points behind second-placed Juventus with two games remaining. They face Maccabi Haifa at home next, then Juventus away.

2149: So we now know four of our last 16: Chelsea, Porto, Manchester United and Bordeaux. And we definitely lose: Maccabi Haifa, Besiktas, Apoel Nicosia and Atletico Madrid, although any of those teams could yet finish third and go into the Europa League.

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson: "I need 10 minutes to think about it. They were fantastic at the end. Their keeper made some great saves. I can't believe [the penalty decision]. I just do not believe it. It's one of the worst I've seen in my lifetime."

2144: Let's move on with the always faultless Euro Stevo: "Group C is a cracker. Marseille went goal mental at the end, eventually hammering hapless FC Zurich 6-1 to move on to six points, while AC Milan and Real Madrid have seven each after a 1-1 draw in Italy. Elsewhere Bayern Munich are in a whole heap of trouble after a 2-0 home defeat by Bordeaux and Juventus's 1-0 win at Maccabi. FC Porto qualified with a 1-0 success at APOEL, while Wolfsburg eased to a 3-0 victory at Besiktas. Lots still to play for."

2142: Thought I'd managed to get through a whole 90 minutes without a massive clanger... but it wasn't to be. Yes, Sergio Aguero is still playing for Atletico Madrid, although not for much longer if some reports are to be believed.

2138: It doesn't stop. Here's Euro Stevo: "I know there's a lot going on, but surely fans of shocks will want to know that once-proud Bayern Munich are now 2-0 down at home against Bordeaux, a certain Marouane Chamakh rubbing some late salt into the wound. The Germans are on the brink of not qualifying."

2138: FULL-TIME Man Utd 3-3 CSKA

2137: FULL-TIME Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea

Atletico goal: All square again in Madrid and it's an absolute cracker of a free-kick from Sergio Aguero. He curls a right-foot effort from a good 25 yards that gives Petr Cech no chance - and he knows it. Fantastic finish.

From bad to worse for CSKA as frustration boils over and Deividas Semberas gets involved with some pushing and shoving with Gabriel Obertan, picking up his second yellow.

2136: RED CARD CSKA (Semberas)

Man Utd goal: Antonio Valencia's shot looks like it's going wide until it hits Georgy Shchennikov and completely bamboozles Igor Akinfeyev for a very unfortunate own goal.

2132: GOAL Man Utd 3-3 CSKA

2132: GOAL Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea

Chelsea goal: It's a smash and grab at the Vicente Calderon - and the Atletico players look absolutely distraught. A bulldozing Didier Drogba leaves his marker on the floor and is one on one with the keeper. His initial shot comes off Sergio Asenjo but the bounce is lucky and he slots into the empty net.

2129: GOAL Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea

From anon via text on 81111: "Gary Neville's a better winger than Nani. Fact."

2127: Goal news from Macca: "We have another goal at Loftus Road and it's Palace who are on level terms through Darren Ambrose's spot-kick. Half-time substitute Freddie Sears won it for the visitors, who have not won in four games, as he was felled by Fitz Hall. Game on."

Man Utd goal: That was definitely coming. Gary Neville puts a right-wing free-kick on to Paul Scholes' head and we're in for a frantic last few minutes at Old Trafford.

2124: GOAL Man Utd 2-3 CSKA

Chelsea goal: Florent Malouda delivers a teasing cross from the left and Didier Drogba meets it with a header to cap his return from suspension.

2123: GOAL Atletico Madrid 1-1 Chelsea

2121: United getting closer and closer, but there are now less than 10 minutes left... Federico Macheda's header clatters the post and then that man Igor Akinfeyev beats away Wayne Rooney's ferocious shot. Gabriel Obertan replaces Macheda.

2120: Another double-save from Igor Akinfeyev. He pushes away an unmarked Michael Owen's header and then is alert to block Wayne Rooney's follow-up. Top keeping.

From staneymv on Twitter: "Lots of possession but lack of good chances created. The story of the season continues for Man Utd..."

2116: Manchester United have 15 minutes remaining to save their proud home record in the Champions League. They last lost at Old Trafford in February 2005 to AC Milan. They have not lost a home game in the group stage since way back in October 2001, when a couple of Fabien Barthez howlers gifted Deportivo a 3-2 win.

From Steve via text on 81111: "Agree the Fletcher incident looked a pen, but it serves him right for then making it LOOK like a dive. When players exaggerate every contact in or around the box, this is what they deserve."

2112: Let's hear from Macca: "Back under way in Tuesday's one and only Champo game. It's still QPR who are leading 1-0, but Neil Warnock's Palace side have come out the hungrier of the two teams."

2111: Carlo Ancelotti makes a double change. Deco on for Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka on for Salomon Kalou. This isn't quite what Ancelotti or Sir Alex Ferguson would have hoped for ahead of their meeting on Sunday.

Atletico goal: Hellfire, that is some hit. John Terry heads out the left-wing cross but it falls to Sergio Aguero, who meets it with a thumping volley which flies past Petr Cech for the hosts' first Champions League goal of the season. Delirium at the Vicente Calderon, where they've not had a lot to cheer this season.

2108: GOAL Atletico Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

From Logos on 606: "Akinfeyev has been class today, I didn't rate him as highly as some others did but after these two games, he's gone up in my estimation. Bit worried about our formation now. Why is Owen on the left wing?"

2103: Igor Akinfeyev enhances his reputation a little bit more, diving low to his left to keep out Paul Scholes well-struck free-kick. The CSKA keeper then picks himself up to keep out Patrice Evra's follow-up. Evra's flagged offside anyway - but still...

2102: A short break now as Euro Stevo updates us: "Goals in short supply after the break - so thank goodness for Mamadou Niang, the Marseille hitman putting them 3-1 up at home to FC Zurich. As it stands, the French side will be only a point behind Milan and Real in Group C. What a group."

2101: And now a change at the Vicente Calderon where Michael Essien is replaced by Michael Ballack. Still goalless there - which would be enough for Chelsea to go through as long as Apoel don't beat Porto.

2100: And now another change by Fergie as Patrice Evra replaces Fabio.

2058: Great cheer as Nani jogs off at Old Trafford. Even bigger roar as Wayne Rooney - wearing gloves - comes on to replace him. Is it time to mention that United have not lost in 22 home games in the Champions League?

From Umer, Stafford, via text on 81111: "The myth that the group stage in the Champions League is pointless is being eradicated this year. Bring on the unpredictability!"

From lobotics on Twitter: "Re 2050: On the replay Fletcher's leg actually shakes with the contact - he made the most of it but that was not a dive."

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Old Trafford: "Manchester United guilty of more crass defending as Vasili Berezutski arrives unmarked at the far post to head CSKA's third. This prompts an urgent sprint down the touchline from Wayne Rooney. United, however, were then the victims of a dreadful decision by Portuguese official Olegario Benquerenca, who booked Darren Fletcher for diving when he was clearly upended by Aleksei Berzutski. Rooney on any minute now surely."

2055: Argentina striker Sergio Aguero comes on for Atletico Madrid, replacing Florent Sinama Pongolle.

2052: A Didier Drogba 25-yard free-kick almost sneaks in but Atletico keeper Sergio Asenjo palms it against the post.

2050: Massive shout for a penalty at Old Trafford as Darren Fletcher goes down under a challenge. But ignoring the screams from the home fans, Olegario Benquerenca shows a yellow card to the United midfielder for diving. Looked like a penalty.

CSKA goal: Fergie arrives at his seat after telling the TV cameras he has told his team to defend better - and he is just in time to watch some more awful defending from his side. Alan Dzagoyev swings over the free-kick from the left and Federico Macheda allows Vasili Berezutsky to escape at the back post and head in from an angle.

2048: GOAL Man Utd 1-3 CSKA

2046: They're off again at Old Trafford. Good punctuality.

2043: As it stands, Germany will only have one team left in the Champions League after the group stage, while England, Spain and Italy will have three.

2040: Back to plain old Euro Stevo now for a half-time round-up: "Bayern's Champions League campaign is hanging by a half-time thread as they trail 1-0 at home to Bordeaux and Juventus take a 45th-minute lead at pointless Maccabi, with Mauro Camoranesi notching for the Old Lady. Elsewhere, Bosnian string-puller Zvjezdan Misimovic's goal still separates Wolfsburg from Besiktas, APOEL and FC Porto are 0-0 and Marseille lead FC Zurich 2-1. In Italy, the great AC Milan and the great Real Madrid are locked at 1-1."

2035: Boy, oh boy, have I got a treat for you. BBC Sport's cricket whizz Oliver Brett has spent the last 45 minutes watching Apoel Nicosia v FC Porto. That's just the kind of fella he is. Here are his thoughts: "A fairly sterile affair at the GSP Stadium in Cyprus so far, with Nenad Mirosavljevic's brilliant curling shot - well saved by Porto keeper Helton - the only real highlight of the first half. Porto's Hulk looking anything but incredible tonight..."

2031: HALF-TIME Man Utd 1-2 CSKA

2031: HALF-TIME Atletico Madrid 0-0 Chelsea

2028: Could we lose Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the group stage? Surely not... As it stands, the German side would be two points behind Juventus in second and a whopping six behind Bordeaux.

2026: A few minutes to go until half-time and Euro Stevo writes: "I won't lie to you - it's absolutely fabulous in Milan. It's end-to-end stuff and Alex Pato has what looks like a perfectly good goal ruled out for, er, pretty much nothing. Zurich have pulled it back to 2-1 in Marseille as Alexandre Alphonse bags, while Bayern Munich's campaign suffers a potential hammer blow with Yoann Gourcuff putting Bordeaux 1-0 up in Germany."

2024: Away from the Champions League, Macca has this from the Championship: "QPR take the lead in the 19th minute through a Akos Buzsaky penalty. It's not quite Ronaldinho standard but good enough to send Julian Speroni the wrong way. Danny Butterfield gave away the spot kick when he brought down Adel Taarabt."

2022: A little bit more from Euro Stevo: "Shocking call at the San Siro as referee Felix Brych hands AC Milan a route back into the game. Gianluca Zambrotta hammers a cross against Pepe's arm from a yard and to Real's bemusement, the German ref points at the spot. Up steps Iker Casillas's one-time nemesis Ronaldinho, who fairly thumps the penalty into the roof of the net. That's how to take one - AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Old Trafford: "Pick the bones out of that little lot. Dreadful goalkeeping from Edwin van der Sar, motionless at his near post as Alan Dzagoev puts CSKA ahead. Michael Owen easing the memories of a poor personal start with a bit of trademark penalty area poaching to equalise and then United all over the place at the back as Milos Krasic restores CSKA's lead. United looking very uncertain at the back and you suspect Sir Alex Ferguson, at least judging by his granite expression, has already dispatched an emissary to the dressing room to plug in the hairdryer."

2018: Ashley Cole crosses into the Atletico box and Salomon Kalou beats the defender to the ball but steers a header just over the corner of the goal.

2018: And now a goal from Euro Stevo: "Real bossed the early stages and just as Milan looked to be coming back into it, the Spaniards strike. Kaka's deflected shot from 20 yards forces Dida to make a sprawling save and Karim Benzema rifles in the rebound - the Frenchman's first goal in seven games. AC Milan 0-1 Real Madrid"

CSKA goal: Er. What's going on? Milos Krasic stays onside to meet Tomas Necid's through-ball and he takes it past Edwin van der Sar before knocking it into the empty net. Not great defending.

2016: GOAL Man Utd 1-2 CSKA

Man Utd goal: Third time lucky. Antonio Valencia crosses from the right and Nani's backheel falls for Michael Owen, who turns and shoots low into the corner. Looked like a touch of offside...?

2014: GOAL Man Utd 1-1 CSKA

From gunner-zp... on 606: "Alan Dzagoev the next Arshavin!!"

CSKA goal: Tomas Necid chests the ball on for Alan Dzagoyev, but there is still plenty of work to do for the 19-year-old. Quick feet take him away from Jonny Evans and he lashes the shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle on the left.

2009: GOAL Man Utd 0-1 CSKA Moscow

2009: Great work from Federico Macheda, picking up Antonio Valencia's through-ball, turning and shooting just wide - yes, wide again - of the far post. News from our mathematics department: United only need a draw tonight, regardless of other results.

2005: Almost a goal at the Vicente Calderon. Jose Antonio Reyes cuts inside and curls a left-foot shot, which Petr Cech is at full stretch to tip around the post.

2002: Another chance spurned by Michael Owen. The ball ricochets into his path but he scuffs his shot straight at the keeper. With Wolfsburg ahead, United only need a point tonight to go through to the last 16 - which is just as well given Owen's start to the evening.

2000: Good news for goal fans from Euro Stevo: "Everyone loves goals, though Silvan Aegerter probably hates them right now. He put through his own net to hand Marseille an early lead against FC Zurich - and Fabrice Abriel has only gone and made it 2-0, hasn't he? Wolfsburg, second behind Manchester United in Group B, are 1-0 up at Besiktas through Zvjezdan Misimovic. Scoreless in the other games, including Milan, where Real are on top."

1958: Yet another shot just wide - this time from Darren Fletcher, relishing his return to the Manchester United side. The Scotland midfielder's swerving right-foot effort is no more than an inch off target.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Old Trafford: "Hull City manager Phil Brown - who is now officially 'beleaguered' - is getting away from the pressure of a one-match vote of confidence from new chairman Adam Pearson by taking in the action at Old Trafford. And he's sitting next to his old boss at Bolton Wanderers Sam Allardyce, who was here at the weekend with Blackburn Rovers."

1955: Antonio Valencia plays a one-two with Nani on the right and crosses for Michael Owen... who mis-kicks. Not a great start for the young United prospect on his big night.

1953: Didier Drogba turns and shoots in an instant but he slips as he's taking the shot and he's off target too... Getting closer.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Old Trafford: "Still one or two empty seats around Old Trafford as the action gets under way. Interesting notes from Sir Alex Ferguson in the match programme where he writes: 'Watch out tonight as well for CSKA's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, impressive in the first leg too - he is a very good player.' Is Sir Alex trying to tell us something? He has been linked with the Russian and the position is one that may need filling at Old Trafford sooner rather than later."

1950: Diego Forlan has a go from 25 yards off his left foot. Well-struck but it's narrowly wide and Chelsea keeper Petr Cech probably had it covered.

1947: Deividas Semberas fizzes a shot just wide of Edwin van der Sar's right-hand post.

1946: And I reckon we're up and running everywhere else too. Come on then goals, let's be having you.

1945: Away we go at Old Trafford and Vicente Calderon.

1942: Teams are on their way out across Europe. Manchester United's opponents CSKA have never won in England. This is new boss Leonid Slutski's first Champions League game since replacing Juande Ramos. They won on his league debut.

1939: Big game tomorrow night in Lyon. Rafa Benitez has been speaking to the press. "Are you the best man for the job?" the Liverpool boss was asked, prompting the Spaniard to remark: "When you walk through a storm, you have to hold your head up high."

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty tweeting from Old Trafford: "The Theatre of Dreams is The Theatre of Rain at the moment. Pouring down and Old Trafford's surface is sure to be very slick."

1933: Good news for you. Euro Stevo is casting his many eyes over Europe tonight and here are his initial thoughts... "What a contest awaits at the San Siro, where Marco Borriello gets the nod to partner the in-form again Ronaldinho and Alex Pato up front for AC Milan. Leonardo has been purring over his buck-toothed Brazilian this week, saying: 'Surely we have to insert Ronaldinho in the list of the top 10 players of all time?' Real Madrid, meanwhile, keep faith with Saturday's goalscoring saviour Gonzalo Higuain as well as misfiring Karim Benzema, who has not scored in his last six games. The Champions League's record goalscorer, Raul, is left on the bench."

From Tom from Portishead on 81111: "Good to see Fletcher back for United, with his industry I think United may be more fluent than in recent weeks."

From admflx on Twitter: "Glad I'm not in Pellegrini's shoes tonight, winning at the San Siro to save your job isn't exactly ideal."

1926: Fergie says Federico Macheda has been in "sparkling form" in training, which is why he's been rewarded with a start tonight.

From Shetland_James on 606: "Very strong team from Ancelotti - shows brilliant intent!"

1921: TEAM NEWS Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba returns after a three-game European ban for his first taste of Champions League football this season. The Blues make six changes including left-back Ashley Cole returning after missing the win over Bolton last Saturday, centre-back Alex replacing Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti coming in for right-back Branislav Ivanovic. Joe Cole also starts. Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero is on the bench as Diego Forlan and Florent Sinama-Pongolle lead the Spanish side's attack. Right-sided midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is also a substitute as Jose Antonio Reyes starts.

From Colum via text on 81111: "Re: that "Hi Westwood" text at 1900. It's not relevant, witty or interesting. I'm off to guardian.co.uk to read about the football."

1918: TEAMS Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Atletico Madrid: Sergio Asenjo, Perea, Pablo, Juanito, Antonio Lopez, Reyes, Paulo Assuncao, Cleber Santana, Simao, Sinama Pongolle, Forlan. Subs: De Gea, Raul Garcia, Jurado, Aguero, Maxi, Ujfalusi, Dominguez.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Malouda, Essien, Joe Cole, Lampard, Drogba, Kalou. Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Ballack, Deco, Sturridge, Anelka.

1916: TEAMS Man Utd v CSKA Moscow
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Evans, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani, Macheda, Owen. Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Anderson, Rooney, O'Shea, Obertan, Gibson.
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Alexei Berezutsky, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Shchennikov, Krasic, Semberas, Aldonin, Mamaev, Necid, Dzagoev. Subs: Pomazan, Daniel Carvalho, Maazou, Odiah, Piliev, Rahimic, Grigoriev.

1915: I'm not sure that they changed it 'anon'. I think it might just be how they spell it these days.

From anon via text on 81111: "Why would one change 'birthday' to 'birthdaii'. Surely the idea of text speak is to shorten things?"

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Old Trafford: "Paternal duties done, Wayne Rooney is not only at Old Trafford but on the bench for Manchester United against CSKA Moscow. Big chance for Michael Owen to impress alongside Federico Macheda up front in Dimitar Berbatov's absence. Unfamiliar-looking United line-up but has enough quality to seal a place in the last 16 of the Champions League."

1903: On second thoughts, don't think that last text was for us. Quite apart from the 'hi westwood' greeting, your spelling is usually a lot better than that. Well, a bit... Let's move on, away from British interest, Bayern Munich could do with reversing their result against Bordeaux a couple of weeks ago. They lie third in Group A, behind the French side and Juventus. AC Milan and Real Madrid, who meet at the San Siro, both have six points from their first three games - but Group C is by no means done and dusted because Marseille and Zurich have three points apiece.

From sheridan chen ice and rheima via text on 81111: "Hi westwood =] can u shout out mi gurll rebecca aka queen bee.. Its her birthdaii 2daii.. U need 2 cheer her up.. Haha =] peace and love."

From Exodude on Twitter: "Serious sense of deja vu. I reckon Atletico won't turn up and will get steamrollered by Chelsea. Again."

1859: And Chelsea respond with their own team news: Didier Drogba starts after his three game Euroban.

1855: An early shout from Old Trafford. Looks like new dad Wayne Rooney will be on the bench avoiding nappy duties while Michael Owen and Federico Macheda will take over goalscoring duties. Place your (metaphorical) bets now on Rooney's next goal celebration: the 'Bebeto cradle', the 'thumb in mouth' or the 'dummy from down the sock'?

1851: That, my friends, is the magic and mystery of the Champions League. Well, actually, it's just the way the group stage works, in that teams play each other home and away… but anyway, the bottom line is this: Manchester United and Chelsea both need just one win to guarantee their places in the last 16 with two games remaining.

1845: Hello there. Remember two weeks ago? When Real Madrid took on AC Milan? And Chelsea faced Atletico Madrid? And Manchester United came up against CSKA Moscow? It's happening all over again!!!