Norwich 2 vs. 1 Sunderland

Before the game had started Sunderland 'keeper, Simon Mignolet had to cut his sleeves because of a kit clash!

Elliott Bennett played a good one-two and placed the ball across the six yard box for Leon Barnett to tap into an empty net. Bramble looked to have him covered, but was flat footed as Barnett scored his first Premier League goal. (31)

Tierney who had been defending well the first half, gets forward for the first time early on in the second. He put in a great ball for Morison to head home. (48)

Sunderland play some nice one touch football, Richardson gets it out wide on the left and blasts it across goal into the bottom right corner. The box was crowded and the shot got deflected in, giving Ruddy no chance. (86)

 

 
Norwich gave Sunderland some early worries, by not giving them any time on the ball as well as having some shots at goal. Mignolet didn't help the cause by slicing a clearance that went out for a corner, as well as charging out beyond his box as Hoolahan lobbed him, with the shot going over.

Although The Canaries had less possession, they looked the more dangerous. Sunderland took a while to string some passes together because of the pressure, but Larsson and Gardner were able to show off their passing ability, linking up with Bendtner well.

Sunderland played too cautiously, they had the two banks of four which were set out well, but they backed off and gave The Canaries time to create some play. Norwich couldn't keep up the high pressure and allowed Sunderland to pass it around leading up to the goal. The last ten minutes were end to end, Grant Holt winding the clock down at one, with Sunderland looping the ball into the penalty area in an attempt to get a late equaliser at the other.

Sunderland could've done with a striker up front with Bendtner as the Dane held the ball up well, but Sessegnon didn't seem to be on the same wavelength.

Good to see Norwich with 9 English and 2 Irish players that made up their starting eleven.

Villarreal 0 vs. 2 Bayern Munich

Manchester City and Napoli complete Group A, surely making it the strongest group. You'd think all 4 clubs would fancy themselves to progress to the knockout phase.

A host of internationals on show; Rossi, Ribery, Nilmar, Muller, Senna, Neuer, Marchena and Schweinsteiger...

Good play by Ribery on the left, he got to the byline and cut it back to Kroos who finished well, finding the far right corner. 0-1 (7)

Rafinha came across from the right to nutmeg Bruno, he then blasted a shot at Diego Lopez but he couldn't get enough behind it to stop it going in. 0-2 (76)

Bayern Munich dominated the first half. Never have I seen a team keep the ball so well and restrict the opposition to just a couple of half chances away from home. Bayern kept the ball well and when Villarreal did have it they were kept well away from Neuer's box.

The second half was better for the Spanish side, they worked the ball well, Rossi and Bruno had good shots saved. Ribery was the star player though, dribbling past the Villarreal right back, Mario at ease. He was able to drift across to the middle and give Villarreal more problems as he'd link up well with Muller.

Manuel Neuer has had a perfect start to the season with his new club, he's now kept nine clean sheets out of nine. Tymoschuk and Schweinsteiger have to be mentioned as they protected their back four brilliantly.

Bayern Munich v Manchester City looks to be a great game!

Barcelona 2 vs. 2 A.C Milan

 

A clash between European giants, they've won the Champions League eleven times between them.

Neither of Barcelona's summer signings started, Alexis is out injured and Fabregas made the bench. Mascherano and Busquets start at centre half.

Familiar faces for Milan, Nesta and Seedorf both 35 start, Ibrahimovic and Robinho out injured, Pato started up front.

Pato got on the end of a lofted ball by Abbiati and blitzed past the Barca defence to place it past Valdes in 25 seconds. 0-1 (1)

Messi gets the ball on the edge of the box and drives forward, he skips past Nesta and then brushes off Abate. It looks as though the ball gets away from him but he somehow gets to it, even when gets there it looks as though nothing is on, but great players make something out of nothing and he plays it along the six yard box for Pedro to tap in. 1-1 (36)

Villa had a quiet game but stepped up to take a free kick from 25-30 yards, he fired empatically past the helpless Abbiati. 2-1 (50)

Thiago Silva heads an equaliser in the 92nd minute from a corner to steal a point at Nou Camp. (90+2)

Shocked in front of their own fans by the early goal, Barca kept the ball in their usual style but couldn't break down the disciplined Italians. Their best chance came as Messi hit the post from a free kick. Whilst others around him were wasting half chances, Messi was able to get a couple of shots on target.

Going in at half time, Milan soaked up the pressure from the Catalans well, although they never threatened, Pato's pace did expose Barcelona's makeshift defence at times. 

Not long after Villa's goal, Messi went on another one of his sensational runs, just as it looked like he was going to shoot, Nesta lunged across to tackle.

Dani Alves got away with only a booking for a two footed tackle. Milan started to press with more urgency by the 70th minute.

Barca stroked the ball about nicely as they do, but didn't create any clear chances. Milan's only chance of scoring was either a counter attack or a set piece. It was a corner that lead to the equaliser.