Berbatov heads in his first Champions League goal since 2008

Manchester United need a point in their last Champions League Group C game against Basel if they are to ensure qualification to the knockout stages after drawing with Benfica.

United recovered from Phil Jones’ third-minute own goal when Dimitar Berbatov headed in Nani’s cross.

Darren Fletcher then ghosted in to prod past Artur to make it 2-1, but Pablo Aimar equalised from close range.

Berbatov and Rodrigo both had late chances to win it but were off target.

The United forward’s chance was the better one as he volleyed over from Fabio’s centre 12 minutes from the end.

But although Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were without the injured Wayne Rooney, they will be frustrated to have thrown away a lead having worked so hard to establish themselves in the game.

Fletcher’s goal on 59 minutes came after a sustained period of pressure on the visitors’ goal, but Benfica’s equaliser followed a poor clearance by United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The match started in similarly frustrating fashion for the hosts on a cold night and United appeared frozen as Benfica went ahead with a rapier-like attack.

Nicolas Gaitan, who has impressed in Portugal this season, was fed down the right and when he checked back onto his left foot, his cross hit Patrice Evra before Jones deflected into his own net.

Old Trafford was stunned but the fans began to shake off their disbelief when Nani went on several trademark dribbles, and Ashley Young had a shot saved.

Gaitan and Aimar were joining the Benfica midfield to run rings around Michael Carrick and Fletcher, but once United improved their passing out of defence, they started to create problems for the visitors.

Berbatov was playing in front of Young and was largely anonymous before he equalised.

And although there was a suggestion of offside to his header which was scored from Nani’s centre, it was a fine strike to notch his first Champions League goal since 2008 and his second this season.

The Bulgarian almost set up Young for a second moments after scoring, but Benfica keeper Artur produced a decent stop and Aimar was also denied by De Gea in a frantic five minutes.

United maintained their high tempo at the start of the second period as Young’s shot was blocked by the impressive Ezequiel Garay, before Fabio tried to chip Artur.

With the pressure building on the Benfica defence, the hosts took the lead when Fletcher ghosted in to poke in Evra’s cross at the second attempt just before the hour.

That should have settled Ferguson’s men with Carrick beginning to weave some clever passes, but their advantage only lasted a minute.

De Gea’s poor clearance fell to Bruno Cesar, who dribbled into the United box and crossed for Aimar to equalise despite Rio Ferdinand’s attempt to clear.

It would have left Ferguson fuming after his side had worked so hard to turn the game around, and the Benfica goal once again knocked United’s rhythm.

With parity restored, Jorge Jesus’ team began to show the same confidence they had in the first 15 minutes, though Berbatov could have had a second when he volleyed over from 10 yards.

Perhaps United would have been satisfied with the result after Rodrigo went close in the dying stages, but they must hope to show little of the same carelessness when they travel to Switzerland to face Basel.

(BBC Football)

By Marc Higginson
BBC Sport

Mario Balotelli has scored nine goals this season

Manchester City face an uphill battle to reach the next round of the Champions League after defeat in Naples.

Edinson Cavani scored a brace either side of Mario Balotelli’s first half tap-in to condemn the Blues to a nervy final round of fixtures.

They need to beat Group A winners Bayern Munich at Eastlands on December 7 to stand any chance of progression.

They must also hope Villarreal can take at least a point off Napoli in Spain.

(BBC Football )

 

Vladimir Romanov values Hearts at £50m

The owner of the Gorgie club is looking to sell but doesn’t want to recoup his “£200m” investment

Vladimir Romanov has placed a £50m price tag on Hearts, having recently announced his plans to sell the club.

The businessman expressed his desire to pull out of the Edinburgh club last week, as he looks to pursue other interests, including a potential investment in the theatre.

Speaking to Russian media agency RIA Novosti, Romanov claims he has invested “about £200m” in the club but says he is not looking to recoup his losses. However, he is looking for a significant amount to allow Hearts to change hands.

“The land is worth £25m, plus the players, the club with a project, are also worth £25m,” he said. “That’s about £50m.

“It’s not the money I spent, but now that’s what it is worth.”

Romanov also claims he has lost such interest in Hearts that he is unaware of when they played their last fixture, having last watched the team defeat Celtic on a trip to Edinburgh in October.

“I don’t even travel and I don’t know when they last played, whether it was yesterday or Saturday, and I don’t know how they played,” he said. “It is the same for my other sports clubs.

“Every time they just ask for money, and every time I promise not to give more, then they promise to make it themselves.”

(STV)