UEFA Champions League: Matchday 4:

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, UEFA Champions League play resumed, with groups A-D kicking off the fourth matchday in the group stages. In Group A, FC Porto (2-0-2-8) climbed to the talk of the standings with a 2-1win over Marseille (2-1-1-7). Lisandro Lopez' header in the 78th proved to be the difference. The other Group A match was a slaughter, as Liverpool (1-2-2-4) blasted Besiktas (1-3-0-3) 8-nil, in the process smashing the record for the largest scoring differential in a UEFA Champions League match. Yossi Benayoun went for the hat trick with goals in the 32nd, 53rd and 56th. Peter Crouch and Ryan Babel also knocked in two goals apiece. Liverpool desperately needed a win to maintain their slim hopes of qualifying for one of the final 16 spots in the tournament and did so in utterly dominant fashion.

In Group B, Schalke 04 (1-2-1-4) and Chelsea (2-0-2-8) played to a scoreless draw while Rosenborg (2-1-1-7) downed Valencia (1-3-0-3) 2-nil on a pair of strikes from Steffen Iversen. In Group C play, Real Madrid (2-0-2-8) and Olympiakos (1-1-2-5) played to a scoreless draw while Lazio (1-1-2-5)downed Werner Bremen (1-3-0-3) 2-1 in a match that was made close when Ribas da Cunha connected on a penalty kick in the 88th minute. Despite the scoreless draw, Real seems in pretty good shape to move along in the tournament. Tuesday's Group D matches capped off another thrilling day of action. Celtic (2-2-0-6) nipped Benfica (1-3-0-3) 1-nil on Aidan McGeady's goal just as the sides were beginning to retire for the first half. With the victory, the Men in Green clawed their way back into the thick of things while for Benfica it's just a matter of playing out the string . Finally, AC Milan (3-1-0-9) smacked down Shakhtar Donetsk (2-2-0-6) 3-nil on the road to maintain the first place in the Group. It doesn't hurt when you have the world's best player on your side. Kaká's goal in the 72nd was sandwiched between Filippo Inzaghi's goals as Milan had an easy time of things far away from home.

On Wednesday, Groups E-H took center stage. In Group E, Roscoe is thrilled to report that Barcelona (3-1-0-10) downed Rangers (2-1-1-7) 2-nil on two first-half goals from which Rangers could not recover. Thierry Henry scored in the sixth minute and by the sound of things Rangers would try to play catch-up thereafter. It’s going to be tough to stop Barcelona from moving on now. Also in Group E, Lyon (2-2-0-6) got the better of VfB Stuttgart (0-4-0-0) 4 - 2. Stuttgart actually had an opportunity to tie the score in the 60th minute, but Thomas Hitzlsperger misfired on a penalty kick try. The score remained three to two until injury time when Juninho put it out of reach. While Lyon remains within striking distance, it will all be over very soon for Stuttgart.

In Group F, Manchester United (4-0-0-12) took it to Dynamo Kiev, (0-4-0-0) winning easily 4-nil at Old Trafford. Dynamo joins Stuttgart as the biggest disappointments in the tournament while for Good Ol’ Man-U, the hits just keep on coming. They have walked through the tournament so far and, after four matches appear unstoppable. Sporting Lisbon (1-2-1-4) and Roma (2-1-1-7) played to a 2 - 2 draw at Jose Alvalade, as to the chagrin of the home crowd, David Pizarro equalized the match in the 89th.

In Group G, Inter Milan (3-1-0-9) roared back from a two-goal deficit to handily defeat CSKA Moscow (0-3-1-1) 4 - 2 before a packed house at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The match was level at two at half-time, but it was all Inter in the second half, where home field advantage most assuredly came into play. In the other Group G match, Fenerbahce (2-0-2-8) got the better of PSV Eindhoven (1-2-1-4) 2-nil on two first-half goals. So Inter Milan has been the best of the Group, but Fenerbahce remains unbeaten, and are very much alive can to capture one of the final 16 spots.

Finally, in Group H, Slavia Prague (1-2-1-4) and Arsenal (3-0-1-10) played to a scoreless draw. This has to be a disappointment for Gunners, as they were rivaling Manchester United for the best performance in the tournament so far and had blasted Prague 7-0 on October 23rd. Manager Arsene Wenger elected not to bring many of his starting XI to Prague, confident that even his experienced second-teamers could handle the task at hand. It was a bitterly cold night in Prague on Wednesday, so the temperature as well as the level of talent was indicative of the final score. And last but not least, FC Sevilla (3-1-0-9) dropped Steaua Bucuresti(0-4-0-0) 2-nil on the road on two goals by Renato (25), (65).

The teams are returned to their regular schedules in their respective leagues for the next three weeks before hooking up again in late November.