TNT Sports
Magic Ronnie lifts Barça
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Published 27/09/2005 at 22:50 GMT+1
Ronaldinho scored a magnificent hat-trick as Barcelona overran Udinese 4-1 to romp three points clear at the top of Group C on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Bremen slipped to a second successive defeat as Panathinaikos scored two in a minute to down the German side
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Ronaldinho gave a masterclass of how to single-handedly win your side three Champions League points as he destroyed an Udinese side who had arrived in Catalonia with hopes born of a 3-0 dismissal of Panathinaikos a fortnight ago.
The Brazilian's first was sublime as he whipped a 13th-minute free-kick into Morgan De Sanctis' top corner, with his second - a clever, deliberately-placed sidefoot into the bottom corner - made by Samuel Eto'o's devastating burst of pace down the right just after the half hour.
The third came from the relative ease of the penalty spot, though fittingly enough it was a Ronaldinho-trademark 'elastico' that bamboozled poor Felipe into barging over the Barça number 10 as full time approached.
Deco even got in on the act, effectively killing the game just four minutes before half time as he curled a free-kick up and over the wall and past De Sanctis, though the Italian keeper may feel he should have done better.
But for all their fluency in attack, the defensive deficiencies apparent last season returned to haunt Barcelona again - something Frank Rijkaard will have to address if his side are to drop the 'potential' from their 'Champions League winners' tag.
SLIM CHANCE
This was an Udinese side denuded of its most potent attacking argument, Vincenzo Iaquinta - in dispute with his club - but still Barça keeper Victor Valdes was called into action even before Felipe grabbed a 24th-minute leveller.
The youthful defender arrived unchaperoned at the back post to fire high into the net, and the way Vincent Candela and Sulley Muntari had been allowed to cut inside and shoot - admittedly from distance - must be a worry for Rijkaard.
But any slim chance Udinese had of salvaging anything from the game disappeared five minutes after the break with Vidigal being sent off after picking up a second yellow for an unnecessary push on Juliano Belletti.
PANA SINK WERDER
Panathinaikos scored twice in the first eight minutes to beat Werder Bremen 2-1 in their Champions League match at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
Panathinaikos, who lost their opening Group C game 3-0 to Udinese two weeks ago, took the lead in the sixth minute with a debatable penalty by Argentinian midfielder Ezequiel Gonzalez.
Three minutes later, Evangelos Mantzios doubled their advantage when he pounced on a pass from Sandor Torghelle.
Miroslav Klose pulled one back for the Germans just before halftime but it was Panathinaikos who made more chances in the second half with Gonzalez twice hitting the woodwork.
Four minutes from time Bremen were reduced to 10 men when Ivan Klasnic was sent off for his second yellow card to complete a bad night for the Germans who have now lost their opening two games following their 2-0 reversal against Barcelona two weeks ago.
IMMEDIATE DIVIDENDS
The Panathinaikos coach Alberto Malesani took some fierce criticism after the Udinese game but his decision to pair Torghelle and Mantzios paid immediate dividends when Torghelle won a penalty by running straight at Naldo.
At 2-0 the frontmen continued to cause trouble although the Greek defence looked less certain, especially when they lost Iannis Goumas just before half-time after a nasty clash of heads with Bremen captain Frank Baumann.
The second half produced some exciting end to end football with Gonzalez unlucky not to increase the lead as he first hit a post and then saw a powerful volley fly back off the bar.
The Bremen goalkeeper Andreas Reinke was also called on to produce two high quality saves late in the game.
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