Champions League fixtures for Wednesday, November 2nd 2011

There are another eight games taking place this evening in the Champions League, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Man City and Inter Milan all in action.

Man Utd will be looking for maximum points in Group C this evening when they play host to a Otelul Galati side who have lost their opening three group games, and know that a win will see them move closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition.

A win for Real Madrid away to Lyon in Group D will guarantee their place in the last 16, but the hosts will be fired up as they go into tonight's game level on points with Ajax and still hoping to advance from the group stages.

At the San Siro, a Group B clash between Inter Milan and Lille could turn out to be one of the games of the night as Lille travel to Italy currently bottom of their group but still in with a chance of reaching the knockout stages.

And in Group A, Man City travel to Spain to take on a Villarreal side who have underperformed so far, losing all three group games.

Crunchsports.com will have team news and full coverage of tonight's key games online throughout the day!

Wednesday's Champions League fixtures:

All kick-off times 19:45 GMT unless otherwise stated

Ajax v Dinamo Zagreb (Group D)

Bayern Munich v Napoli (Group A)

Benfica v FC Basel (Group C)

Inter Milan v Lille (Group B)

Lyon v Real Madrid (Group D)

Man Utd v Otelul Galati (Group C)

Trabzonspor v CSKA Moscow (Group B)

Villarreal v Man City (Group A)

Tribute To Sharp

Doncaster Rovers captain and striker Billy Sharp missed Saturdays game with Coventry due to family issues. These issues were not known until Saturday night when Billy and his partner Jade's son Louie Jacob had passed away after been born 2 days previous.

In what can only be described as a heartbreaking and emotional time for his family, Billy done something on Tuesday night which football fans,players and managers around the world will not forget in the near future.

Doncaster were playing at home to high flying Middlesbrough. Billy Sharp lined out for his side in this fixture which has to take some amount of courage and belief. A minutes applause was had prior to kick off at Sharp's request. Not only did he take his place in the starting line-up but he also scored the opening goal and in doing so revealing a t-shirt in memory of his son which read.

'' Thats for you son ''

Doncaster went on to lose the game but it people will remember this match for the moving tribute by Sharp to his son.

R.I.P LOUIE JACOB SHARP

Midweek Championship Results

Barnsley 2-1 Hull City

Burnley 1-3 Leicster City

Crystal Palace 0-0 Portsmouth

Doncaster Rvs 1-3 Middlesbrough

Milwall 3-0 Coventry City

Nottingham F. 1-0 Reading

Southampton 2-1 Peterborough Utd

Watford 1-0 Brighton & Hove A.

West Ham Utd 0-0 Bristol City

Tuesday Champions League Round Up

Hat-trick hero Lionel Messi became the second player to score 200 Barcelona goals as the reigning champions cruised to a 4-0 win at 10-man Viktoria Plzen.

The comfortable victory clinched Barcelona's place in the knockout phase and helped Pep Guardiola celebrate his 200th match at the helm in style.

It also assured Group H rivals Milan's last 16 place, despite only managing a 1-1 draw at Bate Borisov.

And 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund beat Olympiakos for a first group win.

Argentina star Messi opened the Barcelona scoring with a 24th minute penalty, before doubling his tally on the stroke of half-time.

Cesc Fabregas added the third before Messi grabbed an injury-time fourth to complete his treble.

Valencia grabbed an important 3-1 home win over Bayer Leverkusen to blow Group E wide open.

The Spanish side made a blistering start at the Mestalla with Jonas scoring the Champions League's second quickest goal after just 10.6 seconds.

But it just missed out on the record created by former Bayern Munich man Roy Makaay against Real Madrid in 2007.

Leverkusen equalised through Stefan Kiessling shortly after the half hour mark, before talisman Roberto Soldado and Adil Rami put Valencia back ahead after the break.

Just three points now separates leaders Chelsea, Leverkusen and Valencia with two rounds of games left.

Arsenal's Group F has also taken a different complexion after Dortmund moved off the bottom with a 1-0 home win against the Greek side, which gives them a fighting chance of a last-16 place.

Zenit St Petersburg and Apoel Nicosia have taken control of Group G with narrow home wins against Shakthar Donetsk and Porto respectively.

Airtricity League Premier Division

28th October 2011 Results

The 2011 Season came to an end last night. Champions Shamrock Rovers comprehensively beat Galway United live on RTE TWO. Drogheda United surprisingly beat St Pats. Sligo Rovers ran out 4-2 winners over UCD. Bray beat Dundalk 1-0 at the Carlisle Grounds while Derry & Bohemians was a stalemate at the Brandywell. It could well be Bohemians last game as a club regarding the financial difficulties facing the club. Hopefully it's not the last time we'll see Bohemians Fc play in the League of Ireland!

RESULTS:

Bray Wanderers 1-0 Dundalk

Zambra

Derry City 0-0 Bohemians

Drogheda Utd 4-3 St. Pats

Corcoran x2, Rogers PEN, Mulvenna

D.McMillan x2, O'Connor

Shamrock Rovers 4-0 Galway Utd

Turner, Dennehy, Sheppard PEN, Finn

Sligo Rovers 4-2 UCD

Blinkhorn, Cretaro, Dillon, Kirby

Benson x2

Premier League Preview Saturday 29th of October

A look ahead to Saturday's fixtures in the Barclays Premier League.

The latest round of Barclays Premier League fixtures has thrown up some exciting encounters.

The programme kicks off with Manchester United's trip to Everton quickly followed by Chelsea v Arsenal.

At three o'clock Manchester City meet Wolverhampton Wanderers for the second time in four days while Blackburn Rovers go to Norwich City.

Sunderland host Aston Villa, Swansea City are home to Bolton Wanderers and Fulham travel to Wigan Athletic.

The day's programme concludes with Liverpool's visit to West Bromwich Albion.

EVERTON V MAN UTD

Manchester United need to bounce back from their 6-1 hammering by local rivals Manchester City.

Everton have won just once at home this season while United are unbeaten on the road.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men have not won in their last three visits to Goodison Park with last season's corresponding fixture finishing 3-3 after the Merseysiders netted twice in stoppage time.

CHELSEA V ARSENAL

Arsenal have taken just one point on the road this season and have not won in eight Barclays Premier League away matches.

Chelsea, by contrast, have won 10 and drawn one of their last 11 home league fixtures.

Both of last season's meetings finished in home wins. The Gunners have lost their last two visits to Stamford Bridge 2-0.

MAN CITY V WOLVES

These two sides will be meeting for the second time in four days with City having won 5-2 at Molineux in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

Wolves have not won at Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League, losing two of their three visits.

Roberto Mancini's leaders have won 13 and drawn one of their last 14 Barclays Premier League fixtures at the Etihad Stadium.

NORWICH V BLACKBURN

Blackburn go in search of only their second Barclays Premier League win of the season but are buoyed by their midweek Carling Cup success against Newcastle United.

Norwich have taken 10 points from a possible 15 to make a solid start to life back in the top flight.

The Canaries have not beaten Rovers in their last eight attempts, losing four.

SUNDERLAND V ASTON VILLA

Villa striker Darren Bent makes his first return to the Stadium of Light since his January transfer.

After a seven-match unbeaten start to the season, Alex McLeish's men have now lost two in a row.

The Black Cats won both of last season's meetings 1-0.

SWANSEA V BOLTON

Bolton have lost seven of their nine fixtures but both victories have come on the road.

Swansea have yet to concede a goal at the Liberty Stadium in the Barclays Premier League, winning two of their four home matches.

The sides have not met since the 1992/93 season when the Trotters did the double over the Welsh side in Division 2.

WIGAN V FULHAM

Wigan are bottom of the current form table having lost six successive matches.

Fulham have picked up just one point from their four away fixtures this season.

The last five meetings at the DW Stadium have finished all-square. The Latics have not beaten the Cottagers in their last nine attempts.

WEST BROM V LIVERPOOL

Albion manager Roy Hodgson comes up against the club which sacked him in January.

Both sides have won two and drawn two of their last four Barclays Premier League outings.

The Baggies won this fixture 2-1 last season to halt a run of 19 successive defeats at the hands of the Merseysiders.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Click on a fixture below to view the match preview:

Everton v Manchester United (Referee: Mark Halsey)

Chelsea v Arsenal (Andre Marriner)

Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Stuart Attwell)

Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers (Anthony Taylor)

Sunderland v Aston Villa (Chris Foy)

Swansea City v Bolton Wanderers (Mark Clattenburg)

Wigan Athletic v Fulham (Mike Jones)

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool (Lee Mason)

Wednesdays Results

Championship:

Birmingham City 1-0 Leeds United

Zigic

Carling Cup:

Blackburn Rvs 4-3 Newcastle Utd (After Extra Time)

Rochina, Yakubu PEN, Pedersen, Givet

Guthrie, Cabaye, Lovenkrands

Everton 1-2 Chelsea (After Extra Time)

Saha, (Baines Missed Peno)

Kalou, Sturridge, (Anelka Missed Peno,)

Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool

Jones

Suarez x2

Wolves 2-5 Man City

Milijas, o'Hara.

Johnson, Nasri, Djeko x2, De Vries OG

Draw for the next round takes place on Gillette Soccer Saturday this weekend.

Teams in the Quarter Finals:

Arsenal

Blackburn

Cardiff

Crystal Palace

Chelsea

Liverpool

Man City

Man Utd

HOOPS REIGN CONTINUES

Tuesday 25th October saw Shamrock Rovers crowned Airtricity League Champions for the 2nd year in a row. They saw off the challenge off Ucd with a last minute 2-1 winner in front of a packed Ucd Bowl. Dean Kelly scored a 93rd minute goal to send the Hoops fans home jubilantly, after Ken Oman opened the scoring before Robbie Benson levelled for the students. Craig Sives of Rovers and Darren Meenan of Ucd were also sent off. Rovers will recieve the Trophy in Tallaght Stadium this Friday against Galway United which is live on RTE TWO from 7:30 p.m.

SHELS RETURN

Meanwhile after a 5 year wait in the 1st Division of Irish Football, last night Shelbourne Fc won promotion with a comfortable 4-0 win over Finn Harps at Tolka Park. Goals from Ian Ryan, Phillip Hughes, David Cassidy and Conan Byrne secured Promotion for Alan Matthews' side. They will look to win the league on Friday against Cork City in what is the League Decider at Tolka Park. A point will be enough for Shels who are on 68 Points, however Cork City must win as they are 2 points behind on 66. It is sure to be a lively encouter between the top 2 at Tolka on Friday.

Airtricity League Fixtures

Friday 28th October;

Premier Division

Bray Wanderers vs Dundalk,

Carlisle Grounds KO 7:45

Derry City vs Bohemians,

Brandywell KO 7:45

Drogheda Utd vs St Pats

Hunky Dory Park KO 7:45

Shamrock Rovers vs Galway Utd

Tallaght Stadium KO 7:45

Sligo Rovers vs Ucd

The Showgrounds KO 7:45

Saturday 29th October

First Division

Athlone Town vs Monaghan Utd

Town Stadium KO 7:45

Limerick vs Waterford Utd

Jackman Park KO 7:45

Mervue Utd vs Finn Harps

Fahy's Field KO 7:45

Shelbourne vs Cork City

Tolka Park KO 7:45

Wexford Youths vs Salthill Devon

Ferrycarrig Park KO 7:45