Koke opened the scoring early in the second half before the attacking duo sealed a comfortable victory for the Spanish champions

Koke scored one and claimed two assists as Atletico Madrid swept aside Malmo 5-0 to go level on points with Olympiakos in Champions League Group A on Wednesday.

The Spain midfielder scored his second of the season from close range just after half-time and that was the signal for the floodgates to open.

Koke then crossed for Mario Mandzukic to slide in a second and Antoine Griezmann rifled in with just less than half an hour to go on his first Champions League start.

Captain Diego Godin powerfully headed home late on and substitute Alessio Cerci completed the scoring in injury time.

Malmo had defended resolutely in the first half and could have gone in front on the stroke of half-time through Eriksson’s free kick, but ultimately they were no match for Atletico, who extended their phenomenal home record in European competition to 19 wins in the last 21 games.

Diego Simeone made five changes from the victory over Espanyol, with Tiago and Cristian Ansaldi out injured, while Miranda was recalled and Frenchman Griezmann came in.

Malmo had injury problems of their own and made three changes, with Markus Halsti, Erik Johansson and Isaac Kiese Thelin all coming in.

The Swedish champions boasted plenty of height in their team and Halsti’s header forced Miguel Angel Moya to turn his header over after four minutes.

That was an exception to the rule of a first half which saw Atletico dominate for large periods, and Griezmann almost made the most of a long pass after beating the offside trap, but Robin Olsen rushed off his line to thwart him.

Simeone’s men should have gone ahead after 33 minutes when Arda Turan’s pass left Griezmann with just Olsen to beat, but he hammered his shot onto the underside of the bar and Mandzukic’s headed rebound was blocked by Johansson on the line.

The visitors almost snatched the lead in first-half injury time, but Magnus Eriksson’s curling free kick was tipped over by Moya.

Atletico went in front two minutes after half-time in intricate fashion. Patient build-up play was rewarded when Turan lifted a pass through to Koke six yards out and he slotted home with ease.

The neat passing almost brought a second three minutes later as Koke set up Mario Suarez just inside the area, but Olsen parried the swerving shot to safety.

If Atletico needed to be warned about being complacent, Emil Forsberg provided it after 59 minutes when he lashed a shot just wide.

And the hosts gave themselves a two-goal cushion a minute later through a lovely passing move that culminated with Koke’s low cross being converted by Mandzukic for his second Champions League goal this season.

The scoreline became even more emphatic two minutes later and Koke was once again involved as he found Griezmann, who found space to fire goalwards and, although Olsen got something on it, the ball bounced away and in for the third.

Godin grabbed the fourth with a well-taken header and, with the last attack, Cerci rattled the post before curling in the rebound to complete a convincing Atletico triumph.

Roger Schmidt’s men sprung to life in the second half to dismiss Andre-Villas Boas’ side and give them the advantage in Champions League Group B

Zenit St Peterburg’s long unbeaten run came to an end as Bayer Leverkusen won 2-0 to move to the summit of Champions League Group C.

Giulio Donati put the German side ahead just after half-time at the BayArena on Wednesday before Kyriakos Papadopoulos doubled the advantage with his first touch five minutes later.

Their efforts were enough to ensure Zenit tasted defeat for the first time in 17 games, with the Germans moving top of the pool thanks to Monaco’s goalless stalemate with Benfica.

Zenit held first place at the start of the night having begun their campaign with a 2-0 win at Benfica and 0-0 draw with Monaco.

Yet they did not show the same quality against a Leverkusen side who got their campaign back on track with a 3-1 win over Benfica on matchday two.

Even Brazilian defender Wendell’s 79th-minute sending off could not spark a turnaround as the German side took the spoils.

The hosts made one switch from the XI that beat Benfica, Donati replacing Roberto Hilbert at right-back – a decision from Roger Schmidt which proved inspired.

Zenit’s sole alteration saw Axel Witsel come back into the starting line-up in place of Oleg Shatov.

The visitors enjoyed the better start, although the Bundesliga side created the first chance when Emir Spahic’s glancing header flew just wide.

But that proved a rare early opening, as the sides largely cancelled each other out.

Indeed, the only drama in the initial stages was provided by referee Bjorn Kuipers, who showed several questionable yellow cards – with Hulk, Viktor Fayzulin and Javi Garcia all cautioned for Zenit in a nine-minute spell.

Leverkusen did at least show more endeavour as the half wore on, Hakan Calhanoglu’s powerful 25-yard effort forcing Yuri Lodigin into a solid save.

The goalkeeper had to be on high alert again soon afterwards, diving low to his right to keep out Calhanoglu’s header from Lars Bender’s cross.

That seemed to spark Zenit into life, illustrated when Hulk’s attempt from distance flew just wide.

However, they could not maintain the momentum after half-time, with Leverkusen taking a 58th-minute lead when Donati rifled a strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Leverkusen doubled their advantage almost immediately as Papadopoulos rose highest to nod Calhanoglu’s superb curling free-kick beyond a helpless Lodigin.

The chances of a twist in the tale seemed greater when Wendell picked up his second yellow card for handball.

But, if anything, the hosts kept pressing in the final stages and could have scored again with Donati seeing two strong shouts for a penalty waved away.

It mattered little, however, as Leverkusen cruised through to maintain their unbeaten start at home under Schmidt.

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Goals from defender Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski at the death gave the Gunners a much-needed win over the Belgian outfit, despite Andy Najar’s second-half opener

A late Lukas Podolski goal gave Arsenal a dramatic 2-1 win over Anderlecht in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Arsenal looked down and out after Andy Najar’s 71st-minute header gave Anderlecht a deserved lead in the Group D Champions League encounter.

But Anthony Vanden Borre hit the post and Anderlecht wasted other late chances, for which they were made to pay.

Kieran Gibbs first drew Arsenal level in the 88th minute, volleying home at the back post, before Podolski rifled in from close range in the 91st minute.

Chancel Mbemba Mangulu could not clear Alexis Sanchez’s cut-back and the rebound fell invitingly to the Germany international, who sent the away fans wild with a simple finish from four yards.
And the win means Arsenal are in a strong position to qualify from Group D, with their last-gasp triumph putting them five points clear of both Anderlecht and Galatasaray – who were beaten 4-0 by Borussia Dortmund – in second.

With Wojciech Szczesny suspended and back-up David Ospina sidelined with a thigh injury, Arsene Wenger handed a start in goal to former Argentina youth international Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez conceded five times in his last Arsenal appearance, an incredible 7-5 win over Reading after extra time in the League Cup’s last 16 in October 2012.

But a repeat never looked likely in an uninspiring first half, which saw Arsenal shade the contest but fail to create many meaningful chances.

The closest Arsenal came was in the 16th minute, when Danny Welbeck headed Alexis’ cross over after a quick break, while the Chilean, Santi Cazorla and Per Mertesacker were all guilty of spurning good openings.

Anderlecht were far from threatening, either, and a series of blocks and defensive headers from Arsenal meant it took 39 minutes for Martinez to be called into action, as he rushed off his line to deny to Dennis Praet from an acute angle.

Alexis had a good chance to give Arsenal the lead five minutes into the second half, but with his back to goal, his flick – which came off his shoulder – could not beat goalkeeper Silvio Proto from Cazorla’s free-kick.

Aaron Ramsey then fired wide after Alexis’ cut-back, before Gohi Cyriac shot at Martinez at the other end.

Anderlecht were growing into the game, as Praet fired over, and shortly after Cazorla’s close call – which saw Proto deny him with an excellent save – the hosts took the lead.

Najar inspired the sweeping counter-attack, bursting down the right before feeding Praet, who composed himself and swung in an excellent cross.

And Najar continued his run, nodding a free header past Martinez and into the bottom-right corner.

Vanden Borre could have wrapped up the win for Anderlecht with 11 minutes left, but his mis-hit effort struck the post after good work from Najar and Praet, and Arsenal made them pay – Gibbs volleying a side-footed finish past Proto from Calum Chambers’ cross.

The goal lifted Arsenal and they surged forward in search of a winner – which came from the boot of Podolski.

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The France international netted a first-half brace, while the Ballon d’Or holder continued his superb run of form to bag his 20th goal in 13 appearances this season

Real Madrid ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday evening, as Cristiano Ronaldo continued his superb run of form.

The Portugal international netted for the 20th time in 13 appearances this season to open the scoring, and subsequently moved within one of former Real stalwart Raul’s Champions League competition record of 71 goals.

While the European champions’ first featured slick passing and a world-class finish, Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall from there as Karim Benzema twice capitalised on slack defending to net a double before half-time.

It was a matter of damage limitation for Liverpool after that,  with the Premier League side playing out a spirited second half without a recognised striker.

Real retained their menace throughout but were able to leave plenty in reserve for Saturday’s mouthwatering El Clasico showdown with arch-rivals Barcelona.
Under-fire forward Mario Balotelli retained the faith of home manager Brendan Rodgers and the enigmatic Italian passed up the chance to play through Raheem Sterling when Isco lost possession in the second minute.

Ronaldo then thundered an early drive into the chest of Simon Mignolet, while there were awkward moments for the Liverpool goalkeeper’s opposite number.

Iker Casillas parried the ball clear when a long-range Steven Gerrard strike dipped awkwardly and the experienced shot-stopper then showed poor handling from a 13th-minute corner.

Casillas and Madrid’s travelling fans had their nerves settled, though, when Ronaldo opened the scoring in superb fashion after 23 minutes.

Having exchanged passes with Benzema, the Ballon d’Or holder charged onto a chipped return ball from James Rodriguez to sweep home on the half-volley.

And Liverpool had a mountain to climb with half an hour played, as Benzema looped a header beyond Mignolet on the end of Toni Kroos’ floated cross.

A rare moment of indecision allowed Glen Johnson to deny Ronaldo five minutes before half-time but woeful defending from the resulting corner sealed Liverpool’s fate.

Pepe knocked down Kroos’ delivery and the ball squirmed beyond Mignolet and flailing Liverpool legs to leave Benzema with a simple tap-in.

The recalled Joe Allen side-footed wide and fellow midfielder Philippe Coutinho clattered a shot against the post from distance, but Liverpool could not grasp a lifeline before half-time.

Balotelli exchanged shirts with Pepe at the interval and it was his last act, as Adam Lallana replaced the former Manchester City man for the start of the second period.

Liverpool attacked in spirited fashion upon the resumption, although a vital challenge from Martin Skrtel to stop a storming run from Isco demonstrated the perils they still faced against a counter-attacking Real.

Skrtel was caught napping by a rampaging Ronaldo in the 62nd minute and Mignolet got behind a firmly struck shot, before denying the same player from close range as Real sliced through the home defence once more.

Sterling kept Casillas involved at the other end and Allen scrambled a shot wide in the 72nd minute before Benzema and Rodriguez combined incisively for the latter to steer wide in front of the Kop.

Three wins from three means Real’s passage from Group B is already virtually assured, while Liverpool must bounce back from consecutive defeats to overhaul second-placed Basel.

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The hosts were unable to pick apart last season’s Europa League runners-up and they spoils were shared in Group B

Benfica held on for their first point of this season’s Champions League with a 0-0 draw at Monaco despite ending the game with 10 men.

Jorge Jesus’ men are once again dominating matters in the Primeira Liga but were frustrated by the hosts at the Stade Louis II in a dreary Group C encounter on Wednesday.

The Lisbon club enjoyed the better opportunities on the Cote d’Azur, however, an inspired goalkeeping performance from Danijel Subasic kept Benfica at bay.

Subasic pulled off a number of fine saves in the second half before Benfica centre-back Lisandro Lopez was sent off for a rash challenge on Joao Moutinho.

That dismissal had little impact on the game, though, as the two teams played out a stalemate that preserves Monaco’s unbeaten start to the competition.

The draw leaves Benfica bottom of the group with just one point to their name ahead of the return clash at the Estadio da Luz in two weeks.

Meanwhile, Monaco are second on five points, one behind a Bayer Leverkusen side that went top with a 2-0 win over Zenit.

On his return from an ankle injury Dimitar Berbatov proved an early source of inspiration, presenting Lucas Ocampos with an open goal in the fourth minute, only for the Argentine winger to fire high over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

That chance was the best of an uninspiring first half that proved to be a costly one for Monaco as Berbatov’s comeback was cut short, the former Manchester United man forced off in the 34th minute and replaced by teenage forward Anthony Martial.

Benfica offered little as an attacking force in the opening period but came close to breaking the deadlock in the 39th minute as Lima was brilliantly denied by Subasic from close range, the Croatian blocking the Brazilian’s effort following a superb right-wing cross from Talisca.

Martial shot narrowly wide after the restart but once again the hosts were grateful to their keeper from maintaining parity as Subasic denied Nicolas Gaitan netting a wonderful individual goal.

Gaitan cleverly worked his way into the penalty area and unleashed a vicious half-volley that Subasic was equal to as he parried the ball out for a corner.

Jesus’ team were the better side for most of the second half, yet they found a shot-stopper in magnificent form in Subasic, who preserved his clean sheet again in the 67th minute, keeping out Eduardo Salvio’s low drive.

The game turned in Monaco’s favour in the 76th minute when Lopez flew in over the ball on Moutinho, leaving Polish referee Szymon Marciniak with little choice but to brandish a straight red card.

Monaco, though, could not take advantage of their numerical advantage and were left to settle for a somewhat underwhelming point, although a similarly defiant display from Subasic in a fortnight’s time should stand them in good stead to seal progression from an evenly matched group.

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