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Champions League: FC Porto face Arsenal; Sporting land Barcelona

Portuguese clubs handed reasonable draw

FC Porto and Sporting will be reasonably happy with the outcome of the draw for the Group Stage of the 2008/09 Champions League. Although neither club’s group can be considered easy, it could have been far worse.

Portuguese champions Porto play Arsenal (who they met at the same stage two seasons ago), Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev. Sporting will face off against Barcelona, FC Basel and Shaktar Donetsk. >>Full Draw>>

Refereeing blunder ends Guimaraes Champions League dream

FC Basel 2-1 Guimaraes (agg. 2-1)

Vitoria de Guimaraes missed a golden chance to make it to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history as they were beaten 2-1 by Basel in Switzerland last night.

The home team progressed thanks to a goal in each half from Stocker and Derdiyok, sandwiched by a Fajardo penalty. But the Portuguese team can justifiably point to a crucial refereeing error. Roberto’s headed ‘goal’ three minutes from time, which almost certainly would have won Guimaraes the tie, was incorrectly ruled offside by the linesman. >>

Champions League round-up: Maniche & Simao storm through

Guimaraes frustrated by resolute Basel

Vitoria Guimaraes 0-0 FC Basel

Vitoria Guimaraes were held to a goalless draw by FC Basel yesterday in the first leg of the final qualifying round for this season’s Champions League.

The Swiss champions are now favourites to go through, but Manuel Cajuda and his team will feel they are still in with a good chance of getting the result they need in the return leg in a fortnight to make history and enter the competition proper for the first time. >>