Tight at the Bottom as Germans March on for Victory

Bayern maintain their perfect defence of the trophy with victory over ever-disappointing Benfica, while Genoa swap places in the table with Barcelona after a famous win in the Camp Nou. 

Manchester United’s victory over Juventus was reversed when it emerged that manager Greg Owen fielded a ringer in goal.

Group B

Atlético Madrid	0 – 0	Arsenal
Dortmund	2 – 0	Real Madrid
Hellas Verona	2 – 0	Chelsea

Dortmund also maintain their perfect start to the Youth Cup, in complete contrast to their senior team. The win over Real Madrid heaps yet more pressure on their boss Beddows, who has now gone into hiding/therapy where he is reportedly writing children’s fantasy fiction to pass the time until their next win in the SMFA Shield.

Group C

Flamengo	0 – 1	Leverkusen
Olympique Marseille	3 – 0*	Hoffenheim
Valencia CF	0 – 0	Independiente

A third German club, Leverkusen, also have a perfect start after four games, with a great victory at last season’s beaten Shield finalists, Flamengo.

* Hoffenheim fielded an overage player.

Group D

AC Milan	3 – 2	Stoke City
Aston Villa	1 – 1	SSC Napoli
Everton	1 – 1	AS Roma

Good win for Milan over Stoke keeps them in touch with leaders Villa, who surprisingly dropped points at home to Napoli.

Group E

Liverpool	1 – 0	RCD Espanyol
Sevilla	1 – 1	Newcastle United
Sporting CP	1 – 1	Manchester City

Group E is turning out to be the Group of Death, with only five points separating first from sixth. Bottom club Liverpool got their first points on the board with a victory over Espanyol.

Group F

FC Basel	0 – 3*	RSC Anderlecht
Dynamo Kyiv	2 – 1	Swansea City
Sassuolo	2 – 3	Sunderland

The big match between the top two was spoiled somewhat by Basel playing an overage team. That allowed Sunderland to take advantage and leapfrog them into second. Basel were looking set for qualification for the Cup knockout stage, but may now have to settle for the Spoon.

Swansea are still searching for their first point.

Group G

H. Berlin	3 – 3	ACF Fiorentina
Internazionale	2 – 2	Augsburg
Tottenham Hotspur	2 – 3	Shakhtar Donetsk

Another tight group (if you ignore pointless Spurs), with only five points separating first from fifth.

Group H

Girondins Bordeaux	1 – 1	Villarreal CF
SS Lazio	3 – 3	Beşiktaş JK
Udinese Calcio	0 – 3	Club Brugge KV

Another close one, with just four points separating the Cup, Shield and Spoon qualifying places from first to fourth.

First point of the campaign for Besiktas, with a creditable draw at second placed Lazio.

Group I

Celta Vigo	0 – 0	Leicester City
Lokomotiv Moskva	1 – 4	Cologne
São Paulo FC	0 – 3*	Crystal Palace

Just three points separate first and fifth, the difference between qualifying for the Cup knockout stage or nothing at all. It really is that tight down at the bottom!

Cologne’s impressive win in Russia catapults them into second, while the Spoon Army will be disappointed to gift the advantage to Crystal Palace by fielding overage players.