LIVERPOOL, England- - After five years away, Champions League drama returned to Anfield like a long lost friend on Tuesday as Liverpool beat debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria 2-1 with Steven Gerrard scoring a last-gasp penalty.
All three goals came towards the end of a pulsating Group B game and, fittingly, it was Liverpool skipper Gerrard, the last remaining hero of their famous 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan in Istanbul, who scored the winner.
The midfielder fired home his 40th European goal in the last minute of stoppage time.
But this was no classic to rank alongside that win or other victories at Anfield over the likes of Olympiakos or Chelsea before they took a leave of absence from the competition in 2009.
This was a hard-fought victory after an achingly frustrating night with the Anfield faithful having to endure typical nail-biting tension before going home happy.
Italy striker Mario Balotelli, with his first goal for the club since his move from AC Milan, broke Ludogorets' resistance after 82 minutes, only for Liverpool to self-implode on the stroke of full-time when Dani Abalo took advantage of poor play by Simon Mignolet to round the keeper and equalise for the visitors.
With a draw looking inevitable, Canadian international keeper Milan Borjan, who only joined Ludogorets last week to solve a goalkeeping crisis, then made a terrible mistake at the other end, failing to clear a backpass, losing the ball, tangling with Javi Manquillo and giving away a penalty.
Gerrard, so deadly from the spot, made no mistake to score the winner seconds before the final whistle blew.
But Gerrard, and his manager Brendan Rodgers were not blind to how close Liverpool came to ending the night without a win.
"We did OK but it wasn't better than OK. There's a lot to learn, we were caused problems on the counter-attack, Gerrard said.
"You have to give Mario Balotelli credit, it didn't go his way for long periods but the sign of a good goalscorer is to keep going and get a chance. What's more important is his work rate.
"If we win in Basel now it puts us in a good position but we must do better."
Manager Rodgers, in his first Champions League match in charge, said: "It was a great night in the end because we won, but we are not yet at the level we were last season but we will get there.
"Ludogorets played very well, they are a very good side and to get the win tonight was very important."
Ludogorets coach Georgi Dermendzhiev said other teams would have a different view of his team after this match.
"I'm very pleased with my players. They're brave and they didn't allow Liverpool to create many chances," he said.
"They'll start looking at Ludogorets in a different way in Europe now. I'm confident and I'm sure we're strong enough to finish third and continue in the Europa League."
Hit Woodwork
Ludogorets went closest to a goal before the late flurry started when Roman Bezjak hit a post after 72 minutes and although they deserved a point from an enterprising performance, they will be encouraged ahead of upcoming fixtures against Basel and champions Real Madrid.
It promised to be a memorable night for five-times former European champions Liverpool, but they never really got into their stride and after Ludogorets overcame a cautious start the game was wide open.
The Bulgarians began to stretch Liverpool at the back with Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho a constant menace with his swift breaks.
He was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the first half when Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren shoved him over, and he also went close to a goal himself in the second half.
Liverpool's midfield never took control either and their only real chance in the first half fell to Adam Lallana who failed to capitalise after some rare good work from Raheem Sterling.
But just as the game appeared to be petering out to a goalless draw, Balotelli struck when he got a difficult ball under control and scored with his right foot.
"It was world class," said Rodgers somewhat excessively.
LIVERPOOL, England- - After five years away, Champions League drama returned to Anfield like a long lost friend on Tuesday as Liverpool beat debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria 2-1 with Steven Gerrard scoring a last-gasp penalty.
All three goals came towards the end of a pulsating Group B game and, fittingly, it was Liverpool skipper Gerrard, the last remaining hero of their famous 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan in Istanbul, who scored the winner.
The midfielder fired home his 40th European goal in the last minute of stoppage time.
But this was no classic to rank alongside that win or other victories at Anfield over the likes of Olympiakos or Chelsea before they took a leave of absence from the competition in 2009.
This was a hard-fought victory after an achingly frustrating night with the Anfield faithful having to endure typical nail-biting tension before going home happy.
Italy striker Mario Balotelli, with his first goal for the club since his move from AC Milan, broke Ludogorets' resistance after 82 minutes, only for Liverpool to self-implode on the stroke of full-time when Dani Abalo took advantage of poor play by Simon Mignolet to round the keeper and equalise for the visitors.
With a draw looking inevitable, Canadian international keeper Milan Borjan, who only joined Ludogorets last week to solve a goalkeeping crisis, then made a terrible mistake at the other end, failing to clear a backpass, losing the ball, tangling with Javi Manquillo and giving away a penalty.
Gerrard, so deadly from the spot, made no mistake to score the winner seconds before the final whistle blew.
But Gerrard, and his manager Brendan Rodgers were not blind to how close Liverpool came to ending the night without a win.
"We did OK but it wasn't better than OK. There's a lot to learn, we were caused problems on the counter-attack, Gerrard said.
"You have to give Mario Balotelli credit, it didn't go his way for long periods but the sign of a good goalscorer is to keep going and get a chance. What's more important is his work rate.
"If we win in Basel now it puts us in a good position but we must do better."
Manager Rodgers, in his first Champions League match in charge, said: "It was a great night in the end because we won, but we are not yet at the level we were last season but we will get there.
"Ludogorets played very well, they are a very good side and to get the win tonight was very important."
Ludogorets coach Georgi Dermendzhiev said other teams would have a different view of his team after this match.
"I'm very pleased with my players. They're brave and they didn't allow Liverpool to create many chances," he said.
"They'll start looking at Ludogorets in a different way in Europe now. I'm confident and I'm sure we're strong enough to finish third and continue in the Europa League."
Hit Woodwork
Ludogorets went closest to a goal before the late flurry started when Roman Bezjak hit a post after 72 minutes and although they deserved a point from an enterprising performance, they will be encouraged ahead of upcoming fixtures against Basel and champions Real Madrid.
It promised to be a memorable night for five-times former European champions Liverpool, but they never really got into their stride and after Ludogorets overcame a cautious start the game was wide open.
The Bulgarians began to stretch Liverpool at the back with Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho a constant menace with his swift breaks.
He was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the first half when Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren shoved him over, and he also went close to a goal himself in the second half.
Liverpool's midfield never took control either and their only real chance in the first half fell to Adam Lallana who failed to capitalise after some rare good work from Raheem Sterling.
But just as the game appeared to be petering out to a goalless draw, Balotelli struck when he got a difficult ball under control and scored with his right foot.
"It was world class," said Rodgers somewhat excessively.
NEW YORK-- The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals both secured division wins and playoff berths with victories in their Major League Baseball games on Tuesday.
The Orioles clinched the American League East with an impressive 8-2 victory over Toronto while the Nationals clinched the National League East for the second time in three years with a 3-0 win over divisional rival Atlanta Braves.
Steve Pearce and Jimmy Paredes both homered and Alejandro De Aza added a three-run triple for the Orioles to clinch their first division title since 1997. They won the wildcard in 2012.
The Nationals return to the playoffs for just the second time since moving from Montreal in 2005.
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a two-run homer while right-hander Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings in their win over the Braves.
In other games Twins beat Tigers 4-3, Cubs clobbered Reds 7-0, Pirates bested Red Sox 4-0 and Mets bashed Marlins 9-1
NEW YORK-- The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals both secured division wins and playoff berths with victories in their Major League Baseball games on Tuesday.
The Orioles clinched the American League East with an impressive 8-2 victory over Toronto while the Nationals clinched the National League East for the second time in three years with a 3-0 win over divisional rival Atlanta Braves.
Steve Pearce and Jimmy Paredes both homered and Alejandro De Aza added a three-run triple for the Orioles to clinch their first division title since 1997. They won the wildcard in 2012.
The Nationals return to the playoffs for just the second time since moving from Montreal in 2005.
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a two-run homer while right-hander Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings in their win over the Braves.
In other games Twins beat Tigers 4-3, Cubs clobbered Reds 7-0, Pirates bested Red Sox 4-0 and Mets bashed Marlins 9-1
LONDON-- It was Alex Ferguson who once noted famously that watching the World Cup was as excruciating as visiting the dentist while offering the counterpoint that the Champions League was much more fun, quite the best competition in football.
To be fair, the old Manchester United manager did make this observation long before the exhilarating 2014 edition of the World Cup restored most football folk's faith in the sport's premier event.
So now it is time for UEFA's ever more unstoppable juggernaut of an event to re-establish its bragging rights as the 60th edition of the European Cup competition - and the 23rd in its Champions League guise - kicks off this week with its first set of group matches on the long road to a climax at Berlin's Olympiastadion next June.
The Champions League's paymasters can ask again who cares about the World Cup when hundreds of millions are able to see Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and company strut the dandiest stages of European club football week in, week out over the next 10 months?
The competition, which was worth 57.4 million euros ($74.40 million) in prize money to last season's champions, has mushroomed into an unrecognisable phenomenon and veritable cash cow from the inaugural 29-game, 16-team tournament of 1955-1956 which made an intriguing bow with no television or sponsorship nor, indeed, sniffy Englishmen.
Some things never change, though.
Just as the Cup's first edition in 1956 was won by Real Madrid, so the Spanish aristocrats begin tournament number 60 as holders and warm favourites, even after their underwhelming start to the La Liga campaign.
Even without AC Milan and Manchester United, 10-times winners between them, in this year's draw, there is predictability to what will eventuate.
It is no coincidence that the four favourites this season - Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Chelsea - are also the last four heavyweight winners of the trophy.
The last genuine surprise winners? Jose Mourinho's Porto in 2004, 18 of the last 19 winners having come from one of the continent's big four leagues - La Liga, Bundesliga, Premier League and Serie A. The Champions League is not big on fairytales.
Here is another predictable prediction. Carlo Ancelotti can claim that his Real Madrid squad "is stronger than it was last year" - a highly debatable assertion without Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria offering their excellent balance - but they will not defend their title.
Why? Modern Champions League lore dictates that the winner never repeats, that the pressure is too much. You have to go back to Arrigo Sacchi's Milan in 1990, three years before the inaugural Champions League final, to find the last back-to back European champions.
More than that, no champions since then have ever been succeeded by a club from their own country.
So Barcelona, with their own set of striking Galacticos - Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez - and last year's beaten finalists Atletico Madrid, still hewn from Diego Simeone's inspirational one-for-all image, have their work cut out.
Yet for Real, surely the pressure of finally landing the fabled 10th crown - La Decima - last season ought to make the idea of winning the not-so-exacting 'Undecima' seem a mere trifle?
If it happens, Ancelotti would be the first coach ever to win 'the Cup with the big ears' four times. Added to his two titles as a player with Milan, it would cement this quiet achiever's standing as the most decorated figure in European Cup annals.
Major Casualty
Surely, as Real prepare to start their defence at the Bernabeu against Basel on Tuesday, President Florentino Perez must believe they can break the Champions League holders' jinx, especially if Cristiano Ronaldo can maintain his supersonic form of last term, with his record 17 goals in a campaign.
Ronaldo himself predicts he is not finished yet, stating: "In terms of individual achievements I'm going to try to break my own records. I know it's tough, but I'm going to try."
Indeed, it seems a decent bet that this season, both Ronaldo and Messi will shoot past the all-time tournament record of 71, held by Real's former immaculate marksman, Raul.
Traditionalists may pine for the days before the occasionally less than gripping group stages when a big fish could be netted early in a straight knockout competition.
Yet there is always room for a major casualty to go tumbling before the end of the year.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City, the champions of Germany and England respectively, meet on Wednesday for the third tournament out of four and have to repel both Serie A runners-up AS Roma and Russian champions CSKA Moscow in a highly competitive Group E.
A couple of other Anglo-German clashes - Arsenal renewing familiar rivalry at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea hosting Schalke 04 - may be the pick of the other opening round games.
For a bit of romance, though, look no further than Anfield where the returning five-times champions Liverpool will play host to the unsung Bulgarian side Ludogorets and their amazed new celebrity, Cosmin Moti.
Defender Moti was the unlikely hero who, pressed into emergency action as substitute goalkeeper in Ludogorets' qualifying playoff against Steaua Bucharest, scored one and saved two in his side's victorious shootout.
"Everything in football is possible," said the man who had laughed that Steaua's penalty takers could not possibly know what he was going to do because he did not know himself.
With Ludogorets' first-choice keeper Vladislav Stoyanov suspended, their coach Georgi Dermendzhiev suggested, perhaps only half in jest, that Moti might end up in goal at Anfield.
It would not be just Liverpool's Kop, who have long believed in Champions League fairytales, but the entire tournament which would adore that.
