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The Sports Matrix: Thursday 8 November 2012

 

Thursday 08 November 2012 01:00 GMT
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Celtic shock Barça as Chelsea and United leave it late

Celtic shocked Barcelona 2-1 to take Neil Lennon's side closer to the last 16. Goals in either half from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt put the Scottish side in control of the Group G game and, despite Lionel Messi's consolation, Celtic held on.

In Group E, Chelsea needed a late winner from Victor Moses, above, after twice surrendering the lead in a 3-2 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead after six minutes but Willian equalised within three minutes. Oscar lobbed Andriy Pyatov to regain the lead, only for Willian to level the scores again. Moses headed home the winner from a Juan Mata corner.

Manchester United maintained their 100 per cent record in Group H, coming from behind to win 3-1 in Braga through goals from Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. MORE

Coe pledges longer drug suspensions

Sebastian Coe was yesterday confirmed as chair of the British Olympic Association, pledging to continue his campaign for longer bans for drugs cheats. "I've been battling for as long as I've been a competitor," he said. "My stance is non-negotiable." MORE

Mancini to escape ban for ref clash

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is unlikely to face any punishment for confronting the referee Peter Rasmussen on the pitch after Tuesday's 2-2 home draw with Ajax. "Nothing was reported," confirmed Uefa. "Neither by the delegate nor the referee." MORE

Spurs face legal threat over chants

Tottenham Hotspur and the Football Association may be reported to the police if they do not increase efforts to stop anti-Semitic chanting. The Society of Black Lawyers made the threat, demanding more action over the next fortnight before the society makes a complaint. MORE

McIlroy: I need to completely escape

Rory McIlroy has defended his decision to withdraw from the HSBC Champions event in China last week. "I need those weeks where I can completely escape," the world No 1 said ahead of the Singapore Open. "I need those weeks when I'm away. It is very helpful." MORE

Djokovic weathers Murray storm

Despite some fine form in the opening set, Andy Murray went down 4-6, 6-3 7-5 to world No 1 Novak Djokovic at the World Tour finals. The Scot was two points from victory before Djokovic prevailed in a match lasting two and a half hours. page 56

Lancaster left to rejig side for Fiji

Injuries and suspensions are likely to lead Stuart Lancaster to pick uncapped forwards for Saturday's match with Fiji. Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs and Joe Launchbury are likely to feature, along with Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples. MORE

Duffield to take on big boys in Paris

Little North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield will seek to end the Flat season in giant style at the weekend when she takes her colt Willie The Whipper to Paris for the Group One Critérium de St-Cloud. MORE

Swann flies home to sick daughter

England bowler Graeme Swann has returned home from the tour of India after his three-week-old daughter fell ill. The spinner is expected to rejoin the tour ahead of the first Test, which starts in Ahmedabad a week today. MORE

Coe pledges longer drug suspensions

Sebastian Coe was yesterday confirmed as chair of the British Olympic Association, pledging to continue his campaign for longer bans for drugs cheats. "I've been battling for as long as I've been a competitor," he said. "My stance is non-negotiable." MORE

James Lawton

The touch and vision of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard had been notable before that other member of this talented trinity, Oscar, left, pushed Chelsea back into the lead with sumptuous authority.

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