The dispute between English football giant Chelsea and French team of Lens about the transfer of youngster Gael Katuka has seen a new episode with the International sport's top court lifting the transfer ban imposed on Chelsea.
Liverpool's under-fire manager Rafael Benitez heads to Lyon with a makeshift squad knowing anything short of a victory could leave the Reds staring at an early exit from the Champions League.
English big shots Chelsea qualified for the knockout round of the Champions League, along with Porto and French team Bordeaux (photo) who marked up a splendid victory over Bayern Munich.
Second-half goals from France pair Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda settled a Chelsea 2-0 win against Liverpool. The Blues now move two points clear at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal hammered Blackburn Rovers 6-2 (picture).
Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) helped Real Madrid defeat Marseille 3-0 as AC Milan suffered a humiliating 1-0 loss at home to Zurich. Manchester United and Chelsea secured their second win in two games to lead their groups.
Sevilla (barely) have Real Madrid and Barcelona in sight; Manchester United go top as Chelsea slump to their first defeat of the season; Sampdoria teach Inter Milan a lesson in humility; and Bayern Munich stumble in Hamburg.
After Wigan put an end to Chelsea's run of luck with a 3-1 victory, Manchester United went to the top of the Premiership for the first time in the season after a 2-0 win over Stoke with an impressive performance by Ryan Giggs (photo).
French champions Bordeaux secured a precious point in Turin after holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw. Elsewhere, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and the German duo of Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg all got off to a winning start.
Chelsea FC say they will fight against a ban on signing any new players for the next two transfer windows handed to the Premier League club by football's ruling body FIFA following a contractual dispute with French club Lens.
Goals by Nicolas Anelka, Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole helped Chelsea to a comfortable 3-0 win over Burnley at Stamford Bridge and propelled Carlo Ancelotti's squad to the top of the Premier League.
