Bordeaux edge nine-man Bayern

MICHAEL CIANI scored at both ends and Bordeaux missed two penalties as the French champions leapfrogged Bayern Munich to move to the top of Group A last night as the visitors finished the game with nine men.

Ciani first put Bayern ahead with an own goal in the sixth minute before making amends with a fine equaliser in the 29th minute.

Bayern were reduced to 10 men when they lost Thomas Muller on the half-hour mark and Marc Planus then scored the winner in the 41st minute.

Bordeaux could even afford to miss two penalties with Hans-Jorg Butt saving from both Yoann Gourcuff and Jussie while the visitors ended the game with only nine men as Daniel van Buyten was sent off for committing the foul which led to the second penalty in the 88th minute.

Group rivals Juventus made life hard for themselves but held on to defeat 10-man Maccabi Haifa and earn their first win in the campaign.

Giorgio Chiellini’s header early in the second half was enough to hand the Bianconeri all three points in Turin.

The visitors were handed a blow when midfielder Tiago Dutra was shown a straight red with 22 minutes remaining after a hard tackle on Chiellini.

Despite playing in numerical superiority, Juve failed to extend their lead as Maccabi went in search of the equaliser but the hosts held on for victory.

The outcome leaves Juve second in the standings, two points behind leaders Bordeaux.

The visitors enjoyed a strong start and almost took the lead in the opening stages. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a stunning save to deny Vladimir Dvalishvili’s close-range header from Gustavo Boccoli’s cross.

In the 20th minute, Juve put a good move together with Grosso’s assist serving David Trezeguet on the edge of the area, whose volley went inches wide of the far post.

Maccabi struggled to get past Juve’s defence and Lior Rafaelov tried his luck from the distance but his effort went high and wide.

Ferrara was forced to make a substitution in the 35th minute with Martin Caceres replacing the injured Jonathan Zebina.

On the stroke of the half-time, Buffon was called on to make a save from Dvalishvili’s left-footed strike from the edge of the area.

Juve showed more determination after the restart and it did not take long for them to break the deadlock.

Chiellini latched onto Diego’s free-kick from the left towards the area before heading past Davidovitch.

Despite having Dutra sent off, Maccabi did not give up and Buffon was forced to fully stretch to clear Dvalishvili’s 30-yard strike towards the far post.

The hosts were unlucky not to put the game beyond Maccabi’s reach with six minutes remaining.

Diego served Mauro Camoranesi inside the area, whose powerful right-footed strike beat Davidovitch but rebounded off the near post.

Elsewhere, Edin Dzeko was the chief culprit as Wolfsburg missed a hatful of fine chances to draw their Champions League Group B match with Besiktas.

Dzeko, who has been in scintillating form in recent weeks, had at least three glorious opportunities to break the deadlock as the Turks somehow held on for a point.

Grafite was shown a 74th-minute red card for violent conduct, a decision which dulled the German side’s threat somewhat and ensured stalemate.

Wolfsburg’s bid for victory took a blow when Grafite was shown a 74th minute red card for lashing out at Kas with his hands as the pair jostled at a corner.

A rare moment of quality from Gabriel Heinze settled a poor Champions League game between FC Zurich and Marseille.

Former Manchester United centre-back Heinze volleyed home after 69 minutes to settle a Group C game that never ignited at the Letzigrund stadium.

There was a moment of panic for Marseille when Mandanda flapped at a corner late on, while Alain Rochat headed over in stoppage time, but the hosts, who beat Milan 1-0 at the San Siro last time out, rarely threatened.

After defeats by AC Milan and Real Madrid, the win represented the first points of the campaign for Marseille, who put themselves back into the qualification picture, and also broke a run of six straight Champions League away defeats.

Porto tightened their grip on second place in Group D but made life more difficult than it needed to be for themselves against APOEL.

Two goals from striker Hulk, the second a penalty early in the second half, secured three points for the Portuguese champions who had fallen behind to Alvaro Perreira’s own goal against the run of play.

Porto threatened to win convincingly but rarely did their finishing match the build-up play, and when Mariano Gonzalez was foolishly sent off with 15 minutes remaining it could have been costly.

Bruno Alves also went close for Porto before, incredibly, APOEL went ahead in the 21st minute.

Nuno Morais delivered a hopeful cross from the left and defender Alvaro Perreira stuck out a boot with the intention of preventing Konstantinos Charalambidis to turn the ball home but with the effect of putting the ball past his own goalkeeper, Helton.

Porto’s finishing had been hopelessly wasteful, however that changed in the 33rd minute as Hulk finally converted a chance.

Porto were gifted a penalty in the second minute of the second half

which Hulk calmly slotted home.