KNOCK-OUT PUNCH!
With some of Europe’s biggest teams taking a step towards realising their Champions League dream after Tuesday night’s round of group stage matches, HT looks at what it means for some of these giants:
CITY FIGHT BACK
Manchester City came from behind twice to avoid their season’s second defeat, which would have also been a second loss against Lyon, who had beaten them 2-1 at Etihad Stadium in the first-leg. The draw was enough for Pep Guardiola’s side to secure progression to the knockout phase.
Lyon’s Maxwel Cornet had put the French side ahead twice in the second period before two headed goals from Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Aguero restored parity for the English champions. Lyon are the only team to score more than once against City this season.
City need a point from their final game at home to eliminated Hoffenheim to secure top spot in Group F.
REAL SHINE
Real Madrid bounced back from their 3-0 league defeat against Eibar after a series of errors by Roma handed them a 2-0 victory, thus ensuring a first place finish in Group G.
Roma winger Cengiz Under sent the ball over the bar from point-blank range with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois already down on the ground in the first-half. Then, following a defensive blunder, Gareth Bale made a composed finish immediately after the break. Lucas Vazquez added another after some good work from Bale. Both three-time defending champion Madrid and last season’s semi-finalist Roma had secured spots in the last 16 before kick-off.
UNITED SCRAPE THROUGH
Manchester United went through to the next round with a late win over minnows Young Boys, after Marouane Fellaini seemed to control the ball with his hand before dispatching it into the bottom corner, and send United into the round of 16.
More than the lucky triumph itself, it was manager Jose Mourinho’s celebration at the touchline that caught the eye, with the Portuguese kicking a basket of water bottles before picking up another set and throwing it forcefully to the ground.
But despite registering back-to-back wins in the competitions against Juventus and Young Boys, the English side’s hopes of topping the group lie in the hands of Juve.
RESPITE FOR BAYERN
Bayern Munich eased some pressure off their manager Niko Kovac after advancing to the round of 16 with a 5-1 thrashing of Benfica on Tuesday. Bayern’s prolific front three — Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and Franck Ribery — scored for the home side.
Robben netted a brace alongside Lewandowski, with the Dutch midfielder becoming Bayern’s third highest scorer in the competition with 25 goals, behind Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller.
Earlier, Ajax advanced from the group with a 2-0 win at AEK Athens. Bayern leads the group with 13 points, two ahead of Ajax, who cannot be overtaken by third-placed Benfica. Ajax host Bayern to decide the group winner on December 12.
RONALDO LIFTS JUVE
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to be part of 100 Champions League victories by providing for Mario Mandzukic’s winner for Juventus. Ronaldo broke free of Valencia defender Gabriel with tricky footwork and fired a low cross across the face of the goal for Mandzukic to finish off.
Ronaldo seems to be relishing his creator’s role since he moved to Turin from Real Madrid in the summer, producing his sixth assist in all club competitions this season at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night.
The win enabled Juventus’ qualification to the knockout phase but the Italian giants will have to wait for the final round of group games, where they play Young Boys, to see whether they can top the group.