Several big guns into last 16

BERLIN: Titleholder Real Madrid, Manchester clubs City and United, Juventus and Bayern Munich were among the heavily fancied teams to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League with a game to go in the group stage.

Roma and Ajax also secured their places in knockout phase yesterday — to join Barcelona, which booked a last16 place three weeks ago.

Real Madrid and Roma were through from group G even before their kickoff in the Italian capital after CSKA Moscow lost 21 at home to Viktoria Plzen in an earlier game.

Secondhalf goals from Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez gave Real victory in Rome to ensure top spot in the group.

Juventus went through and stayed top of group H by two points with a 10 defeat of Valencia.

Mario Mandzukic scored from close range from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross in the 59th minute.

Maroune Fellaini snatched a stoppagetime winner for Manchester United in a 10 defeat of Young Boys at Old Trafford.

It was another underwhelming performance by the host, which was grateful for a breathtaking save from David de Gea in the second half and Fellaini’s late strike.

However, Jose Mourinho defended his record after the game.

‘‘The most important thing is to qualify,’’ he said.

‘‘For some of my lovers, the ones who like stats, I just want to say 14 seasons in the Champions League and 14 times qualified through the group phases.

‘‘Never one of my teams stay behind in the group phases.

‘‘The year I didn’t play Champions League I won the Europa League.’’

Manchester City twice came from behind to draw 22 at Lyon and advance from group F.

Lyon went ahead twice through Maxwel Cornet in the second half, only for Aymeric Laporte and Sergio Aguero to drag the visitors level.

Hoffenheim had Adam Szalai sent off for two quick yellow cards and conceded a late goal to go down 32 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainians host Lyon in a showdown for a place in the next stage.

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich eased the pressure on coach Niko Kovac with a 51 rout of Benfica in group E.

Bayern is two points clear of Ajax, which won 20 at 10man AEK, which had Marko Livaja sent off in the second half.

It is the first time since 2006 Ajax has qualified from the group stage, but the match was overshadowed by crowd violence both inside and outside the stadium in Athens. — DPA

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Aymeric Laporte (left) celebrates scoring Manchester City’s first goal with teammate Leroy Sane during their team’s Champions League group F match against Olympique Lyonnais at Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France, yesterday. The match was a 22 draw, allowing City to advance to the last 16.