The struggle is Real for the Euro elite
While former champions Liverpool and Porto eased to the knockout stage of the Champions League, record 13-time champions Real Madrid face an embarrassing groupstage exit after losing 2-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Zinedine Zidane’s side would have advanced with a win, but have defended poorly all season and were undone by counter-attack goals in the second half. Instead of progressing, Madrid dropped to third place in Group B behind the Ukrainian side and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Six-time champions Liverpool overcame injury problems to beat four-time winners Ajax 1-0 at Anfield, thanks to a second-half goal from midfielder Curtis Jones, and two-time winners Porto held already-qualified Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at home, although City made sure of the top spot.
No drama in those two groups, but plenty in Madrid’s as Gladbach missed the chance to advance after losing 3-2 at home to three-time champions Inter Milan, who had to win.
Atletico Madrid also did not do enough, drawing 1-1 at home to Bayern Munich even though the defending champions fielded a weakened side having already qualified. Munich rested prolific striker Robert Lewandowski and standout goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Atletico’s in-form striker Joao Felix faced less competition without Neuer thwarting him, and he swept in Marcos Llorente’s cross from the byline midway through the first half, but veteran forward Thomas Mu¨ller equalised from the penalty spot in the 86th.
In Group A’s other game, striker Mergim Berisha netted twice as Salzburg won 3-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow to move into third and prevent the Russian side reaching the round of 16.
Salzburg will upset the odds and qualify if they beat Atletico at home next week, but Diego Simeone’s Atletico only need a draw.
Real Madrid have advanced to the knockout stage in all 24 of their previous campaigns but things are looking tense. They have conceded nine goals in five games — their worst defensive record at this stage — losing twice to a Shakhtar side which leaked 10 goals in two defeats to Gladbach.
Brazilian forward Dentinho profited from a mix-up between Ferland Mendy and Raphael Varane to net in the 57th minute following a counterattack. Zidane’s players failed to take heed and the second stemmed from another counter as substitute Manor Solomon finished confidently.
In Germany, Inter had to win to have a chance at reaching the next round and the ever-reliable Romelu Lukaku saw to that with two goals. Remarkably, all four sides in Group B can still qualify.
In Group C, Porto needed just one point and were hardly troubled against City, while Marseille avoided the humiliation of a 14th straight competition defeat as Dimitri Payet netted two video-review penalties in a 2-1 home win against Olympiakos.
In Group D, a first European goal from Jones was heartwarming for coach Jürgen Klopp as he bemoans major injury problems and a congested fixture list.
He can take comfort from the quality of the young players in the ranks as Jones scored off a cross from fellow 19-year-old Neco Williams. There was a confident debut from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, in the absence of injured No 1 Alisson Becker.
In Group D’s other game, newcomers FC Midtjylland stunned Atalanta by drawing 1-1 in Bergamo for their first point.
Ajax are one point behind Atalanta, and must beat the Italian side at home in next week’s finale.