Top leagues dominate as knockout sides locked in
The last night of football’s Champions League group stage began with a display of players united against racism for a second straight evening in Paris.
It ended with business as usual for Real Madrid and Atle´tico Madrid, who avoided early exits to advance to the knockout rounds. Atalanta and Borussia Mo¨nchengladbach also claimed places in the round of 16.
There were nine games instead of the usual eight yesterday after the remarkable events 24 hours earlier when Paris St-Germain’s game against Istanbul Basaksehir was suspended.
Players on both teams had refused to continue after a fourth official from Romania used a racial insult when referring to a Basaksehir assistant coach, Pierre Webo, who is black. They returned to Parc des Princes to resume the game in the 14th minute with replacement match officials from the Netherlands.
The new refereeing crew joined players in observing the competition anthem before kickoff by taking a knee around the centre circle, while most raised a fist.
“Nothing beats actions. We’re tired of this, we never want to experience this again,” PSG striker Kylian Mbappe´ said.
When the game restarted, Neymar ensured PSG would finish top of Group H by scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 win. The French champions were already assured of advancing with Leipzig.
Earlier, UEFA said it appointed a disciplinary inspector to investigate the incident. The fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, risks a ban.
Real Madrid kept their record intact of always advancing from the Champions League group stage by beating Borussia Mo¨nchengladbach 2-0. Karim Benzema scored twice in the first half to take Madrid through for the 24th straight season as Group B winners. Gladbach fell to second and stayed there through a few minutes after the final whistle. The team huddled around a tablet to watch the closing stages of Inter Milan’s 0-0 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Atle´tico had to avoid defeat at Salzburg to join group winner Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds. Coach Diego Simone’s team won 2-0.
Bayern won 2-0 at home to Lokomotiv Moscow to finish on a competition-best 16 points, and Manchester City matched that tally with a 3-0 win over Marseille.
Ajax and Atalanta were the feelgood stories of the past two Champions League seasons. There was room for only one of them in the knockout stages this time, and Atalanta won 1-0 in Amsterdam to join group winner Liverpool in the last 16.
The four big leagues — Spain, England, Germany, Italy — have 14 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, joined by PSG and Porto.
The draw is on Tuesday.