Real, Juventus and City reach last 16
Man U progress after late Fellaini winner
PARIS: Holders Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus were among seven teams to reach the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday while Sergio Aguero’s late equaliser at Lyon also sent Manchester City through.
Bayern Munich thumped Benfica 5-1 to book their place and ease the pressure on coach Niko Kovac.
“It’s a convincing win and that’s exactly what we needed at the moment,” Arjen Robben said after he netted twice.
Roma will also play in the knockout phase despite losing 2-0 to Real while former European champions Ajax won 2-0 in a violence-hit game against AEK Athens to book their last-16 ticket after riot police clashed with Dutch fans.
Marouane Fellaini’s 91st-minute winner against Young Boys saw Manchester United squeak through after they had laboured against the Swiss at Old Trafford.
After Fellaini’s low shot went in, United manager Jose Mourinho picked up and threw over a pack of bottles in relief at a result that lifts some of the gloom over the club.
“The most important thing is to qualify,” said Mourinho, who has had to withstand a barrage of criticism this season for United’s poor results and insipid attacking football.
In keeping with United’s struggles under Mourinho, it could have been even worse but for the brilliance of goalkeeper David De Gea, who produced a stunning save from Ulisses Garcia’s deflected effort to deny Young Boys midway through the second-half.
Real and Roma secured their spot in the knockout stages even before the Spaniards’ 2-0 victory in the Italian capital after Group G rivals CSKA Moscow fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Viktoria Plzen.
Gareth Bale scored one and supplied the cross that led to another as Lucas Vazquez wrapped up a clinical 2-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico that was a world away from Real’s 3-0 Liga defeat to Eibar at the weekend.
“It was important to bounce back quickly,” said Real coach Santiago Solari. “We are very happy.”
Real are three points clear of Roma going into their final Group G match against CSKA Moscow next month.
Mario Mandzukic booked Juventus’ ticket for the knockout phase with a simple tap-in after a sublime piece of skill and cross from Ronaldo as Juventus beat Valencia 1-0.
The Italians have 12 points, two more than United but both are home and dry because Valencia only have five.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed the impact Cristiano Ronaldo was having on the Italian champions as the Portuguese star became the first player to achieve 100 Champions League wins.
“Ronaldo gives us a sense of security and confidence,” said Allegri of the beaten finalists in two of the last four editions of the elite European competition.
“The team is essentially the same as last season. We’ve grown, become faster in playing the ball, but then of course, there is Cristiano Ronaldo.”
In Lyon, City took a point from a pulsating match after David Cornet scored two second-half goals including an outstanding long-range effort only for the French side to be pinned back each time.
City’s French defender Aymeric Laporte equalised first and then Aguero outjumped taller defenders to head home and spark wild celebrations from manager Pep Guardiola.
“Today the Champions League showed me again that it’s another different competition and especially for one reason. The players are better,” said Guardiola. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho throws a basket of water bottles after his team scored against Young Boys.
“That’s why every time we think about the Champions League and people say it’s easy for Manchester City, they are really confused about this.
“Words are words. The people who say this never saw a game of Lyon, a game of Hoffenheim, or a game of Shakhtar.”
Lyon are left needing a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in their final Group F game next month to go through after the Ukrainian club stunned Hoffenheim 3-2 away to stay in contention.
Greek riot police wielding batons entered the stands at the Athens Olympic Stadium to separate fighting fans, leaving 11 Ajax supporters injured, police said. Some Dutch fans were left with blood streaming down their faces.