Real in trouble; Porto, Liverpool advance
While former champions Liverpool and Porto eased to the knockout stage of the Champions League, record 13- time champions Real Madrid face an embarrassing group-stage exit after losing 2-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday’s games.
Zinedine Zidane’s side would have advanced with a win, but they have defended poorly all season and were undone by counterattack 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 secondhalf goal from midfielder Curtis Jones.
Two-time winners Porto held already-qualified Manchester City to a 0-0 draw, although City ensured 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 3-time champions Inter Milan, who had to win.
Atlético Madrid did not do enough, drawing 1-1 at home to Bayern Munich even though the defending champions fielded a weakened side having already qualified.
Atletico close
Munich rested prolific striker Robert Lewandowski and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer but still did well enough to stop the Spanish side winning. Atlético’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 Müller 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 place and prevent the Russian side reaching the round of 16. Salzburg will upset the odds and qualify if they beat Atlético at home next week, but Diego Simeone’s Atlético need only a draw.
Madrid defend poorly
Madrid have advanced to the knockout stage in all 24 of their previous group-stage campaigns but things are looking tense. Madrid have conceded nine goals in five games for their worst-ever 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.
Over 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.
Midfielder Matteo Darmian netted early on for Inter and French striker Alassane Pléa nodded the home side level, only for Lukaku to net twice after the break before Pléa replied again.
The kids are alright
A first European goal from Jones was heart-warming for coach Jürgen Klopp as he bemoans injury problems congested fixtures.
Klopp can take comfort from the quality of the young players in Liverpool’s ranks as Jones scored off a cross from fellow 19-year-old Neco Williams.
At the other end, there was a confident debut from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher keeping out Ajax’s attacks in the absence of injured No. 1 Alisson Becker.