City dazzle, Real brave the boos
Pelligrini’s team advances to Round of 16 after 3-1 win over Sevilla; Madrid made to work hard
BERLIN: Real Madrid and Manchester City became the first teams to reach the second round of the Champions League on Tuesday with victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla.
Madrid had substitute Nacho Fernandez to thank for a hardfought 1-0 win over previously unbeaten PSG which broke Barcelona's group-stage record of 18 games unbeaten.
City won 3-1 in Seville to move top of Group D on nine points, one ahead of Juventus, which eliminated Borussia Moenchengladbach with a 1-1 draw.
Manchester United moved top of Group B thanks to a 1-0 home win over CSKA Moscow, and Benfica took advantage of Atletico Madrid's scoreless draw at Astana by beating Galatasaray 2-1 at home to move atop Group C.
In Madrid, Nacho scored two minutes after coming on for Real Madrid against PSG, capitalising on a mistake from goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to score from a tight angle after Toni Kroos’ initial effort was deflected way off target. Trapp came out from his goal but was caught flat-footed when Nacho dinked the ball inside the far post.
But the night will be remembered mostly for boos from the home crowd.
The result will only confirm some people’s opinion that while Benitez is an excellent organiser, who gets results away from home. But at home in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where his side should dominate rivals, his style is at times too negative for the Madrid’s fans.
The win gave Madrid 10 points from four matches, while PSG, which had more efforts and possession, remained on seven points.
‘We delivered our best match of the season,” former Madrid winger Angel di Maria said. “An outstanding display. We made a mistake and were punished. We played 10 times better than Real.”
Shakhtar Donetsk, which defeated Malmo 4-0 in Ukraine, reached three points, the same as the Swedish club. ROONEY BREAKS DUCK Wayne Rooney ended Manchester United’s 404-minute goal drought, clinching a 1-0 victory over CSKA Moscow and sending the team top of the group.
Since scoring in the Russian capital in last month’s 1-1 draw, United had gone through three domestic games without hitting the net — with Rooney particularly profligate.
The United captain squandered a golden chance in front of goal at Old Trafford before meeting Jesse Lingard’s cross with a header in the 79th minute.
United now has a one-point lead at the top of Group B over PSV Eindhoven, which beat Wolfsburg 2-0 after Juergen Locadia and Luuk de Jong scored in the second half. LUISAO WINNER Central defender Luisao’s 67thminute winner for Benfica over Galatasaray put t he Portuguese club two points clear of Atletico with two games to play. Galatasaray is third with four points.
Raul Jimenez chipped the ball into the visitors’ penalty area for Luisao to poke it into the net from close range. The Brazilian’s goal put Benfica back into the lead after Lukas Podolski leveled the score in the 58th, canceling out Jonas’ 52nd-minute opener.
Galatasaray goalkee per Fernando Muslera spectacularly denied Nicolas Gaitan twice in the last 15 minutes before the Argentine striker was shown his second yellow card and sent off with five minutes left.
Yasin Oztekin squandered a chance to equalize, missing an open goal during a goalmouth
scramble in added time.
CITY ADVANCE Raheem Sterling scored his first Champions League goal to help Manchester City seal its place in the round of 16 with a dominant 3-1 win at Sevilla.
The 20-year-old forward scored in the eighth minute and helped Fernandinho double the advantage three minutes later.
Sevilla’s Benoit Tremoulinas scored in the 25th, only for former Sevilla forward Jesus Navas to set up Wilfried Bony for City's third in the 36th.
City moved first in Group D with nine points, one ahead of Juventus. Sevilla has three and can’t overtake City because of their head-to-head record.
Stephan Lichtsteiner scored one month after undergoing heart surgery to give 10-man Juventus a 1-1 draw at 'Gladbach.
Juventus had Brazilian midfielder Hernanes sent off for a reckless two-footed lunge on Alvaro Dominguez in the second half.