A goal by David Alaba paved the way for Real Madrid to the last sixteen of the Champions League. The ÖFB team player scored the opening goal on Wednesday in the 3-0 victory of the Madrilenians at Sheriff Tiraspol with a free kick, but then had to leave the field with slight knee problems. In addition to Real, the knockout phase also reached Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon. ManCity won the big hit against PSG 2-1.
Because RB Leipzig cleared FC Brugge 5-0 away in the parallel game of Group A, both title favorites are in the round of 16. ManCity is certain as the group winner. The “Citizens” retaliated in their own stadium for the 2-0 defeat in Paris at the end of September. They had already got the upper hand twice (2-1 and 2-0) against PSG in the pre-season semi-finals.
Pep Guardiola’s team was the much more dangerous team from the start. Ilkay Gündogan hit the bar (33rd), but PSG made it 1-0 against the course of the game. From Lionel Messi, after a nice teamwork with Ander Herrera, the ball came to Kylian Mbappe, who stayed calm in front of the goal (50th). City came back. Raheem Sterling scored the equalizer, finishing at the far corner after some remarkable preparatory work by the advanced Kyle Walker (62nd). Walker also initiated the 2-1 with a cross, which was completed by Gabriel Jesus, served by Bernardo Silva (76th).
Leipzig landed the first CL win of this season with a strong replacement, but can now at least speculate with the switch to the Europa League. Coach Jesse Marsch was absent after a positive corona test, as were several regular players, ÖFB legionnaire Konrad Laimer was there. March representative Achim Beierlorzer celebrated goals from Christopher Nkunku (12th, 93rd), Emil Forsberg (17th / Elfer, 45th + 1) and Andre Silva (26th).
In Group D, Real returned the favor to outsider Tiraspol for the embarrassing 2-1 home defeat in September. Alaba scored his second goal in the dress of the Madrilenians, his first in the Champions League. Previously, the Viennese had been successful in the “Clasico” in the league against FC Barcelona a month ago (2: 1). In Tiraspol, he pocketed a deflected free kick from a good position (30th). The other Real hits marked Toni Kroos (45th) and Karim Benzema (55th) each from the edge of the penalty area.
Alaba had to be replaced in the 65th minute. The Viennese grabbed his knee, but Real coach Carlo Ancelotti gave the all-clear after the end of the game. It should be a minor sprain. “It doesn’t look that bad. He’s not in as much pain. We hope he can play on Sunday,” said the Italian. Then the Madrilenians meet in the league on Sevilla FC.
With the victory in Transnistria, Real also took Inter into the knockout round. The Milanese had previously prevailed at home against Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 and are still two points behind the Madrilenians. The match winner for Inter was veteran striker Edin Dzeko with a brace (61st, 67th). The Bosnian hit the left corner with a powerful long-range shot, and six minutes later he headed a cross from Ivan Perisic from close range. The last round in Madrid is about winning the group.
Liverpool already has that in their pockets. The “Reds” hold after a 2-0 win against FC Porto, which Thiago (52nd) and Mohamed Salah (70th) fixed after the break, as did Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam after five rounds with maximum points. Behind them on the last matchday Porto (5 points), AC Milan and Atletico Madrid (4 each) fight for promotion. AC Milan kept their chances alive with a dramatic 1-0 win at Atletico. The substitute Messiah Junior scored the gold goal in the 87th minute with a header.
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, had to cancel the sails. Dortmund lost the “final” at Sporting Lisbon without their injured goalgetter Erling Haaland with 1: 3. BVB did not reward themselves in the early stages, the Portuguese champions scored the goals through Pedro Goncalves (30th, 39th) and a penalty margin from Pedro Porro’s head (81st). After a red foul by Dortmund’s Emre Can (74th), a pack was formed, the 1: 3 by Donyell Malen (93rd) fell too late. Dortmund has to make do with switching to the second round of the Europa League.
Before the final round of the CL group stage, eleven of the 16 round of 16 have been determined. Defending champions Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern, Juventus Turin and Ajax had already booked their places in the knockout phase before Wednesday. The Amsterdam team also secured group victory with a 2-1 win at Besiktas Istanbul. After an early deficit, the substitute at break Sebastien Haller turned the game with a brace (54th, 69th). The 27-year-old closed with nine goals to the leading Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski in the CL shooting list.
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