Friday, 12 December 2014

Champions League Matchday Six Summary

Ahead of a long winter break before the knockout stages, the Champions League group stage ended with some clubs making surprise exits while others sneaked through right at the death.

A
Atletico Madrid topped the group having already qualified and are joined in the next round by Juventus after the two sides shared the points in a 0-0 draw while in other game in the group, Olympiakos sealed a 4-2 win over Malmo which resulted in them finishing a single point away from qualification meaning they would drop into the Europa League.

 Fuster put the home side in front in the 22nd minute with Kroon levelling for the Swedes on the hour mark. Dominguez restored the lead for the Greeks just four minutes later before Rosenberg made it 2-2 on 81 minutes. Mitroglou and Afellay sealed the win in the 87th and 90th minutes while Adu was dismissed in the final minute for the visitors. 

B
Real Madrid completed a perfect sweep of the group with a 100% record of six wins as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Ludogorets who finish bottom of the group as a result, Madrid fielded a strong side which included Cristiano Ronaldo who extended his scoring run with a penalty in the 20th minute after Marcelinho had been sent off. Gareth Bale added a second in the 38th minute before the win was sealed by Alvaro Arbeloa and Medran's strikes in the 78th and 88th minutes.

Basel sealed qualification at the expense of Liverpool as the two shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Frei gave the Swiss side the lead in the 25th minute before Lazar Markovic was controversially dismissed for the Reds in the 61st minute, Steven Gerrard levelled for the hosts with a stellar free kick in the 81st minute but the draw meant the Reds dropped into the Europa League. 

C
Moanco secured top spot with a record of only four goals in the campaign after a 2-0 win over Zenit who drop into the Europa League as a result with strikes from Abdennour and Tavares in the 63rd and 89th minutes sealing the points. 

Bayer Leverkusen missed the chance to top the group after drawing 0-0 away to bottom side Benfica with the Germans losing Toprak via a red card in the last minute. 
 


D
Borussia Dortmund top the group after a 1-1 draw at home to Anderlecht who drop into the Europa League, Ciro Immobile put the Germans ahead in the 58th minute before Mitrovic sealed a point for the Belgians with an 84th minute equaliser. Arsenal finished level on points with Dortmund but had to settle for second place due to an inferior head-to-head record after sealing a 4-1 victory away to bottom side Galatasaray.

Lukas Podoloski opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 3rd minute with Aaron Ramsey adding a quick second in the 11th minute. Ramsey notched his second of the evening in the 29th minute for 3-0 with Wesley Sneijder making it 3-1 in the 88th minute with Podolski completing the rout with his second and Arsenal's fourth in the 90th minute. 

E
Bayern Munich made it five win from six with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to CSKA Moscow who finish bottom of the group as a result with Thomas Muller giving the home side the lead with a penalty in the 18th minute. CSKA needed a point to overhaul third placed Roma but were unable to draw level and saw their fate confirmed by two late goals from Mario Gotze and Rode in the 84th and 90th minutes. 

Manchester City sealed qualification with a 2-0 win over Roma who as a result drop into the Europa League, Samir Nasri put City in front on the hour before Pablo Zabaleta sealed the points with a strike in the 86th minute.

F
In the battle for top spot, Barcelona prevailed with a 3-1 win at home to fellow qualifiers Paris St Germain, though the Catalans had to come from behind after Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring for the visitors in the 15th minute. Lionel Messi increased his record breaking goal tally in the competition with an equaliser in the 9th minute before Neymar made it 2-1 with a superb strike in the 41st minute. Luis Suarez sealed the win and top spot for the hosts with a third strike in the 77th minute. Ajax secured a Europa League place with a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Apoel with a brace from Schone with a 45th minute penalty followed by second strike in the 50th minute. Klaassen added a third in the 53rd minute and the rout was completed by a fourth from Milik in the 74th minute. 

G
Chelsea ended the group stage top and unbeaten after sealing a 3-1 win at home to Sporting who will drop into the Europa League, Cesc Fabregas opened the scoring with a penalty in the eighth minute before Andre Schurrle added a second in the 16th minute. Silva responded with a strike in the 50th minute but the hosts sealed the points with a rare goal from John Obi Mikel in the 56th minute. Schalke sealed qualification with a 1-0 win away to Maribor with the crucial strike coming in the 62nd minute from Meyer.



H
Fc Porto ended the group stage top and unbeaten after a 1-1 draw against fellow qualifiers Shakthar Donetsk with the hosts taking a 51st minute via Aboubakar but they were denied the win late on after Stepanenko equalised in the 87th minute to seal a point. Athletico Bilbao sealed a Europa League place with a 2-0 win at home to bottom side BATE with San Jose giving the hosts a 47th minute lead before Susaeta sealed the points with a strike in the 88th minute. 







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