Manchester United blew the chance to go 3 points clear at the top when they drew 0-0 away at Real Sociedad.
Group A
Javier Hernandez missed a great chance from point black range when he blasted Shinji Kagawa’s low cross over the bar. Substitute Robin Van Persie hit the post with the goalkeeper scrambling to cover his angles and later missed a penalty when Ashley Young was deemed to have been fouled in the box. Replays however show that the winger made the most of the challenge to win the spot kick. Marouane Fellaini was sent off for a second bookable offense on 90 minutes. Shakhtar Donetsk held Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw at the Donbass Arena.
United need to at least draw their remaining 2 games to qualify for the last 16.
Manchester United- 8 Points
Bayer Leverkusen- 7 points
Shakhtar Donetsk- 5 Points
Real Sociedad- 1 Point
Group B
Juventus had to settle for a point as they drew 2-2 at home against Real Madrid. Arturo Vidal put the reigning Italian champions ahead from the spot just before the break but Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale scored to give Real the lead. Fernando Llorente equalised in the 65th minute to earn a point for Juve. Daniel Braathen’s early strike was enough for Copenhagen as they beat Galatasaray 1-0 at home.
Real Madrid need 1 more point from the next 2 games to progress to the last 16 and look certain to top their group. Juventus find themselves at the bottom of the group and will have to battle it out with Galatasaray and Copenhagen to get a Europa League spot let alone one in the last 16.
Real Madrid- 10 Points
Galatasaray- 4 Points
FC Copenhagen- 4 Points
Juventus- 3 Points
Group C
Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Anderlecht. Demy De Zeeuw’s 68th minute goal was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2 minutes later. Sacha Kljestan was sent off for a second bookable offence, reducing the Belgian side to 10 men. Kostas Manolas scored the only goal as Olympiakos beat Benfica 1-0 in Greece.
Paris Saint-Germain look certain to top the group and need 1 more point from the next 2 games to progress. Olympiakos will look to grab 2nd place while Benfica may have to settle for a spot in the Europa League.
Paris Saint-Germain- 10 Points
Olympiakos- 7 Points
Benfica- 4 Points
Anderlecht- 1 Point
Group D
Mario Mandzukic scored the only goal of the game as Bayern Munich beat Viktoria Plzen 1-0 away in Pilsen. Alvaro Negredo scored a hat trick and Sergio Aguero scored a brace as Manchester City comfortably beat CSKA Moscow 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium. Seydou Doumbia scored a brace for the visitors.
Bayern Munich are already in the knockout stages and will end the group stage on top while Manchester City will get the 2nd qualifying spot.
Bayern Munich- 12 Points
Manchester City- 9 Points
CSKA Moscow- 3 Points
Viktoria Plzen- 0 Points
Group E
Samuel Eto’o scored a brace and Demba Ba also got on the score sheet as Chelsea beat Schalke 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. Giovanni Sio’s injury time equaliser earned a point for FC Basel at home when they drew 1-1 against Steaua Bucuresti.
Chelsea will hope to qualify with Schalke and FC Basel also looking to create an upset.
Chelsea- 9 Points
Schalke- 6 Points
FC Basel- 5 Points
Steaua Bucuresti- 2 Points
Group F
An inspired 2nd half performance saw Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0 at the Signal Iduna Park. Aaron Ramsey scored the winner on 62 minutes. Napoli came from behind to beat Marseille 3-2 at home. Andre Ayew’s opener for the visitors was cancelled out by goals from Gokhan Inler and Gonzalo Higuain. Florian Thauvin restored parity for Marseille but Higuain bagged a brace by scoring the winner.
Arsenal will look to qualify without a fuss while Napoli and Dortmund will have to do battle for the 2nd spot. Anything is still possible though in this certain group of death.
Arsenal- 9 Points
Napoli- 9 Points
Borussia Dortmund- 6 Points
Marseille- 0 Points
Group G
Lucho Gonzalez’s opener was cancelled out by Hulk but the Brazilian missed a 2nd half penalty as his Zenit St Petersburg side had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against FC Porto. Miranda, Raul Garcia, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa scored as Atletico Madrid thrashed Austria Vienna 4-0 at home.
Atletico Madrid are already in the last 16 thanks to four straight wins while Zenit and Porto will battle it out for the 2nd spot.
Atletico Madrid- 12 Points
Zenit St Petersburg- 5 Points
FC Porto- 4 Points
Austria Vienna- 1 Point
Group H
Lionel Messi scored a brace and Sergio Busquets also got on the score sheet as Barcelona beat AC Milan 3-1 at the Nou Camp. Gerard Pique’s own goal was a mere consolation for the visitors. Ajax Amsterdam beat Celtic 1-0 at home thanks to Lasse Schone’s solitary goal.
Barca will qualify on top of the group while AC Milan, Ajax and Celtic will hope to get that 2nd spot.
Barcelona- 10 Points
AC Milan- 5 Points
Ajax Amsterdam- 4 Points
Celtic- 3 Points
