Arsenal Sent Crashing As Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich Clinch Groups

Tuesday was one of the more exciting days of this year’s Champions League, with a spectacular comeback in Rome highlighting the day’s eight matches. There, Roma overturned a two goal, halftime deficit, scoring twice past the 80th minute to beat previously perfect Bayern Munich.

Roma’s inability to find a fourth goal (and turn around the -2 goal difference versus Bayern) means they can’t catch München in Group E. Silver lining: Roma’s negotiated their biggest remaining challenge and look set to hold-off Basel for the group’s second knock-out stage spot.

With goals in the 81st and 84th minutes, AS Roma has completed their comeback at the Stadio Olimpico. After going to halftime down 2-0 to Bayern Munich, and early second half goal Marco Boriello brought the Giallorossi within one. Now, Roma’s two talismen have the team on track for three points.

In the 81st minute, Daniele De Rossi - who was a pre-match injury doubt - slotted home a right-footed redirection of a John Arne-Riise shot to bring Roma even, 2-2. Minutes later, Thomas Kraft brought down Boriello in the penalty area, with captain Francesco Totti getting his spot kick under Hans Jorg Butt, giving Roma the lead.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 64th minute drive from 18 yards out has put Milan up 1-0 in Auxerre and on the verge of the knock-out round. The right-footed drive went high into the right side of the Auxerre goal, finally vanquishing a resilient Auxerre defense.

The match has taken on an almost identical tone to the clubs’ first meeting, when Auxerre held through one half at the San Siro before capitulating. Against, Milan has been the more progressive side, with stats showing the Rossoneri having completed more than twice as many passes. Regardless, the Serie A leaders had been kept quite through an hour.

Chelsea was playing out the same script written this weekend at Birmingham City. An early goal and deep defending had put Zilina up 1-0 at halftime. That’s where Chelsea decided to write a new story.

Five minutes into the second half, Salomon Kalou sent a ball far post from the left flank. Zilina’s defense was slow in responding, and when Daniel Sturridge beat them and `keeper to the ball, Chelsea had a relatively easy finish for the equalizing goal.

Elsewhere in Group G, Milan remains even with Auxerre. If Ajax cannot manage a remarkable comeback and Milan pushes ahead of Auxerre to win, Ajax will be eliminated from the tournament. If Milan cannot get all three points, Ajax will remain alive with a final group match set at Milan’s San Siro, one that Ajax will have to win to progress to the knockout stage.

Now Ajax, who will almost assuredly need at least a point from this match as they try to bypass Milan for second place in Group G. Ajax entered the day a point behind Milan as those two battle out the last spot of progression in the group, while Madrid will advance through as group winners should the score line hold.

The day couldn’t have started worse for Roma. While they’re three points ahead of FC Basel for second place in Group E, they would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker. Now down two goals at the Stadio Olimpico to Bayern Munich, Roma is staring third place in the face, with Basel up on CFR Cluj.

For Bayern, it’s the man that’s been one of the sole sources of offense over the last month, Mario Gómez. The German international has scored goals in the 33rd and 39th minutes to give Munchen a commanding victory.

The fact that Zilina scored even one goal makes me feel like an idiot. Coming into today’s matches, I’d see their results and started to wonder if they weren’t one of the worst teams in Champions League history. Chelsea is limping, but certainly Zilina - a Zilina team coming off a 7-0 loss at home to Marseille - wasn’t a real threat. Right?

Apparently I was dead wrong. I was wrong in my predictions, and I was wrong in my rant. Chelsea is down a goal at Stamford Bridge after 19 minutes.

Olympique Marseille is through to the knockout stage of UEFA Champions League after their 3-0 win over Spartak Moscow. The French champions got second half goals from Loic Remy and Brandão to build on Mathieu Valbuena’s 18th minute opener, taking advantage of a team playing the last 30 minutes down a man.

The win move l’OM to nine points in Group F, securing at least second place. One point by Chelsea today against Zilina will claim the group for the Blues.

Don’t expect Real Madrid to make many changes for today’s match in Amsterdam, though three will be forced. Gonzalo Higuain’s back will keep the striker out of the lineup. Karim Benzema will step in, and with the Frenchman’s building confidence, there shouldn’t be much of a drop-off. Sami Khedira will be a bigger miss, out with a hamstring problem, but Lassana Diarra is Khedira’s equal on the right day. Ricardo Carvalho’s bruised thigh will keep him out at the back, but Spanish international Raul Albiol provides enviable cover. All three starters rest today with the hope they’ll be ready for Barcelona on Monday.

Beyond those changes, José Mourinho is likely to stick with his first choice players. While emphasizing the importance of finishing-off Group G, the Real Madrid coach has said his team is still in the building process (a scary thought when considering what they might be building to). To embolden that process, he wants stability. As such, we are likely to see most of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ángel Di Maria, Mesut Özil, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos. With five days’ rest between Ajax and Barcelona, fatigue shouldn’t be a problem.

Braga have won their last two Champions League matches; however, those ties were against Partizan Belgrade, who remain without a point in Group H. Should Partizan win against Shaktar today, and Braga manage a win over Arsenal, the race for the next round will be blown wide open, with three clubs all claiming nine points.

Though the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Milan and Bayern Munich will be in action, UEFA Champions League’s Tuesday return lacks a marquee match-up. Instead of the day’s fixtures providing the drama, it’s the favorites’ domestic form that’s generating much of the conflict heading into Champions League’s fifth match day.

Take Real Madrid, five points clear of Milan in Group G. While their match against Ajax features two of Europe’s most historic clubs, Los Blancos will be heavy favorites when they kick off in Amsterdam. As such, supporters are already looking forward to Monday’s Clasico. The only way the Merengues slip is if they’re overlooking Ajax, dwelling on Barcelona.