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.
UEFA Champions League Update: Milan Takes Lead In Auxerre, Arsenal About To Lose First Place Spot To Shakhtar Donetsk
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.
Then a relatively innocent ball rolled toward the arc from the right flank gave Ibrahimovic his chance. The Swedish attacker hit the ball in stride, leaving no doubt on the opening goal.
With the win, Milan would clinch second place in Group G, with Real Madrid likely to seal first, up 2-0 in Amsterdam.
Elsewhere, Shakhtar Donetsk is on the verg of taking the lead in Group H, and with a match against visiting Braga in group stage’s final round, the Ukrainian champions look set to relegate Arsenal to second place. The Gunners are tied 0-0 at the Estadio AXA while Shakhtar has gotten goals from Jadson and Eduaro to take a 3-0 lead in Partizan.
If Arsenal finishes second in their group while the remaining English teams finish first, the Gunners’ possible knock-out round match-ups would be Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lyon and Real Madrid (as it stands, now). One goal from Barcelona, however, would put Arsenal back in control of Group H.
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