Shakhtar Donetsk become this year’s most surprising group winner, though at the beginning of the day, the Ukrainian champions needed only a point to clinch Group H. They got three, giving them 15 points and first place, holding off Arsenal, who now face the prospect of being drawn against Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
UEFA Champions League Wrap-up: Shakhtar Donetsk Claims Group H, Arsenal Through In Second Place
The day’s other undecided spot in the knock-out stage went to Roma, whose victory in Romania over CFR Cluj puts them into the last 16. As it turned out, the Gialliorossi would have been safe regardless, with Bayern Munich easily defeating FC Basel.
Here’s a wrap-up of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League action:
Group E
Bayern Munich got two goals from Franck Ribery and another from Anotoly Timoshuyck in what was a meaningless match for them. The 3-0 win moved Bayern to 15 points while relegating Basel to Europa League, though the Swiss champions can take comfort knowing advancing never a possibility. Though CFR Cluj got a late goal from Lacina Traoré to get a 1-1 result from Roma, the single point would have sent the Italians through. Roma advances on 10 points. Basel finishes third with six.
Group F
Marseille ruined Didier Drogba’s homecoming, getting a late goal from Brandão to post a 1-0 victory over visiting Chelsea. The win prevents the Blues from becoming the first team to go through group stage perfect.
Spartak Moscow, in a match delayed after four minutes when referees pulled players from the pitch, a response to flares being thrown onto the field, have a 2-1 lead in Zilina. The Slovakian champions opened the scoring three minutes into the second half through Tomas Majtan, but goals from Alex and Ibson gave Spartak’s response within 15 minutes.
Neither match mattered, though. Chelsea had clinched first after round five, with Marseille having sealed the second knock-out round spot. Spartak goes to Europa League, while Zilina will join Partizan in failing to register a point in their season’s group phase.
Group G
Real Madrid started only three regulars, but thanks to a hat-trick from Karim Benzema and one from Cristiano Ronaldo, Los Blancos cruised to a 4-0 win over visiting Auxerre. The win assured Ligue 1’s runners up finish fourth, though Ajax’s result in Milan did the same.
There Ajax got goals from Demy de Zeeuw and Toby Alderweireld to post a 2-0 victory over Milan. The win sends Ajax to Europa League with four points distance on Auxerre. Milan finishes second.
Group H
Late goals from Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri build on Robin van Persie’s first half tally and rendered Cléo’s second half equalizer meaningless. Arsenal’s 3-1 win at the Emirates pushes the Gunners into the second round, though thanks to Shakhtar’s result in Donetsk, Arsene Wenger’s men go through as group runners up.
That’s because the Ukranian champions got goals from Razvan Rat and Luiz Adriano to post a 2-0 victory over visiting Braga. Shakhtar finishes with 15 points, there only blemish coming at the Emirates, while Braga are relegated to Europa League despite their nine points.
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