subject: No more tickets at stake in Group G for the knockout round [print this page] No more tickets at stake in Group G for the knockout round
Real Madrid and Milan have assured their participation in the next round thanks to their road victories against Ajax and Auxerre respectively, leaving these two teams without mathematical possibilities with only one matchday left.
Real Madrid continues with an unstoppable pace, still undefeated and with the knockout round ticket guaranteed, the Spaniards are making a statement about how committed and focused they are in the goal of raising their 10th UEFA Champions League trophy in club history. Their most recent victim Ajax from Netherland felt all the weight of the offense guided by Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil, that barely found resistance in the Dutch defense and comfortably defeated them 4-0 (Benzema and Arbeloa scored once and Ronaldo twice, one through a PK).
With this result Real Madrid clinches Group G -13 points in 5 games- and home field advantage, and now they have to wait for the drawing of the knockout stage where they will get to know who their rival is, but before they have one more home game to go to finish the group stage, that is against Auxurre from France on December 8.
Milan from Italy qualified to the playoffs with their 2-0 road victory versus Auxurre (3 points), reaching 8 points out of 15 at stake that thanks to Ajax's loss (4 points) are enough to reach these instances. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has recovered the scoring role that he had lost in Barcelona, and contributed with one goal against the French, reaching 4 in the competition. Ronaldinho -who had come in to substitute Ibrahimovic in the 85th minute- scored the second goal right when the game was coming to an end (91st minute). A goal that helps to release the tension created around Ronaldinho's partying lifestyle, which many claim to negatively affect his performance.
In Group H Arsenal from England compromised its classification on their visit to Portugal, where they lost 0-2 against Braga, and only the goal difference (+9 versus -4 respectively) unties the dispute for the second place, as both teams have 9 points. The only good news for the English -since their captain Fabregas left injured- are that they don't depent in other results than theirs, and their last game is against Partizan from Serbia at home, a team that is still winless and with 0 points.
Shakhtar from Ukraine won 3-0 on their visit to Partizan and (12 points and +4 goal difference) is virtually classified, as long as they don't lose for more than a 3-goal difference. Both games will be held on December 8.
Chelsea recuperated from the 2-game losing streak that they dragged from the Premier League with a home win 2-1 versus MSK Zilina from Slovakia (0 points), clinching Group F and home field advantage with the goals from Sturride and Malouda.
The other game of the group was between Spartak from Russia and Olympique de Marseille from France, where the French took a big step towards their classification with a 3-0 on road victory. The goals came through Valbuena, Remy and Brandao, goals that where not only helpful to add 3 more points (9 in total), but to assure the classification also. Spartak (6points) could reach 9 points in their visit Slovakia, but the goal difference between them (4) and the French (+8) is just unreachable with only one game to go.
Roma from Italy came from behind to defeat -the until then undefeated- Bayern Munich from Germany 3-2 after being down by 2 (Mario Gomez twice) in the first half, keeping their chances to reach the playoffs depending solely on themselves. The goals from Borriello, De Rossi and Totti leave Roma with 9 points, 3 less than the Germans (12), who lead Group E.
The Swiss from Basilea defeated 1-0 Cluj from Romania at home, adding their second victory of the season to reach 6 points, and the only formula that works for them to classify is a defeat from Roma against Cluj, and them defeating Bayern on their visit to the German city on December 8.
Matchday 6 has exciting matches ahead that will be a preview of what is to come in the knockout round, as there is no tomorrow and only a win matters.
