Manchester City produced an impressive display to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 with both sides going through to the last 16, while Real Madrid joined the Citizens and Liverpool, who were relentless in a 2-0 win over Porto.
Manchester City 2-1 PSG
Manchester City came from behind to secure top spot in Group A with a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain as both sides qualified for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe put the French giants in front against the run of play five minutes into the second half.
But PSG run the risk of being drawn against the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea or Liverpool in the last 16 after Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus turned the game around for the English champions.
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino had to fend off questions in his pre-match media conference over whether he may be making a permanent move to Manchester to take over the vacant managerial role at United.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
Liverpool dented Porto’s bid to qualify for the Champions League last 16 as Thiago Alcantara’s first goal since May inspired a 2-0 win on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had already booked their place in the knockout stages as Group B winners, but they did not rest on their laurels at Anfield.
Thiago has endured a difficult time with Liverpool, struggling to recapture the form that made him a Champions League winner at Bayern Munich.
The Spain midfielder gave a glimpse of his talent with a composed display capped by a blistering long-range strike to put Liverpool ahead in the second half.
Mohamed Salah sealed Liverpool’s fifth successive group victory with his 17th goal this season.
FC Sheriff 0-3 Real Madrid
Karim Benzema scored just hours after being found guilty by a French court in a blackmail case as Real Madrid saw off Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League knockout stage.
The France striker notched his team’s third goal of a confident display in Transnistria, as Real exacted revenge for their shock 2-1 loss to Sheriff in Madrid earlier this season.
The victory sends the Spanish giants back to the top of Group D, two points clear of second-placed Inter Milan, who also qualified for the last 16 after beating Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0.
Madrid now only need to avoid defeat in their final group game against Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu to finish first in the group.
The defeat ends Sheriff’s hopes of progressing, but a memorable debut Champions League campaign has already secured third place and a spot in the Europa League knockout phase.
Atletico Madrid 0-1 AC Milan
Atletico Madrid’s chances of reaching the Champions League last 16 were dealt a hammer blow on Wednesday after a 1-0 defeat by AC Milan left them needing to win at Porto in their final game in Group B.
A scrappy contest at the Wanda Metropolitano looked set to end goalless until Milan substitute Junior Messias headed home a dramatic winner in the 87th minute to leave Atletico staring down the barrel of an early exit.
Messias’ goal not only means Atleti will need a victory instead of a draw in Porto on 7 December but it also brings Milan back to life, as they sit just a point behind Porto ahead of their closing match against Liverpool at the San Siro.
Atletico Madrid are level on points with Milan but beneath them on goal difference, with qualification even to the Europa League now far from certain.
Sporting CP 3-1 Borussia Dortmund
Pedro Goncalves netted twice as Sporting Lisbon beat 10-man Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League’s last 16 and end the Germans’ hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.
Sporting got the two-goal winning margin they needed to reach the last 16 for the first time since the 2008-09 season behind Group C winners Ajax.
The away defeat means third-placed Dortmund are heading to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
In other results:
Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Inter Milan 2-0 Shaktar Donetsk
