Manchester: It was contrasting fortunes for top English clubs in matches of the Champions League played Tuesday. While Manchester United more or less sealed a knockout berth for them with a 2-0 win over Benfica at Old Trafford, their rivals Chelsea suffered an embarrassing 0-3 away defeat to AS Roma that left them on the brink of elimination.
An own goal by Benfica’s 18-year-old keeper Mile Svilar on the stroke of half time and a Daley Blind penalty in the 78th minute were enough for United, who struggled at times to find their fluency. However, it was their fourth win on the trot in Group A.
Jose Mourinho’s team now need just a point from their final two games in the group, against Basel and CSKA Moscow, to make absolutely certain of their place in the knockout stage for the first time in four years.
After the visitors started brightly, the Red Devils could have taken the lead in the 14th minute when Anthony Martial went down under a challenge from Douglas but the Frenchman’s soft spot-kick was saved by Svilar.
At the other end, David De Gea, was forced into the first of a series of saves – superbly reaching a powerful drive from Diogo Goncalves.
Romelu Lukaku then had two chances for United with Svilar pushing his low, left-foot shot wide in the 30th minute, before the Belgian headed over from a Martial cross.
When the goal came, just before the interval, it had a strong element of good fortune to it. Svilar, the youngest keeper in Champions League history, could do nothing as a Nemanja Matic shot struck the post and bounced into the goal off his back.
In the second half, Benfica were unlucky when forward Raul Jimenez’s shot struck the outside of the post after he had intercepted a loose pass from Eric Bailly to Chris Smalling.
The introduction of Marcus Rashford for Martial injected some life into United’s attack and it was the 19-year-old who created the second goal. The winger burst into the area, skipping by two defenders before he was brought down by Andreas Samaris.
Lukaku looked set to take the kick, but after an apparent intervention from Mourinho, it was Blind who converted.
Meanwhile Stephan El Shaarawy scored two impressive goals as Roma thrashed Chelsea 3-0 at Rome. Shaarawy scored after 40 seconds into the game and he added another later in the first half. In the second, Diego Perotti had a gorgeous strike, dooming the reigning English champions to their first defeat in the competition.
Chelsea coach Antonio Conte said his team lacked ‘motivation, hunger and desire’ in the second half. “We need to have the will to dig deep, because if we think that only because our name is Chelsea and the opponent have fear for the name Chelsea it is not that way,” Conte said after the game.
Bayern, PSG seal knockout berths
Athens: It was a bad day for top Spanish Clubs as Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw at Olympiakos in their Champions League game here Tuesday. However, more importantly Atletico Madrid hopes of a knockout berth left hanging by a thread after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Group C minnows Qarabag, despite playing a large part of the second half against 10 men.
There were however, no such problems for Bayern Munich or Paris St Germain (PSG). The defending Bundesliga Champions scraped past Celtic 2-1 while the French Ligue 1 leaders trounced Anderlecht 5-0 to seal their knockout berths.
On his return to his former club, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde watched his in-form side dominate for long spells and create some great chances, but the determined home team held on for their first point as they bid for a Europa League spot.
Olympiakos goalkeeper Silvio Proto was a prominent figure in a frenetic and surprisingly open match at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, coming to the rescue to deny Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on several occasions.
Atletico have only themselves to blame for the spot they are in as they missed 10 open chances in the game. Much against the run of play Qarabag took the lead in the 40th minute through an own goal by Atletico midfielder Michel who was trying to clear a corner.
Midfielder Thomas Partey equalised in the 56th minute with a thunderous long-range strike, but that was as far as the hosts got.
At Glasgow it was strikes from Kingsley Coman and Javi Martinez that sealed Bayern’s spot in the knockouts. Callum McGregor got a goal for hosts Celtic.
Meanwhile a Layvin Kurzawa hat-trick and goals from Neymar and Marco Verratti also ensured hosts PSG of a knockout berth. The French team were all over their rivals from the start and never allowed Anderlecht a look at their goal.
Other results
CSKA Moscow 2 Basel 1
Juventus 1 Sporting Lisbon 1
