UEFA Champions League – Matchday 5: Group A-D

The UEFA Champions League moved into the penultimate day of the group stages with a bunch load of teams in contention of joining FC Porto, Malaga and Manchester United into the knockout stages. Matchday 5 threw up an interesting line of clashes with Madrid’s trip to the Etihad being deemed as the big one. Anything less than a victory would mean that City would have gone down in the group stages for the second consecutive season while even a victory would not guarantee them a spot in the last 16.

Here are a quick review of the matches that took place on the November 20^th and 21^st.

Group A:
Porto                     3 – 0       Dinamo Zagreb
Dynamo Kyiv     0 – 2       Paris St. Germain

Porto, who were already assured of a place in the last sixteen, stamped their authority in the group with a 3-0 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb at the Dracao Stadium. Ezequiel Lavezzi’s double strike meant that PSG weren’t too far behind either and it will now be a direct showdown in Paris between Porto and PSG for top spot on Matchday 6.

Group B:
Arsenal                 2 – 0       Montpellier
Schalke  04          1 – 0       Olympiacos

A Lukas Podolski volley and Jack Wilshere’s first goal in two years helped Arsenal beat Montpellier by two goals and ensure Arsenal’s progress to the knockout stages. In the other game, Schalke comfortably overcame Olympiacos to seal their berth and end any Greek hopes of qualifying for the knockouts.

Group C:
Zenit                      2 – 2       Malaga
Anderlecht          1 – 3       AC Milan

Zenit St. Petersburg came from two goals behind to draw clinch a point against Malaga, who are already assured of a top spot in Group C. But AC Milan’s 3-1 win in Belgium confirmed the Rossoneri’s spot in the last sixteen. Anderlecht and Zenit are tied in third spot on 4 points with Zenit ahead on the basis of head to head.

Group D:
Manchester City               1 – 1       Real Madrid
Ajax                                       1 – 4       Dortmund

Sergio Aguero’s penalty coupled with a dazzling performance from David Silva was not enough for Manchester City to beat Real Madrid and the draw meant that City bowed out of the Champions League for the second consecutive year. In the other game, Mario Gotze sizzled in Amsterdam as Dortmund confirmed top spot in Group D with a 4-1 victory over Ajax. City now need to beat Dortmund and hope Madrid beat Ajax on Matchday 6 if they hope to qualify for the Europa League.

Tags: FC Porto, Football, Malaga, Manchester United, UEFA Champions League