Champions League wrap: Bayern, Man City win to advance to final 16

After the Champions League paused to pay tribute to Diego Maradona, defending champion Bayern Munich and Manchester City gained to advance to the knockout rounds. The Argentina nice’s dying was introduced two hours earlier than the primary video games kicked off. A minute’s silence was noticed by gamers earlier than every of the eight video games, which had been all performed in empty stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday.

Bayern’s 3-1 win over Salzburg included Robert Lewandowski’s 71st Champions League objective, tied for third all-time with Real Madrid nice Raul. City’s 1-Zero win at Olympiakos means six elite groups are already into the final 16 with two rounds of the group stage nonetheless to play. Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea and Sevilla superior on Tuesday.

Liverpool wasted the possibility to hitch them, because the 2019 champion conceded its first objectives on this season’s competitors to lose 2-Zero at house towards Atalanta. Eden Hazard’s seventh-minute penalty in a 2-Zero win at Inter Milan helped guarantee Real Madrid is again on monitor after a shaky begin to the marketing campaign. Inter is final in group B and going through elimination.

Marseille, the 1993 European champion, and debutant Midtjylland can not advance after dropping their fourth straight video games, towards Porto and Ajax, respectively.

BAYERN EXTENDS STREAK

Bayern’s victory was its 15th straight within the Champions League relationship to the beginning of final season. Lewandowski opened the scoring within the 43rd, choosing up the rebound when Thomas Müller’s shot was saved. The Poland captain now trails solely Cristiano Ronaldo’s 131 Champions League objectives and Lionel Messi on 118.

After profitable 6-2 at Salzburg three weeks in the past, Bayern gave a Champions League debut to 20-year-old American defender Chris Richards and a primary European begin to Spanish midfielder Marc Roca. He was despatched off with the rating at 2-Zero although Leroy Sané quickly prolonged the lead with a hovering header.

Bayern’s most 12 factors in Group A is seven away from Atlético Madrid, which was held 0-Zero at house to Lokomotiv Moscow.

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool cruised to a 5-Zero win at Atalanta three weeks in the past, and had by no means misplaced a Champions League group-stage recreation at house beneath coach Jurgen Klopp. With first-choice defenders injured and rested, Liverpool was deservedly crushed by Atalanta which has now gained each its away matches whereas failing to win both house recreation.

Josip Iličić and Robin Gosens scored the objectives early within the second half, to earn three factors that assist Atalanta hold tempo with Ajax behind Group D chief Liverpool. Ajax’s first objective in a 3-1 win over Midtjylland got here from 18-year-old midfielder Ryan Gravenberch’s curling shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

Ajax visits Anfield subsequent Tuesday for the primary time because the 1966-67 European Cup.

MADRID WINS IN MILAN

Real Madrid’s back-to-back wins over Inter Milan have repaired the injury of a shock opening loss at house to Shakhtar Donetsk final month. A 2-Zero win at San Siro was additionally the primary time Madrid had crushed both Inter or AC Milan on the iconic stadium, although coach Zinedine Zidane’s staff did win the 2016 remaining there towards metropolis rival Atlético.

Hazard’s early penalty was his first objective within the Champions League for 3 years, and Rodrygo’s second-half header secured the factors.

Inter performed a lot of the recreation with 10 males after Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal was despatched off. Vidal was proven two yellow playing cards inside seconds when berating referee Anthony Taylor for a penalty kick not being awarded.

Madrid nonetheless trails Group B chief Borussia Mönchengladbach by one level, after the German aspect cruised to a 4-Zero win over Shakhtar. Inter, although, is six factors behind Gladbach with two video games to go. Borussia’s standout objective was its third, an overhead kick by Switzerland ahead Breel Embolo.

FODEN STARS

Denied common taking part in time within the Premier League, 20-year-old Phil Foden made use of a begin from coach Pep Guardiola to attain within the 36th and seal Manchester City’s 1-Zero win at Olympiakos. City has an ideal four-win document to advance to the knockout rounds for an eighth straight season, and can doubtless be joined by Porto.

The two-time European champion gained 2-Zero at Marseille which slumped to a 13th straight loss within the competitors relationship again to the 2011-12 season. Porto is six factors away from third-place Olympiakos with two rounds left.