Friday. 27.12.2024

Real Madrid and Inter Milan have progressed from Group D and secured a place in the knock-out stage of the Champions League after wins, 3-0 at Sheriff and 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk respectively. They will contest the group victory in Spain in the final round.

Sheriff, the first Moldovan side in the Champions League, are certain to finish third in a superb debut in the elite competition.

Last season's runners-up Manchester City came from behind with second half goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus overturning Kylian Mbappe's opener for Paris Saint-Germain.

"After conceding, the team showed a great reaction," City midfielder Bernardo Silva told BT Sport. "You are never safe. If you give space to Lionel Messi, Neymar or Mbappe, they can create chances."

Both will progress from Group A with City as winners and PSG in second. RB Leipzig crushed Club Brugge 5-0 away to move level with the Belgian side on four points and take control of the race for the Europa League.

"The most important thing is to qualify," PSG captain Marquinhos, told Canal+. "Sometimes you finish top and you play a really strong club. Sometimes you finish second and you end up with a better draw."

Liverpool could have been joined by Porto in the last 16 but a sweet long-range shot from Thiago and typical Mohamed Salah finish downed the visitors from Portugal at Anfield.

Juergen Klopp's side have won Group B with a perfect five wins while behind them there is a frantic scramble. Porto are second on five points but AC Milan struck late through Junior Messias to win 1-0 at Atletico Madrid and join the Spaniards on four.

Milan host Liverpool on December 7 while Porto welcome Atletico in what looks certain to be a dramatic finale.

Sporting Lisbon - Dortmund

A first half double from Pedro Goncalves inspired Sporting Lisbon to a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday which qualified for the last 16 round and eliminated the Bundesliga side.

An injury-hit Dortmund fell behind when Nico Schulz - playing as Raphael Guerreiro strained a muscle warming-up - misjudged a long ball and Goncalves capitalized to open the scoring in the 30th minute.

Just nine minutes later Goncalves struck again through his own brilliance, finding the net with a thumping long drive.

Dortmund tried to fight back after the break but a harsh red card for Emre Can following a skirmish and Pedro Porro's penalty rebound, after Goncalves missed the chance for his hat-trick, ended their hopes.

Donyell Malen struck an injury-time consolation but they will finish third in Group C and have a future in the Europa League as they are three points behind Sporting with the poorer head-to-head.

"That is bitter," said Dortmund captain Marco Reus. "It was a terrible night.

"We're out. That's the bitter truth. We're going home empty-handed, it hurts."

Sporting will be second behind Ajax, who maintained their perfect record thanks to Sebastien Haller's second half brace securing a 2-1 win at bottom side Besiktas.

Real Madrid, Man City and PSG progress, but Atlético lose at home