Arsenal’s Kai Havertz scores their first aim previous RC Lens’ Brice Samba on the Emirates Stadium, London, on November 29, 2023
| Photo Credit: Action Images by way of Reuters
Arsenal scored six to advance within the Champions League as a bunch winner and Manchester United stayed final in its group regardless of once more scoring 3 times away from residence.
Arsenal’s 6-0 rout of Lens on Wednesday ensured second-place PSV Eindhoven additionally superior from Group B to the spherical of 16. PSV’s second-half rally to win 3-2 at Sevilla was clinched by United States ahead Ricardo Pepi in stoppage time.
There at the moment are 12 confirmed groups within the spherical of 16 draw on Dec. 18 and Man United is in severe hazard of lacking out.
The three-time European champion led by two targets after 18 minutes at Galatasaray and 3-2 early within the second half however was pegged again once more in a wild 3-3 draw.
United solely does topsy-turvy highway video games in Europe this season after 4-3 losses at group winner Bayern Munich and second-place Copenhagen.
“As a team, we have to learn from it because we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary and avoidable,” United manager Erik ten Hag said.
A hat trick of three-goal games on their travels has brought just a single point back for ten Hag’s players, who need to beat Bayern at Old Trafford in two weeks’ time.
Only four other Champions League teams this season have scored more than United’s 12-goal total and they all top their groups and have advanced to the knockout phase.
Real Madrid is one of them after a 4-2 win over second-place Napoli ensured the record 14-time champion will finish atop Group C.
Teams that top their standings are seeded in the round of 16 draw on Dec. 18 and avoid other group winners like defending champion Manchester City. Teams also cannot be drawn against an opponent from their own country.
Bayern drew 0-0 with Copenhagen, one of two games with no goals on a night when the other six games delivered 31.
Real Sociedad was held 0-0 by Salzburg to set up a last-game showdown with second-place Inter Milan at San Siro for the top spot in Group D. Both Sociedad and Inter already advanced three weeks ago.
Inter produced the night’s other second-half fightback in a 3-3 draw at Benfica, which wasted a three-goal lead at halftime earned by João Mario’s hat trick against his former club.
Braga drew 1-1 with Union Berlin and can still advance by winning at Napoli on Dec. 12.
Bellingham on target again
Jude Bellingham was a standout again for Real Madrid in what is becoming the 20-year-old England star’s routine excellence this season.
Bellingham scored Madrid’s second goal against Napoli to make it four goals in four Champions League games for his new club and provided an assist for Joselu in stoppage time.
“Bellingham is a gift to football, not just this club,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated.
“The world’s delighted to see a guy with this talent, potential, promise and hopefully, he’ll just continue as he is.” Bellingham now has scored 15 targets in his first 16 matches with Madrid carrying the No. 5 shirt of the good Zinedine Zidane.
“Bellingham has surprised everyone. No one could have expected this,” Ancelotti stated.
“He’s got to improve his Spanish but as I always say — nobody’s perfect.”
Onana errors
Andre Onana’s goalkeeping errors have cost Manchester United in losses at Bayern and at home to Galatasaray, and almost led to another defeat Wednesday in Istanbul.
For each of Hakim Ziyech’s two goals from free kicks, Onana’s positional play or handling could be faulted.
“We win and lose together,” Ten Hag said when asked about Onana who he also coached at Ajax.
“He is OK. As I said, it is not about individuals. Of course, individual errors in football can make a difference and you take responsibility for it but it is always about the team.”
PLAYING FOR THIRD
Third place in a Champions League ensures European video games into the brand new yr, albeit within the second-tier Europa League.
The eight third-place groups when group play ends in two weeks’ time enter the knockout playoff spherical towards runners-up in Europa League teams. Those pairings are drawn on Dec. 18.
Man United might find yourself third even when it beats Bayern on Dec. 12, the identical night time Copenhagen hosts Galatasaray.
Salzburg wants solely a draw at residence to Benfica in two weeks to clinch third place in Group D Europa League title holder Sevilla can rise off the underside of Group B by successful at Lens on Dec. 12 and getting again into the competitors it gained seven instances prior to now 18 seasons.
Winning the Europa title is also a ticket again to the Champions League subsequent season.
Source: www.thehindu.com
