The group stage of the Champions League closed today (Wednesday) with a number of intriguing games with Paris Saint-Germain’s 1:2 victory over Juventus as the focus, but even following the victory the French finished in second place at home due to a better away goals ratio than Benfica finished first at their own expense. Milan defeated Red Bull Salzburg 0:4 and advanced to the round of 16 at their own expense. City beat Sevilla 1:3, Chelsea beat Dinamo Zagreb 1:2 and Dortmund and F.C. Copenhagen drew 1:1.
Juventus – PSG 2:1
The Italians end their bad campaign in third place at home leading to the Europa League at the expense of Maccabi Haifa. Christophe Galtier’s team finish the group stage in second place after Benfica defeated the Greens and both teams with the same goal ratio, but due to a less good away goal ratio than the Portuguese, they failed to finish in first place.
Kylian Mbappe scored the first for the French, but the Italians played better in the first half and on the verge of the halftime whistle Leonardo Bonucci equalized the score. The second half was balanced for both teams and Kylian Mbappe added an assist to Nuno Mendes that sealed the result of the game.
Minute 13, a goal! Paris Saint-Germain went up to 0:1: Kylian Mbappe received the ball on the edge of the box, got free and shot accurately to the right corner outside the box, the ball hit the goal and went in.
38th minute, a goal! Juventus equalized 1:1: Cuadrado received a deep ball on the wing and with one touch with his head passed to the center of the box, Leonardo Bonucci was waiting there and in front of an open goal equalized the result.
68th minute, a goal! Paris Saint-Germain went up to 1:2: Nuno Mendes just entered and received a deep ball from Mbappe, did not get confused in front of the goal and returned the advantage to the French.
Milan – Red Bull Salzburg 0:4
The Rossoneri came into the game having struggled with two losses, but would have done the job by hanging on to themselves and managing to beat the Austrians. Olivier Giroud with a brace and assist to Rada Kronic and another goal by Junior Messias in the 90th minute gave Stefano Pioli’s team the ticket to the next stage from second place at home. For their part, the Austrians had to win in order to advance, but they failed to do the job and will play in the Europa League.
Minute 13, a goal! Milan went up to 0:1: Sandro Tonali lifted an accurate corner kick straight to the head of Olivier Giroud, the striker struck accurately to the right corner and gave the advantage to the Italians.
46th minute, a goal! Milan went up to 0:2: Ante Ravic picked up a ball from the right wing, Olivier Giroud hit the center of the box first and Rada Kronic hit the Italians’ second goal.
57th minute, Milan went up to 0:3: Olivier Giroud took advantage of a bad clearance by the Austrian defense and scored his second of the game and the Italians’ third from close range.
90th minute, a goal! Milan went up to 0:4: Junior Messias with a beautiful operation sealed the defeat of the Austrians.
Manchester City – Sevilla 1:3
Pep Guardiola’s men remained unbeaten at home. It was the Spaniards who got on the scoreboard first from the feet of Rafa Mir, but Rico Luis, Julián Albers and Riyad Marhaz reversed the result. Even before the game, the Blues finished in first place at home, while the Spaniards will play in the Europa League after finishing in third place at home.
Minute 31, a goal! Sevilla went up to 0:1: A corner kick to the far corner found the head of Rafa Mir who hit an accurate arcing ball into the right corner.
52nd minute, a goal! Manchester City drew 1:1: Julian Albers took advantage of a mistake in the Spanish defense and gave a great deep ball to Rico Luis who kicked hard with one touch and found the net.
72nd minute, a goal! Manchester City went up to 1:2: Kevin de Brauna with a genius deep ball found Julián Albers who one on one gave the Blues the advantage.
83rd minute, a goal! Manchester City went up to 1:3: Julian Albers grabbed the ball for the Spanish defense and passed to Riyad Mahrez who didn’t get confused and kicked accurately to the left corner.
Chelsea – Dinamo Zagreb 1:2
The Londoners have already secured first place and sealed the group stage with another victory with goals from Raheem Sterling and Denis Zakaria. The Kortais still had a chance to run from third place to the European League, but following the loss they ended their journey.
Minute 7, a goal! Dinamo Zagreb went up to 0:1: Bruno Petkovic was free in the box, hit an excellent corner and left no chance for Eduard Mendy.
18th minute, a goal! Chelsea equalized 1:1: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found Raheem Sterling in the box and the Englishman kicked to the bottom left corner and leveled the score.
Minute 30, a goal! Chelsea went up to 1:2: Denis Zakaria received a cross and from 16 meters he accurately kicked to the left corner and gave the advantage to the English.
P.C. Copenhagen – Dortmund 1:1
The Danes had already finished their journey in Europe even before the game, but they stood by their only goal and that is to conquer. Turgan Hazard scored the first goal in a great volley, but in the 41st minute Akon Haraldsson equalized the score and gave the first goal and first points of the campaign. For their part, the Germans had already advanced even before the game, but ended the group stage with a disappointing draw for them.
Minute 23, a goal! Dortmund went up to 0:1: Turgan Hazar received the ball at the edge of the area, took control of the air and sent a volley accurately to the right corner.
41st minute, a goal! P.C. Copenhagen equalized 1:1: Hakon Haraldson inside the box kicked hard to the right corner and gave his team the first goal in the tournament.
