Holders Real Madrid sealed a place in the Champions League last 16 with a thumping 6-0 victory at APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday after doubles from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo but will still finish runners-up to Tottenham Hotspur in Group H. Ronaldo wrapped up Real’s biggest Champions League away win with two goals at the start of the second half. He now has 18 in the competition this year, extending his record from 16 and taking his overall Champions League scoring record to 113. Zinedine Zidane’s side, who have been inconsistent in La Liga this season, were already coasting thanks to first-half goals from Luka Modric, a Karim Benzema double and Nacho strike.
Sevilla complete astonishing three-goal comeback
Sevilla’s Guido Pizarro scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to complete an incredible comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 against Liverpool in a pulsating Group E clash. Liverpool were on the verge of sealing qualification to the last 16 for the first time since 2009 but Pizarro stabbed home from a corner deep into stoppage time to deny them. Sadio Mane headed home in between two Roberto Firmino strikes to put Liverpool three goals up within 30 minutes, but Sevilla came back from the dead after the break. Wissam Ben Yedder netted twice before Pizarro’s late equaliser, leaving Liverpool top with nine points, Sevilla second with eight and Spartak Moscow third with six, after they drew 1-1 with Maribor in the group’s other game.
Spurs secure top spot with comeback win at Dortmund
Already-qualified Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to beat hosts Borussia Dortmund 2-1 and secure top spot in Group H with a game to spare. Spurs’ top scorer Harry Kane cancelled out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first-half strike in the 49th minute with his sixth goal of the campaign and Heung-min Son curled home the winner in the 76th. The result put the Londoners on 13 points, three ahead of holders Real Madrid, who crushed APOEL Nicosia 6-0 away and next welcome the Germans. Tottenham, with a superior head-to-head over the Spaniards, host the Cypriots in their last group game. Dortmund, finalists in 2013, have two points along with APOEL and have missed out on the knockout stage. They will have to sweat it out on the last matchday to see if they can finish third and claim a spot in the Europa League.
Monaco out of Champions League after Leipzig thrashing
Last year’s semifinalists Monaco crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages when they were beaten at home 4-1 by Leipzig on Tuesday. The principality side never recovered from going 3-0 down in the first half an hour following a Fabinho own goal and two goals by Timo Werner. Radamel Falcao reduced the arrears, only for Naby Keita to put the visitors 4-1 up on the stroke of halftime. The result left Monaco bottom of Group G on two points from five games, with Leipzig on seven, level with second-placed Porto. Besiktas top the Group with 11 points after their 1-1 home draw with Porto. The defeat means Monaco will not even play in the Europa League this season.
