All square!
7 Nov 2013 5:53 AM IST
Juventus gave fresh hope to their Champions League campaign with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale had put the Spaniards within sight of a fourth consecutive group win in Turin on Tuesday.
Juventus remain third in Group B but following FC Copenhagen’s 1-0 home win over Galatasaray, Antonio Conte’s men now trail the Turks by just one point with two games to play.
After a shaky start the Italian champions finally found their feet and held a 1-0 lead at the interval after Arturo Vidal’s 42nd minute spot kick following a foul on Paul Pogba by fellow Frenchman Raphael Varane.
However Real turned the match in eight second-half minutes with Ronaldo chipping Buffon to level and then Bale beating the Italian ‘keeper with a clinical shot after sidestepping Kwadwo Asamoah on the hour mark.
Ronaldo’s eighth goal of the campaign knocked the wind from Juve’s sails, and the visitors were unlucky when Xabu Alonso smashed a drive off the crossbar minutes later.
Just as belief began creeping back among the Bianconeri fans, following a dangerous Pogba pass across goal which Casillas blocked, Real took the lead in clinical fashion. Bale picked up Ronaldo’s pass and turned Asamoah to send a smart left-foot strike inside the Buffon’s near post.
Juve, however, were back on level terms minutes later, Caceres making amends for his earlier blunder with a curling cross which Llorente headed past Casillas.
Real remained a constant threat, however, and despite Juventus creating chances late on the Italians did well to take a share of the points.
A second-half goal from Mario Mandzukic handed Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over die-hard Czech champions Viktoria Pilsen that granted the holders a spot in the Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday.
The Croatian striker capitalised on a cross from Philipp Lahm, sending a powerful header past a diving Pilsen keeper Matus Kozacik in the 65th minute, only six minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Bayern have made it to the last-16 for the sixth time in a row, accompanied by Group D runners-up Manchester City.
Sergio Aguero claimed a brace and Alvaro Negredo a hat-trick as Manchester City outclassed CSKA Moscow 5-2 on Tuesday to book a place in the Champions League knockout phase.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic salvaged a 1-1 home draw for Paris St Germain against Anderlecht as the French champions were made to wait for a Champions League last 16 spot on Tuesday. Demy De Zeeuw opened the scoring for the Belgians in the 68th minute, only for Ibrahimovic to equalise two minutes later from inside the area.
Manchester United missed a chance to move to the brink of qualification for the Champions League last 16 when Robin van Persie twice hit the post in a 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in Group A on Tuesday.
The Netherlands forward almost scored moments after replacing Wayne Rooney just after the hour when his far-post shot cannoned away off the righthand upright.
United were awarded a penalty for what looked like a blatant Ashley Young dive in the 69th minute but Van Persie’s powerful strike hit the same post and bounced away to safety.
United’s Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the 90th minute after picking up a second yellow card. United stayed top of the group on eight points from four of six matches, with Bayer Leverkusen on seven.
Juventus remain third in Group B but following FC Copenhagen’s 1-0 home win over Galatasaray, Antonio Conte’s men now trail the Turks by just one point with two games to play.
After a shaky start the Italian champions finally found their feet and held a 1-0 lead at the interval after Arturo Vidal’s 42nd minute spot kick following a foul on Paul Pogba by fellow Frenchman Raphael Varane.
However Real turned the match in eight second-half minutes with Ronaldo chipping Buffon to level and then Bale beating the Italian ‘keeper with a clinical shot after sidestepping Kwadwo Asamoah on the hour mark.
Ronaldo’s eighth goal of the campaign knocked the wind from Juve’s sails, and the visitors were unlucky when Xabu Alonso smashed a drive off the crossbar minutes later.
Just as belief began creeping back among the Bianconeri fans, following a dangerous Pogba pass across goal which Casillas blocked, Real took the lead in clinical fashion. Bale picked up Ronaldo’s pass and turned Asamoah to send a smart left-foot strike inside the Buffon’s near post.
Juve, however, were back on level terms minutes later, Caceres making amends for his earlier blunder with a curling cross which Llorente headed past Casillas.
Real remained a constant threat, however, and despite Juventus creating chances late on the Italians did well to take a share of the points.
A second-half goal from Mario Mandzukic handed Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over die-hard Czech champions Viktoria Pilsen that granted the holders a spot in the Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday.
The Croatian striker capitalised on a cross from Philipp Lahm, sending a powerful header past a diving Pilsen keeper Matus Kozacik in the 65th minute, only six minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Bayern have made it to the last-16 for the sixth time in a row, accompanied by Group D runners-up Manchester City.
Sergio Aguero claimed a brace and Alvaro Negredo a hat-trick as Manchester City outclassed CSKA Moscow 5-2 on Tuesday to book a place in the Champions League knockout phase.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic salvaged a 1-1 home draw for Paris St Germain against Anderlecht as the French champions were made to wait for a Champions League last 16 spot on Tuesday. Demy De Zeeuw opened the scoring for the Belgians in the 68th minute, only for Ibrahimovic to equalise two minutes later from inside the area.
Manchester United missed a chance to move to the brink of qualification for the Champions League last 16 when Robin van Persie twice hit the post in a 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in Group A on Tuesday.
The Netherlands forward almost scored moments after replacing Wayne Rooney just after the hour when his far-post shot cannoned away off the righthand upright.
United were awarded a penalty for what looked like a blatant Ashley Young dive in the 69th minute but Van Persie’s powerful strike hit the same post and bounced away to safety.
United’s Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the 90th minute after picking up a second yellow card. United stayed top of the group on eight points from four of six matches, with Bayer Leverkusen on seven.
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