The Champions League group stages are drawing to a close and we are getting closer to knowing who will make the last 16, who will have the ‘consolation’ prize of the Europa League and who will miss out altogether.
Of course, holders Real Madrid and the favourites for this season’s tournament with the SBOTOP Champions League 2022 betting odds, Manchester City, had already qualified with two matches to spare and that would likely have played a part in their penultimate group games.
A Westfalenstadion welcome greeted City in Germany and the result went exactly the way this SBOTOP writer predicted.
Level-pegging suited both sides as it meant City topped Group G and Dortmund made it through as runners-up, consigning Sevilla to third place.
City had a golden chance to win the contest just before the hour mark but Riyad Mahrez’s penalty was saved by Gregor Kobel after the Algerian had been fouled by Emre Can.
In truth, it didn’t matter in a match in which both sides were risk averse knowing they didn’t have to win.
It was a similar story elsewhere in Germany where RB Leipzig put themselves in the box seat to get out of Group F along with Real.
Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol headed the hosts ahead before France forward Christopher Nkunku doubled the lead.
Vinicius Jr, the matchwinner in last season’s final, reduced the deficit but ex-Chelsea forward Timo Werner made sure of a memorable win for the hosts.
Again though, Real – who notched a late second with a penalty from Rodrygo – won’t be too disappointed at going down to a first defeat of the season and their destiny remains in their own hands.
Some of the Champions League 2022 highlights of the night came in Portugal where Benfica edged a seven-goal thriller with Juventus to send the 2017 finalists packing.
The Portuguese side were 4-1 ahead before two quick goals for the Italian visitors from Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie reduced the deficit to 4-3.
The Bianconeri knew anything less than a victory would cast their die after managing just three points in four games.
At one point in the first half they equalised an early goal from Antonio Silva, albeit in chaotic fashion, not aided by the fact goal-line technology was not working due to a fault.
A corner was flicked on by Danilo for Dusan Vlahovic at the back post, his header was parried from point-blank range, but a combination of Vlahovic and Moise Kean managed to bundle the rebound over. It took a very long VAR check for both the goal line and a potential offside, until it was eventually given.
However, Joao Mario soon converted a penalty to put Benfica back in front and they then extended the advantage before the break when Rafa Silva completed a give-and-go with Joao Mario down the right and completed the move totally unmarked with a cheeky back-heel flick from six yards.
It was the first time in Champions League history that Juventus had conceded three goals in the first half of a game.
Silva completed his brace with a dinked finish to seal the victory and more misery for Juve, whose only bright spark saw teenage substitute Samuel Iling-Junior set up two goals in three minutes, the first volleyed in by Milik, the second fumbled by the goalkeeper until McKennie turned in the rebound.
The ‘Old Lady’ of Turin are out and one suspects the inquest is only beginning with very little sympathy for boss Max Allegri, even with a lengthy injury list.
There were no such issues for Paris St-Germain who have also qualified from Group H after a 7-2 rout of Israeli’s Maccabi Haifa.
The sight of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar lining up must have added to the foreboding before a ball was kicked and, sure enough, the former netted two each with the Brazilian also on the scoresheet for a club which craves success in this competition.
All it means after tonight is that Juve could still face the ignominy of being knocked out of Europe altogether, that Chelsea, who only took one point from their opening two encounters, are home and hosed with Italian champions AC Milan likely to join them, and that Celtic have been dumped out.
A 1-1 home draw with w by Shakhtar Donetsk consigned them to a bottom-placed finish in Group F ahead of their final game against Real in Spain next week and blocked their escape route to the Europa League.
Hot on the heels of Rangers’ humbling in the same competition, this was yet another nail in the coffin for the standard of Scottish football.
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