{"id":22947,"date":"2023-11-09T19:37:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-09T19:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/real-madrid-bayern-qualify-for-champions-league-last-16-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-11-09T19:37:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T19:37:07","slug":"real-madrid-bayern-qualify-for-champions-league-last-16-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/real-madrid-bayern-qualify-for-champions-league-last-16-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Madrid, Bayern qualify for Champions League last 16 | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were among the clubs to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League<\/a> with two group games to spare on Wednesday, while Manchester United’s poor form continued as they slipped to a stunning 4-3 defeat against FC Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

Last season’s runners-up Inter Milan and Real Sociedad also secured their tickets for the knockout phase, joining holders Manchester City and RB Leipzig in advancing to the last 16.<\/p>\n

Madrid, the record 14-time European champions, made sure of their progress from Group C with a 3-0 home win over Braga after surviving an injury setback just before kick-off.<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga pulled out hurt in the warm-up, but his replacement Andriy Lunin excelled by saving Alvaro Djalo’s sixth-minute penalty.<\/p>\n

With Jude Bellingham rested, Brahim Diaz gave Real a 27th-minute lead before Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo both scored in the second half.<\/p>\n

Napoli<\/a> are poised to go through from the group alongside Real despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Union Berlin.<\/p>\n

Matteo Politano put Napoli ahead late in the first half but David Datro Fofana, on loan from Chelsea, equalised soon after the restart.<\/p>\n

The result allowed Union to end a 12-game losing run but they cannot now qualify for the last 16.<\/p>\n

Their Bundesliga rivals Bayern qualified with a 2-1 victory at home to Galatasaray, their 17th consecutive win in the Champions League group stage.<\/p>\n

Thomas Tuchel’s side saw Galatasaray have a goal disallowed for offside before Harry Kane headed in the opener with just 10 minutes left.<\/p>\n

Kane then added another, his 19th goal already for Bayern in just 15 appearances, before Cedric Bakambu pulled one back in stoppage time for Galatasaray.<\/p>\n

“He’s a phenomenon and we’re proud that he’s playing in the team,” Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer told broadcaster DAZN of Kane.<\/p>\n

Galatasaray still stand every chance of going through from Group A after United lost in a remarkable game in Denmark.<\/p>\n

Erik ten Hag’s team appeared to be cruising thanks to two goals in the first half an hour by their Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund.<\/p>\n

Yet they suffered a blow when Marcus Rashford was controversially sent off in the 42nd minute for a foul on Elias Jelert, and Copenhagen took full advantage to haul themselves level by the break.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back before Diogo Goncalves equalised from the spot in the ninth minute of stoppage time.<\/p>\n

Still United got back in front via a Bruno Fernandes penalty midway through the second half, but Lukas Lerager made it 3-3 seven minutes from time and Roony Bardghji, the 17-year-old Kuwait-born Swedish Under-21 international, got Copenhagen’s winner in the 87th minute.<\/p>\n

Ten Hag’s team have now lost three of their four Champions League matches this season and have been beaten in nine of their 17 games in all competitions.<\/p>\n

“I think first we played very good until the red card. The red card changed everything. Then it becomes a different game,” Ten Hag told broadcaster TNT Sports.<\/p>\n

“I saw lots of positives, but in the end we lose some focus. It’s hard when you play so long with 10 men.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Arsenal are on the brink of progressing from Group B after a 2-0 home win over Sevilla, in which Bukayo Saka set up Leandro Trossard for the opener in the first half, and then added the second after the break.<\/p>\n

“I’m really happy with the performance from the team. They showed aggression and commitment,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.<\/p>\n

The Gunners are four points ahead of both Lens and PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch side boosting their own hopes by beating the French side 1-0 thanks to Luuk de Jong’s early header.<\/p>\n

Lens had substitute Morgan Guilavogui sent off late on.<\/p>\n

In Group D, Inter secured their progress with a 1-0 win away to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, a game settled by a late Lautaro Martinez penalty.<\/p>\n

That result also allowed Real Sociedad to qualify after their earlier 3-1 defeat of Portuguese giants Benfica, who have lost all four matches in the group.<\/p>\n

Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal and Ander Barrenetxea all scored in the first 21 minutes for the hosts, before Brais Mendez hit the post with a penalty. Rafa Silva pulled one back for Benfica.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n