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Three-time European Champions Manchester United were bundled out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena last night. Meanwhile, Real Madrid hammered a hapless Malmo side 8-0 to equal the record for the biggest victory in Europe’s premier club competition to finish as group toppers.
Paris Saint-Germain strolled through to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Parc des Princes. PSV Eindhoven came from behind in spectacular fashion to secure a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow to go through to the knockout stages at the expense of Manchester United.
Sevilla produced an upset of sorts as they beat Italian Champions Juventus 1-0 at home. However, Manchester City survived a brief scare to snatch a come from behind 4-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach to emerge as Group D toppers.
In other results Atletico Madrid beat Benfica 2-1 away from home while Galatasaray were held to a 1-1 draw by newcomers Astana.
Group A
Swedish champions Malmo had a nightmare visit to the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid ran riot in an 8-0 romp last night. This victory equalled Liverpool’s 8-0 win over Besiktas in 2007 as the biggest victory in UCL. Real Madrid finish the group stages as group winners with 16 points.
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged four goals and took his tally in the group stages to 11; a record which eclipsed his own previous tally of 9. Meanwhile, Karim Benzema notched up an impressive hat-trick and Mateo Kovacic rounded off the thrashing with a goal of his own.
Paris Saint-Germain recorded a comfortable victory over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk winning 2-0 on the night. Goals from Lucas Moura and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were enough for the French Champions as they finished as runners-up behind Real Madrid.
| Teams | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
| Real Madrid | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| PSG | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 3 |
| Malmo | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -20 | 3 |
Group B
Wolfsburg produced a giant-killing act as they beat Manchester United 3-2 to send to condemn them to the Europa League. A brace from Brazilian centre-half Naldo and another from Vierinha was enough for the German side to enter the knockout stages of the UCL for the first time in their history.
Anthony Martial’s opener and a Guilavogui own-goal could not prevent United from crashing out of the tournament. Wolfsburg go to the next round as Group B winners with 12 points. United are now relegated to the Europa League.
Dutch side PSV Eindhoven survived a scare as they came from a goal down to win 2-1 against CSKA Moscow at home. The visitors took the lead in the first half as Sergei Ignashevich scored from the spot before Luuk de Jong equalised for the home side.
However, Davy Propper turned out to be the match-winner as he scored late in the second half to propel PSV into the next round as group runner’s up.
| Teams | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
| Wolfsburg | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Manchester United | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| CSKA Moscow | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 4 |
Group C
Atletico Madrid travelled to Portugal to take on Benfica at the Estadio da Luz. With a spot at the top of the group at stake, both teams started determined to make it their own. However, it was the visitors who came out trumps as they beat Benfica 2-1. Niguez and Vietto scored Atletico Madrid whereas Mitroglou pulled one back for the hosts. Benfica enter the next round as runner’s up.
Galatasaray and Astana played each other in a battle for a place in the Europa League. It was the Turkish side that emerged victorious over a brave Astana side. The away side took a shock lead in the second half through Twumasi but the home side hit back within two minutes with a goal from Inan.
Galatasaray booked their place in the Europa League with this result at the expense of Astana, who had a memorable outing in their first ever appearance in the Champions League.
| Teams | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
| Atletico Madrid | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Benfica | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Galatasaray | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 5 |
| Astana | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -6 | 4 |
Group D
Manchester City emerged from the ‘group of death’ as group winners with a dramatic 4-2 victory over German side Borussia Monchengladbach. Birthday boy Raheem Sterling struck twice as the Citizens came from behind to win on the night at the Emirates stadium.
Korb and Raffael scored for the visitors as they went into the interval with a slender lead but goals from Sterling, Silva and Bony was enough for City to a hard-earned victory over the Germans.
Juventus failed to seize an opportunity to finish as group winners as they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sevilla. Ironically, former Juve striker Fernando Llorente scored for the home side in the second half to give the Spanish club all three points.
Juventus finished second in the group behind City while Sevilla leapfrogged Monchengladbach into the Europa League spot and will now have a chance to defend their title.
| Teams | P | W | D | L | +/- | Points |
| Manchester City | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| Juventus | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Sevilla | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 6 |
| Monchengladbach | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 5 |
