Match-day 5 is always a decisive one in the Champions League. It’s an occasion that will either send teams waltzing into the knockout rounds or leave teams sweating until the final moments of match-day 6.
Good Week For: – Bayern Munich, Valencia, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Dortmund, Arsenal, Schalke, FC Porto, PSG (Secured qualification with a game to spare)
Bad Week For: – Chelsea (Loss to Juventus leaves them struggling to qualify), Roberto Di Matteo (Sacked after loss to Juventus), Manchester City (Knocked out of Europe)
For the second year in succession British teams went into match-day 5 in danger of not qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Chelsea, Celtic, Arsenal and especially Manchester City are in danger of not qualifying.
Manchester City had to win against Real Madrid and pray that Ajax did them a favour against Dortmund to have any hope of qualifying from the group. Unfortunately Jose Mourinho’s men had other ideas as Real Madrid held City to a well contested 1-1 draw. Karim Benzema opened the scoring for the visitors before Sergio Aguero equalised from the penalty spot. However, Mancini’s men couldn’t grab that crucial winner and dropped out of the group stages for the second time in two seasons.
Chelsea also found themselves faced with difficult opposition in the form of Italian giants, Juventus. The reigning European Champions started without a striker and that lack of attacking force ultimately came back to haunt them as they were smashed 3-0 in Turin, courtesy of goals from Quagliarella, Vidal and Giovinco.
Shaktar’s 5-2 win in the other group game meant that Chelsea’s future in the competition depends on Shaktar beating Juventus in two week’s time. If results don’t go Chelsea’s way then it will be the first time in Champions League history that the reigning champion is knocked out in the group stage. Roberto Di Matteo was subsequently sacked early on Wednesday morning and replaced on an interim basis by ex-Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez.
Celtic also fell to Benfica, losing 2-1 in a rather one-sided contest favouring the team from Lisbon. Celtic now need to better Benfica’s result in match-day 6 to ensure they qualify from the group along with Barcelona. The Scottish side are guaranteed a place in the Europa League but after their exploits this season in Europe’s premier competition, a Europa League spot could be considered a disappointment.
Manchester United lost their 100% record in the group stages after a hotly contested match in Turkey against Galatasaray. A 54th minute strike from Burak was decisive as United’s weakened side fell but fans needn’t worry as Ferguson’s men have already guaranteed qualification to the next round.
Arsenal were the only British team with anything to be happy about from this week’s results as they comfortably beat Montpellier 2-0. Goals from Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski were enough to see off the French side as they secured qualification from the group stages for the 13th time in the last 15 years.
Match-day 6 promises to be a belter for the British sides. Chelsea and Celtic could either sneak through or end up in the Europa League whereas City need a favour from Real Madrid to qualify for Europe’s second tier competition. What do you think of this week’s action? Is Rafa the right man for Chelsea in the short-term? Let us know in the comments section guys, we’d love your thoughts!
Results:
Bate 0 – 2 Lille
Spartak Moscow 0 – 3 Barcelona
Benfica 2 – 1 Celtic
Cluj 3 – 1 Braga
Nordsjaelland 2 – 5 Shaktar Donetsk
Galatasaray 1 – 0 Manchester United
Juventus 3 – 0 Chelsea
Valencia 1 – 1 Bayern Munich
Zenit St. Petersburg 2 – 2 Malaga
Ajax 1 – 4 Borussia Dortmund
Anderlecht 1 – 3 AC Milan
Arsenal 2 – 0 Montpellier
Dynamo Kiev 0 – 2 PSG
FC Porto 3 – 0 D. Zagreb
Manchester City 1 – 1 Real Madrid
Schalke 1 – 0 Olympiakos