It was another busy night in the Champions league and whilst goals proved hard to come by for some last night, fans enjoyed plenty of goal mouth action across Europe, with a total of 32 goals scored in eight matches.
Wednesday's games offered numerous teams a chance to secure qualification. One such side was Bayern Munich.
Though Louis Van Gaal’s side continue to struggle domestically some ten points off the Bundesliga leaders, in Europe it’s been a very different story, with an impressive three wins from three going into last night's away tie with Romania’s FC Cluj.
The German champions made the best possible start on 12 minutes, with the seemingly rejuvenated Mario Gomez opening the scoring. The forward then added a second on 24 minutes to put Bayern in complete control going in to half time.
Gomez’s night got even better on 70 minutes with a third goal that sealed a memorable hat trick in the Champions league. Thomas Mueller added a fourth in stoppage time to secure Bayern’s passage to the last 16, in what is most likely to be top spot.
For Roma, there was a chance to get their campaign back on track, following a previous defeat at home to Basle. In order to do so, they would have to overcome their conquerors in Switzerland.
Jeremy Menez gave the Romans an early lead on 16 minutes. A 26th minute penalty from captain Francesco Totti put Claudio Ranieri’s side in a strong position but Basle continued to press and were eventually rewarded when talismanic striker Alexander Frei pulled a goal back with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Yet Roma were not to be denied a priceless victory, and seven minutes later midfielder Leandro Greco added a third. Swiss sensation Xherdan Shaqiri pulled another one back for Basle but any hope of a comeback died with the sending off of midfielder Valentin Stocker in stoppage time. The result saw Roma go second on six points, three above their opponents and also FC Cluj.
Elsewhere, Chelsea secured qualification thanks to an imperious victory over Spartak Moscow at Stamford Bridge. After a quiet opening 45 minutes, the game sprang to life in the fourth minute of the second half as Nicolas Anelka coolly finished from a tight angle to set the Londoners on their way. A Didier Drogba penalty then doubled the lead on 62 minutes.
Branislav Ivanovic added a third four minutes later before Spartak grabbed a consolation through Nikita Bazhenov. But it was Ivanovic who had the final word with a second goal in added on time to leave Chelsea six points clear of the Moscow side and Marseille.
Meanwhile the French side grabbed their second win of this year’s campaign, and set a new record for the highest ever away win in the competition as they demolished minnows MSK Zilina 0-7. Andre Pierre Gignac grabbed a hat trick, whilst there were also goals for Gabriel Heinze, Loic Remy and a brace for captain Lucho Gonzalez, in what was a glorious night for the French champions. The result puts Marseille back in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages, though they will need to take points from Spartak and Chelsea if they are to do so.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid squeezed through qualification, though they left it late against a very lucky AC Milan side. In a first half dominated by Madrid, the away side had to wait until the 45 minute mark to take the lead, as Angel Di Maria slotted a pass through for Gonzalo Higuain to score.
The second half saw the introduction of the veteran Milan legend Filippo Inzaghi and the Italian was soon making his mark. First by diverting Ibrahimovic’s wayward lob into the net from a yard via his head, and with just over twenty minutes remaining. Pipo was on hand again, ten minutes later, to toe poke a goal from a seemingly offside position which appeared to give Milan all three points. But Mourinho was not about to give up his unbeaten start lightly and deep in stoppage time, substitute Pedro Leon equalised with a shot that slipped between the legs of keeper Christian Abbiati.
The draw saw Madrid seal qualification, thanks in part to the group’s other result in France, where Auxerre faced Ajax, as both teams looked to make up ground in the race for second place.
And it was Auxerre that emerged victorious, in a game they simply could not afford to lose. Frederic Sammaritano got the home side off to a great start on 9 minutes and it looked set to stay that way until the 80th minute when Alderweireld equalised. But Auxerre knew that a draw would do them little favours and four minutes later, they found themselves back in front through Steeven Langil to put the French side just three two points off Milan in second and a point behind Ajax in third.
Braga also got their campaign back on track with a valuable win away at Partizan Belgrade. The visitors grabbed the only goal of the game on 35 minutes through defender Moises. The victory all but ensured the Portuguese side the consolation of Europa league qualification at worst.
But the win could prove even more valuable as Shakhtar defeated Arsenal in the Ukraine to leave the group wide open.
The Gunners went into the game knowing that a win would be enough to see them qualify and when Theo Walcott raced through to give the Londoners the lead on 10 minutes, they seemed on course for victory.
However, Shakhtar showed just why they have such a formidable home record in Europe and found an equaliser following sustained pressure, via a Craig Eastmond own goal.
The turnaround was completed on the stroke of half time as Dario Srna easily beat Gael Clichy to provide a pin point cross for former Arsenal player Eduardo to score with a classy finish.
Arsenal remain top, due to their superior goal difference, and although qualification has yet to be confirmed, the Gunner’s vastly superior head to head record should ensure they progress.