European big guns Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Arsenal moved within touching distance of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after preserving their perfect record in the competition yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo made it five goals in his last three matches as Spanish league leaders Real Madrid defeated Milan 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu last night to take command of Champions League Group G.

It was an epic tussle between the two most successful European teams with 16 European Cups between them and nine-time winners Real came out on top with two goals in as many minutes helping Real make it a perfect three group G wins and Jose Mourinho’s Real are now five points ahead of Milan and Ajax.

Ronaldo fired a 13th-minute free-kick through a hopeless Milan wall for his first Champions League goal of the season and a minute later German international Mesut Ozil saw his deflected shot go in.

It was sweet revenge for Real who lost 3-2 to Milan at home in last season’s group stage and Mourinho’s Real have yet to concede in this season’s Champions League and are unbeaten in all competitions.

Four-time champions Ajax ignited their push for a place in the knockout phase with a 2-1 win at home to Auxerre.

The result moved Martin Jol’s side level on points with second-placed Milan, while Auxerre’s hopes of securing even a consolation place in the Europa League by finishing third now appears seriously compromised.

Auxerre’s resistance crumbled after just six minutes at the Amsterdam Arena.

Delvin N’Dinga was caught dwelling on the ball just outside his own area and Dutch international Demy de Zeeuw seized on the opportunity to crack a rising drive into the top-left corner.

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez made it 2-0 shortly before half-time by applying a deft finish to a sweeping move down the Ajax right flank.

The visitors were handed a lifeline in the 55th minute when Ajax centre-back Andre Ooijer was sent off for a last-man foul on Dennis Oliech and Slovenian international Valter Birsa bent in the resulting free-kick to halve the arrears.

Arsenal took a giant stride towards the knockout phase, beating Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to take firm control of their qualifying group.

First-half goals from Alex Song and Samir Nasri followed by second-half efforts from Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh sealed the win for Arsenal, who maintained their 100 per cent record at the top of Group H.

The home fans could even derive pleasure from Shakhtar’s lone consolation goal – scored by Arsenal old boy Eduardo in the dying minutes, returning to the Emirates after his summer transfer to the Ukrainian champions.

Arsene Wenger’s men now have nine points from three matches, three clear of second-placed Shakhtar, who have six points.

German giants Bayern Munich are also on the verge of the Round of 16 after a 3-2 win over CFR Cluj as striker Mario Gomez scored his fifth goal in three games.

Having broken his 13-match scoring drought for Bayern with a hat-trick in last Saturday’s 3-0 league win over Hanover, and scored in Germany’s 3-0 win in Kazakhstan last week, Gomez hit Munich’s third against Romanian side Cluj.

The 25-year-old had an easy late tap in, but Munich were uninspiring despite the victory.

Last season’s beaten finalists were far from impressive as Cluj scored all-bar-one of the goals and gifted Bayern two own-goals.

Swiss underdogs Basel stunned Roma 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico to grab a Champions League lifeline.

Alexander Frei had given the visitors the lead before Marco Borriello equalised but Samuel Inkoom restored the visitors’ advantage a minute before the break while substitute Cabral put the cherry on the cake in stoppage time.

The Swiss team are now level on points with Roma and Romanians CFR Cluj with runaway leaders Bayern Munich seemingly home and dry on a maximum nine points.

It was a further blow in a difficult season for Roma who were in the Serie A relegation zone before last weekend and they were roundly jeered at the final whistle.

English champions Chelsea maintained their 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League with a 2-0 win over the hosts Spartak Moscow in yesterday’s early kick-off.

Yury Zhirkov and Nicolas Anelka both scored for the visitors to record their third successive win and inflict Spartak’s first defeat of the campaign.

It was a happier result for the English side than their last appearance in Moscow when they lost on penalties to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.

“We played very good before the break and scored two goals,” Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said.

“In the second half Spartak managed to come back and created several chances but we still were in control.

“I’m pleased with our defence. I’d like to thank Petr Cech, who made some marvellous saves. Zhirkov was also good tonight. He scored a very important goal.”

The result left Chelsea on top of the table with nine points from three matches, three points ahead of Spartak.

Summaries

Roma 1
Borriello 21;
Basel 3
Frei 12; Inkoom 44; Cabral 90;

B. Munich 3
Cadu 32 og; Panin 37 og; Gomez 77;
CFR Cluj 2
Cadu 28; Culio 86;

Marseille 1
Diawara 48;
Zilina 0

S. Moscow 0
Chelsea 2
Zhirkov 24; Anelka 43;

Ajax 2
De Zeeuw 7; Suarez 41;
Auxerre 1
Birsa 56;

Red cards: Ooijer (Aj) 56; Oliech (Aux) 85; Mignot (Aux)90;

Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo 13; Ozil 14;
Milan 0

Braga 2
Lima 35; Matheus 90;
Partizan 0

Arsenal 5
Song 19; Nasri 42; Fabregas 60 pen; Wilshere 66; Chamakh 69;
S. Donetsk 1
Eduardo 82;

Playing today

Group A
Inter - Tottenham
Twente - Werder Bremen

Group B
Schalke 04 - H. Tel Aviv
Olym. Lyon - Benfica

Group C
Rangers - Valencia
Man. United - Bursaspor

Group D
Panathinaikos - Rubin Kazan
Barcelona - FC Copenhagen