Real Madrid joined group leaders Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League, knocking out Manchester City in the process, after a pulsating 1-1 Group D draw at the Etihad Stadium yesterday which Real ended with 10 men.

In a night of few surprises, Real went ahead after 10 minutes when Karim Benzema was left unmarked and in space to score with the goal at his mercy, but City, outplayed in the first half, improved in the second and equalised with a Sergio Aguero penalty after 74 minutes.

Real defender Alvaro Arbeloa was sent off for fouling Aguero and conceding the penalty which the Argentine swept home having missed a golden opportunity to score in the 65th minute when Iker Casillas made a point-blank save.

Former Manchester United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, playing back in the city for the first time since he left United three years ago, was booed every time he touched the ball, but had the last laugh as City went out.

Dortmund produced a ruthlessly efficient performance to win 4-1 at Ajax.

The Germans looked capable of scoring every time they broke as they raced to a 3-0 half-time lead against the ineffective four-times former champions.

Marco Reus put the Germans ahead after eight minutes, combining with Mario Goetze in a deadly counter-attack down the right before slipping the ball between goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer’s legs.

With Dortmund needing only a point to go through, Goetze added the second in the 36th minute and Lewandowski scored from a rebound five minutes later.

Although Ajax had plenty of possession, Lewandowski added his second in the 67th minute before Daniel Hoesen scored a late consolation.

The two teams to advance from Group B are Schalke and Arsenal.

Schalke booked their spot in the knockout stage with a nervous 1-0 victory over Olympiakos Piraeus courtesy of a brilliant 30-metre goal by Christian Fuchs.

Austria international Fuchs scored with his left foot, taking a pot shot in the 77th minute to send Schalke top of on 11 points.

The hosts, who scored their first home win in the competition this season, dominated throughout and squandered half a dozen clear chances before Fuchs struck.

Arsenal beat Montpellier 2-0 in London to move up to 10 points and making sure of advancing to the knockout round for the 10th consecutive season.

Jack Wilshere’s first goal since returning from a long-term injury and a Lukas Podolski thunderbolt gave the Gunners all three points.

Podolski wasted two great chances in a frustrating first half as Arsenal looked to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat by Schalke in their previous home game but the Gunners turned on the style after the break.

Wilshere broke the deadlock after 49 minutes with a close-range finish – his first goal for two years – and Podolski made sure of the points with a superb volley just past the hour to ease any tension at the Emirates.

Magical Mexes

An acrobatic bicycle kick from Philippe Mexes helped Milan qualify for the last 16 with a 3-1 defeat of ten-man Anderlecht.

With Group C winners Malaga held 2-2 at Zenit St Petersburg earlier, both sides were desperate for all three points to secure the runners-up spot with one group game to spare.

And it was Milan who progressed, after Stephan El Shaarawy put the Serie A side into a 47th minute lead with Mexes adding Milan’s second in the 71st minute.

Tom De Sutter pulled one back for Anderlecht but Milan held their nerve with Alexandre Pato grabbing a late third.

Anderlecht were a man down in the 70th minute when Bram Nuy-tinck got his marching orders for bringing down Pato as the last man.

Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi scored his first goals for Paris Saint Germain as his double secured the French side a place in the last 16 after a 2-0 win at Dynamo Kiev.

Second-placed PSG will now meet Group A leaders Porto in the final game, needing a victory to win the group.

Summaries

Porto 3
Gonzalez 20; Moutinho 67; Varela 85;
D. Zagreb 0

D. Kiev 0
Paris SG 2
Lavezzi 45, 52;

Arsenal 2
Wilshere 49; Podolski 63;
Montpellier 0

Schalke 1
Fuchs 77;
Olympiakos 0

Zenit SP 2
Danny 49; Fayzulin 86;
Malaga 2
Buonanotte 8; Fernandez 9;

Red card: Bystrov (Z) 90.

Anderlecht 1
De Sutter 78;
Milan 3
El Shaarawy 47; Mexes 71; Pato 90;

Red card: Nuytinck (A) 70.

Ajax 1
Hoesen 86;
B. Dortmund 4
Reus 8; Goetze 36; Lewandowski 41, 67;

Man. City 1
Aguero 74 pen;
Real Madrid 1
Benzema 10;

Red card: Arbeloa (RM) 73.

Group A


P W D L F A Pts
Porto 5 4 1 0 9 2 13
Paris SG 5 4 0 1 12 2 12
Dynamo Kiev 5 1 1 3 5 9 4
Dinamo Zagreb 5 0 0 5 0 13 0

D. Zagreb vs Porto - 0-2
Paris SG vs D. Kiev - 4-1
D. Kiev vs Dinamo Zagreb - 2-0
Porto vs PSG - 1-0
Porto vs D. Kiev - 3-2
D. Zagreb vs PSG - 0-2
D. Kiev vs Porto - 0-0
Paris SG vs D. Zagreb - 4-0
Porto vs D. Zagreb - 3-0
D. Kiev vs Paris SG - 0-2
04/12/12: D. Zagreb vs D. Kiev
04/12/12: Paris SG vs Porto

Group B


P W D L F A Pts
Schalke 5 3 2 0 9 5 11
Arsenal 5 3 1 1 9 6 10
Olympiakos 5 2 0 3 7 8 6
Montpellier 5 0 1 4 5 11 1

Montpellier vs Arsenal - 1-2
Olympiakos vs Schalke - 1-2
Schalke vs Montpellier - 2-2
Arsenal vs Olympiakos - 3-1
Arsenal vs Schalke - 0-2
Montpellier vs Olympiakos - 1-2
Schalke vs Arsenal - 2-2
Olympiakos vs Montpellier - 3-1
Arsenal vs Montpellier - 2-0
Schalke vs Olympiakos - 1-0
04/12/12: Montpellier vs Schalke
04/12/12: Olympiakos vs Arsenal

Group C


P W D L F A Pts
Malaga 5 3 2 0 10 3 11
Milan 5 2 2 1 7 5 8
Zenit SP 5 1 1 3 5 9 4
Anderlecht 5 1 1 3 2 7 4

Milan vs Anderlecht - 0-0
Malaga vs Zenit SP - 3-0
Anderlecht vs Malaga - 0-3
Zenit SP vs Milan - 2-3
Zenit SP vs Anderlecht - 1-0
Malaga vs Milan - 1-0
Anderlecht vs Zenit SP - 1-0
Milan vs Malaga - 1-1
Zenit vs Malaga - 2-2
Anderlecht vs Milan - 1-3
04/12/12: Malaga vs Anderlecht
04/12/12: Milan vs Zenit SP

Group D


P W D L F A Pts
Bor. Dortmund 5 3 2 0 10 5 11
Real Madrid 5 2 2 1 11 8 8
Ajax 5 1 1 3 7 12 4
Man. City 5 0 3 2 7 10 3

B. Dortmund vs Ajax - 1-0
R. Madrid vs Man. City - 3-2
Man. City vs B. Dortmund - 1-1
Ajax vs R. Madrid - 1-4
Ajax vs Man. City - 3-1
B. Dortmund vs R. Madrid - 2-1
Man. City vs Ajax - 2-2
R. Madrid vs B. Dortmund - 2-2
Ajax vs B. Dortmund - 1-4
Man. City vs R. Madrid - 1-1
04/12/12: B. Dortmund vs Man. City
04/12/12: R. Madrid vs Ajax

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