Real Madrid finally ended their Stade de Gerland hoodoo as Cristiano Ronaldo scored in each half to give the Spaniards a 2-0 win over Lyon last night that seals their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
Ronaldo’s brilliantly-struck free-kick set the visitors on course midway through the first half, and the Portuguese netted his and his side’s second from the penalty spot after 69 minutes to bring up his century of goals for Real after just two years there.
His goals also gave Real Madrid their first win in five attempts in Lyon and maintained their perfect record after four games in Group D.
With 12 points, they are now beyond the reach of both Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb – who lost 3-0 to Ajax in the evening’s other Group D game – and a win against the Croats at the Bernabeu later this month will ensure that Jose Mourinho’s men go into the last 16 as winners of the section.
Bayern Munich suffered a second-half scare before sealing a 3-2 win over Napoli to stay top of Group A as both teams finished with 10 men.
Having cruised to a 3-0 lead at the break thanks to Mario Gomez’s hat-trick, Bayern were left rattled as Federico Fernandez scored the second of two headers with ten minutes left to set up a tense finale.
After Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Villarreal in Spain, Bayern are now three points clear at the top of Group A with two games remaining.
Defeat means Napoli drop to third in the table and will be without Colombia winger Juan Zuniga for their next game at home to City on November 22 after he was sent off for a second yellow card.
Likewise, Bayern will be without defender Holger Badstuber for their next game at home to Villarreal the same night as he was also shown two yellow cards.
Bayern’s victory may have come at a heavy price as they had midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger stretchered off in the second half with a suspected dislocated right shoulder.
At the Madrigal, Yaya Toure struck twice as City enhanced their hopes of progress with a convincing win.
Mario Balotelli, making his first appearance in the competition this season, was also on target from the penalty spot as City recorded back-to-back wins over Villarreal to move second in Group A.
It was a result that rarely seemed in doubt as City domi-nated but of possible concern to them was the sight of the in-fluential David Silva leaving the field clutching his back.
At the San Siro, Inter took a huge step towards qualifying for the next round with a 2-1 victory over French champions Lille.
The three points kept the troubled Italians top of Group B, knowing that another victory will assure them of qualification.
Argentine pair Walter Samuel, with a header, and Diego Milito, from close range, scored the goals that ensured Inter have won more games in the Champions League than they have in Serie A so far this season.
Tulio De Melo scored for Lille, who now need to win both their remaining games if they are to progress.
Manchester United edged closer to the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Romanian minnows Otelul Galati.
An eighth-minute goal from Antonio Valencia and a late deflected shot by Wayne Rooney secured the win for United, who now head Group C on goal difference from Benfica with two matches left.
But the win could not disguise a largely unimpressive performance from the English champions, who struggled to break down a stubborn Galati side still looking for their first ever Champions League point.
A late goal by Basel’s veteran Benjamin Huggel rescued a share of the points in a 1-1 draw with Benfica.
Huggel’s goal – Basel’s first in four visits to Portugal – maintained the Swiss side’s hopes of reaching the last 16 for only the second time, though, they trail both Benfica and United by three points with two group matches remaining.
Summaries
B. Munich 3
Gomez 17, 23, 42;
Napoli 2
Fernandez 45, 80;
Red cards: Zuniga (N) 70; Badstuber (BM) 77.
Villarreal 0
Man. City 3
Y. Toure 30, 71; Balotelli 45 pen;
Trabzonspor 0
CSKA 0
Red card: Doumbia (CSKA) 74.
Inter 2
Samuel 18; Milito 65;
Lille 1
De Melo 83;
Man. United 2
Valencia 8; Rooney 87;
O. Galati 0
Benfica 1
Rodrigo 4;
Basel 1
Huggel 64;
Lyon 0
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo 24, 69 pen;
Ajax 4
Van der Wiel 20; Sulejmani 25; De Jong 65; Lodeiro 90;
D. Zagreb 0
Group A
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Bayern Munich | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| Man. City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| Napoli | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Villarreal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Man. City vs Napoli - 1-1
Villarreal vs Bayern Munich - 0-2
Bayern Munich vs Man. City - 2-0
Napoli vs Villarreal - 2-0
Napoli vs Bayern Munich - 1-1
Man. City vs Villarreal - 2-1
Bayern Munich vs Napoli - 3-2
Villarreal vs Man. City - 0-3
22/11/11: Napoli vs Man. City
22/11/11: Bayern Munich vs Villarreal
07/12/11: Man. City vs Bayern Munich
07/12/11: Villarreal vs Napoli
Group B
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Inter | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| CSKA Moscow | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Trabzonspor | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Lille | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Lille vs CSKA Moscow - 2-2
Inter vs Trabzonspor - 0-1
Trabzonspor vs Lille - 1-1
CSKA Moscow vs Inter - 2-3
CSKA Moscow vs Trabzonspor - 3-0
Lille vs Inter - 0-1
Trabzonspor vs CSKA Moscow - 0-0
Inter vs Lille - 2-1
22/11/11: CSKA Moscow vs Lille
22/11/11: Trabzonspor vs Inter
07/12/11: Lille vs Trabzonspor
07/12/11: Inter vs CSKA Moscow
Group C
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. United | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| Benfica | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| Basel | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Otelul Galati | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
Basel vs Otelul Galati - 2-1
Benfica vs Man. United - 1-1
Man. United vs Basel - 3-3
Otelul Galati vs Benfica - 0-1
Otelul Galati vs Man. United - 0-2
Basel vs Benfica - 0-2
Man. United vs Otelul Galati - 2-0
Benfica vs Basel - 1-1
22/11/11: Otelul Galati vs Basel
22/11/11: Man. United vs Benfica
07/12/11: Basel vs Man. United
07/12/11: Benfica vs Otelul Galati
Group D
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Real Madrid | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 |
| Ajax | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Lyon | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Dinamo Zagreb vs Real Madrid - 0-1
Ajax vs Lyon - 0-0
Lyon vs Dinamo Zagreb - 2-0
Real Madrid vs Ajax - 3-0
Real Madrid vs Lyon - 4-0
D. Zagreb vs Ajax - 0-2
Lyon vs Real Madrid - 0-2
Ajax vs Dinamo Zagreb - 4-0
22/11/11: Real Madrid vs D. Zagreb
22/11/11: Lyon vs Ajax
07/12/11: D. Zagreb vs Lyon
07/12/11: Ajax vs Real Madrid