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Unexpected group winners: Benfica Lisbon
Photo:
ABIR SULTAN / EPO
Oddity in the Champions League.
Benfica Lisbon shot Maccabi Haifa 6-1 (1-1), Paris won 2-1 (1-1) against Juventus Turin.
This put both Benfica and PSG in Group H on 14 points and 16-7 goals.
The two direct duels each ended 1:1.
Because coach Roger Schmidt's team scored more away goals, six in Haifa alone, they secured victory in their group.
Paris is second and could now face a heavyweight like Bayern Munich.
Juventus continues in the Europa League.
AC Milan, second in Group E, reached the round of 16.
In the 4-0 (1-0) win against RB Salzburg, the Italians didn't miss a beat.
The Austrians will continue to play in the Europa League in spring.
Group winners FC Chelsea defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 (2-1).
In Dortmund Group G, Manchester City struggled for a long time, but defeated Sevilla 3-1 (0-1).
City was already the group winner.
AC Milan had few problems with RB Salzburg.
Olivier Giroud gave the Italians the lead with a powerful header from a corner (14').
After that, Salzburg kept up well, but often didn't play consistently enough.
At the beginning of the second half, Rade Krunić made it 2-0 (46') after preliminary work from Giroud.
Giroud increased the lead to 3-0 (57th) with a dust-off.
The Italians had everything under control.
Substitute Junior Messias made it 4-0 (90+1) after Giroud's preliminary work.
Chelsea turned the game against Zagreb.
Bruno Petković gave the outsider an early lead from close range (7'), but Chelsea quickly equalized.
Raheem Sterling prevailed and shot into the far corner (18th).
In the 30th minute, ex-Gladbacher Denis Zakaria took the lead in his first game for Chelsea.
The Londoners didn't do more than necessary and won confidently.
Paris took the lead with the first attack.
Lionel Messi passed Kylian Mbappé, who fooled the entire defense and scored from around 18 meters (13').
After that, both teams created chances and a lively game developed.
Leonardo Bonucci then equalized.
Juan Cuadrado aimed a diving header in the penalty area across to Bonucci, who had moved up and scrambled the ball over the line (39').
In the second half, Paris grew stronger and stronger.
Substitute Nuno Mendes gave PSG the lead on preparatory work by Mbappé (68th), which Paris then no longer gave up.
Both teams started the game well, with Goncalo Ramos heading Benfica ahead from a corner (20').
But Haifa didn't hide and was awarded a legitimate penalty, which Tjaronn Chery safely converted (26').
There was still something at stake for both teams, Benfica wanted to win the group and Haifa third place.
Benfica came into play better in the second half, attacker Petar Musa headed the Portuguese to make it 2-1 (59').
After that, Roger Schmidt's team turned up the heat.
Alejandro Grimaldo (69'), Rafa Silva (73'), Henrique Araújo (88') and João Mário (90' + 2') made the final score.
Mário's goal gave Benfica top spot in the group, although the players didn't realize it until afterward and then celebrated enthusiastically.
Manchester City struggled on the offensive without the injured attacker Erling Haaland.
Rafa Mir put Sevilla ahead in the meaningless group game with a header (31st).
In the second half, 17-year-old Rico Lewis equalized (52').
Julián Álvarez then turned the game around after a strong pass from Kevin de Bruyne (73') before Riyad Mahrez completed the game (83').
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