Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich qualified for the eighth finals of the Champions League on Wednesday, alongside Manchester City and Leipzig, who did so on Tuesday.
Leaving the fourth round of the competition, Benfica, defeated in San Sebastián by Real Sociedad, 3-1, while Sporting de Braga, who lost 3-0 to Real in Madrid, still have a glimmer of hope in qualifying. FC Porto is well placed for qualification, having defeated Antwerp 2-0 on Tuesday.
In the Basque Country, the Eagles’ defeat ultimately proves flattering in terms of numbers, given the avalanche of attacking football from Real Sociedad in the first half, with many chances, disallowed goals and even a missed penalty.
With this new defeat, Roger Schmidt’s team continues after four games without scoring in the Champions League, only managing to score the first goal through Rafa in the 49th minute.
In the nightmare of the first half, goals from Mikel Merino (six minutes), Mikel Oyarzabal (11) and Barrenetxea (21) were worth it.
In that evening’s Group D match, Salzburg were defeated 1-0 at home by Inter, a result that still leaves Benfica dreaming of a move to the Europa League and leaving last place, without points, where it stands today .
Argentinian Lautaro Martínez scored the goal from a penalty in the 85th minute that allowed Inter to stay level with Real Sociedad on 10 points. Salzburg is third with three points.
Better in performance was the Braga team’s trip to the Spanish capital, although the end result was also a defeat.
Sporting de Braga felt the weight of the responsibility of playing on the pitch of a European giant and, through Álvaro Djaló, missed the penalty that would have given them the lead after just six minutes.
Then Brahim Díaz (27), Vinícius Júnior (58) and Rodrygo (61) scored and brought the final result in line with what could initially be expected.
Group C is not yet clear, because in Italy Naples, with Mário Rui in the starting line-up, conceded a draw against Union Berlin, with Diogo Leite, 1-1.
The goals went to Politano (39) for the locals and Fofana (52) for the visitors.
Real Madrid is already through with only wins and twelve points, Naples with seven and Sporting de Braga with three chasing the other spot.
Another European football legend who has already solved the question of qualification is Bayern Munich, in Group A, also with only victories so far, after the 2-1 against Galatasaray.
The Turks and Copenhagen, with four points, and Manchester United, with three, are aiming for the other place in the eighth finals.
In Munich, the Portuguese António Nobre was whistled and Sérgio Oliveira was a substitute who was used by the team from Istanbul.
The goalless scoreline continued until the 80th minute, when Englishman Harry Kane ‘unlocked’ the scores, with goals in the 80th and 86th minutes. Bakambu brought the score back to 90+3, thanks to a pass from Sérgio Oliveira.
In Copenhagen, Manchester United, with Rashford sent off on 42, had secured victory, 3-2 in the 80th minute of a match in which two Portuguese – Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Gonçalves – scored from a penalty.
On 03 and 28, Hojlund scored twice for the Red Devilsbut Copenhagen also scored goals, with Elyounoussi (45) and Diogo Gonçalves (45+9, penalty) – the Portuguese had a great game, as he provided the assist for the Danes’ first goal.
Bruno Fernandes replaced the Red Devils ahead, at 69, after Lerager (83) and Bardghji (87) turned the score around again, for the final 4-3.
Everything is still undefined in Group B, in which Arsenal have nine points, PSV and Lens five and Sevilla two, after this Wednesday’s results: 1-0 at PSV-Lens and 2-0 at Arsenal-Sevilla.
In London the gunners (Fábio Vieira came on as a substitute) they built up the victory with goals from Trossard (29) and Bukayo Saka (64).
In Eindhoven, Luuk de Jong scored in the 12th minute.
Source: DN
