MADRID, 26 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian Juventus of Turin was eliminated this Tuesday in the group stage after losing (4-3) against the Portuguese Benfica, who will still fight for first place against a French PSG that overwhelmed (7-2) the Israeli Maccabi Haifa, in a day of the Champions League that also left the classifications of Chelsea and Manchester City, as first, and of the German Borussia Dortmund.
In Group H, the surprise was confirmed with the elimination of Juventus, who could not in Da Luz with a Benfica that will even have the option of being first. The ‘Vecchia Signora’ ratified their bad moment and will not be among the 16 best, in addition to still having to play with Maccabi for the ticket to the Europa League.
Massimiliano Allegri’s team had a bad game in Lisbon where they lost 4-1. Although Moise Kean equalized Antonio Silva’s early goal, Joao Mario, from a penalty, and a brace from Rafa Silva made a local victory very clear, threatened at the end by goals from Milik and McKennie.
Benfica is left with eleven points, the same as PSG who did not give options at home to Maccabi Haifa, whom they thrashed 7-2 with braces from Leo Messi, who also starred with two assists, and Kylian Mbappé, who were accompanied by a both from Neymar, from Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler and another own goal.
For its part, in Group E, Chelsea confirmed its recovery after the departure of Thomas Tuchel and is now mathematically first in the group thanks to its victory (1-2) in Austria against RB Salzburg, after a tough and tight match that fell on the visiting side and that caused the first defeat of the locals in this edition of the Champions League.
Two good strikes, by Kovacic in the first half and by Havertz in the second, gave the London side a ticket to the round of 16, in a match in which Adamu gave the locals hope at the beginning of the first half.
In the other group match, Italian side AC Milan thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 with goals from Gabbia, Rafael Leao, Giroud and Ljubicic’s own goal. The ‘rossoneri’ will play the ticket to the crosses in San Siro against Salzburg, to which only victory is worth.
For their part, in the groups of the Spaniards, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City did not go beyond a goalless draw, a result that leaves Sevilla out of the top European competition and Pep Guardiola’s team in first place. Erling Haaland, on his return to Signal Iduna Park, barely shone afflicted by a fever that only allowed him to play the first part of a game where Riyad Mahred again missed a penalty as against Copenhagen.
For their part, in Real Madrid, Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk drew 1-1 and the Scottish team said goodbye to their European career. Georgios Giakoumakis put the hosts ahead, but the promising Mykhailo Mudryk equalized with a great goal that maintains the Ukrainian team’s hopes of qualifying, which will be played at home against RB Leipzig.
