Champions League: Arsenal, Real Madrid top groups as Man United falter | Football News

In a frenetic and high-scoring night time of Champions League football, Arsenal scored six targets to advance to the knockout rounds as group winners, whereas Manchester United stayed final of their group regardless of scoring three targets away from house.

Arsenal’s 6-0 rout of Lens ensured second-placed PSV Eindhoven – who received 3-2 in stoppage time at Sevilla – additionally superior to the spherical of 16 from Group B on Wednesday night time.

There are actually 12 confirmed groups within the spherical of 16 draw set to happen on December 18, however Manchester United are in severe hazard of lacking out.

The three-time European champions led by two targets after 18 minutes at Galatasaray and 3-2 early within the second half however had been pegged again once more in a wild 3-3 draw.

United have additionally suffered 4-3 losses at Bayern Munich and second-placed Copenhagen this season.

“As a crew, we have now to study from it as a result of we’re conceding too many targets and it’s pointless and avoidable,” United supervisor Erik ten Hag mentioned.

A hat-trick of three-goal video games on their travels has introduced only a single level again for ten Hag’s gamers, who must beat Bayern at Previous Trafford in two weeks.

Solely 4 different Champions League groups this season have scored greater than United’s 12-goal whole they usually all prime their teams and have superior to the knockout part.

Actual Madrid are amongst them and end atop Group C after a 4-2 win over second-placed Napoli.

Groups that prime their standings are seeded within the round-of-16 draw and keep away from different group winners like defending champions Manchester Metropolis. Groups additionally can’t be drawn in opposition to opponents from their very own nation.

Bayern drew 0-0 with Copenhagen, considered one of two video games with no targets on an evening when the opposite six video games delivered 31.

Actual Sociedad had been held 0-0 by Salzburg to arrange a final-day showdown with second-placed Inter Milan for the highest spot in Group D. Each Sociedad and Inter already superior three weeks in the past.

Inter produced the night time’s different second-half fightback in a 3-3 draw at Benfica, who wasted a three-goal lead at halftime earned by Joao Mario’s hat trick in opposition to his former membership.

Braga drew 1-1 with Union Berlin and might nonetheless advance by successful at Napoli.

31 targets 😳

An unbelievable night time of soccer ✨#UCL pic.twitter.com/GcmtvW2Qhv

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 29, 2023

Jude Bellingham was the standout participant for Actual Madrid once more, in what’s turning into the 20-year-old England star’s routine excellence this season.

Bellingham scored Madrid’s second aim in opposition to Napoli to make it 4 targets in 4 Champions League video games for his new membership and offered an help for Joselu in stoppage time.

“Bellingham is a present to soccer, not simply this membership,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned.

“The world’s delighted to see a man with this expertise, potential, promise and hopefully, he’ll simply proceed as he’s.”

Bellingham now has scored 15 targets in his first 16 matches with Madrid sporting the quantity 5 shirt of the good Zinedine Zidane.

“Bellingham has shocked everybody. Nobody might have anticipated this,” Ancelotti mentioned.

Jude is totally different. pic.twitter.com/eKbq4WfPi7

— Actual Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 29, 2023

Onana retains piling on the errors

Andre Onana’s goalkeeping errors have price Manchester United in losses at Bayern and at house to Galatasaray and virtually led to a different defeat at Istanbul.

For every of Hakim Ziyech’s two targets from free kicks, Onana’s positional play or dealing with may very well be faulted.

“We win and lose collectively,” ten Hag mentioned when requested about Onana who he additionally coached at Ajax.

“He’s okay. As I mentioned, it isn’t about people. In fact, particular person errors in soccer could make a distinction and you’re taking duty for it however it’s at all times concerning the crew.”

Manchester United might find yourself third of their group even when they beat Bayern on December 12, the identical night time Copenhagen host Galatasaray.

“It’s at all times me (who’s guilty for throwing away leads). I’m chargeable for this,” the Dutchman advised TNT Sports activities.

“We’re in the best path, so I do know the place we have now to go and which steps we have now to take and I’m positive we might be profitable in the long run.

“If we need to keep within the Champions League, we have now to win the following recreation.”

Route to Europa League

Third place in a Champions League group stage ensures European football into the new year, albeit in the second-tier Europa League as all eight third-place teams enter the knockout playoff round against runners-up from Europa League groups.

Salzburg need only a draw at home to Benfica to clinch third place in Group D, while Europa League title holders Sevilla can rise off the bottom of Group B by winning at Lens and getting back into the competition they won seven times in the past 18 seasons.

Winning the Europa title also is a ticket back to the Champions League next season.