Champions League round-up: Real Madrid win to book qualification spot, Harry Kane scores twice as Bayern Munich advance
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Updated 08/11/2023 at 23:39 GMT
European powerhouses Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with two games to spare after wins on Matchday 4. There was a wild finish as 10-man Manchester United went down 4-3 in Copenhagen, while Arsenal edged closer to qualification with victory over Sevilla. Earlier, Real Sociedad produced some sizzling football in beating Benfica at Reale Arena.
Real Madrid v Braga - UEFA Champions League highlights
Real Madrid booked their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Braga, and a pair of Harry Kane goals secured Bayern Munich’s passage out of the group stage.
With Napoli dropping points at home, the door was ajar for Real Madrid to open up daylight at the top of Group C.
The match did not play out without alarm for Real, as Andriy Lunin saved a penalty from Alvaro Djalo after Cristian Borja had been hauled down in the box by Lucas Vazquez.
Brahim Diaz eased Real nerves when tucking home following an excellent run and cross from Rodrygo.
Real doubled their lead on 58 minutes when Vinicius tucked home a low shot from eight yards.
Rodrygo went from provider to scorer just past the hour, as Real broke forward at pace - Rodrygo exchanged passes with Vinicius before dinking a cute finish over Matheus Magalhaes.
The win moved Real to 12 points from four games, with the aim now to secure top spot in their final two matches.
Kane nets two as Bayern advance
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Bayern Munich v Galatasaray – UEFA Champions League highlights
Bayern Munich were made to work hard, but two goals from Kane in the final 10 minutes secured a 2-1 win over Galatasaray and qualification from Group A.
Kane has made a seamless transition to life in Germany, and he headed home Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick delivery on 80 minutes - but Bayern had to wait some time before the goal was confirmed by VAR.
The second Kane goal was simplicity itself, as he stroked home from six yards after Bayern pounced on sloppy Galatasaray defending.
Gala ensured a nervy finish when Cedric Bakambu latched onto a long ball, but Bayern held on for the win.
Napoli held by at home by Berlin
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Napoli v Union Berlin – UEFA Champions League highlights
Union Berlin snapped a 12-game losing streak when coming from behind to claim a point at Napoli.
The German club have had a torrid time so far in the 2023/24 season, going on a long losing run after opening their Bundesliga campaign with a pair of 4-1 victories.
Things looked grim when they trailed a dominant Napoli side, but they produced a second-half rally to secure a 1-1 draw.
Napoli dominated the ball and chances in the early exchanges, and saw a goal from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa ruled out by VAR.
Anguissa stopped low to nod home Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s downward header on the half-hour mark, but the latter was deemed to have committed a foul.
The Napoli pressure brought a goal on 39 minutes, with Matteo Politano showing superb reactions to turn home Mario Rui’s deflected cross.
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Matteo Politano of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring
Image credit: Getty Images
Union arrived in Italy on a run of 12 defeats in a row, but came close to an equaliser on the stroke of half-time - only for Josip Juranovic’s free-kick to thud against the post.
Napoli continued to dictate the play in the second half, but were undone by a rapid Union counter. A hopeful long ball found David Fofana who drew in defenders before feeding the ball to Sheraldo Becker.
Becker’s shot was well saved by Alex Meret, but Fofana was on hand to crash the rebound home.
Napoli went in search of a winner but dogged Union defending secured a point.
The draw leaves Napoli on seven points from four games, while Union are off the mark in European competition.
United stunned in Copenhagen
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Copenhagen v Manchester United – UEFA Champions League highlights
There was huge drama in Denmark, as Manchester United let a two-goal lead slip in a 4-3 loss to Copenhagen.
Two goals from Rajmus Hojlund had United in cruise control, but Marcus Rashford saw red on 42 minutes and the game changed.
After drawing level at 2-2, Copenhagen conceded a penalty and Bruno Fernandes put United back in front.
Lukas Lerager drew the Danish side level, and the Parken went wild when Roony Bardghji lashed home the winner three minutes from time.
The defeat leaves United bottom of Group A on three points, behind leaders Bayern on 12 - with Galatasaray and Copenhagen on four.
Arsenal win to edge closer to qualification
Arsenal cemented their place at the top of Group B with a 2-0 win over Sevilla.
Bukayo Saka teed up Leandro Trossard for the opener on 30 minutes, before sealing the win with a fine goal of his own on 64.
A rapid break set the forward away and he dashed into the box before cutting back on his left foot and finishing in style.
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'He made it look so easy' - Saka bursts through to double Arsenal's lead
PSV Eindhoven’s 1-0 win over Lens thanks to Luuk De Jong’s goal meant Arsenal have to wait to secure qualification.
Arsenal are on nine points, with PSV and Lens on five. Sevilla are bottom of the group with two points.
Sociedad blitz Benfica
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Real Sociedad v Benfica – UEFA Champions League highlights
Real Sociedad reinforced their position in Group D with a comfortable 3-1 home win over Benfica.
The Basque side went into the game level on points with Inter Milan at the top of the standings.
Benfica arrived in Spain without a point to their name, and headed back to Portugal in the same position after a chastening loss.
Mikel Merino headed La Real in front on six minutes, and the advantage was doubled on 11 minutes when Mikel Oyarzabal seized on some sloppy defending to dart into the box and slot home.
Merino had a goal ruled out by VAR, but Sociedad were three to the good on 21 minutes when Ander Barrenetxea cut inside onto his right foot and drilled a shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
Brais Mendez missed a penalty for Sociedad before the interval, and Benfica raised hope of a comeback when Rafa Silva scored on 49 minutes, but the home side held on to move themselves onto 10 points from four games.
Inter beat Salzburg thanks to a Lautaro Martinez penalty to join Sociedad at the top of the table on 10 points - with both through to the knockout stages.
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