BERLIN: Italian giants Juventus are out of the Champions League after losing 4-3 at Benfica, with the Portuguese side joining Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain among the teams to make it to the last 16 on Tuesday.
Benfica set up the pace with first half goals from Antonio Silva, Joao Mario and Rafa Silva, while Juve pulled one back thanks to Duan Vlahovic.
Rafa Silva sealed his brace in the 50th, while Arkadiusz Milik in the 77th and Weston McKennie two minutes later tried to keep the Italian hopes alive. Their efforts, however, were not enough to avoid the defeat and the elimination.
Dortmund played out a 0-0 draw with City, with keeper Gregor Kobel saving a penalty, but that was enough to advance. City had already advanced to the knock-outs and secured the group win.
"It was very important for us to take a point. We're very happy that we qualified," Kobel told broadcasters Amazon Prime Video.
The keeper said he was looking forward to seeing former team-mate Erling Haaland taking the penalty "but unfortunately he was no longer on the pitch."
Leipzig did their homework with a 3-2 win over Madrid but couldn't celebrate just yet as Shakhtar Donetsk pulled out a 1-1 draw at Celtic and are also still in the fight.
Joko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku put Leipzig ahead before Vinicius Junior pulled one back for champions Madrid shortly before the break.
But a late effort from Timo Werner handed Madrid their first defeat of the season. Leipzig will advance if they avoid defeat at third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk next week.
"That's exactly what we wanted, to have it (the qualification) in our hands," Werner told broadcasters DAZN.
MESSI, MBAPPE HIT BRACES
PSG thrashed Maccabi Haifa 7-2, with both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace each and Neymar also on target to help the French side book their place in the last 16.
Elsewhere, Milan were left on the brink of qualification thanks to a 4-0 triumph at Dinamo Zagreb.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chelsea also made it to the round of 16 after a 2-1 win at Red Bull Salzburg, while Sevilla refused to give up their chances with a 3-0 victory over Copenhagen.
Mateo Kovacic put Chelsea ahead as he skillfully guided the ball into the net in the 23rd minute, but Junior Adamu equalised for Salzburgright after the break with a first-time finish.
It was a stunner from Kai Havertz in the 64th minute that secured the English side in the knock-out stages.
"I am delighted. It was a fantastic performance, I thought the players showed real courage here because the atmosphere, they are so intense," Chelsea coach Graham Potter said. -- dpa
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
