Six teams head into the round of 16

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Borussia Dortmund were spectacular and Real Madrid CF steadfast, while four other clubs also did enough to confirm their round of 16 places tonight after matchday five.

A total of six teams qualified for the round of 16 tonight with the top two spots in Groups A–D now confirmed.

Qualified for the last 16: Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Porto, FC Schalke 04, Arsenal FC, Málaga CF*, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund*, Real Madrid CF.

*group winners

Confirmed in the UEFA Europa League: FC Dynamo Kyiv, Olympiacos FC.

Eliminated from Europe: GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Montpellier Hérault SC.

The situation from last night's games can be seen here.

In Group D, Manchester City FC needed to defeat Real Madrid to have any chance of keeping their slim hopes alive. However, they went behind to an early Karim Benzema goal and though they fought back to earn a point via a Sergio Agüero penalty, it was not enough to stop the hosts' elimination.

The draw means Madrid will finish second in the section after Dortmund strode to an impressive 4-1 win at AFC Ajax, who will fight it out with City for the UEFA Europa League place. Mario Götze turned in a virtuoso performance for the visitors in Amsterdam.

Porto were already through in Group A, and their 3-0 home victory against Dinamo Zagreb kept them a point clear of PSG, who won 2-0 at Dynamo Kyiv with Ezequiel Lavezzi scoring both. Pole position will be decided by a matchday six showdown between the two qualified teams in Paris.

Home successes for Arsenal and Schalke helped those clubs through in Group B. Both sides were being held 0-0 at half-time, but Jack Wilshere scored his first goal in nearly two years to break the deadlock against Montpellier for the Gunners, who ran out 2-0 winners. Christian Fuchs got the Schalke goal which ended Olympiacos's last-16 ambitions.

Milan joined Group C winners Málaga in the 20 December draw after they prevailed 3-1 at RSC Anderlecht, with Philippe Mexès scoring a wonderful overhead kick. Earlier, FC Zenit St Petersburg came from two behind to draw with Málaga but the point was not enough to keep them in contention following the Rossoneri's subsequent triumph.

Group A
FC Porto 3-0 GNK Dinamo Zagreb
FC Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain FC

Group B
Arsenal FC 2-0 Montpellier Hérault SC
FC Schalke 04 1-0 Olympiacos FC

Group C
FC Zenit St Petersburg 2-2 Málaga CF
RSC Anderlecht 1-3 AC Milan

Group D
AFC Ajax 1-4 Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City FC 1-1 Real Madrid CF