UEFA Champions League results

FC Copenhagen qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the second time in their history on Tuesday thanks to a Lukas Lerager winner in a 1-0 home victory over Galatasaray.

The Danish champions overcame the odds in a group featuring Manchester United and Galatasaray to book their place in the knockout stages for the first time since 2010-11.

“I almost have no words for how big it is for us to take eight points against Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray,” said coach Jacob Neestrup.

“I think it is an extraordinary achievement that a Danish team can advance. The group was so strong and full of so many world stars.”

Copenhagen finished the game where they started it, in second place, though they ensured qualification in style with a second win of this campaign.

Elsewhere in Group A, Galatasaray dropped into the Europa League playoffs while Manchester United fell out of European competition completely.

“Our goal continues. We are in the Europa League play-off round. Our goal is to win trophies in Europe. Our goal does not end,” said Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk.

Lerager’s second-half tap-in ensured Copenhagen kept their fate in their own hands with a win that gave them a three-point lead over the Turkish side in third place.

In the opening 45 minutes both sides showed intent but lacked a cutting edge on a nervy night where all was to play for.

The best chance fell inside the first 10 minutes to the side who were going through as things stood.

Slick Copenhagen passing resulted in Mohamed Elyounoussi supplying Peter Ankersen inside the box, but his right-footed strike flashed just beyond the far post.

The breakthrough then came for the hosts 13 minutes after half-time when midfielder Lerager converted from inside the six-yard box after being set up by Elias Achouri.

With their participation in the Champions League disappearing before their eyes, Galatasaray drove forward towards the white wall of noise that the home fans generated behind Kamil Grabara’s goal.

Kerem Akturkoglu seemed set to give the Turkish side a lifeline back into the match on 74 minutes when he raced onto a backheel from Mauro Icardi yards out from goal, but his wild effort flew over the bar.

Goalscorer Lerager picked up a second yellow on the stroke of full-time for a foul on Akturkoglu, however his side held out for the three minutes of additional time in front of a delirious home crowd.

Dani Ceballos scored with a minute remaining to keep Real Madrid’s perfect Champions League record intact this season, winning 3-2 at Union Berlin on Tuesday.

Real came into the match guaranteed of first place in their group but fell behind just before half-time, Union striker Kevin Volland scoring on the counter.

Already eliminated from the Champions League, Union needed to win to keep their Europa League hopes alive but conceded two Joselu goals in ten minutes, silencing the Berlin Olympic Stadium crowd.

Alex Kral gave the home side hope late, scoring Union’s second just after coming on, but Real regained the lead moments later, Dani Ceballos’ deflected shot dribbling into the net with one minute remaining.

Home coach Nenad Bjelica, in the Union dugout for just the fourth time, praised Jude Bellingham before the match, but said countryman Luka Modric was “still the best in the world.”

Bellingham, who at 20 is almost half the age of the 38-year-old Croatian veteran, shone early, forcing a save from Frederik Ronnow and shooting just wide of the post moments later.

The 14-time Champions League winners were a class above the debutants in the opening stanza, bossing possession and field position despite coach Carlo Ancelotti making five pre-match changes.

Union held on until a clumsy handball from Diego Leite brought Modric to the spot in the shadows of half-time.

Diving to his right, Ronnow got a boot to the low strike, his third penalty save from five attempts in all competitions this season.

The Denmark ‘keeper lofted the ball forward, Kevin Behrens finding his namesake Volland, who put Union in front after a mistake from David Alaba.

Madrid’s experience showed, the visitors remaining calm and continuing to dominate possession, Joselu heading in a perfect Rodrygo cross 15 minutes into the second-half.

The Madrid striker doubled up ten minutes later, again scoring with his head from an even tighter angle to snatch the lead.

The Germany-born Joselu, who made his debut for Spain in March at the age of 33, now has eight goals in 21 matches since moving to Madrid on loan from Espanyol in the summer.

Kral’s late strike gave Union hope of keeping their unbeaten record alive under Bjelica, but Bellingham found Ceballos to score on the break.

The loss means Union’s first Champions League campaign, in just their fourth season in the top division, comes to an end with two draws and four defeats.

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AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)