PARIS: Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were among the clubs to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games to spare on Wednesday, while Manchester United’s poor form continued as they slipped to a stunning 4-3 defeat against FC Copenhagen.

Last season’s runners-up Inter Milan and Real Sociedad also secured their tickets for the knockout phase, joining holders Manchester City and RB Leipzig in advancing to the last 16.

On a royally good evening for standout Spanish teams, Real and Sociedad recorded impressive home wins over Portuguese opponents — 3-0 against Braga and 3-1 over Benfica respectively.

Bayern and Inter also won, getting key late goals from their talismanic strikers Harry Kane and Lautaro Martínez.

Kane scored in the 80th and 86th minutes in a 2-1 win over Galatasaray and Inter’s 1-0 win at Red Bull Salzburg was sealed by Martínez’s penalty in the 85th after Mads Bidstrup handled in the area.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans included resting breakout star Jude Bellingham in what was a vibrant Group ‘C’ game with Braga for the record 14-time European champions.

Not in the plan was selecting Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who got a late call when first choice Kepa Arrizabalaga was unable to warm up because of a leg muscle injury.

Just six minutes into his third game of the season for Real, and first since August, Lunin saved a sixth-minute penalty from Braga’s Alvaro Djalo after Lucas Vazquez fouled Cristian Borja.

Brahim Díaz had a goal disallowed before he gave Real a 27th-minute lead and Brazil team-mates Vinícius Junior and Rodr­ygo added goals in a three-minute spell around the hour mark.

Napoli are poised to go through from the group alongside Real despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Union Berlin.

Matteo Politano put Napoli ahead late in the first half but David Datro Fofana, on loan from Chelsea, equalised soon after the restart.

The result allowed Union to end a 12-game losing run but they cannot now qualify for the last 16.

Their Bundesliga rivals Bayern qualified with their 17th consecutive win in the Champions League group stage but only after a frantic finish against Galatasaray.

The visitors had the ball in the net just after the hour but Lucas Torreira was offside, and Bayern took the lead when Kane flicked in Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick, with the goal awarded following a VAR check after initially being ruled offside.

Kane then doubled the lead with his 25th career Champions League goal, turning in Mathys Tel’s cross, and they needed the cushion as Cedric Bakambu scored for Galatasaray in stoppage time.

“He’s a phenomenon and we’re proud that he’s playing in the team,” Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer told broadcaster DAZN of Kane.

Galatasaray still stand every chance of going through from Group ‘A’ after United lost in a remarkable game in Denmark.

The loss, after twice letting leads slip, left coach Erik ten Hag’s team last the group as the English giants’ drama-filled season on and off the field continued.

The three-time European champions seemed in total control with a two-goal lead after 28 minutes earned by $80 million forward Rasmus Højlund, returning to face his former club, despite the loss of Jonny Evans to injury.

Yet they suffered a blow when Marcus Rashford was controversially sent off in the 42nd minute for a foul on Elias Jelert, and Copenhagen took full advantage to haul themselves level by the break.

Ex-Southampton forward Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back before Diogo Goncalves levelled from the penalty spot after a Harry Maguire handball deep into first-half stoppage time.

United led again when Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot in the 69th but could not hang on. Lukas Lerager levelled in the 83rd before 17-year-old substitute Roony Bardghji won it in the 87th.

The Kuwait-born, Sweden under-21 winger scored with a bouncing shot to lift the Danish champions into second place in the group standings, though with just four points. Galata­saray also have four points before hosting United, who have three, next on Nov 29.

Ten Hag’s team have now lost three of their four Champions League matches this season and have been beaten in nine of their 17 games in all competitions.

“I think first we played very good until the red card. The red card changed everything. Then it becomes a different game,” Ten Hag told broadcaster TNT Sports. “I saw lots of positives, but in the end we lose some focus. It’s hard when you play so long with 10 men.”

ARSENAL ALMOST THROUGH

Meanwhile, Arsenal are on the brink of progressing from Group ‘B’ after a 2-0 home win over Sevilla, in which Bukayo Saka set up Leandro Trossard for the opener in the first half, and then added the second after the break.

“I’m really happy with the performance from the team. They showed aggression and commitment,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports.

The Gunners are four points ahead of both Lens and PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch side boosting their own hopes by beating the French side 1-0 thanks to Luuk de Jong’s early header.

Lens had substitute Morgan Guilavogui sent off late on.

Sociedad threatened to sweep aside Benfica in the first half of their win that saw their three goals all scored by the 21st and a penalty missed minutes later.

Early goals from Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal had Sociedad in control after just 11 minutes and it was 3-0 when Ander Barrenetxea fired into the roof of the net.

Brais Mendez hit the post with a penalty just before the half hour and Rafa Silva pulled one back for Benfica early in the second half, but Sociedad comfortably took the points.

In their first Champions League campaign for 10 years, Real Sociedad and long-serving coach Imanol Aguacil are impressing with a largely homegrown group of players from the Basque region.

Champions League quarter-finalists in each of the past two seasons, Benfica are a total bust this season. The champions of Portugal sustained their fourth straight loss, leaving no chance of reaching the knockout stage.

One year ago, Benfica went unbeaten through its group and finished top ahead of Paris St Germain and Juventus.

Coach Roger Schmidt’s team then included Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos who would both later shine at the World Cup in Qatar. They are now at Chelsea and Paris St Germain, respectively.

Schmidt acknowledged on Wednesday his players “aren’t ready for the demands of a game at this level in the Champions League.”

Benfica has two games left to save face and secure entry into the Europa League knockout playoffs in February by finishing third in Group ‘D’. A last game at Salzburg on Dec 12 should be decisive.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2023