Málaga and Porto became the first teams to confirm their qualification into the knockout stages, but another draw for Manchester City all but ends their Champions League dreams for another season.
One of the big surprises in the Champions League this season has been the performance of La Liga’s Malaga. They had won their three previous matches heading into tonight’s match at the San Siro against AC Milan and looked to have made it four from four when Eliseu gave them the lead late in the first half. But Alexandre Pato scored with 17 minutes left to keep the hopes of the Italian giants alive.
The draw keeps Milan in second place in the group, a point ahead of Anderlecht, who beat Zenit St Petersburg 1-0, their first home UEFA Champions League win in nine years.
Porto’s perfect record also went as they drew 0-0 at Dynamo Kiev, but that was all they needed to confirm their progress from Group A. It looks good for PSG too, now five points ahead of Dynamo after defeating Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 in Paris to end the Croatian champions’ last-16 hopes.
Borussia Dortmund also looked like they would advance tonight, yet with one minute left Mesut Özil’s free-kick curled in off the post to make it 2-2 at Real Madrid. Madrid are one point short of the German champions in Group D, but three above Ajax, who also drew 2-2 at Manchester City.
City basically need to beat Real Madrid at home, Dortmund away and hope that Real Madrid lose at home to Ajax on matchday six. Not going to happen.
Schalke are still a point clear of Arsenal in Group B summit after Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 draw in Germany. With Olympiakos beating Montpellier 3-1 home win in Greece, the Gunners could face a very tricky trip to Greece on matchday six if they are to advance to the group stages also.
Matchday four continues on Wednesday with the holders of the two remaining 100% records, Barcelona and Manchester United, able to go through, as can hakhtar Donetsk, who visit Chelsea.
Group A
Dynamo Kyiv 0-0 FC Porto
Paris Saint-Germain FC 4-0 GNK Dinamo Zagreb
Group B
FC Schalke 04 2-2 Arsenal FC
Olympiacos FC 3-1 Montpellier Hérault SC
Group C
RSC Anderlecht 1-0 FC Zenit St Petersburg
AC Milan 1-1 Málaga CF
Group D
Manchester City FC 2-2 AFC Ajax
Real Madrid CF 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
