Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2052864/champions-league-round-borussia-dortmund-hold-real-madrid-porto-and
Sport/ Football

Champions League round-up: Borussia Dortmund hold Real Madrid as Porto and Sevilla make last 16

Germans set a new Champions League scoring record in 2-2 draw against Real Madrid while FC Porto and Sevilla claimed the two remaining last-16 spots

Borussia Dortmund players celebrate progressing to the last 16 in front of their travelling fans after their 2-2 draw with real Madrid. Photo: Reuters

Borussia Dortmund set a new Champions League scoring record in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday while FC Porto and Sevilla claimed the two remaining last-16 spots.

Dortmund made sure of top spot in group F after fighting back from 2-0 down against defending champions Madrid, leaving the Spanish giants with theoretically a tougher draw to make the quarter-finals.

Marco Reus was the star of the late show at the Santiago Bernabeu, hitting the equaliser two minutes from time.

A double from Karim Benzema looked to have Real well set to leapfrog the Germans and secure a home game in the second leg of their last-16 tie.
(L-R) Raphael Varane, Toni Kroos and Casemiro of Real Madrid react during their draw with Borussia Dortmund. Photo: EPA
(L-R) Raphael Varane, Toni Kroos and Casemiro of Real Madrid react during their draw with Borussia Dortmund. Photo: EPA

However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reduced the arrears before substitute Reus slid in to turn Aubameyang’s dangerous low cross high into the net.

Dortmund scored 21 goals in their group campaign, the most for any team in a group stage in the history of the tournament.

“Real had some big chances in the second half, but we hoped for a lucky punch and we got it,” said Reus.

“’Auba’ was world-class with his pass and I was happy to get on the end of it – the goal was 99 per cent him and one from me.”

Real coach Zinedine Zidane said his team should have killed off the game.
Zinedine Zidane is keen to avoid a meeting with Juventus in the last 16. Photo: EPA
Zinedine Zidane is keen to avoid a meeting with Juventus in the last 16. Photo: EPA

“We gave the game away by missing chances to score the third goal,” said Zidane.

Sevilla made the last 16 for the first time in seven years after soaking up the pressure to draw 0-0 away to Lyon.

Lyon – who lost 1-0 in Seville in September and trailed the Spaniards by three points – needed to win by two clear goals to go through.

But they could not find a way through, with Corentin Tolisso and Mathieu Valbuena both hitting the woodwork.

“I am satisfied because we have put in enormous efforts to qualify against very important opponents,” said Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Juventus celebrate their passage to the last 16 after their win over Dinamo Zagreb in Turin. Photo: EPA
Juventus celebrate their passage to the last 16 after their win over Dinamo Zagreb in Turin. Photo: EPA

Table-topping Juventus defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 with Gonzalo Higuain and Daniele Rugani on target. The Croatians finished their campaign having failed to score a single goal.

Leicester City, who had already made sure of top spot in group G in their debut season in the competition, suffered their first loss of the campaign, 5-0 at Porto who went through as runners-up.

FC Copenhagen had harboured hopes of pipping Porto for second place but despite a 2-0 win at pointless Club Brugge, they had to settle for a Europa League place.

In group E, Bayer Leverkusen, already assured of second spot, downed Monaco 3-0 but the win wasn’t enough to overhaul the table-topping French side.

Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, came back from a goal down to defeat CSKA Moscow 3-1 and claim a Europa League place.

“You are playing the best teams in Europe so you can’t rely on away results which we have done this season,” said Kane.