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Champions League, day 6

The last two group games involving Spanish sides were played out on Wednesday, with a depleted Barcelona only able to draw 0-0 with Benfica in the Nou Camp. Tito Vilanova gave four youngsters their Champions League debuts, but his main concern tonight will be a knee injury to Messi, who came on for the last half hour but left early on a stretcher. First reports are though that it was not as serious as it looked. Valencia ended their group with a 0-1 win at Lille, Jonas getting the only goal from the penalty spot shortly before half time. The Ches only finished second though after Bayern Munich beat BATE Borisov in the other group match. (05.12.12)

Nothing to play for but prize money this week for Spain's Champions League teams, all four having already qualified for the first knock-out round. However pride was still at stake, and Real Madrid and Málaga both put in good performances on Tuesday evening to round off the group stage. Real Madrid beat Ajax 4-1, with Ronaldo and Callejón scoring in the first half, and Kaká and Callejón getting two more after the break. And Málaga drew 2-2 with Anderlecht to keep up their unbeaten record, Duda twice putting the Andalusians ahead before Jovanic and Mbokani levelled it for the visitors. (04.12.12)

Barcelona 0 - Benfica 0

A depleted Barcelona ended the group stage with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Benfica in the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening. Tito Vilanova's side had already tied up top spot in their group a fortnight ago, and the coach put out a line-up almost entirely made up of reserve and B team players, Puyol the only certain starter in a first choice team. Four of the youngsters were actually making their Champions league debuts, including Rafinha, who lined up alongside his brother Thiago. Their opponents were still in with a chance of qualifying for the first knock-out round though, and they took advantage of Barça's weakened team to dominate the first half, with Spanish under 21 striker Rodrigo firing a shot wide when free on goal early on, and Pinto just getting enough on a Lima shot to turn it on to the post. Meanwhile David Villa was lacking the support he usually gets, and when he did get a couple of chances he fell in to the Benfica offside trap. The Portuguese side kept up the attack though, Rodrigo and ex Barça B forward Nolito failing to hit the target either side of half time. Vilanova eventually turned to Messi, but after firing a couple of free kicks wide, he injured his knee in a clash with keeper Artur, and worryingly had to be taken off on a stretcher (although the first reports are that the injury was not as serious as it looked). The Catalans held on with ten men for the last few minutes to add a bit more prize money to their piggy-bank, but the visitors' joy for picking up a point in the Nou camp was soured when they heard that Celtic had got above them after beating Spartak Moscow, and they will now have to settle for the Europa League. (05.12.12)

Lille 0 - Valencia 1

Valencia ended their group with a 0-1 win at Lille, although they only finished second after Bayern Munich beat BATE Borisov in the other group match. Caretaker manager Voro took charge of the side prior to Ernesto Valverde's incorporation, and he put out a safe starting line-up without too many changes. Their opponents though were already out of Europe, and neither team showed too much enthusiasm in the opening half an hour, with Basa heading wide and Guaita dealing easily with long shots from Rodelin, Mavuba and Balmont. At the other end Elana was only troubled by a couple of long efforts from Tino Costa, but with ten minutes to go to the break Jonas won himself a penalty after Basa held him back in the area, and the Brazilian forward took the responsibility himself to convert the resulting spot kick. After the restart the Ches slowed things down to defend their lead, and Jonas came close to a second with a shot just wide of the post. However the French side stepped up a gear in the last twenty minutes, and they felt themselves unlucky not to have at least picked up a point after Payet rattled the crossbar and Kalou and Roux forced Guaita in to the two best saves of the night. Just the result that Valencia needed though after the traumatic last two weeks, and hopefully things will settle down again in the Mestalla stadium once Valverde gets his feet under the table. (05.12.12)

Real Madrid 3 - Ajax 1

With second place already assured, and with no hope of catching leaders Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid had little to play for against Ajax on Tuesday evening. Mourinho still included the goal hungry Ronaldo in his starting line-up though, and with less than a quarter of an hour on the clock he opened the scoring after Modric won the ball in midfield and put Benzema away for him to cross in to the area. Modric was in action again a few minutes later to set up Callejón for a second, and it could have been more by the break had Vermeer not made good saves from Benzema, Ronaldo and Khedira. The Dutch side were still in with a chance of qualifying for the Europa League, but they didn't trouble Adán until Fischer finally got a shot on target two minutes before half time. And some four minutes after the restart Kaká made it three after picking up a short pass from Ronaldo before curling a shot past the keeper. Frank De Boer's side did eventually get one back after a wild punch clear by Adán allowed Boerrigter to turn the ball back in to the net, but with the game coming to an end Callejón headed in his second of the night after Morata crossed in from the right wing. It was not all bad news for Ajax though, as a defeat for Manchester City in Germany confirmed that they make it through to the E-League despite the result. (04.12.12)

Málaga 2 - Anderlecht 2

Málaga had already done their homework a month or so ago, and with first place in their group already confirmed, Pellegrini rested many of his key players in the last game against Anderlecht. Even so they had many of the early chances, Iturra and Duda shooting wide, and Buonanotte and Elseu testing keeper Proto. However the Belgian side improved as the first half wore on, Kameni pulling off a couple of top class saves from Mbokani and Bruno, and Safari finding the net only for the strike to be ruled out for a dubious offside. With the first half coming to a close Málaga took the lead, Duda picking a centre from Seba Fernández and firing a shot in to the top corner of the net, but just five minutes after the restart the visitors were level when Jovanovic ran on to Mbokani's pass to chip a shot past the keeper. Soon afterwards Jovanovic and Santa Cruz hit the post at either end, and with just over an hour on the clock Duda pulled down a long ball from Buonanotte to drill home his second of the night. Both keepers had to make important saves after that, and with a minute to go Mbokani equalized once again after Kljestan set him up. Aderlecht's efforts were in vain though, as news came through that Zenit had snatched third place from them after a 0-1 victory at A.C. Milan. (04.12.12)