18 Thursday, November 29, 2018 Sports Real, Juventus and Man City into Champions League last 16 Bayern Munich thump Benica 5-1 to book their place and ease pressure on coach Niko Kovac; violence mars AEK-Ajax game AFP PARIS HOLDERS Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juven- tus were among seven teams to reach the last 16 of the Champions League on Tues- day while Sergio Aguero’s late equaliser at Lyon also sent Manchester City through. Bayern Munich thumped Benfica 5-1 to book their place and ease the pressure on coach Niko Kovac. “It’s a convincing win and that’s exactly what we needed at the moment,” Arjen Rob- ben said after he netted twice. Roma will also play in the knockout phase despite los- Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale (left) scores the irst goal against AS Roma ing 2-0 to Real while former at the Olimpico stadium in Rome on Tuesday. (EPA-EFE) European champions Ajax won 2-0 in a violence-hit game against AEK Athens to bounce back quickly,” said City’s French defender book their last-16 ticket after Real coach Santiago Solari. Aymeric Laporte equalised riot police clashed with Dutch “We are very happy.” Real are first and then Aguero out- fans. three points clear of Roma jumped taller defenders to Marouane Fellaini’s 91st going into their final Group G head home and spark wild minute winner against Young match against CSKA Moscow celebrations from manager Boys saw Manchester United next month. Pep Guardiola. squeak through after they had Mario Mandzukic booked Lyon are left needing laboured against the Swiss at Juventus’ ticket for the knock- a draw against Shakhtar Old Trafford. out phase with a simple tap-in Donetsk in their final Group After Fellaini’s low shot after a sublime piece of skill F game next month to go went in, United manager and cross from Ronaldo as Ju- through after the Ukrainian Jose Mourinho picked up and ventus beat Valencia 1-0. club stunned Hoffenheim 3-2 threw over a pack of bottles The Italians have 12 away to stay in contention. in relief at a result that lifts points, two more than United Greek riot police wielding some of the gloom over the but both are home and dry be- batons entered the stands at club. cause Valencia only have five. the Athens Olympic Stadium In Lyon, City took a point to separate fighting fans, Real bounce back Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring their irst goal with Cristiano Ronaldo, Blaise Matuidi and teammates against Valencia at the Al- from a pulsating match after leaving 11 Ajax supporters in- Real and Roma secured lianz Stadium in Turin on Tuesday. (REUTERS) David Cornet scored two sec- jured, police said. their spot in the knockout ond-half goals including an Some Dutch fans were left stages even before the Span- vals CSKA Moscow fell to a Gareth Bale scored one Vazquez wrapped up a clini- from Real’s 3-0 Liga defeat to outstanding long-range effort with blood streaming down iards’ 2-0 victory in the Ital- 2-1 defeat at home to Viktoria and supplied the cross that cal 2-0 win at the Stadio Ol- Eibar at the weekend. only for the French side to be their faces, AFP photographs ian capital after Group G ri- Plzen. led to another as Lucas impico that was a world away “It was important to pinned back each time. showed. Bounedjah double seals win for Mourinho again takes aim at critics Al Sadd to close gap on Al Duhail as Man United progress in Europe DPA LONDON AS he’s done for most the the season, a defiant Jose Mour- inho once again took aim at his critics after Manchester United trudged their way to knockout stages of the Cham- pions League. Marouane Fellaini’s 91st- minute goal gave United a 1-0 win over Young Boys Bern on Tuesday night that qualified them for the last 16. It was an- other laborious effort by Unit- ed, whose dull play in both the Champions League and Pre- mier League has gotten plenty of criticism. But Mourinho felt the best Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah after scoring against Al Khor during their QNB Stars League match at way to back his side’s progres- the Al Khor Stadium on Wednesday. sion was to point out his suc- cessful record in Europe. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Baghdad Bounedjah’s thusiasm, but Al Sadd dominat- “For some of my lovers I DOHA 16th and 86th minutes goals ed the proceedings in the first just want to say for the ones in between Wagner Ferreira’s half, during which they enjoyed that like stats: 14 seasons in VINTAGE JOSE: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho throws down a crate of water bottles in AL Sadd defeated Al Khor equaliser sealed the much- 70 percent of possession. the Champions League, 14 reaction to United’s goal against BSC Young Boys during their Group H Champions League match at 2-1 in the QNB Stars League needed win for The Wolves. Al Sadd, still without influ- times qualified through the Old Trafford on Tuesday. (REUTERS) at the Al Khor Stadium on Al Sadd moved to 29 points ential midfielder Xavi Hernan- group phase,” the Portuguese, Wednesday. with their ninth victory, while dez, relied on Gabi Fernandez no stranger to barbs from the broadcast. get in that dressing room and The match was resched- Al Khor stayed on eight points, who despite being a doubt to media and critics, said in his “All eyes on me that is,” I don’t want everybody smil- uled from Week 5 due to Al having crashed to their ninth play, started and controlled post-match news conference. Ferdinand said. ing, because that was not good Sadd’s engagements in the defeat. The Wolves’ midfield. “Never one of my teams “We’ve scored a goal and For some of my lovers I just enough.’” As expected, Mour- 2018 AFC Champions League, Bounedjah took his per- Bounedjah led the Al Sadd stay behind in the group phase. Manchester United have won want to say for the ones inho saw things differently. where they lost out to Iran’s sonal tally to 21 goals on top of attacks through the centre and “The season I didn’t play but we’re here talking about that like stats: 14 seasons “The ones who comment Persepolis on aggregate in the the scorers’ chart. was supported by Hassan al Champions League, I won the Jose Mourinho’s reaction.” in the Champions League, on football, not a lot of them semi-finals. Al Khor showed early en- Haydous through the right. Europa League.” The goal was Scholes, a frequent Mourinho 14 times qualiied through have been on the touchline,” United’s first in three games at critic, agreed with his former he said. Old Trafford in this season’s team-mate. the group phase. Never one “For those who speak Champions League. “It’s always ‘I’ with Jose,” of my teams stay behind in about expressing frustration And it drew an odd reac- he said. “’I won the Champi- the group phase. The on the bench I would invite Chelsea’s Hazard out of Europa tion from Mourinho, who ons League, I won the Europa season I didn’t play them to come and sit there as picked up a carrier full of water League’. Champions League, I won a manager. bottles and slammed it to the “Last time I looked football “Maybe they prefer lots of game with ankle knock ground. was a team game. Why does he the Europa League. holidays in Barbados and they That immediately brought think he needs to remind us Jose Mourinho can go to the TV and use their REUTERS more criticism from ex-Unit- what he has won? We all know electric dummies. LONDON ed players Rio Ferdinand and what he has won, or what his “That is much more com- Paul Scholes, both working as teams have won. tion] was a bit of anger and fortable than being on the CHELSEA forward Eden Haz- pundits for BT Sport’s match “I’m hoping [the celebra- he is thinking ‘I am going to bench.” ard will miss Thursday’s Europa League game against Greek side PAOK Salonika due to a minor ankle injury, but should recover Quick read in time to face Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard after sustaining an injury against Tottenham manager Maurizio Sarri said. Hotspur on Saturday. (REUTERS) Ireland footballing icon Robbie Keane hangs up boots Hazard played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat Hazard has been used spar- top form of his physical condi- DUBLIN: Irish football legend Robbie Keane brought the curtain down on over two decades as a player on Wednesday saying his career had ex- by Tottenham Hotspur on Sat- ingly in Europe this season, with tion. He has one week and a ceeded all his hopes when he was a “football-mad boy growing up in Dublin”. The 38-year-old -- his country’s record goalscorer on 68 well clear of urday and was limping towards Sarri choosing to keep his top couple of matches. This week it Niall Quinn who is next with 21 -- is to focus on his new duties as assistant manager to new Ireland handler Mick McCarthy. Keane, who replaces the end, but Sarri allayed fears goalscorer fresh for the Premier is useful for him to have train- Roy Keane (no relation) in the role after the latter and manager Martin O’Neill were ired last week, captained Ireland for a decade.