AC Milan and Marseille drew 1-1 in the Champions League yesterday to keep Italians' fate hanging in the race for the knock-out stages.
AC Milan and Marseille drew 1-1 in the Champions League yesterday to keep Italians' fate hanging in the race for the knock-out stages.
ADVERTISEMENT
With Real Madrid winning 1-0 at home to FC Zurich, they now lead Milan by two points with the French team a further point behind in Group C.
On the attack
Milan were quickly on the attack at the San Siro as Andrea Pirlo dinked a ball over the defence for Gianluca Zambrotta, who shrugged off a weak physical challenge from Laurent Bonnart but his low shot from a tight angle was straight at goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and Marco Borriello's follow-up was deflected behind for a corner.
Yet on 10 minutes Milan were ahead following dreadful defending from Marseille as Mamadou Niang gave the ball away on the halfway line, allowing Borriello to run at Gabriel Heinze and get past the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man with embarrassing ease before slipping the ball under Mandanda.
The lead lasted only six minutes.
Niang beat Oddo far too easily on the left and Alessandro Nesta came across to cover but seemed to pull out of the challenge, allowing Niang to hit a cross that goalkeeper Dida could only palm out to Lucho Gonzalez, who rifled home.
The second half was a calm affair until 65 minutes when Brazilian Brandao somehow contrived to miss an open goal.
Benoit Cheyrou slipped Niang in behind substitute Ignazio Abate and his cross picked out Brandao on the edge of the six yard box but with the goal gaping he somehow managed to direct the ball onto the bar.
Ronaldo returns as Real close in on last 16
Cristiano Ronaldo ended two months of injury torment with a 20-minute appearance as Real Madrid put one foot in the Champions League knockout phase with a 1-0 win over Zurich.
A 21st minute goal from Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain secured a narrow victory for Real
who now lead the group, and need just a point in the final game at Marseille to secure qualification.
Man Utd beaten at home after five years
Rodrigo Tello scored the only goal as Besiktas became the first team to win in the Champions League at Old Trafford in almost five years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Already-qualified United, who have reached the last two finals in the competition, had not lost at home in
their previous 23 Champions League matches, since a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan in February 2005.
Juventus in a spot of bother after defeat
Juventus will go into their last group stage game against Bayern Munich needing a draw to go through after being defeated 2-0 by Bordeaux.
The French champs had already secured their passage to the next phase but took full advantage of a lacklustre showing from the Serie A giants and secured top spot in Group A thanks to Fernando's 54th-minute goal and a late header by Marouane Chamakh.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
