Champions League: Match-day 5 Review (groups E-H)

Match-day five in the Champions League was as unpredictable and exciting as ever with qualification up for grabs in the groups penultimate games, here is a round-up of the action;

Arsenal stormed passed Marseille with a 2-0 home victory thanks to a Jack Wilshere double, it was plain sailing for Arsenal who, despite having an Ozil penalty saved, now top the group three points clear of Napoli and Borussia Dortmund who faced off in the group’s other game.

Dortmund came out on top in this one bouncing back from their week-end defeat to Bayern Munich, Reus, Błaszczykowski and Aubameyang helped Dortmund to a 3-1 home victory over Napoli who pulled one back through Insigne. This leaves Group F wide open with Dortmund and Napoli both on nine points.

Chelsea qualified for the last 16 despite losing 1-0 away to Basel, Salah scored again for Basel who have now done the double over the 2012 champions, in Group E’s other game Steaua drew 0-0 with Schalke, Chelsea sit at the top of the table on 9 points, one clear of Basel and 2 clear of Schalke who play each other in match-day 6 for the other place in the last 16.

Group H had the biggest shock of the night as Ajax defeated Barcelona in the Amsterdam Arena by 2 goals to 1, a Xavi penalty was not enough for the already qualified Barcelona as goals from Serero and Hoesen secured all three points for Ajax, keeping their qualification hopes alive.

The groups other game saw AC Milan thrash Celtic 3-0 in Celtic Park, goals from Kaka, Zapata and Balotelli secured a straight forward win for the Italian side and sets up an intriguing game with Ajax for a place in the last 16, Celtic’s chances of a last 16 place are over after the defeat.

Atletico Madrid maintained their unbeaten record in Group F with a 1-1 draw away to Zenit in freezing conditions, Adrian scored for Madrid and an Alderweireld own-goal secured a draw for Zenit. Porto surprisingly drew with Austria Wien 1-1, Wien opened the scoring through Kienast before Jackson Martinez replied for Porto, with Madrid already qualified Porto and Zenit will fight it out for second place in this group.