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PARIS: Holders of Real Madrid and Juventus Cristiano Ronaldo were among the seven teams to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday 27 November. The late equalizer of Sergio Aguero in Lyon was also decisive for Manchester City.
Bayern Munich beat Benfica 5-1 to secure their place and ease pressure on coach Niko Kovac.
"It's a convincing win and it's exactly what we needed at the moment," said Arjen Robben after scoring twice.
Roma will also play in the playoff phase despite the 2-0 defeat against Real while former European champion Ajax won 2-0 in a violent match against AEK Athens to book his ticket for the last 16 games after the riot police clashed with Dutch fans.
The Marouane Fellaini winner in the 91st minute against the Young Boys was charged to Manchester United after working against the Swiss at Old Trafford.
After Fellaini's low shot came in, United's manager, Jose Mourinho, picked up and thrown a bunch of bottles in relief, which helped dispel some of the sadness on the club.
REAL BOUNCE BACK
Real and Roma secured their place in the round of 16 well before the Spaniards' 2-0 win in the Italian capital after CSKA Moscow's 2-1 defeat by Viktoria Plzen.
Gareth Bale scored a goal and provided the center, but Lucas Vazquez clinched a 2-0 clinical victory at Stadio Olimpico, far from Real Liga's 3-0 defeat at Eibar this weekend.
"It was important to rebound quickly," said Real coach Santiago Solari. "We are very happy."
Real have three points ahead of Roma, who will play their last Group G match against CSKA Moscow next month.
Mario Mandzukic booked the Juventus ticket for the round of 16 with a simple tap-in after a sublime talent and a Ronaldo center. Juventus beat Valencia 1-0.
The Italians have 12 points, two more than United, but they are both home and dry because Valencia has only five.
In Lyon, City scored a point after a thrilling match after David Cornet scored two goals in the second half, including a remarkable long-term effort, reserved for the French.
The French defender of the city, Aymeric Laporte, equalized first, then Aguero beat the big defenders to go home and spark crazy celebrations with the coach Pep Guardiola.
Lyon must still draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in their last Group F match next month, after the Ukrainian club knocked out Hoffenheim 3-2 away to stay in contention.
Greek riot police wielding batons entered the stands of the Athens Olympic Stadium to separate fighters fighting in combat, leaving 11 Ajax supporters injured, police said.
Blood was streaming down the face of some Dutch fans, showed photographs of AFP.
Results of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League:
AEK Athens 0 Ajax 2
Bayern Munich 5 Benfica 1
Lyon 2 Manchester City 2
Hoffenheim 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 3
CSKA Moscow 1 Viktoria Plzen 2
Roma 0 Real Madrid 2
Juventus 1 Valencia 0
Manchester United 1 Young Boys 0
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