LONDON: Liverpool and Ajax extended their perfect winning records in the Champions League on Wednesday to advance into the round of 16 which is starting to take a 1970s throwback look.

Liverpool cruised past Atletico Madrid 2-0 at Anfield and Ajax hit 10-man Borussia Dortmund with late goals in a 3-1 come-from-behind win in Germany.

The four teams with four straight wins after Bayern Munich and Juventus sealed their places Tuesday have already given the knockout line-up a nostalgic feel. Ajax, Bayern and Liverpool combined to win all eight European Cup titles from 1971-78.

Liverpool had never opened a Champions League group stage with four wins, though they were rarely troubled against Atletico in Group ‘B’ after Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane scored in the first 21 minutes. Atletico dropped to third in the group behind Porto, who were held to a 1-1 draw at last-placed AC Milan.

Ajax are having a standout Champions League campaign after being ignored by the Super League founders from England, Italy and Spain when they lined up their ill-fated project several months ago.

The Dutch champion made it back-to-back big wins over Dortmund, who had veteran defender Mats Hummels sent off in the first half.

Second-placed Dortmund trail Ajax by six points in Group ‘C’ with two rounds left. Dortmund are level on points with Sporting Lisbon, who routed Besiktas 4-0 and host the German side next on Nov 24.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan, two of the 12 Super League clubs, have taken control of Group ‘D’ from upstart Sheriffs after important wins on Wednesday.

Karim Benzema’s goals ensured Real beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 and lead the standings by two points from Inter. The Italian champions made it two straight wins over Sheriff, 3-1 away to the champions of Moldova.

Manchester City overpowered Club Brugge 4-1 and were rewarded with top spot in Group ‘A’ after late drama at Leipzig where Paris St Germain drew 2-2.

A PSG team missing the injured Lionel Messi rallied from an early Leipzig surge to lead at half-time through two goals by Georgino Wijnaldum. But PSG dropped points after a stoppage-time penalty by RB Leipzig substitute Dominik Szoboszlai.

City took a one-point lead over PSG before they meet in Manchester in three weeks time.

ALEXANDER-ARNOLD ASSISTS

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold typically creates as many scoring chanc­es in a season as a playmaker wearing No 10.

His precision passes into the heart of the goalmouth carved open Atletico’s defence to set up Jota and Mane for simply-taken goals before Atletico’s Brazilian defender Felipe was sent off for a foul on Mane before half-time.

It ensured Liverpool will be seeded as a group winners in the round of 16 draw on Dec 13. The 2019 champions are seven points clear of second-placed Porto.

Atltico’s loss ensured seven-time European champions AC Milan can still advance as group runners-up despite taking only their first point Wednesday.

Chancel Mbemba’s own goal at San Siro cancelled out Luis Diaz’s early opener for Porto and the match ended with 40-year-old Milan substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic being marked by 38-year-old Pepe. Ibrahimovic had a goal disallowed in the closing minutes because a teammate was offside.

Atletico host Milan in three weeks time when Liverpool welcome Porto.

AJAX REVIVAL

Ajax sold its core of young Dutch talent after their stellar Champions League run in 2019, when they were minutes away from reaching the final against Liverpool.

Serbian playmaker Dusan Tadic stayed and he scored on Wednesday in the 72nd minute to spark Ajax’s three-goal comeback at Dortmund.

Sebastien Haller then headed in Brazilian forward Antony’s cross, scoring for the fourth straight game and the former West Ham forward now has seven goals in the group stage.

Davy Klaassen wrapped up the win from another Antony assist in stoppage time, meaning Erik ten Hag’s Ajax have scored 14 goals so far in Group ‘C’.

Dortmund had led when Marco Reus scored a first-half penalty minutes after Hummels was sent off. It seemed a harsh decision for a sliding tackle on Antony that did not appear dangerous.

Sporting boosted their hopes by crushing Bestiktas, who had Brazilian midfielder Souza sent off and are eliminated. Pedro Goncalves scored twice in the first half including a penalty, while Paulinho and Pablo Sarabia also struck for Sporting.

PSG DENIED AT DEATH

PSG already trailed to an early goal by their former player Christopher Nkunku, his fifth for Leipzig in the group stage, when the German side got a penalty in the 12th minute.

That spot-kick from Andre Silva was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side turned the game around with Wijnaldum’s first goals for the club.

However, a Presnel Kimpembe foul was spotted after a VAR review in the last minute and Dominik Szoboszlai scored from the spot and there is now an extra edge to PSG’s upcoming visit to City with Club Brugge still in contention just four points off second place.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2021