PARIS: Manchester United are facing elimination from the Champions League in the group stage after squandering a two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 with Galatasaray in Istanbul on Wednesday, while Arsenal secured their place in the last-16 with a scintillating 6-0 thrashing of Lens.
Arsenal’s rout of Lens ensured second-placed PSV Eindhoven also advanced from Group ‘B’ to the round of 16. PSV’s second-half rally to win 3-2 at Sevilla was clinched by United States forward Ricardo Pepi in stoppage time.
There are now 12 confirmed teams in the round of 16 draw on Dec 18 and United are in serious danger of missing out.
The three-time European champions needed a win in Turkey, against opponents who beat them at Old Trafford last month, in order to keep qualification for the knockout rounds in their hands but were left to rue their inability to close out a match in Europe once again.
United only do topsy-turvy road games in Europe this season after 4-3 losses at Group ‘A’ winners Bayern Munich and second-placed FC Copenhagen.
Erik ten Hag’s side appeared in control when Alejandro Garnacho’s early opener was followed by a stunning strike by Bruno Fernandes on 18 minutes before Andre Onana made the first of two errors to allow Hakim Ziyech to reduce the deficit with a free-kick.
Scott McTominay found the net in the 55th minute to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage. Yet Galatasaray were again given hope when another Ziyech free-kick was fumbled into the net by United goalkeeper Andre Onana, and the hosts equalised thanks to a brilliant 71st-minute strike by Kerem Akturkoglu.
United have now conceded 14 goals in five European matches and this result, combined with Copenhagen’s 0-0 draw away to already-qualified Bayern, leaves the Premier League side bottom of their group with one game remaining.
In order to go through they must now beat Bayern at home next month and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw.
“We are going in the right direction so I know we will be successful in the long-term but if you want to stay in the Champions League you need to win these games,” said Ten Hag.
“As a team, we have to learn from it because we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary and avoidable.”
ONANA ERRORS
Onana’s goalkeeping errors have cost United in losses at Bayern and at home to Galatasaray, and almost led to another defeat in Istanbul.
“We win and lose together,” Ten Hag said when asked about Onana who he also coached at Ajax. “He is OK. As I said, it is not about individuals. Of course, individual errors in football can make a difference and you take responsibility for it but it is always about the team.”
Copenhagen held Bayern to a thoroughly deserved goalless draw in Munich, which ended on a controversial note.
Minutes after Manuel Neuer had made an outstanding double save to deny ex-Celtic attacker Mohamed Elyounoussi, referee Stephanie Frappart awarded the hosts a penalty.
Frappart pointed to the spot after a pass by Bayern substitute Frans Kratzig hit Peter Ankersen’s arm from close proximity, but VAR told the French official to review the incident using the pitchside monitor and she overturned her 92nd-minute decision to ensure it stayed 0-0.
There was drama aplenty in Group ‘B’ too but not at the Emirates where Arsenal produced a five-star first-half display to thrash Lens.
Mikel Arteta’s side were 5-0 up at half-time after goals by Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.
Jorginho added a sixth from the penalty spot late on as Arsenal gained revenge for their 2-1 defeat by Lens in France last month.
“Today was the day to get it done. We did it in a beautiful way,” Arteta told broadcaster TNT Sports.
Arsenal have scored 12 goals without reply in winning their three home matches in Group ‘B’ and wrapped up top spot ahead of PSV.
The Dutch side, European Cup winners in 1988, produced a superb comeback to triumph 3-2 away to Sevilla and put themselves out of sight in second place.
Goals by Sergio Ramos and Youssef En-Nesyri had Sevilla 2-0 up, but Lucas Ocampos was sent off for the hosts just before substitute Ismael Saibari, the Spanish-born Moroccan international, pulled one back for PSV.
They equalised through a Nemanja Gudelj own goal and won it in stoppage time through Pepi.
Sevilla now have to win at Lens next month to salvage a place in the Europa League, the competition they won last season.
BELLINGHAM SCORES
Real Madrid were already through to the last 16 before hosting Napoli and they clinched top spot in Group ‘C’ with a 4-2 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Jude Bellingham was a standout again for Real in what is becoming the 20-year-old England star’s routine excellence this season.
Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, gave Napoli an early lead, but Rodrygo equalised immediately, continuing his fine form with a superb strike for his seventh goal in his last seven games.
Bellingham headed the hosts ahead only for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to get Napoli back level just after the restart. However, teenage substitute Nico Paz made it 3-2 for Real with a long-range strike that evaded the goalkeeper’s grasp, and Bellingham set up Joselu to wrap up the win in stoppage time.
“Bellingham is a gift to football, not just this club,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “The world’s delighted to see a guy with this talent, potential, promise and hopefully, he’ll just continue as he is.”
Bellingham now has scored 15 goals in his first 16 matches with Real wearing the No. 5 shirt of the great Zinedine Zidane.
“Bellingham has surprised everyone. No one could have expected this,” Ancelotti said. “He’s got to improve his Spanish but as I always say — nobody’s perfect.”
The result prevented Napoli from clinching qualification as they could still be caught by Braga, who drew 1-1 at home to Union Berlin in Portugal despite having Sikou Niakate sent off in the first half.
Robin Gosens fired Union in front but Alvaro Djalo levelled for the hosts after the break.
Real Sociedad were held 0-0 by Red Bull Salzburg to set up a last-game showdown with second-place Inter Milan at San Siro for the top spot in Group ‘D’.
Both Sociedad and Inter already advanced three weeks ago.
A much-changed Inter side recovered from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Benfica in Portugal after Joao Mario scored a first-half hat-trick against his old club.
Marko Arnautovic and Davide Frattesi pulled goals back for Inter before Alexis Sanchez levelled from the penalty spot, and Benfica were reduced to 10 men late on when Antonio Silva was sent off.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023