NYON: Chelsea crumbled to defeat as Roma moved top of Champions League Group C with a 3-0 victory at Stadio Olimpico.
Stephan El Shaarawy scored after 38 seconds and pounced on an Antonio Rudiger error to make it 2-0 after 36 minutes.
Diego Perotti struck a fine third after 63 minutes and there would be no Chelsea comeback this time as Roma moved on to eight points, one more than the Blues. A win in Antonio Conte’s first match in Italy as Blues boss would have seen Chelsea advance to the knockout stages.
Now Conte’s men need points at Azerbaijan’s Qarabag before the final group clash with Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid’s struggles in the group continued after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Qarabag, who took the lead through Miguel Michel.
However, a superb strike from Thomas brought the hosts level. Pedro Henrique was sent off but Atletico could not take advantage and also finished with 10 men after Stefan Savic saw red four minutes from time.
PSG were comprehensive 5-0 winners at home against Anderlecht.
The French club have won their opening four group games for the first time since their debut season in the competition in 1994-95, when they won all six matches.
Marco Verratti got the ball rolling when he curled in a deserved opener and Neymar crashed in a 25-yard shot to extend the lead just before half-time.
After the break, Neymar’s free-kick was pushed onto the post by the goalkeeper and Layvin Kurzawa turned in the rebound. The left-back then scored a header and produced a fine finish to complete an unlikely hat-trick as PSG remained three points ahead of Bayern
Manchester United are on the brink of reaching the Champions League knock-out phase after teenage Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar unwittingly put Jose Mourinho’s men on course for another narrow win.
A fortnight ago the 18-year-old became the youngest goalkeeper to ever play in the competition – a historic night that ended in embarrassment after he misread a Marcus Rashford free-kick and carried it over the line.
This looked to be a far better night for Svilar after he saved Anthony Martial’s early penalty, but misfortune struck the Benfica goalkeeper once again as Nemanja Matic’s shot came back off the post and deflected in off him to set United on course for a 2-0 win wrapped up by Daley Blind from the spot.
It leaves United six points clear at the top of Group A, ahead of Basel and CSKA Moscow, who came from behind to win 2-1 in Switzerland.
Basel looked on course to clinch their place in the last-16 when Luca Zuffi put them in front but second-half goals from Alan Dzagoev and Pontus Wernbloom kept the Russians in the mix.
However, Celtic roared back after the break and Callum McGregor deservedly levelled in the 74th only for midfielder Javi Martinez to restore the German giants’ lead three minutes later meaning that with two Group B fixtures remaining, the Scottish champions have only three points from 12 and cannot get into the knockout stages.
Barcelona failed to score in a Champions League group stage game for the first time in five years as Olympiacos held them to a goalless draw.
Victory in Greece would have booked Barca’s passage to the knock-out phase but the three points proved elusive on a night when Luis Suarez hitting the top of the crossbar was as close as the visitors came.
Neither Juventus or Sporting Lisbon could not take full advantage of Barcelona’s goalless draw after they fought out a 1-1 stalemate in Portugal.
Bruno Cesar put the hosts in front but Gonzalo Higuain equalised after 78 minutes and Juventus remain three points behind the Catalans.
###############