Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League as they defeated Marseille 3-1.
Marseille exit Champions League as Ronaldo fires side to top spot
Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League as their thrilling 3-1 win over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome condemned their Ligue 1 opponents to a place in the Europa League.
A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a strike from Raul Albiol handed the Primera Liga giants a success that sealed them top spot in Group C, while it was heartbreak for brave Marseille, who needed to win to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase.
Didier Deschamps' men were at one stage at 1-1 with Real, whilst group rivals AC Milan trailed at FC Zurich, but the Italian club eventually equalised, meaning a missed penalty from Lucho Gonzalez ultimately mattered little as the home side fell to defeat.
After a frenetic beginning to the game, a clumsy challenge by Edouard Cisse on Rafael van der Vaart presented the visitors with an opportunity to test goalkeeper Steve Mandanda from range.
And up trotted Ronaldo in the fifth minute, the Portugal international thumping home a swerving free-kick from distance that left Mandanda scrambling and eventually making inconsequential contact with a rasping strike.
Equaliser
Real threatened once more just minutes later, only for a promising attack to be ended by referee Wolfgang Stark deeming Van der Vaart handled the ball. The German official then booked Brandao for a rash challenge on Albiol.
Albiol was soon back in the thick of the action after he was forced to clear off the line from Brandao's header after Taye Taiwo had skinned Sergio Ramos. But Albiol's clearance fell straight to Gonzalez, who smashed home to level the scoreline.
On 16 minutes, after Pepe and Mamadou Niang had both suffered head injuries, the home supporters thought their side had taken the lead when Brandao darted in and slotted past Iker Casillas, yet the linesman's flag was rightly up for offside.
An incredible goalmouth scramble ensued in the 28th minute as Ronaldo saw a header from a corner rebound off the post, before Gonzalo Higuain's follow-up was bravely saved by Mandanda and a Sergio Ramos effort was deflected just over.
The first half petered out with Real largely in control, despite news of AC Milan falling behind reaching the stadium. The Spanish side, who had Higuain and Xabi Alonso booked prior to the break, even came close to re-taking the lead when Marcelo slalomed through only to scuff wide under pressure.
Marseille were improved in the early stages of the second period. Niang posed a threat down the left channel, but the danger was nullified by Pepe, before Brandao was out-muscled by the Portuguese stopper when looking to charge in on goal.
Sucker punch
But Real were always a menace on the counter-attack, and after Mandanda blocked a Van der Vaart shot, Marcelo drew another decent save from the France goalkeeper after space opened up down the left wing.
Then, on the hour mark, the Spanish giants restored their advantage when centre-back Albiol arrowed a low, left-footed finish into the corner after Marseille failed to deal with a Van der Vaart corner kick.
The goal proved the first half of a double sucker punch for the Ligue 1 outfit as, at almost the same time in Switzerland, Ronaldinho levelled for AC Milan against FC Zurich.
However, a daft piece of goalkeeping from Casillas awarded Marseille a penalty after the Spaniard rashly felled Niang in the area. Up stepped Lucho, but the Argentina international saw his spot-kick crack back off the crossbar and away from danger.
And the misery of that miss was compounded as Ronaldo made it 3-1, capitalising on Mandanda being in no man's land, with Real coasting for the remainder of the game, wrapping up their position at the summit while AC Milan sealed the runners-up berth in Group C.
| Marseille |
Team Statistics |
Real Madrid |
| 1 |
Goals |
3 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 2 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 6 |
Corners |
8 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
23 |
| 5 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 72.1 |
Passing Success |
74.8 |
| 30 |
Tackles |
33 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
72.7 |
| 46.9 |
Possession |
53.1 |
| 46.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
53.8 |
|
