💫 Incredible drama in UCL Group D; Atlético Madrid dumped out of Europe | OneFootball

It was a night of typically high drama in the Champions League, with two massive comebacks sealing four clubs’ fates and Atlético Madrid exiting Europe stage left.

Here’s what happened.

Group D

Spurs survive scare to win it late in Marseille

Scorers: Mbemba 45+2′; Lenglet 54′, Højbjerg 90+5

Tottenham survived a scare to net a dramatic late winner at Marseille and finish top of Group D.

Spurs were dealt a huge blow midway through the first half when Heung-min Son was forced off with possible concussion after a collision which left him with a bloody nose. Yves Bissouma came on to replace the South Korean.

Marseille then broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time when Chancel Mbemba leapt brilliantly at the back post to meet a corner delivery and powered a header past Hugo Lloris.

But the visitors drew level early in the second half with an excellent headed goal of their own, when Clement Lenglet flicked Ivan Perišic’s free-kick delivery into the corner for 1-1.

And deep into stoppage time Pierre-Emile Højbjerg fired in brilliantly off the post to clinch top spot for Spurs and send Marseille crashing out of Europe as the fourth-placed team in the group.

Kolo Muani’s heroics send Frankfurt through and Sporting out

Scorers: Arthur 39′; Kamada (pen) 62′, Kolo Muani 72′

A dramatic turnaround from Eintracht Frankfurt saw them win away at Sporting CP to book their spot in the last 16.

Sporting took the lead six minutes before half-time when Arthur Gomes met a deep cross to the back post on the volley, and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp couldn’t keep it out.

Frankfurt were then awarded a penalty just before the hour mark for a handball from Sporting captain Sebastian Coates. Despite laser pointers in the crowd trying to put him off, Daichi Kamada held his nerve to convert from the spot for 1-1.

And Frankfurt then struck again to make it 2-1 when Randal Kolo Muani superbly held off a defender before firing across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Despite a late rally Sporting were unable to find an equaliser, but Spurs’ late winner means the Portuguese side at least have the consolation of Europa League football in the New Year.

Group A

Liverpool end Napoli’s winning run

Scorers: Salah 85′, Nuñez 90+8′

Napoli finished top of Group A despite suffering their first defeat of the group stage at the hands of Liverpool.

The visitors thought they’d gone in front eight minutes into the second half when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s excellent delivery into the box was headed home by Leo Skiri Østigård, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside.

It was Liverpool who did finally break the deadlock at Anfield in the 85th minute. Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was just able to prevent Darwin Nuñez’s header from a corner from crossing the line, but Mohamed Salah was in the right place to finish the rebound.

Nuñez then made sure of the three points for Liverpool when he headed in a late clincher in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Ajax condemn Rangers to worst ever group stage record

Scorers: Tavernier (pen) 86′; Berghuis 4′, Kudus 29′, Conceição 89′

Rangers finished with the worst ever record in a Champions League group stage after they were comprehensively beaten by Ajax.

The visitors took an early lead at Ibrox when Steven Berghuis’s effort bobbled past goalkeeper Allan McGregor for 1-0.

It was then 2-0 just before the half hour mark, when Mohammed Kudus found the net from close range with the aid of a heavy deflection from Leon King.

Rangers’ night almost got worse 11 minutes into the second half when Kudus appeared to make it 3-0 with his second of the game, but the goal was mercifully disallowed by VAR for offside.

The hosts did then pull one back late on, when James Tavernier netted from the penalty spot after Edson Alvarez had fouled Rabbi Matondo.

But Ajax quickly went down the other end and made it 3-1 courtesy of a lovely finish from Francisco Conceição.

Ajax were already assured of third place and Europa League football before the game began.

Rangers finished the group stage with six defeats, zero points and -20 goal difference, the worst ever record in the competition’s group stage.

Group C

Bayern ease past Inter after Mané penalty controversy

Scorers: Pavard 32′, Choupo-Moting 73′

Group C winners Bayern Munich rounded off their group stage with a professional victory over Inter.

Inter appealed for a penalty in the eighth minute when Nico Barella’s volley appeared to strike Sadio Mané’s hand but after a VAR review, the referee decided against awarding a spot-kick.

Bayern then took the lead midway through the first half, when Benjamin Pavard rose highest to head home from Joshua Kimmich’s corner.

And the hosts doubled their lead in the 73rd minute when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting beat Andre Onana with an unstoppable strike from range.

Torre scores first Barça goal in entertaining Plzeň clash

Scorers: Chorý (pen) 51′, 63′; Marcos Alonso 6′, Ferran Torres 44′, 54′

Barcelona finished their Champions League campaign on a high with a victory in an entertaining game against Viktoria Plzeň.

The visitors took an early lead when Ansu Fati’s strike slipped under the goalkeeper’s grasp and Marcos Alonso followed in to bundle the ball over the line.

Plzeň then went close to an equaliser in the 21st minute when Tomáš Chorý hit the crossbar with a header.

But Ferran Torres doubled Barça’s advantage just before half-time, when he tapped in from Jordi Alba’s clever knock-down.

Plzeň pulled one back early in the second half from the penalty spot after Pablo Torre had fouled Chorý in the box, and the striker picked himself up to convert from 12-yards.

Barça soon re-established their two-goal cushion, however, when Ferran Torres got his second of the game, finishing after some neat interplay with Raphinha.

But Plzeň weren’t going to take defeat lying down, and Chorý soon made it 3-2 with an excellent header for his second of the game.

Champions League debutant Pablo Torre then made amends for his earlier penalty foul by making it 4-2 with an excellent touch and finish.

From earlier

Group B

Atlético Madrid dumped out of Europe by Porto

Scorers: Taremi 5′, Eustáquio 24′; Marcano OG 90+5′

Atlético Madrid won’t even be playing Europa League football later this season after a 2-1 defeat away at Porto saw them knocked out of Europe altogether.

The hosts took an early lead when Evanilson’s cross found Mehdi Taremi at the back post for an easy tap-in.

It was soon 2-0 courtesy of Stephen Eustáquio, who lashed into the bottom corner after making a late run into the box.

Antoine Griezmann thought he’d pulled one back for Atleti in the 68th minute, but the referee immediately ruled the goal out for a foul from Rodrigo de Paul on Galeno in the build-up.

The Rojiblancos did pull a goal back deep into stoppage time, when Yannick Carrasco’s corner appeared to fly straight in with the help of a deflection from Iván Marcano, but it was too late to change their fate.

Goalless draw suits Leverkusen and Brugge

Club Brugge will take second place in Group B after they held Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw.

Simon Mignolet made a brilliant save to preserve his clean sheet in the second half, moments after Tajon Buchanan had rattled the crossbar at the other end.

This result combined with Atlético Madrid’s defeat means Leverkusen will enter the Europa League knockout round play-offs.

Wednesday’s fixtures