BARCELONA STAR LEO Messi was unable to equal a Champions League record held by rival Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday, despite scoring against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Though Messi opened the scoring at Camp Nou, he could not produce the three he needed to draw level with Ronaldo on 79 goals in the competition.
Arda Turan scored a hat-trick as Barca waltzed to a 4-0 win, their third home success without conceding in the Champions League this term. Barca advance as group winners, while Monchengladbach head for the Europa League.
Atletico Madrid tasted defeat in the Champions League for the first time this season as Robert Lewandowski’s free-kick secured a 1-0 win for Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
The Poland international’s goal in the first half settled the contest in the home team’s favour, but Atletico, last season’s beaten finalists at the hands of cross-city rivals Real Madrid, will still advance to the round of 16 as winners of Group D, having recorded five victories from six matches played.
Rostov sealed Europa League qualification after grinding out a 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven also in Group D.
The Russians only needed to avoid defeat against the Dutch champions to stay in Europe after last month’s shock 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich in their first-ever Champions League group-stage triumph. PSV exit Europe entirely after coming bottom of the group.
Paris Saint-Germain missed out on the chance to seal top spot in Group A of the Champions League as they needed a late equaliser from Angel Di Maria to grab a 2-2 draw against Ludogorets.
PSG advance in second place behind Arsenal, while Ludogorets enter the Europa League. Basel finish bottom of Group A.
Nine-man Besiktas failed to reach the last 16 after a dismal 6-0 thrashing at Dynamo Kiev. The Turkish club fell short at the group stage for a sixth time in a stunning reverse against their already eliminated hosts. Besiktas will compete in the Europa League after Christmas.
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