Arsenal dominated with a 6-0 victory over Lens, securing their place in the round of 16 as group winners during their Champions League return as Manchester United faced a setback, drawing 3-3 against Galatasaray despite initially leading by two goals. The result places United at risk of missing out on the round of 16, with only 12 teams confirmed for the draw on Dec. 18.
Arsenal's impressive win ensured the progression of second-place PSV Eindhoven from Group B. PSV's comeback victory of 3-2 against Sevilla, sealed by a stoppage-time goal from US forward Ricardo Pepi, added to the drama of the night. However, Manchester United's struggle in away games continued, following previous 4-3 losses to group winner Bayern Munich and second-place Copenhagen.
Despite United's noteworthy 12-goal total, only four other teams in the Champions League have scored more this season, all of whom lead their groups and have secured a spot in the knockout phase. Real Madrid joined this elite group with a 4-2 win over Napoli, ensuring their top spot in Group C.
In the draw on Dec. 18, teams leading their groups will be seeded and avoid matchups with fellow group winners, including defending champion Manchester City. Moreover, teams cannot face opponents from their own country in this stage of the competition.
On a night filled with goals, Bayern played to a goalless draw with Copenhagen. Real Sociedad's 0-0 draw with Salzburg sets the stage for a crucial clash with second-place Inter Milan for the top spot in Group D. Both teams had already secured their advancement three weeks ago. In another thrilling encounter, Inter produced a second-half comeback in a 3-3 draw against Benfica, who squandered a three-goal halftime lead earned by João Mario's hat trick.
Braga's 1-1 draw with Union Berlin leaves them with a chance to advance by winning against Napoli on Dec. 12, adding further anticipation to the upcoming fixtures in the Champions League.
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