English champions Leicester went through in the Champions League but Spurs are out, while history was made in Dortmund where Borussia beat Polish side Legia Warsaw 8-4 to set a new Champions League record for the most goals scored in a game in Match Day 5 action.
In England Leicester City’s remarkable debut Champions League campaign continued as they reached the knockout stages with one game to spare by beating Club Brugge. The Foxes needed a point to make the last 16, yet secured three to ensure they will finish top of Group G.
A smart finish into the top corner by Shinji Okazaki, after a fine cross by Christian Fuchs, set Claudio Ranieri’s side on
their way. Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead from the penalty spot – for his fourth goal in five Champions League games – after Marc Albrighton was fouled by Dion Cools before Jose Izquierdo hit a wonderful consolation after a 40-yard run.
Leicester were unrecognisable from the side who have struggled in the Premier League this season. They are the second English team, after Arsenal, to secure a place in the draw for the knockout stages on 12 December.
And in France, Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League as they were comprehensively outclassed by Monaco at Stade Louis II.
Djibril Sidibe’s header early in the second half sparked a stunning sequence of three goals in just five minutes that saw Spurs’ Champions League hopes swiftly fade, recover and fade again.
Harry Kane’s penalty, awarded when Dele Alli was pulled back, put Spurs on level terms but, just 39 seconds later, Monaco had the ball in the net again through Thomas Lemar. Victory takes Monaco through to the last 16 as deserved winners of Group E ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who earlier drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow.
Spurs, who have won just one of their five group matches, are three points behind Leverkusen with one game to play, against CSKA on 7 December, but cannot overhaul the German side because of an inferior head-to- head record.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side kicked off knowing a draw in the principality would be enough to keep their hopes alive, but Monaco were by far the better side and only a superb performance by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris spared the Premier League side further punishment.
Lloris saved a Radamel Falcao penalty in the first half, produced a truly world-class stop to keep out Kamil Glik’s thumping first-time effort from a free-kick, and thwarted Falcao a second time after the break, reports the BBC.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS
Monaco 2 – 1 Tottenham
Bor Dortmd 8 – 4 Legia War
Sporting 1 – 2 Real Madrid
Leicester 2 – Club Brugge
CSKA 1 – 1 Bayer Levkn
FC Copenhagen 0 – 0 FC Porto
Dinamo Zagreb 0 – 1 Lyon
Sevilla 1 – 2 Juventus
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