Chelsea had only pride to play for against Dinamo Zagreb having already qualified as Group E winners and did claw back some that had been lost in the 4-1 humbling at Brighton on Saturday.
But for both Graham Potter and his squad, the sight of Ben Chilwell limping off at the end of their win over Dinamo took the shine off their 2-1 win in a big way.
“We’ve tried to manage him, but he’s never played three games in a week. He’s had to have a build-up that I think has been good for him. That’s why it’s very frustrating. It’s a blow for us and a blow for him,” said a concerned Potter, who also cast doubt over the defender’s World Cup prospects.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerChelsea defender Ben Chilwell is helped off the pitch after suffering a hamstring injury in Chelsea's Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Play Video – Potter: Chilwell hamstring injury does not look positive
Chelsea manager Graham Potter says Ben Chilwell’s hamstring injury does not look positive and is hoping a scan will show it is not as severe as feared.
It was a surprise he had not made more than the seven changes from Saturday’s defeat at Brighton, with Chelsea’s status as group winners already assured and Armando Broja, Connor Gallagher and Hakim Ziyech able to offer even more of a rotation option.
With a stronger side selected, his line-up showed good character to recover from falling behind early on to register a victory more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
But it said everything that the manner of the performance, and the boost to bounce back from that weekend loss, was not even mentioned in his post-match press conference.
Potter will already be casting an eye on the weekend clash with Arsenal, with both his natural first choice wing-backs – Reece James and Chilwell – now ruled out.
When that same thing happened to Thomas Tuchel last season, Chelsea fell away and never recovered. Potter must now succeed where his predecessor failed.
Ron Walker
CL state of play: All four English teams await last 16 fate
Alvarez shows why Pep could afford to lose Jesus
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring against Sevilla
Every three points won by Arsenal where Gabriel Jesus plays a leading role turns the heat up slightly on Pep Guardiola’s decision to sell him to a club that subsequently are the likeliest title challengers to Manchester City this season. Yes, City have Erling Haaland to more than fill the void but the replacement for Jesus in Guardiola’s eyes was always Julian Alvarez – we have just yet to see much of his talents due to the sheer ridiculousness of Haaland’s scoring run.
But with Haaland out with a foot injury, Alvarez now has put back-to-back starts together for Guardiola and you can totally see the Jesus comparison.
He was a willing runner and a good focal point for City in their 1-0 win at Leicester but strikers are made and broken on their goal involvements, so grabbing three in the 3-1 over Sevilla was a statement by the Argentinian. Two assists – one in setting up sensation Rico Lewis to score and the other a pass to Riyad Mahrez after some tenacious pressing to win possession back – was backed up by a fantastically taken goal. If you squinted watching the goal due to the gloomy weather in Manchester you would be forgiven for thinking it was Sergio Aguero latching onto Kevin De Bruyne’s magnificent pass. The finish was very Aguero.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Rico Lewis made his mark on his first Champions League start and suggests some youngsters are not patient enough at big clubs
“It was great night for Julian (Alvarez), two assists and a goal,” said Guardiola.
“We know how good he is. It’s difficult to play against defences like Leicester and Sevilla, they defend deep but he found the right moments. He was patient, he fought, he regained the ball – like Gabriel Jesus when he was with us.
“Julian is young and top class. He is a special guy with great work ethic. You saw the third goal and how aggressive he is without the ball.”
Lewis Jones
Real defeat epitomised wasteful Celtic
Josip Juranovic missed a penalty for Celtic at 2-0 down against Real Madrid
Celtic’s first Champions League group stage appearance in five years has been a painful one, with the 5-1 thrashing at Real Madrid seeing them end the campaign winless with four defeats and two draws to finish rock bottom of Group F.
But there will be a feeling things could have been a lot different for Ange Postecoglou’s side had they taken some of their chances across the six games – with the match at the Bernabeu highlighting this problem exactly.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou says his side lacked experience and will make more of an impact in the Champions League in the future
Josip Juranovic missed a first-half penalty to make it 2-1, while Thibaut Courtois made a number of saves to keep out Celtic, who had eight shots on target, 14 overall and had an expected goals of 2.16.
“At 2-0 we got our penalty,” Postecoglou told BT Sport, “2-1 maybe doesn’t change the outcome but maybe gives us a little bit more belief and puts them under real pressure.
“But I guess that’s been the story of our campaign.”
Indeed it has been, with Celtic scoring just four goals from 83 shots to post a measly shot conversion rate of 4.82 per cent – only Rangers and Copenhagen have recorded a worse rate in this Champions League group stage.
But for all of their wastefulness, the defeat at the holders also showed their vulnerability at the other end of the pitch.
Celtic have given up plenty of opportunities to the opposition across the campaign – Real had 25 shots of their own on Wednesday night – to concede 15 goals in six games, with only four teams conceding more in the competition this season.
Postecoglou would have learned much from his first Champions League group stage campaign, but attacking performances like the ones his team have produced in Europe should pay off domestically so they can have another crack at it again next season to show they have learned their lessons.
Paris Saint-Germain finish second in Champions League group after Benfica pip them to top spot on away goals; Kylian Mbappe scores in PSG’s 2-1 win at Juventus but Benfica beat Maccabi Haifa 6-1; AC Milan and RB Leipzig both win to qualify for the last 16 as runners-up
Kylian Mbappe scored the opener in PSG’s 2-1 win at Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain were forced to settle for second in their Champions League group after a dramatic conclusion saw Benfica pip them by virtue of away goals scored.
A stoppage-time goal from Joao Mario completed a 6-1 win for the Portuguese side at Maccabi Haifa and edged them above PSG in Group H, despite the French side winning 2-1 at Juventus courtesy of goals from Kylian Mbappe and Nuno Mendes after Leonardo Bonucci had equalised for the Italians in the first half.
Benfica and PSG ended the group stage with the same number of points, goals scored and goal difference, with both games between the sides finishing in 1-1 draws.
Goals from Goncalo Ramos, Petar Musa, Alex Grimaldo, Rafa Silva, Henrique Araujo and Mario – five of them in the second half – gave Benfica the dramatic win in Israel.
Benfica's Goncalo Ramis celebrates after a goal during Champions League match between Maccabi Haifa and Benfica in Haifa, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
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Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring Benfica’s opener in their 6-1 win at Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi finished bottom of the standings with three points, level with Juventus who ended up third on goal difference and will go into the Europa League.
Mario’s superb long-range strike prompted wild celebrations as the Benfica substitutes and coaching staff ran onto the pitch.
Giroud helps AC Milan into last 16
Olivier Giroud scored twice in AC Milan’s home win over Red Bull Salzburg
Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud scored two goals and created another as AC Milan thrashed Red Bull Salzburg 4-0 to reach the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013-14.
Needing to avoid defeat in their final Group E match to reach the last 16 against an Austrian side gunning for the win that would take them through, Giroud settled any nerves around the San Siro with an early header into the bottom corner.
The 36-year-old expertly headed across for Rade Krunic to make it two 43 seconds into the second half and Giroud put the game to bed in the 57th minute, drilling home after fine work from Rafael Leao.
A solo goal from Junior Messias in stoppage-time capped an excellent night for Milan who secured second spot in Group E behind Chelsea. Red Bull Salzburg will go into the Europa League after finishing third.
RB Leipzig reach knockout stages
RB Leipzig eased past Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 to qualify for the Champions League last 16 in style as the Ukrainians dropped down to the Europa League.
Leipzig, who only needed a point to advance to the knockout stage, hit three quickfire second-half goals to secure second place in Group F behind Real Madrid and join fellow Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the next round.
Marco Rose’s side won thanks to goals from Christopher Nkunku, Andre Silva, Dominik Szoboszlai and Dani Olmo.
FC Copenhagen score only goal of CL campaign
FC Copenhagen scored their only goal in this season’s Champions League campaign, drawing 1-1 with already-qualified Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in their last Group G game.
The Danes had been condemned to last place from the previous matchday and, despite resting several players, Dortmund struck first through Thorgan Hazard’s well-taken shot at the far post against the run of play in the 23rd minute.
Copenhagen put the Germans firmly on the back foot in the first half and had 12 shots on goal before being rewarded with Hakon Haraldsson’s 41st-minute equaliser, their first goal in the group stage.
Dortmund improved after the break and hit the post through substitute Youssoufa Moukoko in the 64th minute as they qualified behind Group G winners Manchester City.