Real Madrid, Manchester City win to reach Champions League knockout stage

Raheem Sterling

Real Madrid and Manchester City became the first teams to secure their spots in the UEFA Champions League group stage with wins on Tuesday.

Substitute Nacho scored as Real Madrid defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.

The French side had a few opportunities to score in the first half, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s free kick going just wide of the post.

Real Madrid defender Marcelo pulled up with an apparent injury on 33 minutes and was replaced by Nacho, who scored the opener just two minutes later.

Toni Kroos’ long shot was blocked and bounced high in the air before landing on the foot of Nacho, whose deft touch from a tight angle beat Kevin Trapp.

PSG pressed for the equaliser, but Angel Di Maria’s late attempt hit the crossbar.

Manchester City continued their fine goal scoring form with a 3-1 win at Sevilla to move top of Group D.

Fernandinho played Raheem Sterling through to open the scoring in the eighth minute with the 20-year-old’s first Champions League goal.

City made it 2-0 just three minutes later as Fernandinho headed home after Sergio Rico made a diving save of Wilfried Bony’s shot from the centre of the box.

The hosts got a goal back in the 25th minute as Coke easily evaded Nicolas Otamendi and crossed from the touchline for Benoit Tremoulinas to score an unmarked header. But Bony restored order in the 36th minute by turning in a low cross from Jesus Navas.

United States international Fabian Johnson scored as Borussia Moenchengladbach managed a 1-1 draw at home against Juventus.

Johnson took a pass from Raffael and scored with a shot from an angle to the far post in the 18th minute.

Stephan Lichtsteiner drew Juventus back level just before half-time by perfectly finishing a high lob from Paul Pogba with a first-time touch.

Hernanes was sent off for a two-footed challenge shortly after half-time, but the German side could not make the advantage count as Gigi Buffon made some saves late on.

Wayne Rooney finally ended his Manchester United’s goal drought after more than 400 minutes in a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford.

United, who had played three straight goalless draws in all competitions, were the dominant side in the first half but struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.

Rooney steered an early shot wide of the post, while Jesse Lingard was denied by a smart intervention from CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev following a neat pass from the United captain. After the break, Rooney missed another chance when he could not set his feet.

CSKA nearly took the lead when David De Gea made a remarkable save from Seydou Doumbia’s shot, and his follow-up was blocked by United defenders.

Rooney found the breakthrough on 79 minutes with a powerful header following a Lingard cross.

Group B remains tight after PSV Eindhoven defeated Wolfsburg 2-0 at home, Jurgen Locadia just staying onside before scoring in the 55th minute and Luuk de Jong adding a second five minutes from time.

Manchester United lead the group on seven points, one ahead of PSV and Wolfsburg, while CSKA have four points with two games to play.

Benfica defeated Galatasaray 2-1 to open a two-point lead in Group C with all the goals coming in the second half.

Lukas Podolski’s goal for the Turkish side cancelled out Jonas’ opener, but Luisao restored Benfica’s lead with a shot following a corner in the 67th minute.

Also in Group C, Atletico Madrid were stymied in Kazakhstan as they settled for a goalless draw against FC Astana.

Fernando Torres had Atletico’s best chance to score when he was played in on goal in the 32nd minute, but his first-touch shot flew wide of the net.

In a game of few chances, Atletico substitute Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco had a look at goal deep into stoppage time, but goalkeeper Nenad Eric made a diving save to his left.

In the other game in Real Madrid’s Group A, Shakhtar Donetsk earned their first points of the group stage with a 4-0 win over Swedish side Malmo.

Oleksandr Gladky followed up his own header to score the opener from close range in the 29th minute, and Darijo Srna added a second-half penalty before Eduardo scored the hosts’ third.

Alex Teixeira added a fourth goal in stoppage time after Kari Arnason was dismissed with a second yellow card.