Source: Eurosport
Chelsea and United in Champions League knockout stages
PARIS (AFP) - English giants Chelsea and Manchester United made hard work of it but ended up coming from behind to both qualify for the Champions League knockout stages on Tuesday.[LNB]French champions Bordeaux joined them as they earned an impressive 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in Munich, while Porto can also look forward to Champions League football in the spring after winning 1-0 at APOEL Nicosia.[LNB]However, things look stark for Bayern Munich and their Champions League-winning coach Louis van Gaal as his side trail second-placed Juventus by four points in Group A with two matches remaining.[LNB]Chelsea came from 1-0 down to draw 2-2 with Atletico Madrid - Didier Drogba scoring both goals on his return from a three-match Champions League suspension.[LNB]"It was a good game but frustrating because we didn't win it," said Drogba.[LNB]"I have played many Champions League games with Chelsea in the past and to be honest I am just happy to be back on the pitch.[LNB]"We have qualified which is great although it would have been nice to do it with a win."[LNB]United had to come from even further behind as they trailed 3-1 late into the match against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford before two goals levelled matters and pushed them through.[LNB]United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was relieved to have progressed but was left less than happy by the referee's performance, especially over a penalty that was not awarded for a trip on Darren Fletcher - the Scottish midfielder being booked instead.[LNB]"I can't believe the decision. Its one of the worst I have seen in my lifetime," fumed the irascible Scot.[LNB]AC Milan and Real Madrid's group has become one of the tightest as the two giants fought out a 1-1 draw in Milan, while rivals Marseille thrashed FC Zurich 6-1 to stand just a point behind the duo.[LNB]Milan and Real shared the spoils at the San Siro, with both goals coming in the first half.[LNB]Karim Benzema got his first goal in seven matches for the visitors before Ronaldinho drew Milan level from the penalty spot.[LNB]Milan's Brazilian coach Leonardo said a draw was probably the right result.[LNB]"If we look only at the first half, Real played very well, they had many chances but in the second I was a bit disappointed because we deserved to win," he said.[LNB]Marseille had wrapped things up shortly after half-time as captain Mamadou Niang was on hand to round off a nicely worked move by the French side to make it 3-1 against FC Zurich and then romped away to leave themselves in with a real chance of making the knockout stages.[LNB]On a good night for French sides Bordeaux qualified after securing a splendid 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich - French international Yoann Gourcuff netting in the first half and Moroccan international Marouane Chamakh sealing victory late on in the second-half.[LNB]Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc was immensely proud of his team's achievement.[LNB]"All in all, I am very satisfied," said Blanc, who is fast building a reputation as one of the best young coaches in European football.[LNB]"I think that this evening Bordeaux achieved something special in beating Bayern here in Munich and qualifying for the knockout stages."[LNB]Van Gaal, victorious in this competition with Ajax in 1995, refused to accept that elimination was inevitable.[LNB]"It wasn't our best performance but we are not gone yet," said the Dutchman.[LNB]"We still have a small chance to qualify."[LNB]Bayern's position is even more precarious given that Juventus beat Maccabi Haifa 1-0 in Israel -- World Cup winner Mauro Camoranesi scoring in the first half.[LNB]Juve coach Ciro Ferrara admitted that his side had struggled to put the game away.[LNB]"We suffered, but we deserved the win," he said.
