UCL: Real On The Brink, Liverpool Seal Last 16 Spot

Real Madrid are in danger of missing the Champions League last 16 for the first time in 24 seasons after they were beaten again by Shakhtar Donetsk.

The loss leaves the 13-time European champions third in Group B with one game to play.

Second half goals from Dentinho and Manor Solomon sealed victory for Shakhtar, who won the reverse fixture 3-2 in Madrid.

Shakhtar had not scored in three group games since beating Real in October and conceded a total of 10 goals in heavy back-to-back defeats by leaders Borussia Monchengladbach.

But the Ukrainian side, with their superior head-to-head record, now have the upper hand on Zinadine Zidane’s side going into next week’s final round of fixtures.

Real’s loss, meanwhile, opened the door for Inter Milan who secured their first win of the campaign with a 3-2 victory over group leaders Borussia Monchengladbach who missed the chance to qualify as group winners with the defeat.

The result has thrown the group open and made for an interesting finale with all four teams in with a possibility of qualifying for the last 16.

Inter were bottom of the group on two points and all but eliminated after failing to win any of their four previous group games.

However, they are now just two points off Real and Shaktar with Borussia a further point ahead.

Matteo Darmian put the Italians ahead in the 17th minute but Alassane Plea ensured both sides went into the break on level terms with an equaliser on the stroke of half time.

Romelu Lukaku extended Inter’s lead with a second half brace but Plea reduced the deficit and then saw what he thought was a late leveller and his hat-trick ruled out by VAR.

In Group D, Liverpool sealed their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Ajax at Anfield.

The visitors had more of the ball but Curtis Jones made the difference with a 58th minute winner to seal all three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Atalanta missed the chance to strengthen their hold on second place behind Liverpool after they were held at home by debutants FC Midtjylland who scored their first point in the competition with the draw.

Alexander Scholz put the Danish side ahead in the first half but Cristian Romero struck with ten minutes left to salvage a draw for Atalanta.

The result leaves Atalanta who have eight points needing to avoid defeat when they visit Ajax who have seven points in the final game to progress to the last 16. Ajax would seal their spot with victory.

Atletico Madrid failed to take advantage of a depleted Bayern Munich side to progress to the last 16 as they were held 1-1 by the defending champions at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Bayern boss Hans Flick had left top scorer Robert Lewandowski and skipper and first choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer out of his squad for the tie but the Germans still had enough to leave Spain with a share of the spoils.

Youngster Joao Felix gave Atletico a first half lead but substitute Thomas Muller levelled in the 86th minute to deny Diego Simeone’s side qualification with a game to go.

Atletico have six points, two more than Red Bull Salzburg who they visit in the final game. Salzburg secured an impressive 3-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow to boost their chances of qualifying from the group.

n Group C, FC Porto joined group leaders Manchester City in the next round after they held the English side to a goalless draw in Portugal.

In the group’s other game, Dimitri Payer scored two penalties to help Olympique Marseille their a first win of the campaign and boost their chances of making the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Olympiakos.

The victory puts both sides level on three points with Olympiakos ahead with a superior goals difference.