Champions League Round-up: Arsenal and Chelsea both win to keep chances alive

Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying from the Champions League group stages are still alive following a comfortable 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates.

Mesut Ozil opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark with a diving header after a lovely passing move, and Alexis Sanchez doubled their lead just minutes later to give the hosts a two-goal lead at the break.

The Chilean added a third in the second half, as the Gunners wrapped up the points – they need a win by two goals, or a result better than 3-2 in their final match at Olympiacos, in order to advance as group runners-up.

Mesut Ozil gives Arsenal the lead.

Arsene Wenger’s side needed a helping hand from Bayern Munich in the Germans’ game at home to Olympiacos, and they certainly got one.

Jerome Boateng’s long-range effort was parried away by Roberto, but Douglas Costa tapped in the rebound, and Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller quickly put the Bavarians three to the good with just 20 minutes gone.

Defender Holger Badstuber was sent off on his return to the line-up for the hosts, but Kingsley Coman added a fourth to seal top spot for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Willian netted his fifth free-kick of the season as Chelsea ran out convincing 4-0 winners in Israel against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Gary Cahill headed the away side in front, before former Blues defender Tal Ben Haim was sent off for the hosts after a lunge on Diego Costa.

Willian added his goal with 20 minutes to go, Oscar bagged his second of the season soon after, and Kurt Zouma sealed the points in stoppage time.

Jose Mourinho’s men need just a point at home to his former club Porto in a fortnight to seal their place in the knockout stages.

Chelsea need a point on the final match day to reach the last-16.

However, it’s still wide open in Group G after Dynamo Kiev picked up a shock win in Portugal.

Andriy Yarmolenko put the Ukrainians in front with a penalty, and Derlis Gonzalez’s chip was flapped at by Iker Casillas to put the visitors out of sight.

Despite currently leading the group, Porto will likely need to win at Stamford Bridge to stand any chance of making it out of the group, as Dynamo Kiev, who have collected four points off the Portuguese side, host the point-less Maccabi Tel-Aviv on the final match day.

Fresh from their 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the weekend, Barcelona didn’t rest on their laurels as they demolished Roma 6-1 at the Camp Nou.

Braces from the returning Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, plus goals from Gerard Pique and Adriano, saw the holders cruise through to the last-16.

Roma, who got a late consolation through Edin Dzeko, need to match Bayer Leverkusen’s result on match day six to advance, but defeat to BATE in Italy would see the Belarus side advance if the Bundesliga outfit fail to beat Barcelona.

BATE kept their chances of qualification alive following their 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen.

The Belarusians led through Mikhail Gordeychuk, but Admir Mehmedi salvaged a point for the visitors.

Zenit have won five out of five in the group stages.

Zenit look on course to become the first Russian side in 20 years to win every group stage game after they beat Valencia 2-0.

Oleg Shatov and Artem Dzyuba sent the Russians on their way to a fifth victory, before Ruben Vezo was shown a red card late on for the Spanish outfit.

Lyon suffered elimination from the competition after a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Gent.

Jordan Ferri scored early on to give the French side the lead, before they were pegged back by a Danijel Milicevic strike. However, in the 96th minute, Kalifa Coulibaly netted to send the Belgian side second in Group H.

Gent, who play Zenit in week six, need to match the result of Valencia, who face Lyon at home, in order to progress to the last-16 for the first time.

Player of the Night: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Team of the Night: Barcelona
Goal of the Night: Luis Suarez (Barcelona – second goal)

What a goal! @LuisSuarez9 is on 🔥#UCL https://t.co/3qiqrp49br

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 24, 2015