Didier Drogba scored twice on his return from a three-match European suspension as Chelsea drew 2-2 at Atletico Madrid to seal their place in the knockout round of the Champions League on Tuesday. They were joined in the last 16 by Manchester United, Porto and Girondins Bordeaux, although four-time European champions Bayern Munich are on the brink of elimination after losing at home to the French champions.
Maccabi Haifa, Besiktas, APOEL Nicosia and Atletico were all eliminated, but could yet finish third in their respective groups and go into the Europa League.
There was high drama in almost all of Tuesday’s eight matches with a flood of late goals and a superb 1-1 draw between AC Milan and Real Madrid. The Group C clash between the old rivals, who have won the European Cup 16 times between them, left both on seven points from four matches, just one ahead of Olympique Marseille, who crushed FC Zurich 6-1.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United scored twice in the last 10 minutes to force a 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow, stretch their unbeaten home Champions League record to 23 matches, and earn a place in the last 16. But individual honours went to Chelsea’s Drogba, back in Europe for the first time since being banned by UEFA for his antics against referee Tom Henning Ovrebo when they were eliminated by Barcelona in the semi-finals last season. Drogba scored two excellent goals — the first after 82 minutes cancelled out Sergio Aguero’s 66th minute volley and the second put his side 2-1 ahead.
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