Porto and debutants Malaga became the first teams to reach the last 16 of the Champions League [ Images ] when they guaranteed their progress from the group stage with two games to spare on Tuesday.
Both sides's saw their 100 per cent starts end - with Porto drawing 0-0 away to Dynamo Kiev and Malaga earning a 1-1 draw with AC Milan [ Images ] at San Siro - but moved on to 10 points from four games in Groups A and C to secure a knock-out round place.
Borussia Dortmund were on the verge of joining them until Mesut Ozil's superb curling free-kick a minute from time secured Real Madrid [ Images ] a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu [ Images ].
Dortmund and Real are still favourites to progress from Group D after Manchester City [ Images ] and Ajax Amsterdam also drew 2-2, the Premier League champions hitting back from conceding twice in the first 17 minutes to retain their slim qualifying hopes.
Goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jefferson Farfan rescued Group B leaders Schalke 04 as they hit back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Arsenal [ Images ], who stay a point behind in second.
Olympiakos Piraeus also remained in contention by beating visitors Montpellier 3-1.
Paris St Germain thumped Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 in Group A while Anderlecht celebrated their first win in the competition proper for nine years by edging Zenit St Petersburg [ Images ] 1-0 in Group C.
Photograph: Reuters



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