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Juve, Bayern and Ajax advance; United stutter
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-23 08:54
LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Former European champions Juventus, Bayern Munich
and Ajax Amsterdam all qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League on
Tuesday but Manchester United stumbled again and are not sure of their place
yet.
Juventus's
Alessandro Del Piero celebrates his goal against Club Brugge during their
Champions League Group A soccer match at Delle Alpi stadium in Turin,
northern Italy November 22, 2005.
[Reuters] | Seven of the last 16 are now known
with Arsenal, Barcelona, Olympique Lyon and Real Madrid all through before the
start of Matchday 5.
United, however, in their first European game since the departure of captain
Roy Keane after 12 years and nearly 500 games, failed to score in the Champions
League for the seventh time in eight matches as they drew 0-0 at home to
Villarreal.
Their place in the last 16 is now in the balance but their cause was helped
when Lille drew 0-0 with Benfica, which was disappointing for a 76,079 crowd at
the Stade de France in Paris -- a record to watch a French team in European
competition.
Two points separate all four teams in Group D and a draw in United's last
match against Benfica in Lisbon in two weeks could still be enough to see them
through, but far from certain. It is 10 years since they failed to qualify from
the group stages.
CHAMPIONS SUCCESS
Elsewhere, other former champions enjoyed more success.
Bayern Munich crushed Rapid Vienna 4-0 at home with Dutchman Roy Makaay
scoring twice to ensure they would finish either first or second in Group A
along with Juventus.
The Italian champions beat Club Bruges 1-0 at home with a late goal from
Alessandro Del Piero to make sure of their place in the last 16 but, in stark
contrast to Paris, just 9,623 fans turned up at the Delle Alpi to watch the
game.
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