Champions League Results 2015: Group Tables After Wednesday's Final Scores
Manchester City missed the chance to seal top spot in Group D of the UEFA Champions League after falling to defeat in Juventus. City's Premier League neighbours Manchester United were held at home to PSV Eindhoven in Group B.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid made sure of finishing first in Group A ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. City rivals Atletico Madrid qualified from Group C after brushing off Galatasaray.
Here are the results from Wednesday's group matches:
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| Group | Home | Score | Away |
| C | FC Astana | 2-2 | Benfica |
| B | CSKA Moscow | 0-2 | Wolfsburg |
| B | Manchester United | 0-0 | PSV Eindhoven |
| C | Atletico Madrid | 2-0 | Galatasaray |
| A | Malmo | 0-5 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| A | Shakhtar Donetsk | 3-4 | Real Madrid |
| D | Juventus | 1-0 | Manchester City |
| D | Borussia Monchengladbach | 4-2 | Sevilla |
Here's what those results mean for the relevant group tables:
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Real Madrid | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 13 |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 3 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -5 | 3 |
| 4 | Malmo | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -12 | 3 |
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | VfL Wolfsburg | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | PSV Eindhoven | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | CSKA Moscow | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 4 |
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Atletico Madrid | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| 2 | Benfica | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 3 | Galatasaray | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 4 |
| 4 | FC Astana | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -6 | 3 |
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Juventus | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Borussia Monchengladbach | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 5 |
| 4 | Sevilla | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 3 |
Recap
City missed out on top spot after Mario Mandzukic netted a fine goal in Turin. Given their recent history of earning nightmare draws after finishing second in the group, this is a very damaging result for the Citizens.
Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News detailed what City must do to qualify as group winners:
Juve ensured qualification after bossing midfield. Frenchman Paul Pogba was particularly impressive. Last season's beaten finalists have been inconsistent domestically but remain a major threat in this competition.
Juve's win meant Borussia Monchengladbach suffered elimination even after an impressive 4-2 win over Sevilla. The La Liga outfit also crashed out.
As for United, they are left waiting after a tame, goalless stalemate at Old Trafford. There wasn't much verve in possession or pace to the passing.
Dire play out wide condemned the Red Devils' scoring chances, per Squawka:
Earlier in United's group, CSKA Moscow were eliminated after Wolfsburg did a number on them in a classic smash-and-grab away from home. The Bundesliga side left Russian soil with a 2-0 win thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and a late strike from ex-Chelsea man Andre Schurrle.
Pace and trickery from the flanks undid CSKA all night. Schurrle and the outrageously gifted yet frustratingly brittle Julian Draxler posed a constant threat. Schurrle had come off the bench to liven up the game the way he often did during his ill-fated stint in the English Premier League.
Just two points separate third from first in this group.
It took a late equaliser for Benfica to qualify from Group C. Mexican forward Raul Jimenez spared the Portuguese side's blushes against plucky Kazakhstan outfit FC Astana. He bagged a brace, the second earning a point with less than 20 minutes to go after the visitors had been two down.
Benfica stayed in contention for top spot in the group, despite dropping two points. Atletico Madrid took advantage to go top.
Superb roving forward Antoine Griezmann headed the 2014 finalists in front at home to Galatasaray. He added another to seal the win.
With a player as gifted as Griezmann leading the attack, ahead of intelligent midfielders and rugged defenders, Atelti will be a threat to the tournament's big boys in the knockout phase.
Over in Group A, Atletico's city rivals Real Madrid locked down top spot, despite Paris Saint-Germain winning big in Malmo. Goals from Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Moura, a brace from Angel Di Maria and one for returning hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the Ligue 1 giants ahead in Sweden. But a Cristiano Ronaldo goal sent Madrid on their way in Ukraine.
The goal-getter then turned provider for Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal. It was an unusually giving streak from Ronaldo, according to OptaJose:
Ronaldo had time to add another, once again teed up by Gareth Bale. Shakhtar answered with goals from Brazilians Alex Teixeira and Dentinho, but it was too late.
Despite qualifying, PSG and their star-studded squad and deep financial resources, have left themselves open to drawing a tournament favourite in the last-16. Yet, the French side boast the talent to beat anybody on their day.
As for 10-time winners Real, under-pressure gaffer Rafa Benitez will welcome the reprieve Ronaldo's goals helped give him. The football may not be flowing, but Benitez is a master at negotiating tournament football.
That's something City haven't managed. If they meet another tournament heavyweight in the last-16, they'll count the cost of nights like this.
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