Group E matches saw the top two clash as Manchester United travelled to Villarreal whilst AaB entertained Scottish Champions Celtic. Cristiano Ronaldo did his very best to break the deadlock during the first half with a couple of screamers in Spain whilst Celtic wasted two glorious chances to take an early lead at Aalborg but both games went into the break goalless. Celtic’s Barry Robson finally broke the monotony but the lead was short-lived as Caca got lucky with speculative effort that took a huge deflection off Stephen McManus. Worse was to follow when Gary Caldwell suffered a similar fate as Aalborg took the lead and ultimately sent both teams out. Villarreal were reduced to ten men after a Ronaldo-inspired red card for Capdevilla but held on for a draw that sent themselves and their opponents through to the last 16 with the final set of matches left to decide who gets top spot in the group.

A Jean Makoul goal gave Group F leaders Lyon a great start in Italy against Fiorentina. With Juninho in the mood for a show, Karim Benzema added a second but Fiorentina do not go quietly and an Alberto Gilardino header set up a potentially storming second half which failed to deliver. Lyon held on a progressed through to the last 16.

Bayern and Steaua clashed in Munich and after another goal-free first half, German international Miroslav Klose finally found the net. Luca Toni doubled Bayern’s lead before Klose helped himself to a third and secured Munich‘s passage to the last 16. Group supremacy will be decided on match day 6.

Lisandro Lopez’s opener in Turkey saw Arsenal’s main Group G rivals Porto take an early lead. He controversially doubled that later on scoring following a blatant handball. Colin Kazim Richards halved Porto’s lead courtesy of an Alves-deflected shot but the Portuguese held on.

Arsenal at home to Dynamo Kiev almost became the William Gallas show as he first almost gifted Kiev the lead before having a strike ruled out for offside on the stroke of half-time. Nicklas Bendtner eventually put the Gunners in front and Aliyev compounded Kiev’s misery by receiving a stupid albeit belated red card. Arsenal strolled through to the last 16 along with Porto with the honour of group winners still to be decided.

Real Madrid legend Raul opened the scoring in Group H with Los Galacticos aiming to keep their Champions League dreams alive by securing a win against BATE Borisov. It was the only successful strike of the night as Real secured a last 16 spot.

Juventus visited Zenit in the days early kick-off and the resultant nil-nil draw will have not necessarily suited either side. Zenit needed to win to stand a chance of progressing whilst Juve’s pride naturally sees them wanting to finish above Madrid. The final set of matches will decide who triumphs between these two European giants.