Air Aviation News – MANCHESTER United and Manchester City’s Champions League aspirations will go down to the wire after both English Premier League giants suffered wobbles today.
Benfica is now top of Group C after the Portuguese held United to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, while Switzerland’s Basel, who host Alex Ferguson’s three-time winner in the final match, are only a point behind after edging out Romania’s Otelul Galati 3-2.
Mega spender City slid to a 2-1 loss to Napoli – who had already held them in Manchester – with Edinson Cavani scoring a double.
With Bayern Munich dispatching Villarreal 3-1 in Bavaria – Franck Ribery twice on target – the Germans will win Group A but City have now slipped to third, a point adrift of Napoli after the Italians showed true grit to bag a precious win, helped by Cavani’s predatory powers.
Napoli went in front on 17 minutes at a jam-packed Stadio San Paolo.
But Walter Mazzarri’s men were unable to maintain their advantage and City were back on terms after 33 minutes, Mario Balotelli tapping in a rebound after Edin Dzeko had fed David Silva, whose initial shot home keeper Morgan De Sanctis beat out.
Napoli came out fighting for the second period and within three minutes they had their noses in front for a second time.
Andrea Dossena crossed from the left and Cavani showed great poise to fire past Joe Hart.
Although United’s stalemate with Benfica left it level on nine points, the Portuguese will progress as winners of Group C if they beat Romanian whipping boys Otelul Galati in their final group game in Lisbon next month by virtue of their better head-to-head record with United.
Benfica has qualified for the group stage regardless of what happens in the final matches.
Inter Milan, champion in 2010, guaranteed top spot in Group B after drawing 1-1 at Trabzonspor leaving it four points clear of their Turkish rival.
Nine-time champion Real Madrid belted Group D rival Dinamo Zagreb, scoring four times in the opening 20 minutes on the way to a comprehensive 6-2 victory.
