TheCable

Defending champions Real Madrid secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) with two games to spare when a Karim Benzema strike secured a 1-0 win in their Group B match at home to Liverpool.

Benzema clipped a Marcelo cross high into the net from close range in the 27th minute to maintain a perfect record of 12 points from four games and a record 12th win in a row in all competitions for the 10-time European champion.

Eyebrows were raised about Brendan Rodgers’ decision to rest regulars for this clash, but the side he selected battled hard and made it tough for Real.

Arsenal missed the chance to book their place in the knockout stages, as they threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht.

Mikel Arteta’s penalty and Alexis Sanchez’s volley put the Gunners firmly in the driving seat at half-time before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked to have sealed all three points with a third early in the second half.

Anthony Vanden Borre gave the visitors hope just after the hour with a close-range header and the defender then added another from the penalty spot to make it 3-2.

Anderlecht poured forward in the last 10 minutes and finally got the equaliser they deserved as substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home in the 90th minute.

A victory for Arsenal would have guaranteed their place in the knockout stages after Borussia Dortmund thrashed Galatasaray in Germany.

Arsenal host Dortmund next before an awkward final group fixture away to Galatasaray.

Marco Reus helped Dortmund reach the UCL last 16 with a 4-1 win over Galatasaray.

Dortmund put their domestic problems behind them by making it four wins from four in Group D following victories over Arsenal, Anderlecht and a 4-0 win in Istanbul two weeks ago.

FULL RESULTS

Group A

Juventus 3-2 Olympiakos

Malmo FF 0-2 Atletico Madrid

Group B

Basel 4-0 Ludogorets Razgrad

Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool

Group C

Zenit 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Benfica 1-0 Monaco

Group D

Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht

Borussia Dortmund 4-1Galatasaray