Griezmann at the double for Atletico

“In their last two games they have scored six goals and this shows that they are a side which is unsafe in front of goal which is something we will have to deal with and it will not be easy for us”.

“Hats off to the lads, they’ve gifted me qualification with a game to spare”, said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Juventus would have qualified even if it had lost, after Borussia Moenchengladbach defeated Sevilla 4-2 to boost its chances of playing in the Europa League.

Di Maria netted his second goal midway through the second half with a simple header before being replaced by Lucas who also found the target with an unstoppable free kick in the 82nd minute. “On top of that I scored one. I’m very happy”, said Ibrahimovic.

Hamit Altintop (knee) is also doubtful for Wednesday’s visitors and, after Mbilla Etame’s last-gasp equaliser at the weekend, Taffarel told a news conference: “We’re sorry to see [Hamzaoglu] go, but to question the decision of the management is not up to us”.

A Cristiano Ronaldo brace either side of a Luka Modric goal and a delightful Dani Carvajal chip had Madrid out of sight but Shakhtar set up a grandstand finale with three goals in the last 13 minutes.

First Alex Teixeira scored from the penalty spot before Dentinho’s header cut the deficit to 4-2.

Atletico has 10 points from five matches in Group C, while its Turkish opponents were eliminated with four points.

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi credited the team’s defence as well as Antoine Griezmann as Champions League progression was secured against Galatasaray. Ghanaian forward Patrick Twumasi put Astana ahead in Kazakhstan and Marin Anicic doubled their lead on 31 minutes. Just as in the first meeting between the sides in a 2-0 Atletico win back in September, Griezmann was the difference as the Frenchman struck either side of half-time to take Diego Simeone’s men into the last 16 for the third consecutive season.

In Group B, Manchester United was left frustrated by another lackluster performance in a 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven at Old Trafford.

On a night when Old Trafford marked 10 years since the death of United legend George Best, the hosts saw plenty of the ball but created few genuine chances, with Jesse Lingard hoisting their clearest opportunity over the bar mid-way through the second period.

Wolfsburg are on the cusp of qualifying for the knock-out stage after winning 2-0 at CSKA Moscow.

United would have qualified with a win, but will now face the tougher task of claiming their place in the knockout round in their final match at VfL Wolfsburg on December 8.