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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Bloodied Antonio Rudiger sends Real Madrid through with late goal in gruesome head clash

Antonio Rudiger put his body on the line as his late goal sent Real Madrid into the knockout stages of the Champions League despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.

Oleksandr Zubrov's 46th minute strike gave the hosts a surprise lead, before Rudiger came up with the goods to save Carlo Ancelotti's side in injury-time. The German international headed home in the 95th minute to earn a point for Los Blancos as they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to 12 matches.

In the other game in Real's group, Celtic's Champions League adventure will end following matchday six as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against RB Leipzig at Celtic Park. Goals from Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg condemned the Hoops to their third loss from four group games, picking up just one point in the process, meaning they will exit the competition.

It means Real have qualified from Group F, with Shakhtar and Leipzig set to battle it out for the other place in the knockout stages. Ancelotti's side will secure top spot with a draw in Leipzig on October 25, before they face Celtic, who can still qualify for the Europa League, on November 2.

Meanwhile, Maccabi Haifa provided one of the shock results of the evening as they beat Juventus 2-0 in Israel thanks to a brace from Omer Itzlili. It is a defeat that leaves Massimiliano Allegri's side in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League, with Juventus winning just one of their opening four matches.

Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid and Anatolii Trubin of Shakhtar Donetsk were involved in a sickening clash (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain were also dealt a blow as they were held by Benfica at the Parc des Princes. Kylian Mbappe fired Christophe Galtier's men into the lead with a first-half penalty, before Joao Mario levelled the scores as the two sides drew 1-1 for the second successive week. PSG and Benfica currently sit joint-top on eight points, with Juventus and Maccabi joint-bottom on three points.

Chelsea were the only British team to win on Tuesday evening as they secured a well-earned 2-0 win over AC Milan, with Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Jorginho finding the net. The Blues were dealt a helping hand, though, as Fikayo Tomori was sent off within the opening half an hour as Graham Potter's side cruised to victory.

Rudiger got to the ball ahead of Trubin to score before their heads clashed together (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

They now top Group E after Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb drew 1-1, leaving Chelsea on the verge of qualifying with a win in either of their next group games seeing them into the knockout stages. Potter's men travel to Salzburg before hosting Dinamo on November 2.

In the other group game, Manchester City booked their place in the last-16 with a 0-0 draw against Copenhagen. Pep Guardiola's team had to play almost an hour with 10-men following Sergio Gomez's red card but managed to grind out a well-earned point, leaving them at the top of Group H with 10 points from a possible 12.

Jude Bellingham earned Borussia Dortmund a point in the other game in City's group as they drew 1-1 with Sevilla in Germany. It is a result that means Dortmund stay second, with Sevilla third.

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