Manchester City are through to the Champions League last 16 with two group games to spare after drawing 0-0 at FC Copenhagen, despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men.
Pep Guardiola Photo: PHOTOSPORT
VAR took centre stage in an action-packed first half in Copenhagen. City thought they had taken the lead 11 minutes in with a goal-of-the-season contender from Rodri, only for the strike to be ruled out for handball in the build-up.
The video assistant referee stepped in again moments later to help City win a penalty for another handball, but Riyad Mahrez saw his spot kick saved by home goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
A busy VAR then asked the referee to have another look at a foul by Sergio Gomez on the edge of the penalty area on the half hour mark, with the on-field official choosing to show the City full back a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
The 10 men more than held their own in the second half, but with Liverpool to come in the Premier League at the weekend and qualification for the knockout stage almost secured, City left top goalscorer Erling Haaland on the bench and saw out the draw.
Top of Group G with 10 points from four matches, City are sure of a last-16 spot after Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund, meaning Pep Guardiola's side will finish in the top two, while Copenhagen are bottom on two points.
Chelsea completed the double over AC Milan to top Group E with a 2-0 victory at San Siro, a match the hosts had to play the majority of with 10 men.
Looking to build on a 3-0 win over the Italians last week, Chelsea's task in Milan's famous old stadium was made all the more navigable after home defender Fikayo Tomori was sent off against his former club when conceding a 17th-minute penalty.
Jorginho converted from the spot after Milan's protests had calmed down, before striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for the third successive match in all competitions to double Chelsea's lead in the 34th minute.
Chelsea have seven points, Salzburg six an Milan and Dinamo Zagreb four.
It is now four wins from five in all competitions for new coach Graham Potter since taking over from Thomas Tuchel last month.
A last-gasp header by Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger rescued a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk after the Ukrainian side had taken the lead in Group F.
The draw meant Real advanced to the knockout stage.
In the same group RB Leipzig scored second-half goals through Timo Werner and substitute Emil Forsberg to earn a 2-0 win at Celtic to end the home side's hopes of reaching the last 16.
-Reuters
