Bayern, Inter, Benfica qualify

LONDON (AP):

Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Benfica earned places in the knockout phase of the Champions League yesterday, while the hopes of the two Manchester clubs were left hanging.

Franck Ribery scored twice and Bayern Munich beat Villarreal 3-1 to grab the top spot in Group A with one round remaining.

Inter, the 2010 champion, qualified for the last 16 before their match at Trabzonspor, courtesy of Lille's earlier 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow in Group B. The Italians secured first place, however, by drawing 1-1 in Turkey.

Benfica ensured a top-two finish in Group C by drawing 2-2 at three-time winners Manchester United, which now need at least a point at Basel - a 3-2 winner over Otelul Galati - in their final game to advance to the knockout stages for the sixth year in a row.

Manchester City, who are blazing a trail at the top of the English Premier League this season, are in a worse position after losing 2-1 at Napoli, thanks to two goals by Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani.

The result leaves Napoli a point ahead of City in Group A and needing only a victory at already-eliminated Villarreal to finish second behind Bayern.

Real Madrid, who entered yesterday's fifth round as one of three teams to have already qualified, thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 6-2 to keep their perfect record in Group D, where Ajax drew 0-0 at Lyon to virtually guarantee the Dutch team's progress.

With reigning champions Barcelona and seven-time winners AC Milan also sure of advancing, the line-up for the last 16 is already looking enticing.

However, it may still be without the two current best teams in England.

Third-minute lead

United, who were without England striker Wayne Rooney (hip), had only themselves to blame for the goals conceded at Old Trafford. Defender Phil Jones turned the ball into his own net to gift Benfica a third-minute lead and goalkeeper David de Gea failed to clear his lines properly in the 60th, allowing Pablo Aimar to make it 2-2 barely 60 seconds after Darren Fletcher had put United ahead for the first time.

Dimitar Berbatov - with his first goal in Europe in three years - had earlier equalised in the 30th.

"The goals were a bit freakish - an own goal and then bad kick out by David de Gea,'' United manager Alex Ferguson said. "It's a cruel game at times.

"It will be a hard game in Basel. The chips are down, but I have every confidence in the team.''

While United's future is in their own hands, City have to beat Bayern in their final game and also rely on Napoli slipping up in Spain.