On a day when two of the last three Champions League winners could have sealed their places in the last 16 of this season’s competition, Real Madrid ensured that it's not even guaranteed a third-place group finish and subsequent spot in the Europa League's knockout rounds.
While a shorthanded Liverpool did achieve advancement, with an edgy 1-0 win over Ajax, Real Madrid slipped to a second defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in this season's group stage. It seemed last week that Madrid had done the hard work. Having slightly fortuitously beaten Inter Milan 3-2 at home, it then won at San Siro, outplaying Antonio Conte’s side, which lost discipline and focus.