Manchester United and Manchester City enjoyed contrasting fortunes on the final night of the Champions League group stages.
City came past Hoffenheim thanks to a Leroy Sane double, while Phil Jones scored a calamitous own goal as United were beaten 2-1 in Valencia.
If you were too busy to keep a close eye on the action, fear not. Sportsmail has picked out six things you may have missed from Wednesday night’s matches.
Backs to the wall
Forget dabbing, diving or Fortnite dances, there’s a new fad in football – and one we can all get behind. Quite literally.
On Wednesday night, CSKA Moscow’s Georgi Shchennikov was the latest player to try and protect his goalkeeper by positioning himself behind the wall.
CSKA Moscow’s Georgi Shchennikov lay behind the wall as Real Madrid took a free-kick
When the wall jumped, Shchennikov stayed on the ground to prevent Isco rolling it home
The Russia defender had a little lie-down during the first-half as Real Madrid lined up a free-kick just outside the box.
So when the wall jumped, he ensured Isco could not roll the ball into the net. He later scored the Russian side’s second goal. A job well done.
Phil Jones, a man out on his own
When Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Phil Jones could be the best Manchester United player of all time, few expected him to be proved right.
Five years on, many more sit unconvinced. But the cynics doth protest too much, methinks. Particularly when faced with Rafa Benitez’s favourite currency: FACTS.
Okay, own goals are not the usual measuring stick for footballing greatness. But let’s not get convention in the way of a good story.
Phil Jones scored a calamitous own goal as Manchester United were beaten by Valencia
When he poked the ball past Sergio Romero on Wednesday, Jones became the first United player to score an own goal during a Champions League game since a certain P. Jones did so in 2011.
He has also now scored two goals for United and two against them in the Champions League. His record in the Premier League? The very same.
Pyro (German) techno in Amsterdam
Bayern Munich had little to play for when they visited Ajax in their final group game on Wednesday night.
Both sides were already through, and only a defeat would have denied the German giants top spot in Group E. But that didn’t stop the travelling contingent from making the most of their trip up the autobahn to Amsterdam.
As the iconic Champions League anthem rang out at the Johan Cruyff Arena before kick-off, the small pocket of Bayern fans lit up the stadium with an incredible show of red and white flags and flashing lights.
I’ve undersold it horrifically. So here it is for your viewing pleasure:
Russian record-setting
Thanks to Shchennikov’s lie-down and some sharp-shooting in front of goal, CSKA secured an incredible 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu in Group G.
The result made no difference to the standings, with Real still heading through alongside Roma to the last 16.
But the 3-0 defeat was nevertheless Madrid’s biggest ever home loss in European competition. It was also the first time a team had beaten them home and away in the group stages since Juventus did the double over the Spanish giants in 2008.
CSKA Moscow secured an incredible 3-0 victory away to Real Madrid on Wednesday night
That’s a Tad(ic) annoying to see
Salt meet wound. When you can’t buy a goal, it’s no great comfort to realise you’ve just sold one to Ajax.
Unfortunately for Southampton, the effect of allowing Dusan Tadic to move to Amsterdam this summer is now painfully stark.
The Serbia forward netted a brace as Ajax drew 3-3 with Bayern Munich at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night. That took his tally for the season to 15, the same number Saints as a team have scored so far this campaign.
Dusan Tadic netted a brace as Ajax drew 3-3 with Bayern Munich at the Johan Cruyff Arena
Saved by the flag…
As goes the old footballing adage: if you’re a fringe player and you get a chance to stake your claim, you have to take it.
With Manchester United trailing 1-0 in Valencia, the ball fell to £89million midfielder Paul Pogba midway towards the end of the first half.
For the man who has been left on the bench in recent games, the goal stood gaping and the script written. This was Pogba’s chance to bring United level and make some headlines for the right reasons. But when the ball came to him at pace about four yards out… he sliced it wide of the post.
The only solace? Pogba was (wrongfully) ruled offside so the goal wouldn’t have stood anyway.
Paul Pogba missed a glorious opportunity but was saved by the offside flag on Wednesday