UEFA Champions League, Group A: Red Devils Give Leverkusen Headache As Man U Advance; Shakhtar Way Too Much For Eliminated Sociedad

Eight UEFA Champions League group-stage games---including two in Group A---were contested on Wednesday.

At Leverkusen, Germany:

Five different goal scorers----beginning with Antonio Valencia in the 22nd minute----each tallied once as Manchester United locked up a berth in the knockout stage by demolishing Bayer Leverkusen 5-9 on the road.  Here's the Red Devils' Chris Smalling celebrating with Wayne Rooney after he scored in the 77th minute.


At Donetsk, Ukraine:

Douglas Costra scored twice (68', 87') as Shakhtar Donetsk climbed into second place in Group A after their 4-0 home demolition of Real Sociedad as the Spanish club were eliminated from European competition.  Here, we see a linesman's flag go up as Shakhtar's Luiz Adriano attempts a shot.

Reuters photos

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. x-Manchester United (GP: 5; GD: +8; PTS: 11)
2.    Shakhtar Donetsk (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3.    Bayer Leverkusen (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 7)
4.z-Real Sociedad (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in Champions League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from European competition