Mandzukic fires Juventus into Champions League last 16

AFP  |  Turin 

scored the only goal as Juventus eased into the knockout stages of the on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over in their Group H clash.

The win for the Italian champions, who only needed a point to ensure qualification, combined with Manchester United snatching a late 1-0 win over Young Boys at Old Trafford means crash out of the competition.

Ronaldo came out firing on all cylinders after his controversial red card during his first game for Juventus in back in September, which Massimiliano Allegri's side won 2-0 despite being down to ten men.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was in top form in the Stadium with chances in the first three minutes, with a powerful drive straight at Valencia's Brazilian

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner skimmed the post after 25 minutes following good work between and

A clever backheel flip was picked up by whose curling effort flew past the post to the frustration of Ronaldo who had been position for the pass.

However the hosts could thank for going into the break 0-0 when his one-handed save stopped Mouctar Diakhaby's searing header. Juventus piled on the pressure after the break with denying Ronaldo from a free-kick.

But Mandzukic broke through in the 59th minute as Ronaldo shook off Gabriel with some fancy footwork and flashed a low shot across the face of goal that found the Croatian forward, who just had to finish off.

Valencia thought they had scored two minutes later but Diakhaby's header was ruled out and the defender penalised for

The Spaniards could thank for limiting the damage, clearing a curling Dybala shot and a late Ronaldo header.

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First Published: Wed, November 28 2018. 09:35 IST