Champions League Group B wrap: Schalke surge, Benfica crash out

Benfica’s qualification hopes came to an abrupt end while Schalke surged to the top of Champions League Group B with a win over Lyon on Wednesday.

Reigning Portuguese champions Benfica needed a win to keep pace with group leaders Schalke and Lyon, and would have been expecting a good result from their trip to Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv.

But Hapoel, who had taken just one point from their opening four matches, stunned the visitors at the Bloomfield Stadium with a 3-0 victory that ended Benfica’s chances of qualifying for the last 16.

Hapoel struck an early blow when Eran Zahavi scored in the 24th minute, heading Shay Abutbul’s free kick past an outstretched Roberto Jimenez.

Benfica dominated possession, had 21 corners and 24 shots at goal and yet couldn’t find a way past Hapoel goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

And Hapoel made them pay in the 74th minute, with Brazilian midfielder Douglas poking the ball home after a goalmouth scramble to extend the hosts’ lead.

Zahavi sealed Hapoel’s first win in the group stage deep into injury time, beating some slack Benfica marking and sliding his shot past Jimenez.

Benfica’s loss saw Schalke and Lyon both qualify for the knockout stages, but not before the Germans defeated their chief group rivals 3-0.

With top spot in the group on the line, Felix Magath’s side put their best foot forward in front of their home fans, with Jefferson Farfan opening the scoring after just 13 minutes.

Jan-Klaas Huntelaar doubled Schalke’s lead just seven minutes later, running onto Peer Kluge’s cross and beating Hugo Lloris with a low shot.

Huntelaar forced Lloris into a good save late on but the Dutch striker was not to be denied in the 89th minute, scoring his second goal of the match and third of this season’s competition to send Schalke to the top of Group B.