Champions League Group G wrap: Real, Milan show their class

Real Madrid beat Ajax to seal top spot in Champions League Group G, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped AC Milan book their place in the last 16.

Real cruised to a 4-0 win in Amsterdam, with goals from Karim Benzema and Alvaro Arbeloa complemented by a Cristiano Ronaldo brace.

After an early stalemate, Real broke the deadlock through French striker Benzema whose rising shot beat Maarten Stekelenburg in the Ajax goal.

Arbeloa made it 2-0 just before half-time with a long range effort that swerved through the Ajax defence and left Stekelenburg rooted to the spot.

Ajax kept the pressure on Real in the second half and created some opportunities of their own, but in typically clinical fashion Ronaldo intervened to put the La Liga giants 3-0 ahead.

The Portuguese striker was fed out wide by Angel di Maria and made no mistake with a low shot across the face of goal.

Ronaldo added another from the penalty spot after Mesut Oezil had been brought down in the box.

AC Milan are also through to the last 16 after they beat French side Auxerre 2-0 at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Milan were fortunate to still have all 11 men on the field after Massimo Ambrosini escaped a red card for his two-footed lunge at Frederic Sammaritano just 12 minutes in.

The hosts were in control of the match early with Dariusz Dudka forcing a good save from Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati from a free kick.

But Milan slowly began to work their way into the match and it was their leading scorer Ibrahimovic who gave them the lead on 64 minutes.

Clarence Seedorf’s through ball was blocked into the Swede’s path and Auxerre goalkeeper Olivier Sorin could barely muster a reaction as Ibrahimovic smashed a curling shot into the back of the net.

Substitute Ronaldinho sealed the win late on, curling a left-footed shot past Sorin after being released in the box by Robinho.

Tuesday’s results leave Real Madrid atop the group with 13 points, followed by Milan with eight, Ajax with four and Auxerre with three.