Real Madrid grabbed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest and Lyon registered a similar win over Dinamo Kiev to book their places in the UEFA Champions League knock-out stage. Lyon are in charge of Group E with 12 points, three ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Steaua lie fourth on three points and Dinamo are left at the basement with no points At the Santiago Bernabeu, Banel Nicolita converted the ball into his own net to break the codes of his side's airtight defense. In the first-half, Real struggled against a resilient Steaua who blocked Real's attempts and managed to impose threats in the final third of their opponents' half. In the 34th minute, Steaua left-back Petre Marin curled a shot that was tipped away by Real keeper Iker Casillas before Valentin Badea had another effort just wide of the post four minutes later. Ruud van Nistelrooy almost put the hosts ahead just before the break but he was denied by Steaua's keeper Cornel Cernea, who made two successive saves.
Lyon The Dutch striker received a cross at the far post with a close-range shot that was saved by Cernea and went into his path only for him to head again but Steaua defender Dorin Goian cleared the ball off the line. Robinho tried on the second rebound but Cernea finally managed to palm the ball away brilliantly with his legs. Ivan Helguera wasted another golden opportunity seven minutes after re-start as he connected with Sergio Ramos' low cross with the goal at his mercy but he fired the ball over the bar The Romanians resistance came to an end in the 70th minute through an own goal from Nicolita, whose too hard back pass was wrong-footed by Cernea into the back of the net. Van Nistelrooy was awarded a penalty three minutes later after he was brought down by Cernea, but he was frustrated after firing the ball poorly wide. In France, Karim Benzema scored to lift French champions Lyon to the knock-out phase at the expense of a helpless Dinamo Kiev side. The French youngster struck the winner in the 14th minute after exchanging the ball brilliantly with Sidney Govou.
