Soccer: City through to knockout stages

Sergio Aguero scored twice as Manchester City crushed CSKA Moscow 5-2 to clinch a place in the Champions League knockout stage. Photo / Getty

Alvaro Negredo scored a hat trick and Sergio Aguero grabbed two goals as Manchester City crushed CSKA Moscow 5-2 on Tuesday to clinch a place in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time.

With Bayern Munich beating Viktoria Plzen elsewhere in Group D, City cannot be denied a top-two finish and qualifies with two matches to spare.

The in-form Aguero converted a penalty in the third minute, added a sumptuous second in the 20th and then fed Negredo for a tap-in as City raced into a 3-0 lead after half an hour.

CSKA striker Seydou Doumbia also scored twice either side of Negredo's second goal in the 51st before the Spain striker completed his hat trick with the last touch of the game from a header.

Meanwhile, Robin van Persie missed a penalty as Manchester United was held to a 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad in Group A of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Van Persie saw a powerful shot ricochet off the right post in the 65th minute, moments after replacing Wayne Rooney, before hitting the same piece of woodwork four minutes later from the penalty spot.

A scrappy opening half by both teams gave way to a United-dominated second half, with Javier Hernandez firing high over the bar in the 50th with an empty net beckoning.

United midfielder Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the 90th minute after his second yellow card of the match.

United remains top of the group with eight points while Sociedad earned its first point of the campaign.

Elswhere, Real Madrid was held to an entertaining 2-2 draw at Juventus on Tuesday, leaving the Spanish side on the verge of qualification for the Champions League knockout stages.

Juventus dominated in the first period and Arturo Vidal gave the Italian side a deserved halftime lead from the penalty spot after Paul Pogba had been fouled by Raphael Varane.

Cristiano Ronaldo leveled for Madrid with his 21st goal in 16 matches this season and turned provider minutes later as Gareth Bale put Carlo Ancelotti's side in front.

But Madrid's lead lasted just five minutes before Fernando Llorente headed Juventus level.

Madrid dropped its first points but remains top of Group B with 10 points, while Juventus slips to bottom spot after Copenhagen beat Galatasaray 1-0.

And reigning champion Bayern Munich stormed to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 1-0 victory at Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

Substitute Mario Mandzukic rose in the area in the 65th minute, just six minutes after coming off the bench to meet a Philipp Lahm cross and head home the winner.

Bayern made it four wins from four games for a brilliant start to the European season under new coach Pep Guardiola. It tops Group D with 12 points ahead of Manchester City.

It was Bayern's ninth consecutive win in the Champions League over two seasons, equaling Barcelona's record from the 2002-03 season.

Plzen slipped to a fourth straight loss is out of contention.

-AP