GROUP G:REAL Madrid snuffed out Auxerre's hopes of a Europa League place when Karim Benzemas hat-trick and a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo gave the La Liga giants a 4-0 win last night.
The French club needed a point at the Bernabeu to have any hope of pipping Ajax Amsterdam to third place, with Real already through to the last 16 as group winners and Serie A side AC Milan assured of second.
Portuguese Ronaldo was one of only three regular first-teamers in the suspended Jose Mourinho’s starting 11 and it was his cross that set up Benzema to nod in the opening goal in the 12th minute at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo lashed home Real’s second in the 49th after Marcelos fine through ball sent him clear and Benzema netted in the 72nd with a low shot before producing a clinical finish to complete his treble just before the end.
Ajax Amsterdam bagged a Europa League place in Frank De Boer’s first game in temporary charge after a confident 2-0 win at a second-string AC Milan.
Demy de Zeeuw rifled in after 57 minutes and Toby Alderweireld smashed home from further out in an open game, where Ronaldinho started for Milan for the first time in eight matches with former Inter and Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic rested for an hour.
Auxerre’s defeat at group winners Real Madrid meant the San Siro match was ultimately irrelevant given Serie A leaders Milan were already certain to finish second and make the last 16 while Ajax went into the game in third where they remained.
Martin Jol quit as Ajax boss on Monday and Netherlands assistant coach De Boer, a former player for the Amsterdam side, has been installed as caretaker until the winter break.
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