Champions League: Juventus top group thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo assist as Real Madrid beat Roma

Juventus beat Valencia 1-0 and Real Madrid put two past Roma without reply

Cristaino Ronaldo showed off his skills to provide an assist (Getty)

Juventus booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League after a Mario Mandzukic goal was enough to beat Valencia 1-0 in Turin.

In a tense game with few chances and eight yellow cards, Juventus came through on top to retain first place in Group H ahead of Manchester United and ended Valencia's hopes of qualification.

Mandzukic was set up by Cristiano Ronaldo, who beat a defender before delivering a cross for the Croatian striker to score the game's only goal.

The opening half an hour had no clear-cut chances but Valencia duo Jose Gaya and Geoffrey Kondogbia and Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur all ended the opening period with a booking.

The best chance of the half arrived shortly before the break but a good save by Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny denied Mouctar Diakhaby.

Ronaldo could only hit a free-kick straight at goalkeeper Neto early in the second half but the Portugal star played a vital role as the hosts took the lead in the 50th minute.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward evaded his marker with trademark step-overs down the left and delivered a cross that allowed Mandzukic a tap in to open the scoring.

In Group G series of colossal errors by Roma handed Real Madrid a 2-0 victory Tuesday and first place.

Roma winger Cengiz Under sent the ball over the bar from point-blank range with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois already down on the ground in first-half added time and two defensive blunders led to Gareth Bale's goal immediately after the break.

Lucas Vazquez then added another for Madrid against a demoralised Roma. Both three-time defending champion Madrid and last season's semifinalist Roma had secured spots in the last 16 before kickoff, as Viktoria Plzen won 2-1 at CSKA Moscow in the other group match earlier to send them through.

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