Benfica finish top of Champions League Group H after 6-1 hammering, PSG come second on overall away goals

Benfica finished top of their Champions League Group H on away goals ahead of Paris Saint-Germain after a 6-1 thrashing of Maccabi Haifa.

PSG beat Juventus 2-1 away from home with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Nuno Mendes either side of a strike from Leonardo Bonucci.

But Benfica, managed by Roger Schmidt, went goal-crazy away at Haifa on the final matchday. There were six different scorers, with Goncalo Ramos, Petar Musa, Alex Grimaldo, Rafa Silva, Henrique Araujo and Joao Mario all on target.

It was 1-1 at half-time before the Portuguese giants bagged a further five goals without reply in the second half.

Araujo and Joao Mario's late strikes in the 88th and 92nd minute in a dramatic finale means they finished with an identical record as PSG on 14 points, 16 goals scored, seven goals conceded and a goal difference of nine.

Benfica have won Group H ahead of PSG on goals scored away from home 😱

This strike from João Mário sealed the deal 🫡#UCL pic.twitter.com/j8Gm4s1NN8

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 2, 2022

Benfica needed a five-goal margin of victory in order to secure first place in Group H in case PSG won.

PSG beat Juventus 2-1, whilst Benfica win 6-1 via a last-minute goal from João Mário to snatch first place in the group.

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) November 2, 2022

GOOOAALLLL BENFICAAA!!!! IT'S 1-6!!! And Benfica are set to top the group ahead of PSG!!! Incredible!!

Level on points, goal difference & goals scored as it stands, Benfica top the group having scored more away goals in the group stage than the French side! Can you believe it!!

— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves) November 2, 2022

It went down to away goals, where Benfica pipped the Ligue One champions to the all-important top spot - meaning they are seeded for the round of 16 draw.

Benfica, who won the European Cup in 1961, will now play one of the second-placed sides from the other groups when the draw is made on Monday.

PSG will be paired with a group winner and so could come up against the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Spurs, Napoli, Porto or Bayern Munich in the last 16 when February comes around.

Juventus, meanwhile, won just one game out of six and their third-place finish sees them drop into the Europa League, along with fellow sleeping giants Barcelona.