Defending champions Real Madrid and 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund became the first teams to qualify for the Champions League last 16 after winning their games on Tuesday with two group matches remaining.
Real edged an under-strength Liverpool 1-0 in Madrid, Karim Benzema getting the goal, while Borussia Dortmund once again defied its poor domestic form with a fourth successive win in the Champions League – a 4-1 hammering of Galatasaray.
In London, Arsenal squandered a golden opportunity to book its place in the last 16 as Anderlecht stormed back from three goals down to rescue a 3-3 draw.
Arsene Wenger's side was on course to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe's elite club competition for the 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta's penalty and fine strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them in complete control by the 58th minute.
But the Gunners' creaky defence was brutally exposed by Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the unheralded Belgians score three times in the last 29 minutes to stun the Emirates Stadium into silence.
The north Londoners – now five points behind Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund – are likely to have to settle for second place and a tougher draw in the last 16, assuming they can guarantee qualification in their final two matches against Dortmund and Galatasaray.
Juventus relaunched its last-16 bid with a nervous 3-2 win over Olympiakos in Turin when visiting goalkeeper Roberto saved a last-minute penalty from Chilean Arturo Vidal.
Juve scored twice in a minute as it came from behind to clinch a dramatic win after Andrea Pirlo had celebrated his 100th Champions League appearance by scoring from a characteristically effortless free kick.
Pirlo's heir apparent Paul Pogba scored the winner although Juve could regret a stoppage time penalty miss by Arturo Vidal which would have given it the better head-to-head record against the Greek champions.
Son Heung-min showed his finishing prowess with two goals as Bayer Leverkusen took a large step towards qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-1 victory over Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
Two superbly-taken strikes in five minutes by Son midway though the second half secured all three points for the Bundesliga side, before Jose Rondon grabbed a late consolation for the hosts.
Leverkusen has now won its last three games in European soccer's premier club competition, while Zenit has not won a Champions League group stage match at home in more than two years.
Atletico Madrid's Koke and Raul Garcia secured a 2-0 victory at Malmo for the Group A leaders in their Champions League clash after the Swedes spurned several excellent chances.
Having soaked up considerable pressure, Koke broke the deadlock for last season's runners-up on the half-hour, sweeping Juanfran's low cross from the right into the net with the inside of his heel after a swift counter-attack.
Raul Garcia killed the game in the 78th minute, firing home Filip Helander's botched clearance.
FC Basel's seventeen-year-old Breel Embolo scored a delightful goal to set the Swiss champions up for a 4-0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad that put them second in Group B.
Derlis Gonzalez, Shkelzen Gashi and Marek Suchy shared the other goals as Basel avenged its 1-0 defeat two weeks ago and moved to six points, three ahead of Liverpool and the Bulgarian champions.
Benfica edged Monaco 1-0 with a late goal from the in-form Talisca at the Stadium of Light to boost their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The highly rated 20-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder poked home his ninth goal of the season in all competitions in the 82nd minute as Benfica got its first win of the campaign.
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