Anderlecht were knocked out of the Champions League but qualified for the Europa League after beating Galatasaray 2-0 in Brussels tonight.
Defender Chancel Mbemba scored both goals in a game that also saw Selcuk Inan sent off for the visitors late on.
However, the victory was not enough as Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to book their last-16 place and consign the Belgians to Europe's secondary competition.
Relive all of the action with Sports Mole's live commentary.
Well hello! I'm Shane and I'll be taking you through Anderlecht's visit of Galatasaray in the Champions League. It's third meets fourth in Group D and the Belgians know that anything but a victory tonight will end their feint hopes of reaching the last 16 stage. Anderlecht are third on two points, five behind second-placed Arsenal - who host Borussia Dortmund tonight.
It's possible that Galatasaray - bottom of the group with one point - can still reach the second round, too - but it seems extremely unlikely. Cesare Prandelli's side need to win here tonight AND hope that Dortmund win away at Arsenal. That's not all, because the Turks will also need to beat the Gunners by at least nine goals in Istanbul next month to qualify. Mind you with Arsenal's defence anything is possible init.
Yep, it certainly seems like one of these teams is destined for the dreaded Europa League at the moment, my friends. But how have they found themselves on the brink of courting the Champions League's less important and less attractive sister? Let's have a quick look at their respective European journeys thus far.
Anderlecht got off to a decent start by holding Gala to a 1-1 draw in Istanbul on matchday one, but back-t0-back defeats at home to Dortmund and Arsenal left them with one point out of a possible nine. However, the Belgian champions produced one of the most memorable comebacks in the tournament's history on matchday four; coming from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw with the Gunners!
Incidentally, that 1-1 draw with Anderlecht remains the only point that the Turkish giants have won thus far. They've been well and truly battered in their last three, conceding no fewer than 12 goals in the process and scoring just twice! Prandelli's men come into this one on the back of a 4-1 away defeat to Dortmund, in which the game was halted twice due to the Galatasaray fans being, well, Galatasaray fans.
They're a lively bunch, aren't they? They threw flares and live fireworks on the field in that 4-1 loss at Signal Iduna Park earlier this month, while they also broke around 60 seats at the Emirates Stadium in October. Lord knows what they've got planned for tonight.
Anyways, let's crack on with a bit of team news for this one, shall we? Why not. I'll have this shortly.
ANDERLECHT XI: Proto; Vanden Borre, Mbemba, Deschacht, Acheampong; Defour, Tielemans; Najar, Praet, Conte; Mitrovic
GALATASARAY XI: Muslera; Tarik, Chedjou, Semih, Telles; Melo, Selcuk; Altintop, Sneijder, Bruma; Burak
ANDERLECHT SUBS: Roef, Colin, Kljestan, Dendoncker, Cyriac, Kabasele, Kawaya
GALATASARAY SUBS: Bulut, Emre, Sinan, Veysel, Yasin, Olchan, Furkan
Right, let's start with the hosts and I can tell you that Besnik Hasi makes two changes to his team from the dramatic 3-3 draw with Arsenal three weeks ago. Sacha Kljestan and Cyriac drop out for Stevan Defour and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who spearheads the attack.
Ibrahima Conte, Andy Najar and Dennis Praet support the lone striker in attack, with Defour and Youri Tielemans sitting deep in midfield it seems. Anthony Vanden Borre, who scored twice at the Emirares, starts at right-back in a defence that also includes Chancel Mbemba, Olivier Deschacht - who makes a club record-equalling 80th European appearance - and Frank Acheampong. Silvio Proto starts in net as ever.
On to Prandelli's first XI now and it looks like the Italian has made three changes to his side following the 4-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Burak Yilmaz returns to spearhead the attack in place of Umut Bulut, who drops to the bench. Burak will have the services of Hamit Altintop and Bruma on either side of him, while Wesley Sneijder operates in behind the talisman.
Elsewhere, Felipe Melo partners Selcuk in the middle of midfield, while Aurelien Chedjou, Tarik Camdal, Semih Kaya and Alex Telles line up in defence in front of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and that's your lot!
Before we have a closer look at some of the players on each team, I should point out that I'll also keep you apprised of all the significant moments in Arsenal's clash with Dortmund in the other Group D encounter at the Emirates. I'll tell you know that there's at least four goals in that.
DANGER MEN: Who are both teams' assassins then? Well for Anderlecht it'll have to be Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has eight Jupiler League goals to his name so far this season. You may also remember him as the man who netted that stoppage-time header to complete the comeback against Arsenal on November 4. He was a sub that day, but he starts up front tonight and the visiting defenders need to watch him like a hawk.
And who can Galatasaray look to for a bit of inspiration in the goalscoring stakes? Probably Burak Yilmaz. He's got four goals in 10 league games this season, but he has scored two of Gala's three Champions League goals in the group stages so far. Like Mitrovic, he didn't start his club's last outing but he spearheads the attack from the off today.
@GalatasaraySK fans making themselves heard. Around 1,200 expected, with this match sold out. #ANDGAL #UCL pic.twitter.com/qyQDxu4Tz5
— Chris Burke (@UEFAcomChrisB) November 26, 2014
Slightly embarrassing for Mitrovic I think it was, who attempted to kick a bit of chewing gum back into his mouth a la Mesut Ozil but he lost control of it. Let's hope he gets his touch back in time for kickoff, which is around 13 minutes away now.
REFEREE WATCH: Who are the eyes on this evening then? That would be Ivan Bebek of Croatia, who takes charge of his 17th Champions League game tonight. He's been a referee since the age of 18, and received his UEFA badge in 2003. His favourite film is Terminator 2 and if he wins any money tonight he says he's bringing his auntie Mavis to Wales. Sorry I slipped into gameshow mode just then.
PREDICTION! That leads us nicely into a bit of an aul' prediction, and I'm going to punt for a 2-2 draw. Why? No idea, but it feels right. Mitrovic to fire Anderlecht into a 2-0 lead, but Sneijder and a late equaliser from Bulut will salvage a point that sees both of them officially knocked out of the tournament as far as a last-16 spot goes. We're seven minutes from kickoff!
The visiting fans are up for this! They're jumping up and down in their hundreds as both players make their way on to the field. Can they be the 12th man? Let's see.
Right, we're minutes away now as both sets of players exchange the customary pre-match handshakes.
First blood to Galatasaray, who win the coin toss! That's an early psychological boost. It's not really.
KICKOFF! Right, we're underway in Brussels but there's a bit of bad news in North London as Arsenal go ahead against Dortmund. If it stays like that then both of these teams are out of the competition.
CLOSE! Decent chance early on for the hosts, and it's Mitrovic, who glances Praet's cross narrowly over the bar. There's a decent tempo to this one.
SHOT! Anderlecht have started really well and they fashion another half chance, as Andy Najar fires straight at Muslera from outside the box. They've certainly set their stall out early.
Anderlecht still boasting a lot of possession. Galatasaray really can't get close to them as yet.
Good work from Anthony Vanden Borre, who actually just stood still and Sneijder ran into him. Simplicity is genius, as they say. Better from Galatasaray in recent minutes though.
CHANCE! What an unbelieveable chance this is! Acheampong does brilliantly down the left-hand side, before passing across to the unmarked Mitrovic who, with just the goalkeeper to beat, produces an air-shot! Shocking.
Stupid by Semih Kaya, who literally pushes Praet to the floor in a moment of frustration and concedes a free kick. Anderlecht make nothing of it however.
Anderlecht are still by far the better team here. I'm not even sure Galasataray have tested Proto once in this half yet. Left-back Acheampong is getting far too much room.
Good inter play from Najar and Mitrovic helps Anderlecht win a corner of Chedjou, and it's a fine delivery from Tielemans but the referee blows up for a foul on the referee. I never understood why players can't challenge the keeper in an aerial duel without conceding a free kick.
Anderlecht are furious and they want a penalty. Vanden Borre is taken out of it by Alex Telles at left-back, but the referee deems it to be outside the box, which is probably the right decision to be fair. The free kick comes to nothing, however.
I've said this already but Galatasaray really have been shocking. This should most definitely be three points for the hosts but they need to create more chances - and convert those that they do make. Easier said than done, of course, but welcome to the Champions League.
The Turkish club are enjoying their best spell of the game now, stringing together plenty of passes. Alex Telles then fizzes in a fantastic ball, but it's slightly over the head of Burak.
BOOKING: Tarik Camdal is recipient of the game's first card after cynically fouling Acheampong on the left-hand side of the goal. Both left-backs have been very good thus far.
BOOKING: Defour is also booked now for cynically stepping in front of Burak to concede a free kick just outside the box. Sneijder might fancy this....
He does fancy it but he curls a free kick just wide of the post. Very decent effort.
OFF THE POST! This would've been farcical, and it's Galatasaray keeper Muslera who would've been left red-faced. Defour volleys a really poor shot at goal, and the ball has no pace on it but somehow it eludes Muslera and bounces against the post, before rolling across the goal line and brushing the other post! Somehow it stayed out.
Defour, who has been booked remember, slides into a rash challenge and he's awfully lucky that he didn't make contact because an early bath would've been looming just then. Madness.
We're around five minutes to the break now and it seems like this one is heading in goalless. Pretty dismal half overall, but it's flown by!
BOOKING: It's 2-1 to Galatasaray in the yellow card stakes now as Bruma is penalised for a foul on Defour. In his defence, he slipped and it looked like a slide.
GOAL!!!! ANDERLECHT 1-0 GALATASARAY (MBEMBA)
Well we said it'd probably be goalless at the break, but defender Chancel Mbemba pounces with a diving header in the closing stages of this half, heading home Mitrovic's clever flick-on. It's nothing less than what they've deserved in truth.
HALF TIME: ANDERLECHT 1-0 GALATASARAY
What did we make of that first half then? I'd give it around 6/10, purely because of that late goal. The hosts have really dominated but only had one clear chance prior to that opener from Chancel Mbemba.
Galatasaray have been very poor to be honest. They've created next to nothing in front of goal and it's hard to argue that they don't deserve to be trailing at the break.
UPDATE: Incidentally, Anderlecht's goal doesn't matter as it stands, because Arsenal are leading Group E leaders Borussia Dortmund 1-0 in North London. The Gunners only need a point to secure their passage to the last 16 so it's not looking good for Anderlecht here, despite their opening goal.
Anywho, meet me back in here in three minutes for the second half. If Galatasaray have anything about them they'll show a bit more bottle in the next 45 minutes.
RESTART: Welcome back and we're back underway in Brussels. Anderlecht will know that Arsenal are winning, but the Gunners only lead Dortmund by one goal so the Belgians will want to improve on their own one-goal lead to boost their chances of a last-16 berth.
Early indications are that we won't see much difference from Galatasaray in this half unfortunately. Anderlecht have started the half very well, applying plenty of pressure.
Huge header from Deschacht there! Sneijder floated in a wonderful cross that looked certain to be converted by Burak, but the Belgian defender got the slightest of headers to knock it away from the Turk.
UPDATE: It's really not looking good for Anderlecht's last 16 hopes now as Arsenal move into a two-goal lead over Dortmund. Unless they concede three times in the second half - which isn't impossible given their track record - then they'll move into the next round.
Anderlecht fans are absolutely furious - and rightly so! Ibrahima Conte is through on goal, but the referee blows up for a free kick against the winger for seemingly fouling Tarik Camdal in the build-up. Looked very, very harsh.
SAVE! Galatasaray, to their credit, have improved in this half so far, and they've just forced Proto into his first meaningful save as the keeper beats away Camdal's ferociously-struck free kick.
CLOSE! I challenged Galatasaray to show their bottle at half time, and they're proving me wrong so far it has to be said. They've improved massively and they're so close to drawing level, as Sneijder drills a cross-cum-shot across goal but Burak isn't tall enough to reach it. They're getting closer.
CHANCE! Oh dear. For all of Galatasaray's pressure, they nearly fell further behind as Mitrovic planted a free header straight at Muslera. It's a brilliant chance, it really is.
BOOKING: Hamit Altintop is yellow carded now for a pretty lazy tackle on Conte, which he was deservedly called upon. He sticks a finger in the referee's face so he's a touch lucky not to be sent off.
Galatasaray's early pressure in this second half is rapidly petering out and Anderlecht are far and away the better team now. You get the impression that a second goal might not be far away for the hosts.
Galatasaray are still playing pretty well and they're back on the front foot, but it's difficult to see a goal coming.
OFF THE BAR: Good lord Galatasaray are trying to make me look silly tonight. Minutes after claiming that a goal wasn't coming, they go and hit the bar. Altintop dinks a delightful over-the-top ball for Burak, whose shot then shaves the top of the crossbar! They've deserved a goal to be fair.
There's a good 10 minutes left in Brussels and Galatasaray, despite a big improvement, still haven't been quite good enough to restore parity. You get the impression that they will get another chance but will they take it?
RED CARD: Selcuk Inan is sent off for a second yellow card, which I think was for dissent. He moaned about not winning an earlier foul and earned a second booking for his vocal protest. Poor from the captain, who hands the armband to Altintop.
GOAL!!! ANDERLECHT 2-0 GALATASARAY (MBEMBA)
This one is over, my friends. Chancel Mbemba, a centre-back, gets his second of the game, pouncing on Muslera's spillage to slide home the killer goal. When it rains it pours for Gala, who had Inan sent off just minutes earlier.
It looks like Anderlecht will enter the Europa League after Arsenal beat Dortmund 2-0 at the Emirates to seal their last-16 spot. Galatasaray are heading out of Europe altogether.
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON:
This would've added insult to injury. Tielemans flashes a free kick into the wall from just outside the box. Part of me is happy to see it miss the goal because, well, Galatasaray don't deserve a three-goal defeat.
FULL TIME: ANDERLECHT 2-0 GALATASARAY
That's all she wrote, my friends. Anderlecht drop into the Europa League despite beating Galatasaray 2-0 tonight, with two goals from Chancel Mbemba doing the damage.
And that's all from us unfortunately. However, we do have analysis and player ratings on the horizon so don't stray too far. Cheers!