Jorginho (L) of Chelsea FC celebrates with his team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match against AC Milan in Milan, Italy, October 11, 2022. /CFP
Chelsea took a big step towards the Champions League's last 16 on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at AC Milan, moving to the top of Group E.
Graham Potter's side took control at a packed San Siro against a Milan team who had to play most of the match with 10 men after Fikayo Tomori was controversially handed an early straight red card.
The clash was turned on its head in the 18th minute when former Blues man Tomori was sent off for pulling back Mason Mount in the area.
Two straight defeats by Chelsea leave Milan third but they still have more than a fighting chance of making the knockout stages for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Pioli's side are only two points away from the qualification places and a trip to Dinamo Zagreb, and the visit of Salzburg will decide their fate in the competition.
"I don't think there's any question that I will need to motivate my players," Pioli said afterwards. "We'll have to prepare as best as possible for the match in Zagreb and I'll do my best to do that."
Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City kicks a penalty during the UEFA Champions League group G match against FC Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 11, 2022. /CFP
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City are "so tired" after his 10 men qualified for the Champions League's last 16 with a 0-0 draw against FC Copenhagen.
His side had Rodri's goal controversially disallowed by VAR before Sergio Gomez was dismissed for a professional foul at the Parken Stadium.
City forward Riyad Mahrez also missed a penalty prior to Gomez's premature first-half exit, which left City playing with 10 men for an hour.
With Erling Haaland resting on the bench ahead of City's trip to Liverpool on Sunday, the Premier League champions failed to score for the first time in 24 games in all competitions.
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring opening goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match against SL Benfica in Paris, France, October 11, 2022. /CFP
Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier said rumors about Kylian Mbappe's future did not disrupt his team's preparations for Tuesday's Champions League match against Benfica, in which stuttering PSG were held to a third straight draw as the game ended 1-1 after Mbappe put them ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time.
It came after various media reports in Spain and France earlier in the day suggested the player would seek to leave PSG in the January transfer window, despite only signing a new three-year contract at the end of last season.
PSG would have qualified for the last 16 from Group H with two games to spare by beating the Portuguese giants. They took the lead when Mbappe slotted in a penalty five minutes before half-time.
However, Joao Mario leveled from the penalty spot for Benfica just after the hour mark and the result preserves their unbeaten record this season.
(With input from agencies)