Real Madrid advance with 0-0 draw
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BELGRADE, Serbia & Montenegro -- Real Madrid became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite an unimpressive goalless draw against Partizan Belgrade.
The Spanish champions lost their perfect record in the competition, but stayed top of Group F with 10 points from four matches.
Porto stayed on course to join them in the next round with a 1-0 win over Marseille.
Partizan dominated most of the match against Madrid and wasted plenty of chances to win the game.
Their best came on 82 minutes when skipper Sasa Ilic missed from close range after Real keeper Iker Casillas could only push away a low drive by Ljubinko Drulovic.
"We should be happy with the result, but we are not. We could have beat the best team in the world," striker Ivica Ilijev said.
Russian striker Dimitri Alenitchev struck on 21 minutes for the Portuguese and UEFA Cup champions, chipping the ball home from the left after Brazilian Derlei had opened up space in the French defense.
Marseille's best chance came shortly before the break when Sebastien Perez's cross forced goalkeeper Vitor Baia to save from Porto defender Paulo Ferreira's interception.