Juventus virtually clinched their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a last-gasp win over Deportivo Coruna on Wednesday, but holders Real Madrid must wait, despite an impressive victory over AC Milan.
Croatian Igor Tudor's dramatic goal in Turin three minutes into stoppage time gave Juventus a 3-2 victory over Deportivo that transformed the battle for second place in Group D.
It eliminated Deportivo and all but sealed Juventus's place in the last eight with one game remaining in the second phase, although surprise Swiss side Basel could theoretically pip Juve after their 1-1 draw at group winners Manchester United.
In Group C, Raul scored twice as Real Madrid beat already qualified Milan 3-1 at the Bernabeu, but they remain only one point clear of Borussia Dortmund after the Germans beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0.
The game of an enthralling night of action was at the Stadio Delle Alpi in Turin, where both sides knew defeat would almost certainly spell elimination.
Defender Ciro Ferrara put Juve ahead but Depor hit back twice through Diego Tristan and Dutch striker Roy Makaay to lead 2-1 early in the second-half.
Juve's David Trezeguet levelled the scores just past the hour mark before Tudor's stunning 20-metre volley, deep in time added on, sent the Italians wild and the Spaniards tumbling out.
Juventus have seven points with both Deportivo and Basel on four and, under UEFA's complex criteria, an unlikely pair of results in next week's final matches could still see the Swiss club qualify ahead of the Italians.
Juventus would have to lose 4-0, or by a five-goal margin, at Basel and Deportivo would have to draw or lose against Manchester United in Coruna.
RAUL DOUBLE
Christian Gross's side deserved their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against United, who started the match with only two regular first-choice players -- Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand.
The Swiss dominated the early exchanges and deserved their 14th-minute goal, a well-taken strike by Argentine striker Christian Gimenez after Ferdinand missed a cross.
United saved their unbeaten second-phase record eight minutes into the second half through a rare Gary Neville strike. The England right back's deflected shot was his first goal in Europe, and only his fourth in 386 United appearances.
Real have stuttered so far in the tournament but Spain striker Raul, the Champions League's all-time leading scorer, ensured the nine-times winners did not slip up against AC Milan.
The pick of his two goals was a fine individual effort in the second half that took his overall Champions League tally to 41 and put Real 2-0 up.
Rivaldo pulled one back for Milan, who are already guaranteed top spot, but Guti wrapped up a win for Real that lifted their tally in Group C to eight points, one more than Dortmund.
The Germans made light work of Russian visitors Lokomotiv, with Torsten Frings on target in the first half and Czech striker Jan Koller and Brazilian Marcio Amoroso wrapping up the expected win in the second period.
If Real win their final game at Lokomotiv, who are now eliminated, they will claim second spot, whatever Dortmund achieve at AC Milan.
If Dortmund do fail, Germany will be without a team in the quarter-finals of European club competition for the first time in 19 years.
