PSV lead the paper plaudits

PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Arsenal FC

Finally! PSV belong to the best 16 in Europe. After numerous failed attempts, the Eindhoven club finally reached the Champions League knockout stage last night. With an enormous sigh of relief, PSV celebrated as a team, wrapping their arms around each other. This new team have accomplished what sides with players like Romário, Ronaldo, Nilis, Van Nistelrooij, Kezman and Robben couldn't in the past decade. (Algemeen Dagblad, The Netherlands)

The survival instinct mattered more than Arsenal's intuitive flair and it has kept them alive in the Champions League. Arsène Wenger's side will join PSV Eindhoven in the knockout phase so long as they beat Rosenborg at Highbury next month. (The Guardian, England)

Rosenborg BK 2-2 Panathinaikos FC

This is not a bad result, far from it. But this Rosenborg side once again showed more hunger than ability. The team has deficiencies both offensively and defensively, but the thing that must bother coach Per Joar Hansen most is the lack of rhythm in attack. It was just this rhythm that made Rosenborg great some years ago. (Verdens Gang, Norway)

The way the match progressed, Panathinaikos were going to draw in Norway only if they committed suicide. And they did just that. It is unacceptable to throw away such a great chance of an away win in this high-calibre competition. Now the dream of qualification is practically over and the Greens have no one to blame but themselves. (Goal News, Greece)

FC Barcelona 1-1 Celtic FC

Barça have been, up until now, the perfect party hosts and their guests have always left Camp Nou smiling. But last night, as their fans turned up expecting a prolongation of the previous weekend's classic, they witnessed a Barça suffering from a hangover and a visiting side that obliged them to sip good Scotch whisky, although Celtic did not intoxicate Barça enough to create huge problems. (La Vanguardia, Spain)

Celtic reached deep within themselves last night and found just enough energy and spirit to hold off Barcelona and claim their first away point in Champions League football. It had taken nine matches but finally Martin O'Neill's side, with their backs to the Nou Camp wall for most of the night, ended a miserable sequence. (Daily Record, Scotland)

AC Milan 4-0 FC Shakhtar Donetsk

Saved by Dida in the first half, Milan saw the comeback of two great players in the second. After a fantastic season Kaká just needed to find a good performance and his first goal in the Champions League. Hernán Crespo, however, had much more to prove. With two goals the Argentinian showed that he is back and that he could become the best Christmas present for the Rossoneri. (Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy)

Belgian referee Frank De Bleckere pointed towards the centre of the pitch six times, and if we do not count the starts of the first and second halves, then the Shakhtar players started from the centre four times, and those four times did not do the Ukrainian vice-champions any good. Shakhtar were decent in the first half, but after two goals in quick succession their game fell apart. (www.sports.com.ua, Ukraine)

RSC Anderlecht 1-2 Valencia CF

It is starting to become boring and also very annoying. Once again Anderlecht lost last night in the Champions League. The purple and whites are still last in Group G with no points, and have been knocked out of Europe. Painful, and with an away match against Inter to come, the shame of finishing with nothing seems certain. (Het Nieuwsblad, Belgium)

Ranieri was true to his principles last night. The coach designed an eleven specifically crafted to play the counterattack and his team played the role to perfection. Valencia played deep, leaving the ball for Anderlecht and when presented with the chance, they launched themselves upfield to place their killer blow. (Levante, Spain)

Werder Bremen 1-1 FC Internazionale Milano

After a domestic low, Werder did not manage to produce any magic in Europe and missed the chance to qualify early. The hoped-for revenge against Inter did not happen following a 2-0 defeat in Milan. And with Valencia winning in Anderlecht, they have turned the last group match into a real final. (Kicker, Germany)

Inter may have several problems yet to solve but surely they have a great fighting spirit, never give up and always manage to save at least a point. This season they are still unbeaten in the 20 games they have played. It's not enough in the domestic league but the performance in Germany is surely an important boost ahead of the game against Juventus on Sunday. (Corriere dello Sport, Italy)

Chelsea FC 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain FC

Motivation had been the pre-match buzzword and, although no one could accuse Chelsea of going through the motions, this was simulated football nevertheless. Qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League three weeks ago dictated that. In drawing with Paris St-Germain, Chelsea punctured their perfect record - following on from their four victories - but they know there are bigger battles to come. (The Independent, England)

Paris are not a dream team but they meet their obligations. The players will arrive back from London this afternoon with one point, having kept the keys to their destiny in their own hands. (Aujourd'hui-Le Parisien, France)

PFC CSKA Moskva 0-1 FC Porto

CSKA have failed from the penalty spot again. A dire habit. And with it, one cannot achieve much in the Champions League. The second half brought no interesting ideas and, most importantly, none of the passion one could have expected. With this kind of football, the Russian cold could do nothing to help. (Sport-Express, Russia)

A goal from McCarthy together with a good performance and a united team gave FC Porto their first victory in this edition of the Champions League. The players followed the coach's instructions and made an exhibition of character, attitude and professionalism, playing like champions. (A Bola online, Portugal)