Inter lead seven into knockout draw
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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FC Internazionale Milano, FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, FC Schalke 04, Olympique Lyonnais and Valencia CF all went through on Wednesday night.
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Seven more teams went through from the UEFA Champions League group stage on Wednesday night – leaving four round of 16 berths to be decided on Matchday 6 in a fortnight.
Holders FC Internazionale Milano, former winners FC Barcelona and Manchester United, group debutants Tottenham Hotspur FC plus FC Schalke 04, Olympique Lyonnais and Valencia CF all secured progress in the fifth fixtures in Groups A to D. However, FC Rubin Kazan denied FC København the chance to join them with a game to spare and either of those sides can progress when these pools conclude on 7 December.
Inter had Esteban Cambiasso to thank for the 1-0 victory against FC Twente that booked their knockout berth from Group A and ended the Dutch champions' maiden campaign. Tottenham are through too and lead Inter on head-to-head record following their 3-0 defeat of SV Werder Bremen that confirmed the German team in fourth and gives Twente a UEFA Europa League round of 32 place.
FC Schalke 04 went top of Group B with a 3-0 win against Olympique Lyonnais, but both teams are through after SL Benfica fell to a 3-0 loss at Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC. Not only was that Hapoel's first-ever win in this competition but it leaves them within two points of third-placed Benfica; that means they will go into the UEFA Europa League if they win at Lyon and the Eagles do not defeat Schalke.
Group C leaders Manchester United FC defeated Rangers FC 1-0 to go through and the Scottish champions will finish third after Valencia CF stormed into the last 16 in style by defeating Bursaspor 6-1. Bursaspor will hope to get off the mark when their debut bid ends at home to Rangers while Valencia shall finish top if they win at United.
Barcelona were the only team to guarantee first place in their section tonight, winning Group D with a 3-0 victory at Panathinaikos FC. That leaves the Greek side out of Europe following Rubin's 1-0 win against København in the early game, moving the Kazan team to within a point of FCK. Their head-to-head record is dead level but if København win at home to Panathinaikos on Matchday 6, Rubin will be unable to catch them even with an away victory at Barcelona.
On Tuesday, Olympique de Marseille and AC Milan emulated FC Bayern München, Chelsea FC and Real Madrid CF in going through from Group E to H. Three more berths in the 17 December draw remain to play for in those sections two weeks from tonight.
Click on the scoreline for match report:
Group A
FC Internazionale Milano 1-0 FC Twente
Tottenham Hotspur FC 3-0 SV Werder Bremen
Tottenham and Inter through, Twente to UEFA Europa League
Group B
FC Schalke 04 3-0 Olympique Lyonnais
Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC 3-0 SL Benfica
Schalke and Lyon through
Group C
Rangers FC 0-1 Manchester United FC
Valencia CF 6-1 Bursaspor
United and Valencia through, Rangers to UEFA Europa League
Group D
Panathinaikos FC 0-3 FC Barcelona
FC Rubin Kazan 1-0 FC København
Barcelona through as group winners