Lyon, Basel, CSKA, Napoli complete last 16
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Article summary
On a night of fluctuating fortunes, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Basel 1893, PFC CSKA Moskva and SSC Napoli filled the final four places in the last 16 as the group stage concluded.
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Olympique Lyonnais, FC Basel 1893, PFC CSKA Moskva and SSC Napoli filled the last four places in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw on 16 December as the group stage concluded on Wednesday.
There will be two pots for the draw ceremony from 12.00CET in Nyon next Friday: one of group winners and one of runners-up. The winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 14/15 and 21/22 February and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March. No team can play a club from their group or any side from the same association.
Group winners
FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, SL Benfica, Real Madrid CF, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, APOEL FC, FC Barcelona
Group runners-up
SSC Napoli, PFC CSKA Moskva, FC Basel 1893, Olympique Lyonnais, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Olympique de Marseille, FC Zenit St Petersburg, AC Milan
To the UEFA Europa League
Manchester City FC, Trabzonspor AŞ, Manchester United FC, AFC Ajax, Valencia CF, Olympiacos FC, FC Porto, FC Viktoria Plzeň
Wednesday review
On a night of drama and fluctuating fortunes, Lyon remarkably maintained their record of progressing from the group stage every year since 2002/03 by winning 7-1 at GNK Dinamo Zagreb. The French side needed AFC Ajax to lose at home to Real Madrid CF and overturn a seven-goal differential. Madrid's 3-0 win in Amsterdam meant they became the fifth side to retain a perfect record in the group stage – though none of the previous four went on to win the trophy.
In another shock, Basel beat Manchester United FC 2-1 with goals from Marco Streller and Alexander Frei to overtake the English champions in Group C. It means last season's runners-up have failed to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2005/06 and drop into the UEFA Europa League. SL Benfica topped that section after a 1-0 home win against FC Otelul Galati put them on 12 points.
CSKA pulled off another unlikely result as they won 2-1 at Group B winners FC Internazionale Milano, Vasili Berezutski's 86th-minute decider lifting them from fourth to second as after LOSC Lille Métropole and Trabzonspor AŞ finished goalless.
In Group A, Manchester City FC looked on course to progress when they took a 2-0 lead against FC Bayern München. But Napoli, who would confirm their place above Roberto Mancini's side with victory at Villarreal CF, broke the deadlock in Spain through Gökhan Inler's sweetly struck effort from 25 metres and ran out 2-0 winners to go through.
Match reports
Group A
Villarreal CF 0-2 SSC Napoli
Manchester City FC 2-0 FC Bayern München
Group B
FC Internazionale Milano 1-2 PFC CSKA Moskva
LOSC Lille Métropole 0-0 Trabzonspor AŞ
Group C
FC Basel 1893 2-1 Manchester United FC
SL Benfica 1-0 FC Oţelul Galaţi
Group D
AFC Ajax 0-3 Real Madrid CF
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 1-7 Olympique Lyonnais