Four more progress as Chelsea fall
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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FC Barcelona, Valencia CF, FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Bayern München are the latest teams through to the round of 16, but holders Chelsea FC are in peril after defeat at Juventus.
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FC Barcelona, Valencia CF, FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Bayern München are the latest teams through to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, but holders Chelsea FC are in peril after a 3-0 defeat at Juventus.
Qualified for the last 16: Shakhtar, Bayern, Barcelona (group winners), Manchester United FC (group winners) plus, from other sections, FC Porto and Málaga CF.
Guaranteed at least a UEFA Europa League place: Juventus, Chelsea FC, SL Benfica, Celtic FC, Galatasaray AŞ, CFR 1907 Cluj.
Confirmed in the UEFA Europa League: FC BATE Borisov.
Eliminated from Europe: FC Nordsjælland, FC Spartak Moskva, LOSC Lille, SC Braga.
Chelsea began the day level at the Group E summit with Shakhtar, a point ahead of Juve. However, a 3-0 reverse in Turin means that unless they beat Nordsjælland and the Bianconeri lose at Shakhtar on 5 December, the London club will be the first holders to fall in the group stage. There are no such worries for Shakhtar, 5-2 victors at Nordsjælland and unable to be caught by Chelsea due to their head-to-head record.
In Group F, Valencia knew their progress was assured ahead of kick-off against Bayern after LOSC won 2-0 at BATE Borisov in the early game. The side Chelsea pipped to the title last season, Bayern still needed a point to put BATE out of reach, and although they fell behind with 13 minutes left, they quickly equalised to clinch their qualification. BATE have the consolation of a UEFA Europa League place courtesy of their superior head-to-head against LOSC, three points adrift.
Barcelona, like Valencia, went through before the bulk of tonight's matches thanks to a 3-0 Group G triumph at Spartak Moskva in another early fixture, Lionel Messi striking twice to join Cristiano Ronaldo on five goals. Celtic could have joined them with a draw at Benfica, but the Portuguese side prevailed 2-1 to go ahead of their Scottish visitors on head-to-head, a result which confirmed Barcelona in first position. On the final day, Benfica visit Barcelona and Celtic welcome eliminated Spartak.
United had already claimed top spot in Group H before tonight and that is just as well as the last perfect record went with their 1-0 loss at Galatasaray. CFR ended Braga's hopes with a 3-1 victory earned by a Rui Pedro hat-trick, but trail Galatasaray on head-to-head. Cimbom now travel to Braga with CFR at United.
Groups A-D continue on Wednesday, when Paris Saint-Germain FC, FC Schalke 04, Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid could all seal progress.
Group E
Juventus 3-0 Chelsea FC
FC Nordsjælland 2-5 FC Shakhtar Donetsk
Group F
Valencia CF 1-1 FC Bayern München
FC BATE Borisov 0-2 LOSC Lille
Group G
FC Spartak Moskva 0-3 FC Barcelona
SL Benfica 2-1 Celtic FC
Group H
CFR 1907 Cluj 3-1 SC Braga
Galatasaray AŞ 1-0 Manchester United FC