Barça and Liverpool progress

FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC secured their places in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League after victories over Galatasaray SK and AS Roma on Matchday Twelve.

Luis Enrique winner
Barcelona finished as Group B winners courtesy of a 1-0 win at Galatasaray – the Turkish champions' first home defeat in European competition since autumn 1999. Luis Enrique scored the decisive goal early in the second half at the Ali Sami Yen stadium, finishing from close range after goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon had failed to hold a Fabio Rochemback shot. Barcelona took nine points from their six matches, with Liverpool and Roma level on seven points after the Reds' 2-0 win at Anfield – the English side progressing by virtue of their better head-to-head record.

Houllier’s happy returns
Playing in front of manager Gérard Houllier for the first time since his heart surgery in October, Liverpool made the ideal start as Jari Litmanen converted a penalty in the seventh minute after Marcos Assunção had fouled Danny Murphy. Emile Heskey doubled the Merseysiders' lead with a 64th-minute header as Liverpool rose Lazarus-like from the bottom of the group. Roma's elimination ends Italian interest in the Champions League for another year.

United top
In Group A, Manchester United FC claimed first place at the expense of FC Bayern München, after a comfortable 3-0 victory at Boavista FC. The sides finished level on 12 points with United top thanks to their superior head-to-head record. The prize for both United and Barcelona is they avoid facing a group winner in the last eight and, like Group C's top team Real Madrid CF, will tackle a group runner-up instead (albeit not a side they have just played in the second group stage).

Blanc opener
Laurent Blanc scored United's first on 14 minutes after goalkeeper Ricardo had failed to punch clear from a corner. Ole Gunnar Solskjær made it two with a simple finish in the 29th minute and David Beckham extended the lead further with a penalty six minutes into the second half.

Bayern come from behind
In the group's other game, reigning champions Bayern came from behind to beat FC Nantes Atlantique 2-1. Hassan Ahamada gave the French champions a surprise lead nine minutes into the second half. Jens Jeremies headed Bayern level seven minutes later and Claudio Pizarro volleyed home an 87th-minute winner to make amends for his failure from the penalty spot on 71 minutes, when he was denied by Willy Grondin.