Skip to content

Champions League round-up

Image: Gerrard: Celebrates winner

Liverpool clinched their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, but Chelsea will have to wait to join their domestic rivals.

Reds march on, but Blues must wait for final group game

Liverpool clinched their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, but Chelsea will have to wait to join their Premier League rivals in the knockout phase. Steven Gerrard was the hero for the Reds yet again as the 2005 winners overcame Marseille at Anfield. But Chelsea proved to be less successful against French opposition as Frank Lampard was sent off in a 1-1 draw in Bordeaux. Rafa Benitez marked a record-breaking European game in charge of Liverpool with a 1-0 win over Marseille which sealed progression from Group D. The only goal of the game arrived on 23 minutes when Xabi Alonso whipped in a superb cross from the right wing which was headed home expertly by Gerrard at the back post. Atletico Madrid have joined Liverpool in the next round after battling to a 2-1 victory at home to PSV Eindhoven. PSV contributed to their own downfall at an empty Vicente Calderon as slack defending allowed Simao to open the scoring on 14 minutes. Atletico increased their lead just before the half-hour mark when Maxi Rodriguez lashed home after a corner ricocheted into his path. Danny Koevermans pulled a goal back for PSV two minutes into the second half to leave the Dutch side fighting with Marseille for a Uefa Cup spot. Chelsea are still to make it a clean sweep of English teams in the last 16 after being held to a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux. The Premier League leaders forged ahead on the hour mark when Lampard's quick-thinking pass split the Bordeaux defence and Nicolas Anelka produced an impudent finish. But Bordeaux kept their hopes of progression alive with an equaliser on 83 minutes when Alou Diarra guided a corner inside Petr Cech's near post. And just moments later, Chelsea midfielder Lampard picked up his second yellow card of the night after bringing down Menegazzo. Roma moved to the top of Group A after a 3-1 win away to CFR Cluj - a result which ends the Romanian club's interest in Europe this season. Roma took the lead from their first serious attack as Cluj keeper Eduard Stancioiu was slow to come off his line, allowing Simone Perrotta to lift the ball across the face of goal where Matteo Brighi was waiting to tap into an empty net. Midway through the first half and Roma had increased their lead when Francesco Totti curled home a fine free-kick from 25 yards after Julio Baptista had been fouled. Cluj did not buckle and grabbed a lifeline on the half-hour mark when Doni could only push Alvaro Pereira's stabbed shot into the path of Yssouf Kone, who stooped to head home inside the post. Roma put the game to bed on 64 minutes after a flowing move forward finished with Rodrigo Taddei teeing up Brighi to score his second of the night. Inter Milan are safely into the next round despite Jose Mourinho's side slipping to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home by Panathinaikos. Panathinaikos scored a shock winner on 69 minutes when Josu Sarriegi pounced from close range after Giannia Goumas' header had been parried by Julio Cesar. Anorthosis Famagusta came close to joining Inter in the next round only to blow a two-goal lead at home to Werder Bremen in a 2-2 draw. Anorthosis were ahead on 62 minutes when Savio's corner found Nicos Nicolaou at the far post and he placed his finish inside the post. And just six minutes later it was 2-0 after Savio tucked away the rebound after Nikolaos Frousos' shot had been blocked from close range. Bremen gave themselves hope of a comeback on 72 minutes when Diego smashed home a penalty after Aaron Hunt had been brought down by Nicolaou. The German side then snatched an equaliser three minutes from time through Hugo Almeida's crisp finish, although Bremen can no longer qualify for the last 16. Barcelona had already qualified from Group C and secured top spot after an emphatic 5-2 win away to Sporting Lisbon, who finish as runners-up. Barca were in front after just 14 minutes when Thierry Henry turned home Lionel Messi's pull-back, although their second three minutes later was a rare scruffy effort. A short corner was worked to the far post where the ball bounced off Eidur Gudjohnsen's back and was helped in by Gerard Pique with the aid of a deflection. Sporting were unhappy with Barca's third goal five minutes into the second half when Messi finished superbly from a quickly-taken free-kick. The hosts grabbed a lifeline on 65 minutes when Miguel Veloso curled home a left-footed free-kick and just 60 seconds later Liedson lashed home after Rafael Marquez failed to cut out a long ball. But Sporting shot themselves in the foot just a minute later when defender Marco Caneira's attempted clearance looped over keeper Rui Patricio and in off the underside of the bar. Patricio was then sent off on 73 minutes for bringing down Bojan in the box and the Barca striker stepped up to squeeze home the resultant penalty. Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk will be playing Uefa Cup football in the spring after a 5-0 thrashing of hapless Basel. Shakhtar never looked back after taking a 32nd minute lead through Jadson's carefully placed finish from the edge of the box. Willian cut in from the left flank to curl a neat shot inside the far post for the second goal on 50 minutes before Jadson added the third on 65 minutes. Jadson completed his hat-trick with a thumping finish on 73 minutes and two minutes later Yevhen Seleznyov drilled home with his left foot.

Around Sky