The UEFA Champions League reached the final phase of the group to be decided this week with only the final group positions. Which teams, which together the last 16 and take the dramatic knock phases of competition, which will commence in February next year again? Which team would top their groups and thus attract potential gain a slight? Decide more questions, which were further 8 teams would have the consolation of winning a ticket into the UEFA Cup and the remaining 8Teams would be the lower end and farewell to all European football this season.
We begin our review of the answers to these questions on Tuesday night and with the battle for the top group D. The spoils eventually went to Liverpool climbed above Atletico Madrid. Liverpool in time with a slightly under strength side against PSV Eindhoven to rest captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres is not yet fully fit. But the former champions still managed an impressive 3-1Away win despite going a goal down. PSV on the other side are one of the eight teams that are now entirely removed from European soil after the end of the group.
The opening was achieved by the PSV goal of Danko Lazovic goal, which came from a corner that had never been meant to be. The ball clearly touched a PSV player last only for the Russian linesman, was a matter of meters away in a corner, to award the total number of unbelief. The decision completely outraged LiverpoolManager Rafa Benitez, and he was then spoken by the referee.
Fortunately for Liverpool, it was not have the goal of a lasting impact on the game. Ryan Babel brought the score to 1-1 with a header in the first half injury time. Then in the second half, Liverpool's Spanish winger Albert Riera, achieved with an absolutely brilliant strike from 25 yards. The 5 times champions were sealed in total control and youngster David Ngog the victory with his first goal for the club.This meant that all of Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, at least equal or better end result leading the group. Unfortunately, they could manage a 0-0 draw away to Marseille. The draw was enough for Marseille to claim third place and with it a place in the UEFA Cup.
GROUP D end positions
1 Liverpool 14 pts
Atletico Madrid 12 Points 2
3 Marseille 4 points
4 PSV 3 points
In Group A, it was the Italian team Roma, claimed the number oneBorbeaux position against French side 2-0. As a result of the French side finished the end of the group and were all put Europe out of action. It was Roma Brighi who slotted in a low cross by Perrotta, that broke the deadlock just after the hour mark. Then Francesco Totti scored from the edge of the field to gain the lead and secure.
Meanwhile, Chelsea again welcomed their Ivorian striker Didier Drogba, even if only as a replacement. Even though they won their game 2 to 1, thanksDrogba's goal to win a total of Chelsea not too convincing against the unfancied Romanian side Cluj.
Scolari at Chelsea do not need to win their way in the last 16 and it was sure to come by the earth left to Drogba on the bench and the seal with an excellent finish victory. This victory for the Blues ie, Spain and England are four teams in the last 16 have the Champions League. This is the first time two nations have the feat achieved in the sameSeason.
GROUP A final positions
1 Roma 12 points
2 Chelsea 11 points
3 Bordeaux 7 Points
4 CFR Cluj 4 pts
In Group B, there was a somewhat surprising and finishing position for Inter Milan coach José Mourinho. They had to settle for second place behind the Greek side Panathinaikos to. The Greeks beat the Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta 1-0, while the German plays Werder Bremen 2-1 Inter Milan. The result of Bremen with securing a place in the UEFA Cup.
Itwas dull and dreary first half in Germany, but Claudio Pizarro then put Bremen ahead of Markus Rosenberg, the 2:0. Inter had a goal back through Zlatan Ibrahimovic draw, which began the game on the bench. He rolled in a fantastic 25-meter shot but it turned out that no more than a consolation. The result meant Werder Bremen held on to a place in the Uefa Cup seal.
The Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta, which surprised me a bit this season, their firstactually came in this last game against Panathinaikos Athens with a chance of progressing to the last 16 Unfortunately, they could not live up to the great expectation, and not even make to win the UEFA Cup by Bremen.
GROUP B final positions
1 Panathinaikos 10 pts
2 Inter Milan 8 points
3 Werder Bremen 7 points
4 Anorthosis 6 pts
The final position in the group C was already completed before kick-off on Tuesday evening. It was therefore nosurprise that in front of a rather empty Nou Camp, Barcelona finishers in time with a slightly weakened side. The decision saw Barca lose their 20 games unbeaten run through the loss of 2 to 3 to Shakhtar Donetsk, who end up in the UEFA Cup.
Basel Swiss team ended a miserable European campaign with a single point after they were defeated 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon. Sporting, which won thanks to first-half goal won Yannick Djalo, in the group behind Barcelona on 12Points.
GROUP C end positions
1 Barcelona 13 points
2 Sporting Lisbon 12 points
3 Shakhtar Donetsk 9 pts
4 Basel 1 pt
On Wednesday evening, looked Group E Manchester United, somewhat surprisingly, held to a 2-2 draw by Aalborg in Old Trafford. However, it did not stop the current champions from finishing top of their group as Celtic managed secure their first win of the season the game against Villareal 2-0 at Parkhead.
Manchester United's ArgentineStriker Carlos Tevez opened the scoring after just three minutes and Aalborg have feared the worst, but to their credit, they cleared Michael Jakobsen home. Better still, but when Jeppe Curth header right on the stroke of half time gave Aalborg, which will be described only as a shock lead. It was England striker Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United's blushes when he quit a strong brand saved.
Villarreal had obviously hoped to appeal against thethat Man United would be able to somehow stop gaffe against Aalberg, so that it is in the top group, but they do not lose to deliver their part of the deal to her game as a Celtic Gordon Strachan after a campaign to win this season. Unfortunately, the victory was too little, too late for the Glasgow side are now across Europe. No disrespect Aalberg but I would put money on they have been finishing anywhere other than the bottom of the group at the drawmade back in the summer.
GROUP E FINAL POSITIONS
1 Man Utd 10 pts
2 Villarreal 9 pts
3 Aalborg 6 pts
4 Celtic 5 pts
The German giants Bayern Munich finished Group F in first place after a good 3-2 away win at French champions Lyon. The result means Lyon had to content with finishing second.
German forward Miroslav Klose put Bayern in front before Luca Toni set up Ribery for their second. Ribery then turned provider for Klose as Lyon fell apart. Lyon fought back, however, with Govou withdrew a target Karim Benzema has one seconds. But they could draw level and Bavaria were on their victory. In the other match of Group Alberto Gilardino headed in the only goal, Fiorentina's victory over Steaua Bucharest and give him a place in the Uefa Cup. Steaua on the other hand, the group ended its nadir end of their campaign with a single point.
Gilardino headed in the right hand side of the net after a corner from JuanManuel Vargas before Steaua were reduced to 10 men when Pawel Golanski was sent off in the 72nd minute for a second yellow card.
GROUP F FINAL POSITIONS
1Bayern Munich 14 pts
2 Lyon 11 pts
3 Fiorentina 6 pts
4 Steaua Bucharest 1 pt
It was a bad night for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal as they failed to achieve the draw they needed to see them finish top of their group. Wenger, as he quite often does, sent out a young side but they offered little resistance and have been transferred from Porto, who went on the game 2:0-Sieg, and thus skipped over the Gunners top the group.
Porto goals coming from Bruno Alves, the 2004 Champion of the tip into the lead before Lisandro Lopez doubled the lead with a cool surface. In the other match of the group, Roman Eremenko scored a goal in the first half that gave Dynamo Kiev 1:0-one victory over Turkish side Fenerbahce and watched him, as they say, the last remaining place in the UEFA Cup.
The midfielder collected ArtemMilevskiy's reverse pass from the left side and struck a precise left-foot shot that went between the legs of the goalkeeper.
GROUP G end positions
1 Porto 12 points
2 Arsenal 11 points
3 Dynamo Kiev 8 points
4 Fenerbahce 2 points
The last 16 teams have been chosen for the UEFA Champions League season. The draw for the knock out stages takes place on 19 December and it is, as the group have savaged the placement, it bound to raise some really interestingLook at connections.