Liverpool go out as Fiorentina, Arsenal progress
Five-times winners Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages despite a 1-0 win at Debrecen on Tuesday while Fiorentina and Arsenal qualified for the last 16.
Holders Barcelona revived their campaign with a surprisingly comfortable 2-0 triumph over Inter in the night's top match, scoring twice in the first 26 minutes through Gerard Pique and Pedro.
Arsenal reached the last 16 for the 10th season in a row thanks to a 2-0 home win over Standard Liege.
Fiorentina went through by beating already-qualified Olympique Lyon 1-0 with a penalty by Peru's Juan Vargas to join Girondins Bordeaux, Manchester United, Chelsea, Porto and Sevilla in the next round.
The win by the Italians also ended Liverpool's chances in Group E.
"We have been so good (in recent years) in the Champions League, now people think it has to be like that every year," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez told reporters.
Benitez's team arrived in Hungary knowing their fate was largely out of their hands and David Ngog's fourth minute winner, which condemned debutants Debrecen to their fifth straight defeat, proved in vain.
Fiorentina's win took them top with 12 points, two ahead of Lyon with Liverpool a further three points behind. Even if the five-times winners pull level with Lyon, the French side will qualify on the head-to-head record.
Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was given a warm welcome on his return to the Nou Camp with new club Inter but had little else to enjoy.
Although the Catalans had won only three of their previous seven home Champions League games, they were unbeaten in six matches against Italian sides.
Even without injured Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona were too good for Inter.
FLOWING MOVE
Pique volleyed in from a 10th minute corner before Pedro finished off a flowing attacking move to double the lead.
The win sent Barcelona top of Group F with eight points, two ahead of Jose Mourinho's Inter side and third-placed Russian champions Rubin Kazan who were held to a goalless draw at home in the snow by Dynamo Kiev.
Kiev are bottom with five points but could still qualify. Barcelona visit the Ukrainians in the final round of matches next month while Inter host Rubin.
"We have shown that anyone who comes into this side brings something," said Barca's Daniel Alves in a reference to the replacements for Ibrahimovic and Messi.
Arsenal had little trouble extending their unbeaten Champions League home record against foreign opposition to 29 games.
The Londoners broke through with a Samir Nasri half-volley in the 35th minute before Brazilian Denilson scored with a dipping 30-metre effort in first-half stoppage time.
The win guaranteed Arsenal a first-place finish in Group H as they went six points clear of Olympiakos who drew 0-0 at AZ Alkmaar.
Debutants Unirea Urziceni boosted their chances in Group G by beating already-qualified Sevilla 1-0 after Ivica Dragutinovic headed into his own net just before halftime.
The Romanian champions are second with eight points, two ahead of VfB Stuttgart who beat Rangers 2-0 to hand the Scottish side their third straight home defeat in the group.
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Victor Battista
Nov 25th 2009, 16:11
WELL DONE FIORENTINA- NEEDLESS TO SAY FIORENTINA ARE ONE OF THE FINEST FOOTBALL TEAM IN EUROPE IF NOT THE WHOLE WORLD.. AS FOR LIVERPOOL (rubbish)the time is well and truely over for the pommies.
Kenneth Cassar
Nov 25th 2009, 15:49
Benitez can only work with what he's got, and without Gerrard and Torres, that's nothing at all. The problem is not with Benitez.
B. Pollacco
Nov 25th 2009, 15:12
@Adrian Borg
I think everyone knows the reason why ronaldo went to real madrid for the only reason that with united he WON everything he had on offer: Champions League, Premier League,WORLD CLUB CUP,Carling Cup and FA cup.
Apart from that this news iteam isn't about ronaldo moving to real madrid but its about the champions league.
Liverpool are in their poor run in a very long time and funnily enough benitez is still in charge.Benitez this year had 2 major injury blows TORRES and GERRARD..but they "got replaced" by aquilani and Benayoun does two are major players for liverpool and Aqulini should start for every game not 90 seconds(aquilani). i know benitez won the champions league in his first season but enough is enough and they need a change BADLY....Manchester United Supporter
anthony girard
Nov 25th 2009, 14:26
Fiorentina have a fine, young and talented team, coached and guided by arguably the best in his profession in Italy and to go out to them is no shame.
I am a Viola supporter of 54 years standing and proud to see them make progress this year.
The scene in Firenze yesterday was moving.
PS
No relative of Gerrard....................but wouldn't mind being so, either !!!!
Adrian Borg
Nov 25th 2009, 12:43
I just love to hear a UTD and a Liverpool supporter debating! Don't you realize that there's a cycle? 15 years ago was the Liverpool era, then Arsenal, then came the UTD era which is now nearing its end, now it's Chelsea's or whoever is next.
But please stop this nonsense! The Spanish have much more attractive football. That's why Xabi Alonso and C. Ronaldo, one from Liverpool and one from UTD, decided to go to Madrid ;).
Gareth Buttigieg
Nov 25th 2009, 12:26
Same old Liverpool talk - always hoping for the best with all this phoenix bird nonsense - I can only tell you one thing - You live in history while we continue making it - Manchester United till I die!!!!!
Brendan Calleja
Nov 25th 2009, 10:40
@Mark Said
As regards the Premiership, this Phoenix has been buried under the ashes these past 18 years. That's how long Liverpool fans have been waiting for the start of a new era. Now, as you said, with Rafa's demise (RIP), perhaps we'll see the Phoenix's head start rising above the ashes.
michael cauchi
Nov 25th 2009, 10:11
good luck for liverpool in europa league !!!!!
btw is still November..... no champions league football , no premiership hope ........
Mark Said.
Nov 25th 2009, 09:42
This might be the end of an era for Liverpool........but it will signal the start of a new one in the coming months.........with the demise of Benitez and an incumbent new manager (perhaps Mancini?!) In such situations Liverpool are always like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Sure enough, they will NEVER WALK ALONE!
Robert Camilleri
Nov 25th 2009, 09:34
form is for the moment class is forever
LFC YNWA
Louis S. Ellul
Nov 25th 2009, 08:48
Like Greece in the days of Homer, or the Roman Empire in the times of the Julius Caesar, Liverpool were once considered great. Unfortunately today they've become an ordinary, run-of-the-mill team whose only yearly highlights are wins over their rivals Manchester United - who then go on and win the league, year after year after year after year.