City cruise through but Juve, Samp crash out

Manchester City emphasised their Europa League credentials by hitting the goal trail against Salzburg at Eastlands last night.

They completed the double over the Austrian champions with a convincing 3-0 victory in Group A.

Mario Balotelli scored twice either side of half-time with Adam Johnson also on target as City progressed with a game to spare.

The English side were joined in the next round by Polish side Lech Poznan who fought out a 1-1 draw with Juventus in Poland that virtually eliminated the Italians from the competition.

Anatoly Rundevs put Poznan ahead after 12 minutes and although Vincenzo Iaquinta drew level six minutes from time it was too little too late for the Serie A side who needed a victory to remain in the hunt for a last 32 place.

Young Boys staged a late comeback to book their place in the last 32 of the Europa League with a 4-2 win at home to Group H leaders Stuttgart.

David Degen gave the Swiss side a 35th-minute lead but they fell 2-1 down to goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak (48) and substitute Sven Schipplock (68).

Scott Sutter drew the Bern club level 10 minutes later before a quickfire brace from Emmanuel Mayuka inside the final 10 minutes earned Young Boys the points.

Their 3-0 defeat away to Stuttgart earlier in the tournament means they cannot take top spot but they are guaranteed second after Odense of Denmark and Spanish side Getafe drew 1-1 to leave them both five points adrift of Young Boys.

Metalist Kharkiv booked their place in the last 32 as well, as Denis Oliynyk’s goal three minutes from time gave them a 2-1 home win over Debrecen of Hungary.

The Ukrainians fell behind to Peter Czvitkovics’ goal early in the second half but an Adam Bodi own goal pulled Metalist level.

Oliynyk’s late winner ensured Metalist of at least second place in Group I as they are now five points ahead of Sampdoria, who lost 2-1 to group leaders PSV Eindhoven at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Giampaolo Pazzini gave the Genoa side the lead on the stroke of half-time but the Dutch team fought back and an Ola Toivonen brace, the second coming in the final minute, earned PSV all three points.

AEK Athens are in pole position to qualify alongside Zenit SP from Group G after the Greek side won 3-1 away to Hajduk Split of Croatia.

A penalty from Nacho Scocco put AEK in front five minutes into the second half and they added further goals through Kostantinos Manolas (61) and Ismael Blanco (84) to make the game safe before Jurica Buljat’s last-minute consolation for the hosts.

Results and standings

Group A
Lech Poznan vs Juventus 1-1; Man. City vs Salzburg 3-0.
Standings: Man. City 10; L. Poznan 8; Juventus 5; Salzburg 2.

Group B
Atletico Madrid vs Aris Salonika 2-3; Rosenborg vs Bayer Leverkusen 0-1.
Standings: Bayer Leverkusen 11; Aris, Atletico Madrid 7; Rosenborg 3.

Group C
Ghent vs Levski Sofia 1-0; Sporting Lisbon vs Lille 1-0.
Standings: Sporting 12; Gent 7; Lille 5; Levski Sofia 4.

Group G
Hajduk Split vs AEK Athens 1-3; Zenit SP vs Anderlecht 3-1.
Standings: Zenit SP 15; AEK Athens 7; Anderlecht 4; Hajduk Split 3.

Group H
Odense vs Getafe 1-1; Young Boys vs Stuttgart 4-2.
Standings: Stuttgart 12; Young Boys 9; Getafe, Odense 4.

Group I
Metalist Kharkiv vs Debrecen 2-1; Sampdoria vs PSV 1-2.
Standings: PSV 13; Metalist Kharkiv 10; Sampdoria 5; Debrecen 0.

Playing today

Group D
Villarreal vs Dinamo Zagreb
PAOK vs Club Brugge
Standings: PAOK, D. Zagreb 7; Villarreal 6; Club Brugge 2.

Group E
Sheriff vs AZ Alkmaar
BATE vs Dynamo Kiev
Standings: BATE 10; Dynamo Kiev 7; AZ Alkmaar, Sheriff 3.

Group F
CSKA Moscow vs Lausanne19.00
Palermo vs Sparta Prague
Standings: CSKA Moscow 12; Sparta Prague 7; Palermo 3; Lausanne 1.

Group J
Borussia Dortmund vs Karpaty
PSG vs Sevilla
Standings: Sevilla 9; Paris SG 8; Borussia Dortmund 5; Karpaty 0.

Group K
Utrecht vs Napoli
Steaua vs Liverpool
Standings: Liverpool 8; Steaua Bucharest 5; Napoli, Utrecht 3.

Group L
CSKA Sofia vs Besiktas
Rapid Vienna vs Porto
Standings: Porto 10; Besiktas 7; Rapid Vienna, CSKA Sofia 3.