Arsenal booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League yesterday, beating Partizan Belgrade 3-1 in an ultimately comfortable victory at the Emirates.
Substitute Theo Walcott and in-form Frenchman Samir Nasri scored the decisive goals for the Gunners after Partizan’s Brazilian-born striker Cleo had cancelled out Robin Van Persie’s first-half penalty.
Defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga in their previous two matches however meant the English Premier League leaders had to settle for the runners-up spot in Group H. Shakhtar finished first after beating Braga 2-0 in Ukraine.
Shakhtar reached the knockout stages for the first time after a dour match was brought to life late in the game when Romania defender Razvan Rat opened the scoring with the hosts nailing their place in the last 16 shortly afterwards through Luiz Adriano.
Arsenal had dominated from the outset, monopolising possession but struggling to find a way through Partizan’s densely populated midfield. They broke the deadlock on the half hour mark via a dubious penalty, Marko Jova-novic harshly adjuged to have bundled over Van Persie by Italian referee Paolo Tagliavento.
Television replays appeared to suggest little contact by the defender on the Dutch striker.
The only sour note for Arsenal came four minutes from time when Bacary Sagna received a straight red card for a professional foul on Aleksandar Lazevski on the edge of the area.
In Romania, Lacina Traore’s late header denied Roma a Champions League win but a point at Cluj proved more than enough to send them into the last 16.
Marco Borriello put the Italians ahead in the 22nd minute, which looked like bringing them a win until Traore struck late on.
The result made no difference to the Group E standings, with Roma progressing behind Bayern Munich and Cluj dropping out of European competition for the season.
Bayern, last season’s finalists, went through as group winners with a 3-0 win over Basel as midfielder Franck Ribery netted twice.
This was Bayern’s fifth win of their European campaign.
A pair of goals from Ribery – his first for the club since April – and a simple tap in by Ukraine player Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, who is enjoying a purple patch, sealed the win in Munich.
But all is not rosy with the German champions and tougher tests await in February’s round of 16 which will be drawn on December 17 in Nyon.
There are already real concerns around the Allianz Arena about qualifying for next season’s competition and Bayern need to finish in the German league’s top two to be sure of a place in European football’s most lucrative tournament.
At the San Siro, Ajax beat Milan 2-0 to ensure they take their place in the Europa League come the turn of the year.
With Milan already guaranteed second place in Group G and Real Madrid assured of top spot, Ajax and Auxerre were left to battle for third place and the European consolation prize.
And goals from Demy De Zeuuw and Toby Alderweireld ensured the Dutch side continue their continental adventure this season.
France’s fallen star Karim Benzema made sure he would get positive headlines for once.
Benzema – who was left out of the France World Cup finals squad after struggling to make an impact at the Bernabeu – scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in a 4-0 romp over Auxerre.
Chelsea travelled to Marseille seeking an upturn in their fortunes but it wasn’t to be as their French hosts came away with a deserved 1-0 win in this concluding ‘dead’ Group F encounter.
Aside from seeing two decent penalty appeals turned down, Chelsea will find it hard to quibble with a result that saw the Londoners’ hitherto perfect first round record blemished by defeat.
Marseille broke the deadlock with nine minutes remaining, Taye Taiwo’s pass deflecting off Ramires with striker Brandao only having to tap the ball home from close range.
Meanwhile, Spartak Moscow fans hardly gave a good account of what foreign visitors can expect at the 2018 World Cup as their boorish behaviour saw the match at Slovak tailenders Zilina halted in the first half when they threw flares onto the pitch.
Spartak ended up winning the match 2-1.
Summaries
B. Munich 3
Ribery 35, 50; Tymoschuk 37;
Basel 0
CFR Cluj 1
Traore 88;
Roma 1
Borriello 22;
Marseille 1
Brandao 81;
Chelsea 0
Zilina 1
Majtan 48;
S. Moscow 2
Alex 54; Ibson 61;
Red card: Ibson (SM) 78.
Real Madrid 4
Benzema 12, 72, 88; Ronaldo 49;
Auxerre 0
Milan 0
Ajax 2
De Zeeuw 57; Alderweireld 66;
Arsenal 3
Van Persie 30 pen; Walcott 73; Nasri 77;
Partizan 1
Cleo 52;
Red card: Sagna (A) 86.
S. Donetsk 2
Rat 78; Adriano 83;
Braga 0
Qualified teams
Group A
1. Tottenham
2. Inter
Group B
1. Schalke
2. Lyon
Group C
1. Man. United
2. Valencia
Group D
1. Barcelona
2. Copenhagen
Group E
1. B. Munich
2. Roma
Group F
1. Chelsea
2. Marseille
Group G
1. R. Madrid
2. Milan
Group H
1. S. Donetsk
2. Arsenal
Note
Next draw – December 17, Nyon.