PSG dumped out despite win

Paris Saint Germain may or may not end up offering David Beckham a spell in the ultra-twilight of his career in the City of Light, but the former England star will not find any Europa League fare on his menu after the capital club were eliminated last night.

PSG beat already-qualified Athletic Bilbao 4-2 at the Parc des Princes to hand the Spaniards their first loss of the tournament.

But the win was not enough as Salzburg won 3-2 at Slovan Bratislava to see the Austrians take second place in Group F.

That means there is no chance of the Parisians getting an attractive date with Champions League dropouts Manchester United, Beckham’s former club, when tomorrow’s draw is made at Nyon.

Recent media reports had suggested that PSG’s owners, Qatar Sport Investments (QSI), had offered Beckham a lucrative contract to become the figurehead of their drive to turn the under-achieving side into one of Europe’s top clubs.

PSG, joint top of the French league table with Montpellier as they chase down a first domestic crown since 1994, spent €85 million in the summer following a Qatari buyout but the influx has not translated into success on the European stage and they now must ensure they reach the Champions League via a strong Ligue 1 finish.

Coach Antoine Kombouare has been under the microscope in recent weeks following some poor results – notably league losses to Marseille and Nancy – and the pressure will now only increase with just the league title to aim for.

He was candid afterwards at his men’s shortcomings.

“It’s a big disappointment, we really should have got through this group,” Kombouare said.

“But we weren’t able to do what we had to. Now we have to get over it and do better in the league and French Cup.”

Elsewhere, Italy’s Lazio reached the last 32 with a 2-0 win over Group D winners Sporting Lisbon.

The result at the Stadio Olimpico, coupled with FC Zurich’s 2-0 triumph over Vaslui in the group’s other game, allowed the Italians to qualify alongside Sporting Lisbon.

Libor Kozak put Lazio ahead in the 42nd minute before Giuseppe Sculli doubled his team’s lead in the second half.

The Roman club clinched second place in the group with Vaslui three points behind in third position.

English Premier League side Stoke went down 3-1 at Besiktas despite Ricardo Fuller giving them the lead but had already qualified from Group E.

Manuel Fernandes equalised with a penalty spot after Matthew Upson was sent off for felling Hugo Almeida, and substitutes Mustafa Pektemek and Edu secured the win at a heaving Inonu Stadium, leaving the Turks as group winners.

Fulham out

Fulham were knocked out of the competition after Odense secured a late 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage, last night.

The Cottagers started the match knowing victory against Group K’s bottom side would assure progression to the final 32, and they looked on course when Clint Dempsey and Kerim Frei scored, although a Hans Henrik Andreasen free-kick resulted in a nervy finish.

And the west Londoners’ worst fears came true when substitute Djiby Fall scored a last-gasp header three minutes into stoppage time, meaning Wisla Krakow, who beat group winners Twente Enschede 2-1, progress instead.

Eight of the 32 sides in the knockout round will comprise Manchester United and fellow Champions League failures – Manchester City, Trabzonspor, Ajax, Valencia, Olympiakos, Porto and Plzen.

Results and standings

Group D
Zurich vs Vaslui 2-0; Lazio vs Sporting Lisbon 2-0.
Final standings: Sporting Lisbon 12; Lazio 9; Vaslui 6; Zurich 5.

Group E
D. Kiev vs Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-3; Besiktas vs Stoke City 3-1.
Final standings: Besiktas 12; Stoke City 11; Dynamo Kiev 7; Maccabi Tel Aviv 2.

Group F
S. Bratislava vs RB Salzburg 2-3; Paris SG vs Athletic Bilbao 4-2.
Final standings: A. Bilbao 13; Salzburg, Paris SG 10; S. Bratislava 1.

Group J
Mac. Haifa vs Schalke 0-3; Steaua Bucharest vs AEK Larnaca 3-1.
Standings: Schalke 14; S. Bucharest 8; M. Haifa 6; AEK Larnaca 5.

Group K
W. Krakow vs Twente Enschede 2-1; Fulham vs OB Odense 2-2.
Standings: Twente 13; W. Krakow 9; Fulham 8; Odense 4.

Group L
Sturm Graz vs AEK Athens 1-3; Anderlecht vs Lok. Moscow 5-3.
Standings: Anderlecht 18; L. Moscow 12; S. Graz, AEK Athens 3.

Today’s fixtures

Group A
19.00: PAOK Salonika vs Rubin Kazan; Shamrock vs Tottenham.
Standings: PAOK 11; R. Kazan 10; Tottenham 7; Shamrock 0.

Group B
19.00: Hanover vs Vorskla Poltava; FC Copenhagen vs Standard Liege.
Standings: S. Liege 11; Hanover 8; Copenhagen 5; V. Poltava 2.

Group C
19.00: Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs Legia Warsaw; PSV vs Rapid Bucharest.
Standings: PSV 13; Legia Warsaw 9; Hapoel 4; R. Bucharest 3.

Group G
21.05: AZ Alkmaar vs Metalist Kharkiv; Austria Wien vs Malmo.
Standings: M. Kharkiv 13; Alkmaar 7; A. Vienna 5; Malmo 1.

Group H
21.05: Club Brugge vs Braga; Birmingham City vs Maribor.
Standings: Brugge, S. Braga 10; Birmingham 7; Maribor 1.

Group I
21.05: Udinese vs Celtic; Atletico Madrid vs Rennes.
Standings: A. Madrid 10; Udinese 8; Celtic 5; Rennes 3.

Note
Top two qualify for last 32 where they will be joined by eight teams who finished third in Champions League group stages.