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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW..
Barcelona eliminated from Champions League group stage for first time in 21 years.
Benfica’s victory over Dynamo Kyiv means that the Blaugrana will have to settle for the Europa League after the new year.Barcelona signed off on their worst Champions League campaign in two decades on Wednesday, as another comprehensive defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich sealed elimination at the group stage.
The Catalans went into their final game battling Benfica for the second qualifying spot in Group E and knowing they might well need to chase a result in the Allianz Arena.
But Bayern barely broke sweat in taking apart Xavi’s men, while the Portuguese side took the necessary three points to send them to the last 16 as runners-up behind Bayern.
Sevilla coach Lopetegui ‘sad’ after ‘messy’ defeat at RB Salzburg.Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui admits there’s major disappointment after their Champions League defeat at RB Salzburg.
The 1-0 reverse sees Sevilla tumble into the Europa League.
Lopetegui said afterwards: “It was a messy game, like all our group games. We went from being right in the game, having chances – one very clear chance to make it 1-0 – and then practically in the next action you concede a goal and then five or six minutes later to end up with a man less was a tough blow. We couldn’t recover and we’re sad.
RUSSIAN REGRET.. Zenit 3 Chelsea 3: Blues facing last-16 nightmare as Tuchel’s defending champions flop in Russia despite Werner double.
Atletico qualify as Liverpool complete perfect Champions League group stage.
Atletico Madrid won a bad-tempered game in Porto on Tuesday to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League as Liverpool and Ajax both completed the group stage with 100 percent records.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who lost to Real Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals, needed to beat Porto in Portugal to advance to the knockout phase and they duly triumphed 3-1 in a game which featured three red cards.
