Atletico and Barcelona ease into last 16

Atletico and Barcelona ease into last 16

 Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have joined Manchester City FC and FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League last 16

Bayern and Manchester City progressed on Tuesday and Atlético and Barcelona promptly followed suit with victories on Wednesday. Barcelona moved onto ten points in Group H with a 3-1 success against AC Milan, who had held them 1-1 in Italy two weeks ago. The Rossoneri are now fighting for the second qualification spot with AFC Ajax – who prevailed 1-0 against Celtic FC at the Amsterdam Arena – and Neil Lennon's side.

 

Atlético have gained even firmer control of Group G and already assured the pole position having triumphed 4-0 at home against FK Austria Wien – equalling their record margin of victory in the UEFA Champions League. Even that defeat has not ruled the Austrian title holders out of contention, however, with FC Porto and FC Zenit three and four points ahead respectively after a 1-1 draw in Russia.

 

Chelsea are close to rubber-stamping their place in the last 16 thanks to a second successive 3-0 win against FC Schalke 04. Summer signing Samuel Eto'o scored twice at Stamford Bridge, his first UEFA Champions League goals since March 2011. The other Group E game – between FC Basel and Steaua Bucuresti – finished 1-1.

 

Arsenal FC and SSC Napoli, meanwhile, are in charge of Group F. The Gunners claimed an impressive 1-0 success at Borussia Dortmund, extending their unbeaten streak on away games to 15 matches in all competitions while also ending the hosts' run of seven straight home victories in this competition. The Italians are level on nine points with Arsenal, three clear of Dortmund, having eliminated Olympique Marseille with a 3-2 win.

 

Group E

FC Basel 1893 1-1 FC Steaua Bucuresti

Chelsea FC 3-0 FC Schalke 04

 

Group F

Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Arsenal FC

SSC Napoli 3-2 Olympique de Marseille

 

Group G

FC Zenit 1-1 FC Porto

Club Atlético de Madrid 4-0 FK Austria Wien

 

Group H

AFC Ajax 0-1 Celtic FC

FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan