Champions League: Arsenal, Barca through, Chelsea lose

London: APOEL Nicosia became the first Cypriot team to reach the Champions League last 16, Arsenal were the first English side through this season and Chelsea’s woes increased when Bayer Leverkusen snatched late qualification on Wednesday. Holders Barcelona, who had already sealed their progression, secured top spot in Group H with a 3-2 win at AC Milan where Lionel Messi scored from the spot but only after being cautioned for stopping in his run-up on his first attempt. Manuel Friedrich’s 90th-minute goal for Leverkusen took the Germans through with a 2-1 home triumph over faltering Chelsea, who had lost three out of four Premier League games and now need to beat Valencia at home or draw 0-0 in the last match to go through. Valencia warmed up for that Group E clash with a 7-0 thumping of bottom side Racing Genk in which Roberto Soldado bagged a first-half hat-trick. [caption id=“attachment_138788” align=alignleft width=“380” caption=‘Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, of Argentina, left, celebrates with teammates midfielder Xavi Hernandez after an own goal of AC Milan midfielder Mark Van Bommel. AP’] [/caption] APOEL’s 0-0 draw at Zenit St Petersburg, halted twice because of heavy smoke from flares, followed an onslaught from the Russians but the Cypriot champions clung on to complete a stunning achievement for the island nation. They remain the only unbeaten team in Group G where twice champions Porto won 2-0 at bottom side Shakhtar Donetsk to keep alive their hopes of overhauling second-placed Zenit when they meet in the final group game on Dec. 6. Robin van Persie scored another brace in 2-1 home victory over Borussia Dortmund as Arsenal did what Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have so far failed to do and qualified for the first knockout round. Olympique Marseille were also going through from Group F until Giannis Fetfatzidis struck eight minutes from time to give Olympiakos Piraeus a 1-0 victory at the Stade Velodrome to rekindle their last-16 hopes. Viktoria Plzen won 1-0 at Bate Borisov in the fog to boost their chances of finishing third and taking Group H’s Europa League berth with Milan having guaranteed second spot. Xavi produced a goal of surgical precision to give Barcelona a 3-2 win over AC Milan on Wednesday in an enthralling Champions League match which also featured Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring against the Catalan club he left acrimoniously last year. Milan twice came from behind, through Ibrahimovic and a stunning Kevin-Prince Boateng effort, as they replied to a Mark van Bommel own goal and a twice-taken Lionel Messi penalty in a match which was little more than a friendly. [fpgallery id=331] Both teams had already qualified for the last 16 with two matches to spare. Barcelona’s win put them five points clear at the top of Group H and ensured they would finish in first place. There was an element of controversy about Messi’s goal and his first effort was disallowed because he stopped at the end of his run-up and feigned to kick the ball - a practice recently outlawed by FIFA. The Argentine was booked for his trouble but he still dispatched the second penalty shot with ease. Xavi’s 63rd-minute winner had Barcelona written all over it. Messi managed to pick out the playmaker with a measured diagonal pass which he slipped between four Milan defenders. Xavi took the pass in his stride and slotted past Christian Abbiati. His strike came nine minutes after the best goal of the evening when Milan’s Boateng collected a high pass from Ibrahimovic, flicked the ball between the legs of the bemused Eric Abidal and found a gap between Victor Valdes and the near post. Barcelona remain unbeaten this season in all competitions, although coach Pep Guardiola’s response was muted. “We had a lot of possession and created a lot of chances,” he said. “It is important to have won here, Milan were happy with their performance, so we are all happy.” GLARING CHANCE Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side have won five and drawn one of their last Serie A matches, admitted his team’s finishing let them down. “I think we played well although we made some mistakes, we should have made more of our chances but our self-confidence is higher and we know we can compete in these Champions League matches.” Barca enjoyed 64 percent of the possession in the first half and it was little surprise when they went ahead in the 14th minute. Messi found Seydou Keita at the far post and the Malian’s low ball back across was turned into his own goal by Van Bommel. Milan occasionally looked dangerous and, after Robinho missed a glaring chance from close range by scooping the ball over an open goal, Ibrahimovic levelled with he turned Seedorf’s pass beyond Valdes. The Swede, less than amused when he was offloaded by Barcelona after the 2009/10 season, celebrated discreetly. Barca regained the lead in the 31st minute with Messi’s penalty, harshly awarded after Xavi crumbled when he was struck by Alberto Aquilani’s arms. Boateng levelled nine minutes after the restart but, not to be outdone, Barca replied with Xavi’s effort. Reuters

Champions League: Arsenal, Barca through, Chelsea lose

Other teams that qualified include APOEL Nicosia, the first Cypriot team to reach the final 16 and Bayer Leverkusen who beat Chelsea.

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