Barca, Arsenal stroll through, United suffer (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-03 08:32
LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Barcelona and Arsenal swaggered through to the last
16 of the Champions League on Wednesday but Manchester United's hopes hang in
the balance after another demoralising defeat.
Barcelona's
Ronaldinho (C) of Brazil fights for the ball against Panathinaikos' Elias
Kotsios (R) and captain Ezequiel Gonzalez (L) during their Champions
League Group C match at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, Spain November 2,
2005. Barcelona won the match 5-0.
[Reuters] | United's 1-0 defeat by Lille in Paris
intensified the pressure on manager Alex Ferguson and threw Group D wide open.
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o hit a sparkling hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-0
thrashing of Panathinaikos which assured them of qualification from Group C.
Dutchman Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal maintained their 100
percent record in Group B with a 3-0 home win over Sparta Prague but Bayern
Munich's hopes of qualifying on the night were dashed after a 2-1 loss at
Juventus in Group A.
On Tuesday French side Olympique Lyon and nine-time winners Real Madrid
confirmed their places in the last 16.
United are in danger of not reaching the knockout phase after their defeat,
combined with Villarreal's win at Benfica, left all four teams still in
contention to qualify.
Marcos Senna's long-range effort eight minutes from time gave Villarreal, who
visit Old Trafford next, a 1-0 win in Portugal and they top the group on six
points, with Lille and United on five points and Benfica on four.
Wenger fights his corner as Arsenal qualify in
style
Trezeguet simply the best says Capello
Ferguson
backs players, blames pitch after Lille defeat
Late Senna strike puts Villarreal top of group
Irresistible
Barca hit five past Panathinaikos
|