Liverpool beat Lille 2-1 on Tuesday to take care of their excellent file on this season’s Champions League and clinch qualification for the final 16, whereas Barcelona produced a shocking comeback to beat Benfica 5-4 in a traditional to safe their very own place.
The Anfield facet are the one crew with a most 21 factors from seven matches on this new, expanded Champions League and so they now know they are going to skip subsequent month’s play-offs and head straight to the final 16 in March.
Mohamed Salah ran clear to offer Liverpool the lead at dwelling to a Lille crew who’ve additionally impressed this season, and the guests appeared in bother after they had Aissa Mandi despatched off simply earlier than the hour mark.
Jonathan David swept in an equaliser for Lille, however Harvey Elliott’s shot took a depraved deflection on its approach in to offer Liverpool the factors.
“We’re pleased that we’re high eight. That is the one factor that tells me one thing, as a result of this league desk would not let you know something,” stated Slot when requested about being by way of to the final 16.
The most important drama on the evening, nevertheless, got here within the rain in Lisbon, the place Barcelona trailed 4-2 with 12 minutes of the 90 remaining, however by some means recovered to win 5-4.
Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat-trick within the first half-hour for Benfica, together with a penalty, whereas Robert Lewandowski netted from the spot for Barca, who have been 3-1 down on the interval.
Raphinha pulled it again to 3-2 when a clearance by the goalkeeper ricocheted again off the Brazilian’s head and in, however a Ronald Araujo personal objective halfway by way of the second half appeared to have secured the win for the Portuguese facet.
Nevertheless, one other Lewandowski penalty on 78 minutes gave Barcelona renewed hope, and Eric Garcia headed within the equaliser on 86 minutes, earlier than Raphinha ran away to settle an unbelievable sport.
“The mentality of the crew, they at all times consider in themselves and this was unbelievable to see,” stated Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.
The Catalans are second with six wins out of seven, and can end within the high eight to go straight to the final 16. Benfica, with 10 factors, should nonetheless sweat to succeed in the play-off spherical.
– Alvarez provides Atletico victory –
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid are third on 15 factors and sure to at the least be within the play-offs after a Julian Alvarez brace secured a 2-1 dwelling victory over Bayer Leverkusen in a sport each groups completed with 10 males.
Atletico had Pablo Barrios despatched off halfway by way of the primary half, and Piero Hincapie then put Leverkusen forward simply earlier than the break.
Argentina star Alvarez levelled seven minutes into the second half, and Hincapie was despatched off for the Germans earlier than one other Alvarez objective received it for the house facet within the final minute as they climbed above Leverkusen.
Final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta are additionally assured at the least a play-off place after crushing Sturm Graz of Austria 5-0.
Mateo Retegui, Mario Pasalic, Charles De Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman and Marco Brescianini all scored for the Italians.
Monaco obtained again to profitable methods after some disappointing outcomes had seen their marketing campaign stall, as Wilfried Singo’s early objective proved sufficient for them to beat Aston Villa 1-0.
Each groups are set to progress to the knockout section and each may nonetheless end within the high eight.
Final season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund must also be wonderful regardless of a 2-1 defeat away to Bologna, as substitutes Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior scored a minute aside within the second half after Serhou Guirassy’s early penalty had put the Germans in entrance.
Membership Brugge held Juventus to a 0-0 attract Belgium as that duo each look set to undergo to the play-offs at the least, whereas PSV Eindhoven are poised to advance following a 3-2 win at Purple Star Belgrade.
PSV led 3-0 on the break because of a Luuk de Jong double and a Ryan Flamingo strike, however the latter was despatched off early within the second half and Purple Star pulled objectives again courtesy of Cherif Ndiaye and Nasser Djiga.
VfB Stuttgart maintained their hopes of reaching the play-offs with a 3-1 win away to Slovan Bratislava, who’ve misplaced each sport.
Jamie Leweling bagged a brace for Stuttgart and Fabian Rieder sealed their victory after Idjessi Metsoko had pulled one again.
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