Barcelona experienced its biggest shock after getting defeated at the hands of Celtic on Wednesday resulting in no berth for it in the last 16 of Champions League. However, it has a smooth transition for Manchester United as well as Bayern Munich.
Barca ventured into the tournament as favorites only to get defeated 1-2 in Glasgow after Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt scored in a scintillating win for the modest Scottish champions, who tested the persistent defensive frailties of the slick passing Catalans with continuous display of sportsmanship and physical strength to the core.
Argentina star Lionel Messi scored one for the team, but that was not enough to save the team’s fortunes against an imminent defeat. However, the additional point that would have put the Group G top scorers through was not forthcoming even if they still lead Celtic by two points and Benfica, 2-0 winners over Spartak Moscow, by five with two to play.
“It’s right up there, one of the proudest moments of my career. This is monumental,” Celtic manager Neil Lennon told reporters. The Scottish side had also led at the Nou Camp before a late 2-1 loss last month.
“We wanted to do ourselves justice and we surpassed that. We’ve beaten the best club in the world. It was a stiff examination and we came through it with flying colours.”
Meanwhile, it was Manchester United that won 3-1 at Braga after trailing behind, with a Robin van Persie strike, Wayne Rooney’s penalty and Javier Hernandez’s scrappy goal in the last 10 minutes that guaranteed a knockout stage berth as group winners following a sorrowful preliminary eviction last season.
It was the fantastic cut after Alan’s opening penalty for the Portuguese hosts had remained it up in the Group H game for almost 10 minutes during the second half but United made their way back into the game.
During other matches, Galatasaray registered a 3-1 win against Cluj that has left second spot wide open.
Shakhtar Donetsk could have won in Group E but lost 3-2 at holders Chelsea, who scored a goal in injury time through Victor Moses’s header from a corner to signal wild reactions from fans at Stamford Bridge.
“We deserved to win the game today, particularly in the second half where we dominated. I only played 10 minutes but it was good to get the winning goal,” forward Moses said.
Brazilian Willian, who critics have related with the Londoners after he assisted the Ukrainians win 23 out of their last 23 domestic league games, had netted twice with neat finishes after well-worked moves from the 2009 UEFA Cup winners.
They had to bite the dust during the initial stages of the match after goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov’s clearance cannoned into the goal off Fernando Torres with the keeper’s clearing header was spectacularly directed into the net from distance by Oscar to make it 2-1.
Juventus cruised to 4-0 home victory over Denmark’s Nordsjaelland, avenging the 1-1 draw at the modest team two weeks’ ago, but the Turin side stay third on six points with the Ukraine and English sides on seven.
