Liverpool beat Lille 2-1 on Tuesday to keep up their good document 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.
Champions League – Liverpool v Lille – Harvey Elliott celebrates with Mohamed Salah after scoring their second purpose(REUTERS)
The Anfield aspect are the one staff with a most 21 factors from seven matches on this new, expanded Champions League and so they now know they may skip subsequent month’s play-offs and head straight to the final 16 in March.
Mohamed Salah ran clear to provide Liverpool the lead at dwelling to a Lille staff who’ve additionally impressed this season, and the guests appeared in bother once 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 provide Liverpool the factors.
“We’re happy that we are top eight. That’s the only thing that tells me something, because this league table doesn’t tell you anything,” mentioned Slot when requested about being by to the final 16.
The most important drama on the night time, 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 purpose halfway by the second half appeared to have secured the win for the Portuguese aspect.
Nonetheless, 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 team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see,” mentioned 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 very 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 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 purpose received it for the house aspect within the final minute as they climbed above Leverkusen.
Final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta are additionally assured at the very 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 acquired again to profitable methods after some disappointing outcomes had seen their marketing campaign stall, as Wilfried Singo’s early purpose proved sufficient for them to beat Aston Villa 1-0.
Each groups are set to progress to the knockout part and each might nonetheless end within the high eight.
Final season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund also needs to be effective 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 very 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 targets 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.