OVER AND OUT . . . OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Celtic receives a scare, but holds on to advance to tournament’s group stage
Nice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale can’t make the save in a Champions League playoff round, second-leg match Tuesday that saw Napoli advance.
Napoli produced its second 2-0 victory over Nice in a week to reach the Champions League group stage for a second successive season on Tuesday.
Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne scored in the second half to secure Napoli’s 4-0 aggregate win in the French Riviera where Nice fans booed Mario Balotelli when their striker was substituted. The Italian had been off the pitch arguing with the fourth official, leaving Nice with 10 men, when Callejon scored.
Only one side in action on Tuesday was eliminated after winning the first leg. Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s 2-1 advantage over Maribor was wiped out by the Slovenian side winning the second leg 1-0 at home to go through 2-2 on away goals.
Sevilla is through to the group stage for a third successive season after drawing 2-2 with competition newcomer Istanbul Basaksehir to advance 4-3 on aggregate.
Rijeka’s first Champions League campaign in 18 years is over after Olympiakos built on its 2-1 first leg success by winning 1-0 in Croatia. The Greek side will contest the group stage for the 18th time.
The lineup for Thursday’s groupstage draw will be completed on Wednesday.
Scottish champion Celtic was given ascare by Astana before advancing to the Champions League group stage 8-4 on aggregate on Tuesday.
Celtic held a 5-0 lead over Astana, but the Scottish champions were given a scare in Kazakhstan, where they lost 4-3 but still advanced 8-4 on aggregate.
Kristoffer Ajer’s own goal in the 26th minute gave Astana a glimmer of hope of mounting a comeback. Although Scott Sinclair levelled eight minutes later, quick-fire Astana goals at the start of second half from Serikzhan Muzhikov and Patrick Twumasi restored the host’s lead.
Twumasi scored again in the 69th to send Astana into a 4-1 lead, but his team still required three more goals to go through. Celtic’s nerves were eased by goals from Olivier Ntcham and Leigh Griffiths.