Leicester march into last 16 with Real; Spurs crash out
paris — Leicester kept their Champions League dreams aflame on Tuesday, cruising into the last 16 with a 2-1 win over Belgium’s Club Brugge, where they were joined by Real Madrid — but not a crestfallen Tottenham.
Joining the hopeful debutants and the holders on the night were Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco. They join last year’s runners-up Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who had already booked their spot in the last 16 with two group games to spare.
Leicester’s success saw the Foxes advance as Group G winners in their maiden season in the event, giving a major fillip to Claudio Ra- nieri’s side, who are just two points above the domestic drop zone.
Shinji Okazaki netted after just five minutes and a Riyad Mahrez penalty made it 2-0 before Jose Izquierdo notched a second-half con- solation for Brugge. The Colombian’s strike was the first goal Leicester have conceded in the tournament to date.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is looked forward to “another fairytale.” Asked which of Europe’s glamour clubs he would like to face in the next round, a smiling Ranieri replied: “I don’t know. It’s not important, believe me. “I hope to be there in good condition. That’s important. The name is not important. It will be another fairytale. Win, lose, it’s not important. It’s important to go there.”
As Leicester celebrated, Tottenham in contrast saw their adventure in Europe’s top club competition come to a grinding halt after a 2-1 loss at Monaco, who won Group E in the process. Spurs had a let off when their French keeper Hugo Lloris saved Radamel Falcao’s early spotkick. But quickfire goals from Djibril Sidibe and Thomas Lemar just after the break, sandwiching a Harry Kane penalty, did for the Londoners.
In the same group Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow to take the Germans into the knockout stages following Spurs’ loss. Kevin Volland put Leverkusen ahead after 16 minutes before Israeli international Bibras Natcho levelled. Spurs will host CSKA in a final game whose outcome will decide who goes into the Europa League. In any case, ‘home’ advantage at Wembley Stadium has hardly shone on Mauricio Pochettino’s side, given that they succumbed to defeats by Monaco and Leverkusen.
Holders and 11-times winners Real Madrid joined 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund in qualifying from Group F after a 2-1 win at star man Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club Sporting Lisbon. Raphael Varane gave the ‘meringues’ the lead before Adrien Silva netted a spot-kick for the Portuguese only
It will be another fairytale. Win, lose, it’s not important. It’s important to go there Ranieri, Leicester manager
for substitute Karim Benzema to pop up with the winner for Real. The Spaniards suffered a huge injury scare, however, just 11 days before facing Barcelona in La Liga as Welsh star Gareth Bale exited with an ankle injury shortly after half-time.
Dortmund secured the group win with a game to play after swatting Poland’s Legia Warsaw 8-4 — a record goalfest for a Champions League encounter. The Germans became one of an elite clique to notch five goals in a single Champions League half having led 5-2 at the interval. Marco Reus scored a hat trick and Japanese star Shinji Kagawa netted a brace as Dortmund ran riot.
Two-times champs Juventus are through after defeating previous Group H leaders Sevilla 3-1 in Spain. Claudio Marchisio with a penalty, Leonardo Bonucci and Mario Mandzucic scored for the ‘Old Lady’ of Turin after Nicolas Pareja had put Sevilla ahead early on. Perennial challengers Barcelona and Manchester City were hoping to book their tickets on Wednesday night with wins over Celtic and Borussia Moenchengladbach respectively. —