Milan in knockouts after nine years, PSG lose top spot

PARIS: AC Milan reached the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in nine years on Wednesday with a 4-0 victory over Salzburg, while RB Leipzig also qualified by thrashing Shakhtar Donetsk.

Paris Saint-Germain will be the team group winners want to avoid in Monday’s last-16 draw after missing out on top spot in Group H despite a 2-1 win at Juventus, as Benfica hammered Maccabi Haifa 6-1 to snatch first place on total away goals.

Milan knew a point would be enough to send them into the last 16 for the first time since the 2013-14 season after a groupstage exit last term.

Pioli’s side eased any nerves at the San Siro inside 14 minutes as Olivier Giroud headed home.

Milan’s return to the knockouts was all but confirmed less than a minute after half-time when Giroud headed the ball across goal for Rade Krunic to nod past Philipp Kohn in the Salzburg goal. Giroud added his second before the hour mark, allowing the home fans the opportunity to celebrate for the remainder of the match and Junior Messias added further gloss to the scoreline in added time. Milan qualified from Group E in

Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan (ITA)

second place behind Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Raheem Sterling and debutant Denis Zakaria. PSG lost top spot in Group H despite Nuno Mendes’s 69thminute winner in Turin as Benfica scored five goals in the second half at Maccabi. Kylian Mbappe’s individual effort put PSG in front, before Leonardo Bonucci dragged alreadyeliminated Juventus level. Mendes scored only a minute after coming off the bench, but late drama in Israel saw PSG slip to second.

Possible last-16 opponents for PSG include Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Napoli.