Arsenal pinch top spot from PSG
NAPOLI and Benfica clinched places in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday as nine-man Besiktas capitulated at Dynamo Kiev, while Arsenal snatched first place away from Paris Saint-Germain in Group A.
Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens scored second-half goals to earn Napoli a 2-1 victory over Benfica in Lisbon to send the Italians through to the knockout phase as winners of Group B.
Twice former European champions Benfica pulled a goal back late on through Raul Jimenez and qualified as runners-up.
In the group’s other game, Besiktas travelled to Ukraine hopeful of advancing after their rousing threegoal fightback on matchday five against Benfica, but the Turkish champions unravelled in a disastrous first half.
Lucas Perez grabbed his first hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt as Arsene Wenger’s side thumped Basel 4-1 in Switzerland to pip French champions PSG to top spot in their group.
Ludogorets claimed a memorable point and a place in the Europa League with a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes where they twice led on a frustrating evening for PSG.
Virgil Misidjan headed the Bulgarian outfit into an early advantage, but Edinson Cavani’s superb acrobatic effort brought PSG level on the hour.
A mistake from Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos allowed Jonathan Cafu to tee up Wanderson to put Ludogorets back on top, with Angel di Maria’s stoppage-time strike not enough to prevent Arsenal climbing above PSG.
Turkey midfielder Arda Turan hit a quickfire secondhalf hat-trick to propel Barcelona to a 4-0 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach in Group C with Lionel Messi also on target for the Catalan giants.
Celtic’s Patrick Roberts scored a terrific solo effort against parent club Manchester City in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Robert Lewandowski’s stunning first-half free-kick ended Atletico Madrid’s bid for a perfect six group wins as Bayern Munich won 1-0 at home.
Rostov will continue their European adventure in the Europa League after finishing third in Group D following a goalless draw at PSV Eindhoven.