Atlético and Barcelona through to last 16
Club Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have joined Manchester City FC and FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
Bayern and Manchester City progressed on Tuesday and Atlético and Barcelona promptly followed suit with victories on Wednesday. Barcelona, two-time winners in the past five seasons, moved onto ten points in Group H with a 3-1 success against AC Milan, who had held them 1-1 in Italy a fortnight ago. The Rossoneri are now vying for the second qualification spot with AFC Ajax – who prevailed 1-0 against Celtic FC at the Amsterdam ArenA – and Neil Lennon's side.
Atlético have assumed even firmer control of Group G and are already assured of pole position having triumphed 4-0 at home to FK Austria Wien – equalling their record margin of victory in the UEFA Champions League. Even that defeat has not ruled the Austrian title holders out of contention, however, with FC Porto and FC Zenit three and four points ahead respectively after a 1-1 draw in Russia.
Chelsea are close to rubber-stamping their place in the last 16 thanks to a second successive 3-0 win against FC Schalke 04. Summer signing Samuel Eto'o scored twice at Stamford Bridge, his first UEFA Champions League goals since March 2011. The other Group E game – between FC Basel 1893 and FC Steaua Bucureşti – finished 1-1.
Arsenal FC and SSC Napoli, meanwhile, are in charge of Group F. The Gunners claimed an impressive 1-0 success at Borussia Dortmund, extending their unbeaten streak on their travels to 15 matches in all competitions while also ending the hosts' run of seven straight home victories in this competition. The Partenopei are level on nine points with Arsenal, three clear of Dortmund, having condemned point-less Olympique de Marseille to a 3-2 reverse.