Napoli, Benfica by as Arsenal splash tip spot
Lucas Perez (L) celebrates with Mesut Ozil (2R) and Kieran Gibbs after scoring a idea on Dec 6, 2016 during a St Jakob Park track in Basel. PHOTO: AFP
PARIS: Napoli and Benfica clinched places in a Champions League final 16 on Tuesday as nine-man Besiktas capitulated during Dynamo Kiev, while Arsenal snatched initial place divided from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Group A.
Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens scored second-half goals to acquire Napoli a 2-1 feat over Benfica in Lisbon to send a Italians by to a knockout proviso as winners of Group B.
Twice former European champions Benfica pulled a idea behind late on by Raul Jimenez and competent as runners-up.
“We reached a objective, we wanted to win a organisation and we did it with a glorious opening here in Lisbon,” pronounced Callejon.
Battles aplenty as organisation stages pull to a close
In a group’s other game, Besiktas trafficked to Ukraine carefree of advancing after their rousing three-goal fightback on matchday 5 opposite Benfica, though a Turkish champions free in a catastrophic initial half.
Artem Besedin bundled in Dynamo’s opener on 9 mins during a Olympic Stadium and Besiktas suffered a vicious blow on a half hour with Andreas Beck sent off for a veteran tainted on Derlis Gonzalez.
Andriy Yarmolenko converted a ensuing chastisement and a hosts struck twice some-more before a mangle by Vitaliy Buyalskiy and Paraguayan Gonzalez to building a visitors.
Frustrations boiled over as Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar was discharged for a second yellow label on 56 mins and a miserable dusk grew even some-more degrading with Serhiy Sydorchuk and Junior Moraes adding their names to a scoresheet.
“We are very, really dissapoint and we can see it from each player’s face in a sauce room. We wish to forget this diversion and wish to paint Turkey in a best probable approach in a Europa League now,” pronounced Besiktas captain Oguzhan Ozyakup.
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Lucas Perez grabbed his initial hat-trick in an Arsenal shirt as Arsene Wenger’s side thumped Basel 4-1 in Switzerland to trill French champions PSG to tip mark in their group.
Hobbled by an ankle injury, Perez has played sparingly given his attainment from Deportivo la Coruna in August, though a Spaniard was means dual elementary finishes as a Gunners dominated during St. Jakob-Park.
The Spaniard slotted home his third on 47 mins and Mesut Ozil set adult Alex Iwobi to measure a fourth before Seydou Doumbia notched a satisfaction for Basel.
Ludogorets claimed a noted indicate and a place in a Europa League with a 2-2 pull during a Parc des Princes where they twice led on a frustrating dusk for Unai Emery’s hosts.
Virgil Misidjan headed a Bulgarian outfit into an early advantage, though Edinson Cavani’s glorious acrobatic bid brought PSG turn on a hour.
A mistake from Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos authorised Jonathan Cafu to tee adult Wanderson to put Ludogorets behind on top, with Angel Di Maria’s stoppage-time strike not adequate to forestall Arsenal climbing above Paris.
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“It’s a disappointment. We played a good compare during Arsenal (in November) and came behind in initial place. we consider a organisation deserved to win, though that’s football,” pronounced PSG manager Emery.
Turkey midfielder Arda Turan strike a quickfire second-half hat-trick to propel Barcelona to a 4-0 win during home to Borussia Monchengladbach in Group C with Lionel Messi also on aim for a Catalan giants.
Celtic’s Patrick Roberts scored a superb solo bid opposite primogenitor bar Manchester City in a 1-1 pull during a Etihad Stadium.
Kelechi Iheanacho staked his explain to a longer run in Pep Guardiola’s initial organisation — with Sergio Aguero confronting a four-match anathema — as a Nigerian struck a excellent equaliser.
Robert Lewandowski’s overwhelming first-half free-kick finished Atletico Madrid’s bid for a ideal 6 organisation wins from 6 as Bayern Munich won 1-0 during a Allianz Arena.
Rostov will continue their European journey in a Europa League after finishing third in Group D following a goalless pull during PSV Eindhoven.
Article source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1256080/napoli-benfica-arsenal-pinch-top-spot/