Barcelona qualify for Champions League last 16

Holders Barcelona qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League before taking to the field on Tuesday after BATE Borisov and Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 in Belarus.

Mikhail Gordeichuk put BATE ahead in the second minute only for Admir Mehmedi to equalise for the German visitors, with the result leaving Barca five points clear of third-placed Bayer, who have only a single match left, in Group E.

Luis Enrique's side entertain Roma at the Camp Nou later on Tuesday knowing just a draw will ensure that they go through as group winners.

Elsewhere, Zenit St Petersburg, who had already qualified for the last 16, made it an impressive five wins out of five in Group H by beating Valencia 2-0 in Russia.

Oleg Shatov gave the home side the lead after a quarter of an hour and the prolific Artem Dzyuba secured the points in the second half before Valencia defender Ruben Vezo was sent off.

Valencia could have gone through with a win but will instead drop to third place if Belgian champions Gent win at Lyon later on Tuesday.

Lyon, bottom of the group with one point, also remain in contention and know that a win against Gent and another victory in Valencia next month will see them advance.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich and Olympiakos will both secure progress from Group F, and thereby eliminate Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb, by drawing in Germany.

In Group G, Porto can clinch their place in the last 16 with a win at home to Dynamo Kiev while Chelsea could also guarantee their progress when they take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

Real Madrid and Manchester City, who play on Wednesday, are already through to the knockout stage.
Source: AFP