Liverpool on Tuesday beat Lille OSC 2-1 to maintain their perfect record in this season’s UEFA Champions League and clinch qualification for the last 16, while Barcelona produced a stunning comeback to beat SL Benfica 5-4 in a classic to secure their own place.
The Anfield side are the only team with a maximum 21 points from seven matches in the new, expanded Champions League, and they now know they will skip next month’s playoffs and head straight to the last 16 in March.
Mohamed Salah ran clear to give Liverpool the lead at home to a Lille team who have also impressed this season, and the visitors appeared in trouble when they had Aissa Mandi sent off just before the hour mark.
Photo: Reuters
Jonathan David swept in an equalizer for Lille, but Harvey Elliott’s shot took a wicked deflection on its way in to give Liverpool the points.
“We’re happy that we are top eight. That’s the only thing that tells me something, because this league table doesn’t tell you anything,” Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said when asked about being through to the last 16.
The biggest drama on the night came in the rain in Lisbon, where Barcelona trailed 4-2 with 12 minutes of the 90 remaining, but somehow recovered to win 5-4.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat-trick in the first 30 minutes for Benfica, including a penalty, while Robert Lewandowski netted from the penalty spot for Barca, who were 3-1 down at halftime.
Raphinha pulled it back to 3-2 when a clearance by the goalkeeper ricocheted back off the Brazilian’s head and in, but a Ronald Araujo own-goal midway through the second half appeared to have secured the win for the Portuguese side.
However, another Lewandowski penalty on 78 minutes gave Barcelona renewed hope, and Eric Garcia headed in the equalizer on 86 minutes, before Raphinha ran away to settle an incredible game.
“The mentality of the team, they always believe in themselves and this was unbelievable to see,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said.
The Catalans are second with six wins out of seven, and will finish in the top eight to go straight to the last 16. Benfica, with 10 points, must still sweat to reach the playoff round.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid are third on 15 points and certain to at least be in the playoffs after a Julian Alvarez brace secured a 2-1 home victory over Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a game both teams finished with 10 men.
Atletico had Pablo Barrios sent off midway through the first half and Piero Hincapie then put Leverkusen ahead just before halftime.
Argentina star Alvarez leveled seven minutes into the second half, and Hincapie was sent off for the Germans before another Alvarez goal won it for the hosts in the last minute as they climbed above Leverkusen.
Last season’s UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta BC are also guaranteed at least a playoff place after crushing SK Sturm Graz of Austria 5-0.
Mateo Retegui, Mario Pasalic, Charles de Ketelaere, Ademola Lookman and Marco Brescianini all scored for the Italians.
AS Monaco got back to winning ways after some disappointing results had seen their campaign stall, as Wilfried Singo’s early goal proved enough for them to defeat Aston Villa 1-0.
Both teams are set to progress to the knockout phase and both could still finish in the top eight.
Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund should also be fine despite a 2-1 defeat away to Bologna, as substitutes Thijs Dallinga and Samuel Iling-Junior scored a minute apart in the second half after Serhou Guirassy’s early penalty had put the German side in front.
Club Brugge KV held Juventus to a 0-0 draw in Belgium as that duo both look set to go through to the playoffs at least, while PSV Eindhoven are poised to advance following a 3-2 win at Red Star Belgrade.
PSV led 3-0 at halftime thanks to a Luuk de Jong double and a Ryan Flamingo strike, but the latter was sent off early in the second half and Red Star pulled goals back courtesy of Cherif Ndiaye and Nasser Djiga.
VfB Stuttgart maintained their hopes of reaching the playoffs with a 3-1 win away to SK Slovan Bratislava, who have lost every game.
Jamie Leweling bagged a brace for Stuttgart and Fabian Rieder sealed their victory after Idjessi Metsoko had pulled one back.
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