GENEVA, Dec 14 : Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé were left holding a ticket to the Champions League knockout round Wednesday after a tense finish to the tightest group saw Newcastle let its chance slip.
PSG’s 1-1 draw at Group F winner Borussia Dortmund — earned by 17-year-old Warren Zaïre-Emery’s 56th-minute leveler — was enough to secure second place because Newcastle lost 2-1 at home to AC Milan.
“We are still alive,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose unseeded team can now be drawn to face Manchester City, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. “No team will hope to play us in the next round.”
AC Milan and Newcastle were eliminated from the Champions League after the Italian team’s 2-1 win at St. James’ Park that ensured Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappé qualified for the round of 16 instead.
Milan at least claimed the consolation prize of dropping into the Europa League playoff round after Samuel Chukwueze’s 84th-minute winner lifted last season’s Champions League semifinalist above Newcastle into third place in Group F.
Milan joined PSG on eight points after the six group games, but finished behind the French team courtesy of an inferior head-to-head record.
ATLETICO BEAT LAZIO
With a record-tying 20th consecutive victory at home, Atletico Madrid won its Champions League group for the first time in six seasons.
Atletico beat Lazio 2-0 on Wednesday to finish first in Group E and match its longest-ever winning run as a host in all competitions – equaling Diego Simeone’s team in 2013.
Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Lino scored a goal in each half at the Metropolitano stadium to give Atletico 14 points, four more than second-place Lazio. Last-place Celtic beat third-place Feyenoord 2-1 at home in the other group match.
Both Atletico and Lazio had already advanced to the knockout stage.
A draw would also have been enough for Atletico to clinch first place and be among the seeded teams that will avoid other group winners in the next round.
ANTWERP STUN BARCA
Last-place Antwerp bid farewell to the Champions League in style with a 3-2 win over Barcelona after 17-year-old forward George Ilenikhena scored in second-half stoppage time.
Antwerp had lost its five previous matches and was going to finish last in Group H regardless of the result. Barcelona had already qualified for the knockout stage before kickoff and finished top of the group despite the loss.
With nothing left to play for, Antwerp attacked from the start in a game full of twists and turns.
The hosts immediately imposed high pressing, creating their first chance in the opening minute and breaking the deadlock in the second with a goal from 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren.
Ferran Torres leveled for the Spanish champions before Antwerp forward Vincent Janssen made it 2-1 in the second half.
Marc Guiu silenced the home fans in added time from a set piece at the packed Bosuilstadion but despair quickly made way for frenetic celebrations as Ilenikhena restored Antwerp’s lead a minute later.
Barcelona made seven changes to the side that lost 4-2 at home to Girona in the Spanish league at the weekend.
Barcelona coach Xavi still fielded a very competitive team, with Robert Lewandowski starting up front alongside up-and-coming Lamine Yamal on the right, and Torres on the other wing.
“It was a difficult and tough match,” Xavi said. “They played aggressively and were good defensively. We didn’t play that well. We were not comfortable. But the first goal was to be in the round of 16 and there we are. We look forward to the draw (on Monday).
HAMILTON GUIDES CITY
Six years ago, Micah Hamilton was operating as a ball boy at Manchester City when he was pictured getting instructions off Pep Guardiola to help speed up play.
On Tuesday, he was scoring in the Champions League on his senior debut for the club.
Hamilton, an attacking midfielder who turned 20 last month, demonstrated his potential by jinking inside then outside a defender before firing a rising shot into the roof of the net to give City a 1-0 lead at Red Star Belgrade in the 19th minute.
He also won a penalty in City’s 3-2 win in the Serbian capital.
Born and brought up in Manchester, Hamilton joined City at the age of 7 and has progressed through the age groups at the club.
CELTIC END SIX YEAR WAIT
Celtic finally got a win in the Champions League – six years and 16 group-stage games after the last one – by beating Feyenoord 2-1.
A stoppage-time goal by substitute Gustaf Lagerbielke, his first for Celtic, ended an unwanted hapless run for the Scottish champion which won the European Cup in 1967.
Victory in a rematch of the 1970 final won by Feyenoord was the incentive for Celtic, which was sure before kickoff to finish last in Group E.
Feyenoord was assured of third place and will enter the Europa League knockout playoff round in February.
Atletico Madrid clinched winning the group by beating Lazio 2-0.
Celtic led on Luis Palma’s 33rd-minute penalty and the Dutch champion tied the game in the 82nd when substitute Yankuba Minteh scored.
Sweden defender Lagerbielke scored from a header at close range meeting a cross from Matt O’Riley.
The celebrations were joined by several fans running on the field, including one who hugged Lagerbielke, which will cost Celtic a disciplinary fine. (PTI)
