Barcelona concluded their Champions League campaign with a chaotic victory away to group outsiders Viktoria Plzen .
The Catalan side had already been eliminated from the competition with a full round of matches remaining – as Bayern Munich and Inter had already secured their progress through to the Round of 16, with Barca destined for the playoff round of the Europa League.
Xavi Hernandez’s side had appeared to be on their way to a comfortable three points at the half-time interval in Plzen as early goals put them in control of the game. Marcos Alonso had opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Ferran Torres doubled the advantage a minute before the break.
Despite the scoreline and the home side’s struggles in the group – losing all five of their opening matches – the Czech team remained spirited throughout and continued to create chances and trouble Barca’s defence.
That paid off as a penalty from Tomas Chory halved the deficit seven minutes after half-time but Torres grabbed his second of the match two minutes later to restore the away side’s two-goal cushion. Chory then grabbed his and Viktoria’s second just after the hour mark as more sloppy, passive defending from the visitors was punished.
However, the game was more or less ended as a contest as teenage midfielder Pablo Torre lashed home his first senior goal for the club - with the win bringing £2.4million for the Catalan club. However, a further two goal conceded in the game – albeit for a much-changed XI – ensured that Xavi’s side shipped a worrying 12 goals in six group games.
Bayern Munich ensured they continued their perfect group stage record as they saw-off Inter with a two-goal win at the Allianz Arena. Benjamin Pavard’s first half header and a strike from the in-form Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting sealed a hard-fought but impressive victory for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
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Earlier on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid exited European competition entirely as they went down to a 2-1 loss at FC Porto . Early goals from Mehdi Taremi and Stephen Eustaquio sealed the points for Porto, who topped the group, before Ivan Marcano’s late own goal. A scoreless draw between Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge saw the Bundesliga side pip Atleti to a Europa League spot.
In Scotland, Rangers concluded a miserable group stage campaign by crashing to a two-goal defeat at home to Ajax . Goals from Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus put the Eredivisie giants on course for a comfortable win, despite a late penalty from James Tavernier setting up an exciting finish before Francisco Conceicao added a third for Ajax. Rangers became the first Scottish to lose all six group stage games in the Champions League.
Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt are through to the Champions League Round of 16 as they came from behind to secure victory at Sporting CP . The home side only needed a draw to progress but Arthur gave them a half-time lead in Lisbon, but a penalty from Daichi Kamada and strike from Randal Kolo Muani turned the game on its head.
