GLASGOW — Barcelona wasted their first chance to reach the Champions League last 16 after a surprise defeat by Celtic, but Manchester United edged through and six-goal Bayern Munich rocketed closer to progression on Wednesday.
Report by SuperSport
Favourites BarÇa lost 2-1 in Glasgow after Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt struck in a famous win for the modest Scottish champions, who exposed the continued defensive frailties of the slick passing Catalans with non-stop energy and physicality.
Lionel Messi pulled one back late on, but the point that would have put the Group G leaders through was not forthcoming even if they still lead Celtic by two points and Benfica, 2-0 winners over Spartak Moscow, by five with two to play.
“It’s right up there, one of the proudest moments of my career. This is monumental,” Celtic manager Neil Lennon told reporters. His side had also led at the Nou Camp before a late 2-1 loss last month.
“We wanted to do ourselves justice and we surpassed that. We’ve beaten the best club in the world. It was a stiff examination and we came through it with flying colours.”
United came from behind to win 3-1 at Braga after a Robin van Persie strike, Wayne Rooney’s penalty and Javier Hernandez’s scrappy goal in the final 10 minutes sealed a knockout stage berth as group winners following a painful early exit last term. A powercut after Alan’s opening penalty for the Portuguese hosts had held up the Group H game for around 10 minutes in the second half, but United roared back.
Galatasaray’s 3-1 win in Cluj left second spot wide open.
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Shakhtar Donetsk could have gone through with a win in Group E, but lost 3-2 at stuttering holders Chelsea, who netted in injury time through Victor Moses’s header from a corner to spark wild scenes at Stamford Bridge.
Brazilian Willian, who reports have linked him with the Londoners after he helped the Ukrainians win 23 out of their last 23 domestic league games, had equalised twice with neat finishes after well-worked moves from the 2009 Uefa Cup winners. They had shot themselves in the foot early on when goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov’s clearance cannoned into the goal off Fernando Torres and the keeper’s clearing header was wonderfully sent into the net from distance by Oscar to make it 2-1.
Juventus powered to 4-0 home victory over Denmark’s Nordsjaelland, avenging the 1-1 draw at the minnows two weeks ago, but the Turin side stay third on six points with the Ukraine and English sides on seven.
