A two nil win for England in classic Champions League style as Italian clubs failed to go through to the next round in Tuesday. Liverpool advanced to the round of 16 by beating Napoli 1-0, though it relied on a stoppage-time save by goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Tottenham is also in Monday’s draw after defying expectations in Barcelona thanks to Lucas Moura’s85th-minute leveler in a 1-1 draw.
Even with that point, Tottenham still needed Inter Milan to lose or draw against win less PSV Eindhoven – and it ended 1-1 in San Siro.
Overall, English teams overcame nervous endings to finish runner-up in their groups on the night, and edged head-to-head tiebreakers with Italian rivals after finishing level on points.
A late goal in any of the three games would have changed the equation but Alisson saved Liverpool, second-half substitute Lionel Messi couldn’t lift Barcelona, and Inter failed to find a winner in seven minutes of stoppage time.
Napoli kicked off Tuesday leading Group C but dropped below Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, which won 4-1 at Red Star Belgrade to advance in top spot.
The four qualifying places in the other two groups playing Tuesday were decided last month.
Still, Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win at Monaco meant it rose above Atletico Madrid – which drew 0-0 at Club Brugge – to win Group A.
Porto had already clinched Group D’s top spot before winning 3-2 at Galatasaray, and runner-up Schalke beat visiting Lokomotiv Moscow 1-0.
Group winners will be drawn against a runner-up and play the second leg at home in the round of 16.
Third-place teams transfer to the Europa League’s round of 32, which is also drawn Monday at UEFA headquarters.
Napoli and Inter are joined there by Club Brugge and Galatasaray.
England will have all four of its teams in the Champions League round of 16 draw because both Manchester clubs, City and United, already secured their places before playing Wednesday.
After Napoli and Inter were eliminated Tuesday, Italy has just two teams in the draw. Juventus and Roma are also already through ahead of their final group-stage game Wednesday.
Paris Saint-Germain began its group with a loss at Liverpool but went unbeaten the rest of the way, scoring 17 goals in total.
Borussia Dortmund leads the Bundesliga and also topped its Champions’ League group. Raphael Guerreiro, the Portugal wing back, scored in each half in a 2-0 win in Monaco, which finished in last place with just one point.
Galatasaray was the big winner Tuesday in Group D, getting a place in the Europa League round of 32 despite its first home loss this season,3-2 against Porto.
The Turkish team retained third place in the group when Lokomotiv Moscow gave up a stoppage-time goal in a 1-0 loss at Schalke.
Porto and Schalke had already advanced before kickoff. Porto tops the group with an impressive 16-point tally and is seeded in Monday’s draw.
