6 Dec 2017

United reach Champions League last 16

11:52 am on 6 December 2017

Manchester United have reached the Champions League last 16 for the first time since 2013 after a 2-1 home victory against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford.

Serie A sides Juventus and Roma and Swiss champions Basel joined the Premier League giants in the knockout stage.

Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford Photo: Photosport

United progressed as winners from Group A thanks to two goals in a minute from Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford, turning the tie with the Russians who led in the first half.

Basel won 2-0 at Benfica to qualify second.

Juve, beaten finalists last season, triumphed 2-0 at Olympiakos to progress second behind Group D winners Barcelona, who won 2-0 at home to Sporting.

Roma beat Qarabag 1-0 to top Group C ahead of Chelsea, who were held 1-1 at home to third-place Atletico Madrid, by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

In Group B, Bayern Munich defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 but failed to find the four-goal winning margin needed to knock the French off top spot.

At Old Trafford, United hit the post early on through Rashford and dominated the first period but CSKA struck before the break.

Vitinho's shot deflected in off Alan Dzagoev, who was only deemed onside due to United defender Daley Blind being off the pitch behind the goalline.

The Russians needed to win and see Basel slip, but Lukaku and Rashford struck in the 65th and 66th minutes to end their chance of progress.

Basel ensured their passage in the knockout stage with Mohamed Elyounoussi and Dimitri Oberlin getting the goals away to Benfica, who finished bottom without a point.

Atletico Madrid, finalists in two of the past four years, crashed out of Group C despite Saul Niguez heading home the opening goal at Chelsea on 56 minutes.

Stefan Savic put into his own net from an Eden Hazard cross to level the scores and send them into the Europa League.

In the Italian capital, Roma edged eliminated Qarabag thanks to Diego Perotti nodding in a rebound from Edin Dzeko's shot.

Italian champions Juventus struck early in Greece through Juan Cuadrado and late with Federico Bernardeschi to secure the runners-up place in Group D behind Barca.

Sporting took third despite losing to Francisco Alcacer's header and an own goal from former Barca defender Jeremy Mathieu in a low-key clash at the Camp Nou.

In Munich, Robert Lewandowski and a double from Corentin Tolisso, sandwiching Kylian Mbappe's reply, gave Bayern a confidence-boosting win over PSG.

Celtic secured the Europa League spot in the group despite losing 1-0 at home to Anderlecht, on a Jozo Simunovic own goal.

-AAP