adminPARIS. — A memorable 50th appearance in the Champions League soccer for Samir Nasri helped Manchester City into the last 16 on Wednesday night, while a Neymar stunner set Barcelona on the way to topping their group.Nasri’s first goal of the season – also his 50th for an English club – and an assist for Pablo Zabaleta secured a 2-0 win for City away against Roma and saw them qualify for the knock out stage at the expense of the Italian side in Wednesday’s final round of group games.
Meanwhile, Group E winners Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory at home to CSKA Moscow gave Roma the consolation of a spot in the Europa League.
Neymar’s superb goal – a curling right-footed effort from outside the area before half-time – put Barcelona into the lead against Paris Saint-Germain in a game the Catalans had to win to pip their opponents to top spot in Group F.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given PSG the lead, but Lionel Messi equalised and, after Neymar paved the way to victory, Luis Suarez added a third – his first at the Camp Nou since his move from Liverpool – in the second half.
Barca’s victory means they can surely now expect an easier tie when the draw is made on Monday, while the result ended PSG’s record of being the only unbeaten side left in the major European leagues this season.
Germany’s Schalke 04 were the other qualifiers on the night, their 1-0 win away at Maribor thanks to 19-year-old Max Meyer’s 62nd-minute goal, sealing their place as rivals Sporting Lisbon went down 3-1 against Group G winners Chelsea.
Who has qualified?
Winners
Runners-up
Group A
Atletico Madrid
Juventus
Group B
Real Madrid
Basel
Group C
Monaco
Bayer Leverkusen
Group D
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
Group E
Bayern Munich
Manchester City
Group F
Barcelona
PSG
Group G
Chelsea
Schalke
Group H
Porto
Shakhtar Donetsk. — AFP
Online Reporter