UEFA Champions League Group Stage Concludes: Juventus, Napoli crashes out

The Group stage of UEFA Champions League came to an end last night with the conclusion of Matchday 6 of group E-H. Also the abandoned Group B match between Galatasaray and Juventus which was abandoned on Tuesday night due to heavy snowfall was able to be completed last night.

Group B:
Galatasaray vs Juventus   1-0

European giants Juventus crashed out of the Champions League with a late Wesley Sneijder goal in Istanbul. The defeat means Galatasaray leapfrogged them to the second place while now they have to be content to play in the Europa League and they will be hot favourites to lift the Europa League trophy in the final which will be hosted in their own stdium. Real Madrid had already finished as the group winners.

Group E:
Chelsea vs Steaua Bucharest 1-0
Schalke vs FC Basel 2-0

Chelsea qualified in the top spot with a facile 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest while Schalke took the 2nd place behind them with a 2-0 home win against FC Basel. FC Basel now has the consolation of playing in the Europa League as the third placed team in the group.

Group F:
Borussia Dortmund vs Olympique Marseille 2-1
Napoli vs Arsenal 2-0

Napoli became the first team in the Champions League to record four wins in the group stage and yet fail to qualify to the second round. The unlucky Napoli won 2-0 against Arsenal but it was not enough as Borussia Dortmund defeated Olympique Marseille and Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal went through because both the teams had better head-to-head record against Napoli.

Group G:
Atletico Madrid vs Porto 2-0
Austria Wien vs Zenit St Petersburg 4-1

Porto crashed out of the Champions League with a 2-0 away loss at Group winners Atletico Madrid. Joining Atletico Madrid in the next round is Zenit St Petersburg who scrapped through to the next round even though they lost the last group game 1-4 against last placed Austria Wien.

Group H:
Barcelona vs Celtic 6-1
AC Milan vs Ajax 0-0

Barcelona demolished Celtic 6-1 with a hatrick from Neymar and thereby finishing the group stage on a high after a difficult few weeks. AC Milan joined the Catalans in the next round as they held Ajax Amsterdam at home.