Swans Can Ex-USMNT Boss

Swansea City currently sit 19th in the English Premier League standings and are currently in the relegation zone.

Initial Report On Chapecoense Plane Crash

Makes for sobering reading for fans and officials of South American soccer.

Steaua Bucharest's Top-Flight Status

In jeopardy?

Hmmmmmmmmm, could be.

CRISTIANO RONALDO HAT TRICK CARRIES GALACTICOS PAST GUTTY ANTLERS IN OT FOR FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP TITLE

At Yokohama, Japan:

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a natural hat trick on Sunday with his successfully-converted penalty kick in the 60th minute (shown here with Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata looking on) and a pair of overtime tallies (98', 104') as Real Madrid battled back and defeated Japan's Kashima Antlers 4-2 in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

The title was the second for the Spanish titans who won Europe's club title this past May.

Associated Press photo by Shuji Kajiyama

Earlier on Sunday, also at Yokohama, after a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes, Jhon Mosquera, Daniel Bocanegra, Macnelly Torres, and Miguel Borja all converted their spot kicks as Atletico Nacional defeated Club America 4-3 in the penalty-kick shootout and won the third-place match.

More Major League Soccer Expansion?

Seems to be on the way.

FIFA Club World Cup: It's Real Madrid vs. Kashima Antlers For The Marbles

At Yokohama, Japan:

Karim Benzema (45'+2; center) and Cristiano Ronaldo (90'+3; center-right)---both of whom are pictured here---each scored once on Thursday as Real Madrid blanked Mexico's Club America 2-0 in Thursday semifinal match in the FIFA Club World Cup.

We see the aforementioned duo trying to outrun America's Rubens Sanchez (right) and Bruno Valdez (left).

The reigning European club champions will battle the host country's Kashima Antlers in Sunday's final, set to take place in Yokohama.

Associated Press photo by Shuji Kajiyama

FIFA Club World Cup: Kashima Antlers Gore Atletico Nacional, Become First Asian Club To Advance To Final

At Osaka, Japan:

Shoma Doi (PK-33'), Yasushi Endo (83'), and Yuma Suzuki (85') each scored once on Wednesday as Kashima Antlers dominated South American champions Atletico Nacional of Colombia 3-0 in the first of two semifinal contests in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Japanese club became the first Asian team to advance to the final of this tournament.  On Sunday, Kashima will face the winner of Thursday's Club America-Real Madrid contest in the final, to be played in Yokohama.

Associated Press photo



Earlier on Wednesday, also in Osaka, Lee Jong-ho scored what proved to be the game winner in the 29th minute as South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Asia's club champs, shown here) dominated South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns (club champs of Africa) 4-1 in the fifth-place game.

Photo from FIFA website

MLS Expansion Draft:

Atlanta United and Minnesota United each selected five players in Tuesday's Major League Soccer expansion draft, with three players who were selected traded away soonafter.

ATLANTA UNITED FC:

Donny Toia, defender (selected from the Montreal Impact; traded to Orlando City for 2017 SuperDraft first-round pick)

Zach Loyd, defender (FC Dallas)

Clint Irwin, goalkeeper (Toronto FC; traded to Toronto FC for defender Mark Bloom and General Allocation Money)

Mikey Ambrose, defender (Orlando City SC)

Alec Kann, goalkeeper (Sporting Kansas City)



MINNESOTA UNITED FC:

Chris Duvall, defender (New York Red Bulls; traded to the Montreal Impact along with General Allocation Money for midfielder Jonah Venegas)

Collen Warner, midfielder (Houston Dynamo)

Mohammed Saeid, midfielder (Columbus Crew SC)

Jeff Attinella, goalkeeper (Real Salt Lake)

Femi Hollinger-Janzen, forward (New England Revolution)



Both clubs are set to start play next season.

Europa League Draw For Round of 32

The draws for the Round of 32 of the Europa League took place on Monday.

Here are the matchups for the Round of 32 (which opens on Thursday, February 16) with the game-one hosts listed first:

Athletic Bilbao (Spain) vs. APOEL FC (Cyprus)

Legia Warsaw (Poland) vs. Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands)

RSC Anderlecht (Belgium) vs. Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia)

Astra Giurgiu (Romania) vs. KRC Genk (Belgium)

Manchester United (England) vs. Saint-Etienne (France)

Villarreal (Spain) vs. AS Roma (Italy)

Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) vs. FC Copenhagen (Denmark)

Celta Vigo (Spain) vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Olympiacos (Greece) vs. Osmanlispor (Turkey)

KAA Gent (Belgium) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (England)

FC Rostov (Russia) vs. Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)

FC Krasnodar (Russia) vs. Fenerbahce (Turkey)

Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) vs. Fiorentina (Italy)

AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) vs. Lyon (France)

Hapoel Be'er Sheva (Israel) vs. Besiktas (Turkey)

PAOK FC (Greece) vs. Schalke 04 (Germany)

UEFA Champions League Group of 16 Draw: PSG Will Face Barca; Gunners Get Crack At Bayern; Galacticos vs. Light Blues

The draw for the UEFA Champions League's Round of 16 took place on Monday.

Here are the matchups with the Game-One hosts listed first as the first knockout round is slated to commence on Tuesday February 14:

Manchester City (England) vs. AS Monaco (France)

Real Madrid (Spain; defending champions) vs. Napoli (Italy)

SL Benfica (Portugal) vs. Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Bayern Munich (Germany) vs. Arsenal (England)

FC Porto (Portugal) vs. Juventus (Italy)

Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) vs. Atletico Madrid (Spain)

Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. FC Barcelona (Spain)

Sevilla (Spain) vs. Leicester City (England)

FIFA Club World Cup: Kashima, America Advance To Semifinals

Both contests in the quarterfinal round of the FIFA Club World Cup were played on Sunday at Suita City Football City in Osaka, Japan:

In the opener Silvio Romero scored twice (58', 74', that's him celebrating) as Club America came from behind to upend Asian champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1.  The Mexican club who won the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League crown will battle Real Madrid in Yokohama on Thursday.

Photo from FIFA website

In the nightcap, Yasushi Endo (63') and Mu Kanazaki (88') produced the goals as Kashima Antlers (seen here celebrating) blanked African champs Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa 2-0.  The winners of Japan's top domestic league will battle South American champs Atletico Nacional of Colombia on Wednesday in Osaka.

Photo from FIFA website

SOUNDERS WIN FIRST MLS CUP TITLE BY TOPPING REDS IN PK SHOOTOUT; STEFAN FREI NAMED GAME MVP

At Toronto:

After 120 scoreless minutes, Brad Evans, Andres Ivanschitz, Joevin Jones, Nicolas Lodeiro, and (with the winning shot) Roman Torres all converted their spot kicks as the Seattle Sounders (who did not register a single shot on goal in regulation or overtime) won the penalty-kick shootout 5-4 on the road over Toronto FC to win their first MLS Cup championship (and with it, a berth in next season's CONCACAF Champions League).

Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who came up with seven saves against his former team (including a huge one against the Reds' Jozy Altidore in overtime) and one in the shootout, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Europa League: Genk Knock Off Sassuolo, Win Group F As Group-Stage Play Concludes

At Reggio Emilia, Italy:

In the Europa League group-stage finale, Bryan Heynen (58') and Leandro Trossard (80') each scored once on Friday as KRC Genk, in a match that was postponed from Thursday due to heavy fog, blanked Sassuolo 2-0 in won the Group F title.

Final Group F Standings:

1. KRC Genk (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
2. Athletic Bilbao (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 10)
3. Rapid Vienna (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
4. Sassuolo (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 5)

KRC Genk and Athletic Bilbao advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.

FIFA Club World Cup: Kashima Antlers Outlast Auckland City In Tourney Opener

At Yokohama, Japan:

Goals from Shuhel Akasaki (67') and Mu Kanazaki (88'; that's him celebrating after scoring) carried Japanese champions Kashima Antlers to defeat OFC titleholders Auckland City of New Zealand 2-1 in Thursday's opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Associated Press photo by Shuji Kajiyama

Europa League: Group-Stage Play Concludes (Save For One Game Postponed In Italy Due To Fog)

23 games were contested on  Thursday as group-stage play in the Europa League---save for one contest postponed to Friday due to heavy fog----came to a conclusion.

GROUP A:

At Rotterdam, Netherlands:

Moussa Sow scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute as Fenerbahce knocked off Feyenoord Rotterdam 1-0 on the road to secure top spot in Group A

At Odessa, Ukraine:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (48') and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (88') delivered the goals as Manchester United locked up a knockout-stage berth by blanking Zorya Luhansk 2-0 on the road.

Final Group A Standings:

1. Fenerbahce (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 13)
2. Manchester United (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 12)
3. Feyenoord Rotterdam (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 7)
4. FC Zorya Luhansk (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 2)

Fenerbahce and Manchester United advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.



GROUP B:

At Bern, Switzerland:

Michael Frey (63'), Guillaume Hoarau (66'), and Thorsten Schick (71') each scored a goal during a nine-minute second-half span as BSC Young Boys dominated visiting Astana 3-0 in the tournament finale for both clubs.

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

Manuel de Costa (OG-19') and Igor de Camargo (83') each scored once as APOEL FC clinched top spot with a 2-0 blanking of visiting Olympiacos as both clubs had already clinched berths in the Round of 32.

Final Group B Standings:

1. APOEL FC (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 12)
2. Olympiacos (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
3. BSC Young Boys (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
4. Astana (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 5)

NOTE:  Olympiacos had a win and a draw in two games against BSC Young Boys.

APOEL FC and Olympiacos advanced to the knockout stage.


GROUP C:

At Mainz, Germany:

Alexander Hack (30') and Pablo De Blasis (40') provided the goal power as Mainz 05 blanked visiting Gabala 2-0 as both clubs concluded their European campaigns.

At Brussels, Belgium:

In a battle of two clubs that had already locked up berths in the knockout rounds, Alexander Soderlund scored twice (62', 67') and Kevin Monnet-Paquet once (74') as Saint-Etienne came back from two goals down to upend RSC Anderlecht 3-2 on the road and jump the Belgian club to win Group C.

Final Group C Standings:

1. Saint-Etienne (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 12)
2. RSC Anderlecht (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 11)
3. Mainz 05 (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 9)
4. Gabala (GP: 6; GD: -9; PTS: 0

Saint-Etienne and RSC Anderlecht advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.



GROUP D:

At Alkmaar, Netherlands:

Muamer Tankovic scored the winning goal in the 68th minute as AZ Alkmaar defeated visiting Zenit Saint Petersburg 3-2 to join the Russian club in the knockout stage.

At Netanya, Israel:

In what proved to be a meaningless match because of AZ's victory, Dor Micha scored the winning goal in the 38th minute as Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated visiting Dundalk 2-1 as both clubs said Au Revoir to European competition.

Final Group D Standings:

1. Zenit Saint Peterburg (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 15)
2. AZ Alkmaar (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 8)
3. Maccabi Tel Aviv (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 7)
4. Dundalk FC (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 4)

Zenit Saint Petersburg and AZ Alkmaar advanced to the knockout stage.



GROUP E:

At Plzen, Czech Republic:

Michal Duris scored twice in the second half (72', 84') as Viktoria Plzen defeated visiting Austria Vienna 3-2 in what proved to be the tournament swan song for both clubs.

At Bucharest, Romania:

Despite being held to a 0-0 stalemate by visiting AS Roma, Astra Giurgiu advanced to the knockout stage, joining the Italian club.

Final Group E Standings:

1. AS Roma (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 12)
2. Astra Giurgiu (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 8)
3. FC Viktoria Plzen (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Austria Vienna (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 5)

AS Roma and Astra Giurgiu advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.



GROUP F:

At Vienna, Austria:

Enric Saborit's equalizer in the 84th minute lifted knockout stage-bound Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 road draw with Rapid Vienna.  Joelinton scored for the hosts in the 72nd minute.

At Reggio Emilia, Italy:

Due to heavy fog, the Sassoulo-KRC Genk contest was postponed to Friday.


Athletic Bilbao and KRC Genk advanced to the Europa League knockout stage.



GROUP G:

At Liege, Belgium:

Benito Raman's equalizer in the 85th minute enabled Standard Liege to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Ajax Amsterdam, a deadlock that ultimately cost the Belgian club a knockout-stage berth.  Anwar El Ghazi scored for the club that had already claimed the Group G crown in the 27th minute.

At Athens, Greece:

John Guidetti (4') and Fabian Orellana (PK-76') each scored once as Celta Vigo punched their ticket for the knockout stage after their 2-0 road win over Panathinaikos.

Final Group G Standings:

1. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 14)
2. Celta Vigo (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
3. Standard Liege (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
4. Panathinaikos (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 1)

Ajax Amsterdam and Celta Vigo advanced to the Europa League knockout stage.



GROUP H:

At Konya, Turkey:

Kalifa Coulibaly scored the only goal of the match in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as KAA Gent locked up a berth in the Round of 32 with a 1-0 road win over Konyaspor.

At Braga, Portugal:

Serhiy Kryvtsov (22', 62') and Taison (39', 66') each scored twice (once in each half) as Shakhtar Donetsk doubled up SC Braga 4-2 on the road, concluding a perfect group stage campaign.

Final Group H Standings:

1. Shakhtar Donetsk (GP: 6; GD: +16; PTS:18)
2. KAA Gent (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 8)
3. SC Braga (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS; 6)
4. Konyaspor (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 1)

Shakhtar Donetsk and KAA Gent advanced to the Europa League knockout stage.



GROUP I:

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Xaver Schlager (22') and Josip Radosevic (90'+4) each scored a goal as FC Red Bull Salzburg blanked visiting FC Schalke 2-0, ruining the Royal Blues' perfect group-stage campaign.

At Nice, France:

Maxime Le Marchand scored the winning goal in the 77th minute as OGC Nice defeated visiting FC Krasnodar 2-1.

Final Group I Standings:

1. FC Schalke 04 (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 15)
2. FC Krasnodar (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3. FC Red Bull Salzburg (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
4. OGC Nice (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 6)

NOTE:  FC Krasnodar had a win and a draw in two games against FC Red Bull Salzburg.

FC Schalke 04 and FC Krasnodar advanced to the Europa League knockout stage.



GROUP J:

At Baku, Azerbaijan:

Federico Chiesa scored the winning goal in the 76th minute as Fiorentina clinched top spot in Group J with a 2-1 road win over Qarabag.

At Thessaloniki, Greece:

Garry Rodrigues (29') and Dimitris Pelkas (67') produced the goals as PAOK FC advanced to the knockout stage with their 2-0 blanking of visiting Slovan Liberec.

Final Group J Standings:

1. Fiorentina (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 13)
2. PAOK FC (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)
3. Qarabag (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 7)
4. FC Slovan Liberec (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 4)

Fiorentina and PAOK FC advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.



GROUP K:

At Milan, Italy:

Eder scored twice (23', 90') as Inter Milan, playing for pride, knocked off group-topping Sparta Prague 2-1 on the road.

At Southampton, England:

Maor Buzgalo's goal in the 79th minute lifted Hapoel Be'er Sheva to a 1-1 road draw, good enough for the Israeli club to advance to the knockout stage.  Virgil Van Dijk scored for the now-eliminated English club in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time.

Final Group K Standings:

1. Sparta Prague (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 12)
2. Hapoel Be'er Sheva (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 8)
3. Southampton (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
4. Inter Milan (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 6)

NOTE:  With Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Southampton playing to two draws with the aggregate score at 1-1, the Israeli club had the away-goals advantage (1-0).

Sparta Prague and Hapoel Be'er Sheva advanced to the Europa League's knockout stage.



GROUP L:

At Ankara, Turkey:

Dzon Delarge (73') and Erdal Kilicaslan (89') each scored once as Osmanlispor blanked visiting FC Zurich 2-0 to lay claim to top spot in Group L.

At Villarreal, Spain:

Manu Trigueros scored the winning goal in the 88th minute as Villarreal punched their tickets for the knockout stage by beating visiting Steaua Bucharest 2-1.

Final Group L Standings:

1. Osmanlispor (GP 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
2. Villarreal (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 9)
3. FC Zurich (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 6)
4. Steaua Bucharest (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 6)

NOTE:  FC Zurich and Steaua Bucharest battled to two draws and with the aggregate score at 1-1, the Swiss club had the away-goals advantage (1-0)

Osmanlispor and Villarreal advanced to the Europa League's group stage.

UEFA Champions League, Group H: Scoreless Draw On Road Sends Sevilla To Knockout Stage; Juve Blank Dinamo Zagreb; Lyon To Europa League

Two contests were played on Wednesday as action in Group H in the UEFA Champions League concluded.

At Decines-Charpieu, France:

Sevilla gained a 0-0 road draw with Lyon which clinched for them a berth in the knockout stage of the Champions League while the French club will settle for a Round-of-32 berth in the Europa League.  Mist was covering Lyon's home stadium prior to the contest.

Associated Press photo by Laurent Cipriani


At Turin, Italy:

Leonardo Bonucci scored the winning goal in the 84th minute as Juventus defeated visiting Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 to clinch top spot in Group H.  Here's Juve's Juan Cuadrado and Dinamo's Bojan Knezevic vying for the ball.

ANSA photo via Associated Press by Alessandro Di Marco

Final Group H Standings:

1. Juventus (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 14)
2. Sevilla (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 11)
3. Lyon (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
4. Dinamo Zagreb (GP: -15; PTS: 0)

Juventus and Sevilla advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage. Lyon qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League.

UEFA Champions League, Group G: Dragons Roast Foxes, Advance To Knockout Stage; Lions Settle For Europa League Berth After Road Win

Two Wednesday were contested as Group G action in the UEFA Champions League ended.

At Bruges, Belgium:

Brandon Mechele (OG-8') and Mathias Jorgensen (15') each scored a goal as FC Copenhagen blanked Club Brugge 2-0 on the road.  With FC Porto's dismembering of Leicester City, though, the Lions' hope of advancing to the Champions League knockout stage died.  The Danish club, however, will play in the knockout stage of the Europa League.  In the above photo, here's the Lions' Peter Ankersen going up against the Belgian club's Claudemir.

Associated Press photo by Geert Vander Wijngaert

At Porto, Portugal:

Andre Silva scored twice (6', PK-64') as FC Porto destroyed visiting Leicester City 5-0 to lock up a berth in the knockout stage alongside the English champs.  Here, we see the Foxes' Marcin Wasilewski on the ground fighting for the ball with the Dragons' Yacine Brahimi.

Associated Press photo by Paulo Duarte

Final Group G Standings:

1. Leicester City (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 13)
2. FC Porto (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 11)
3. FC Copenhagen (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 9)
4. Club Brugge (GP: 6; GD: -12; PTS: 0)

Leicester City and FC Porto advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage. FC Copenhagen qualified for the Europa League's Round of 32.

UEFA Champions League, Group F: Road Draw With Galacticos Hand Group Crown To Dortmund; Legia Upend Sporting CP To Reach Europa League

Two games were contested on Wednesday as action from Group F of the UEFA Champions Leagueto came to a close.

At Madrid:

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (61') and Marco Reus (88') each scored once as Borussia Dortmund came back from down two goals and gained a 2-2 road draw with Real Madrid to lock up top spot in Group F.  Karim Benzema (that's him, here, celebrating) scored both of the Galacticos' goals in the 28th and 53rd minutes.

Associated Press photo by Daniel Ochoa de Olza

At Warsaw, Poland:

Guilherme Costa Marques scored the only goal of the match in the 30th minute as Legia Warsaw knocked off visiting Sporting CP 1-0 to jump the Lions and clinch a berth in the Europa League knockout rounds.  That's Legia's Aleksandar Prijovic jumping for the ball with the visiting Lions' Paulo Oliveira.

Associated Press photo by Alik Keplicz

Final Group F Standings:

1. Borussia Dortmund (GP: 6; GD: +12; PTS: 14)
2. Real Madrid (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
3. Legia Warsaw (GP: 6; GD: -15; PTS: 4)
4. Sporting CP (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage.  Legia Warsaw clinched a berth in the knockout stage of the Europa League.

UEFA Champions League, Group E: Leverkusen Too Much For Monaco; Spurs To Europa League

UEFA Champions League group-stage play concluded on Wednesday with eight games, two of them in Group E.

At Leverkusen, Germany:

Vladlen Yurchenko (30'), Julian Brandt (48'; that's him [front, left] celebrating with teammates after scoring), and Morgan De Sanctis (OG-82') each scored once as Bayer Leverkusen  dominated visiting AS Monaco 3-0.

Associated Press photo by Martin Meissner

At London:

Dele Alli (38'), Harry Kane (45'+1), and Igor Akinfeev (OG-77') each scored a goal as Tottehham Hotspur clinched a berth in the Europa League's knockout stage by defeating CSKA Moscow 3-1 and ending the Horses' European campaign.  Here's Spurs' Danny Rose (right) challenging for the ball with CSKA's Zoran Tosic.

Associated Press photo by Frank Augstein

Final Group E Standings:

1. AS Monaco (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 11)
2. Bayer Leverkusen (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. Tottenham Hotspur (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
4. CSKA Moscow (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 3)

AS Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur advanced to the Champions League's group stage.  Tottenham Hotspur clinched a berth in the Europa League's knockout stage.

UEFA Champions League, Group D: Bayern Top Atletico; Rostov To Europa League

Two games are were contested on Tuesday as action in Group D in the UEFA Champions League closed.

At Munich, Germany:

Robert Lewandowski converted a free kick in the 28th minute to carry Bayern Munich to a 1-0 home win over fellow knockout-stage qualifiers Atletico Madrid.  That's Bayern Arjen Robben (right) reacting to a ruling from referee Clement Turpin.

Associated Press photo by Matthias Schrader

At Eindhoven, Netherlands:

FC Rostov gained a 0-0 stalemate on the road with PSV Eindhoven, good enough for the Russian club to move on to the knockout stage of the Europa League while the hosts' European campaign ended as a result.  Here's Rostov coach Ivan Daniliants giving directions to his charges.

Associated Press photo by Peter Dejong

Final Group D Standings:

1. Atletico Madrid (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 15)
2. Bayern Munich (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 12)
3. FC Rostov (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 5)
4. PSV Eindhoven (GP: 6; GD: -7; PTS: 2)

Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League.  FC Rostov qualified for the Europa League's knockout stage.

UEFA Champions Leegue, Group C: Barca Blast Not-So-Gladbach; Citizens Gain Home Draw With Bhoys

Two games were played on Tuesday, the final day of Group C action in the UEFA Champions League.

At Barcelona:

Arda Turan produced a second-half hat trick (50', 53', 67') as Barcelona demolished visiting Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0.  Lionel Messi, who opened the scoring in the 16th minute, is shown celebrating with the aforementioned Mr. Turan.

Associated Press photo by Francisco Seco

At Manchester, England:

Kelechi Iheanacho's equalizer in the eighth minute carried knockout-round-bound Manchester City gained a 1-1 home draw with Celtic.  Patrick Roberts scored in the fourth minute for the Bhoys, whose European campaign came to a conclusion.  It appears here that Citizens manager Pep Guardiola is suffering from Excedrin headache #472.

Associated Press photo by Dave Thompson

Final Group C Standings:

1. Barcelona (GP: 6: GD: +16; PTS: 15)
2. Manchester City (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
3. Borussia Monchengladbach (GP: 6; GD: -7; PTS: 5)
4. Celtic (GP: 6; GD: -11; PTS: 3)

Barcelona and Manchester City advanced to the Champions League knockout stage.  Borussia Monchengladbach qualified for the Europa League's knockout stage.