At group-stage play in the UEFA Champions League came to a close on Wednesday, two matches took place in Group H. At Milan, Italy: Despite being held to a 0-0 home stalemate by Ajax Amsterdam (as well as being reduced to ten men, as Riccardo Montolivo was ejected via the red card, as shown here), AC Milan advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage, the only Italian club to do so. At Barcelona: Neymar delivered a natural hat trick (45', 48' [shown here], 58') as Barcelona demolished visiting Celtic 6-1 and clinched the top spot in Group H.
Photos from ESPN FC website FINAL GROUP F STANDINGS: 1. FC Barcelona (GP: 6; GD: +11; PTS: 13) 2. AC Milan (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 9) 3. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 8) 4. Celtic FC (GP: 6; GD: -11; PTS: 3)
FC Barcelona and AC Milan advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage while Ajax Amsterdam qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League.
Two games from Group H of the UEFA Champions League were contested on Tuesday.
At Glasgow, Scotland:
Kaka (13'), Cristian Zapata (49'), and Mario Balotelli (60',) each delivered a goal as AC Milan ended Celtic's hopes of staying in European competition with a 3-0 road domination at the Bhoys' expense. Here are members of the happy Rossoneri celebrating after Super Mario's goal. Photo from ESPN FC website
At Amsterdam, Netherlands:
Thulani Serero (19') and Danny Hoesen (42') each scored a goal in the first half as Ajax Amsterdam held off visiting Barcelona 2-1 to stay alive in the race for a berth in the Champions League's knockout stage.
Two games in Group H of the UEFA Champions League were contested on Wednesday. At Amsterdam, Netherlands: Lasse Schone (that's him celebrating here, folks) scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute as Ajax Amsterdam knocked off visiting Celtic 1-0 to stay alive in the race for a Champions League Round-of-16 berth.
Photo from ESPN FC website At Barcelona: Lionel Messi scored twice (PK-30', 83', that's him celebrating) as FC Barcelona locked up a berth in the Round of 16 after their 3-1 home win over AC Milan.
Reuters photo GROUP H STANDINGS: 1. x-FC Barcelona (GP: 4; GD: +7; PTS: 10) 2. AC Milan (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5) 3. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 4) 4. Celtic (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 3) x-Clinched berth in the Champions League's knockout stage
Tuesday saw two games contested from Group H of the UEFA Champions League.
At Glasgow, Scotland: James Forrest (PK-43, that's him scoring here, beating frustrated goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen) and Beran Kayal (54') delivered the goals that carried Celtic to a 2-1 home win over Ajax.
At Barcelona: Lionel Messi returned from an injury to scored the equalizer in the 24th minute as Barcelona gained a 1-1 road draw with AC Milan. Robinho (shown here) scored in the ninth minute for the Rossoneri.
Photos from ESPN FC website
GROUP H STANDINGS:
1. FC Barcelona (GP: 3; GD: +5; PTS: 7) 2. AC Milan (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5) 3. Celtic FC (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3) 4. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 1)
Action from Group H of the UEFA Champions League resumed on Tuesday with two games. At Amsterdam, Netherlands:
Mario Balotelli's stoppage-time penalty kick (90'+4, that's him here) enabled AC Milan to gain a 1-1 road draw with Ajax Amsterdam. Stefano Denswil had scored in the 90th minute for the hosts. At Glasgow, Scotland:
Cesc Fabregas (that's him celebrating) scored the only goal of the match in the 75th minute as Barcelona (minus the injured Lionel Messi) avenged their road defeat against Celtic from last year with a 1-0 road win over the 10-man Bhoys. Photos from Yahoo-Eurosport website GROUP H STANDINGS: 1. FC Barcelona (GP: 2; GD: +5; PTS: 6) 2. AC Milan (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 4) 3. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 1) 4. Celtic (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)
Action from Group H of the UEFA Champions League got under way on Wednesday with two games. At Milan, Italy:
Goals from Emilio Izaguirre (OG-82') and Sulley Muntari (86', that's him celebrating after scoring) carried AC Milan to a 2-0 home win over Celtic. At Barcelona:
A hat trick from (who else?) Lionel Messi (22', 55', 75') helped Barcelona punish visiting Ajax Amsterdam 4-0. AFP Photos GROUP H STANDINGS: 1. Barcelona (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 4) 2. AC Milan (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 4) 3. Celtic (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0) 4. Ajax Amsterdam (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)
