UCL: Liverpool suffer shock defeat, Barcelona through to round of 16

Barcelona are the first team to book a spot in the knockout round of this season’s UEFA Champions League following a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday.

The Catalans are still missing inspirational captain, Lionel Messi, and were short of attacking ideas although they dominated the game.

Ernesto Valverde’s team had to wait until the 83rd minute to break the deadlock through summer signing, Malcom. The Brazilian winger, on as a substitute, curled in from 20 yards to give Barca a deserved lead.

Inter Milan have scored all three goals in this season’s competition late in the game, and they repeated the trick through captain, Mauro Icardi. The one-time Real Madrid target was given room to swivel in the opponent’s penalty area and he accepted the invitation before firing through the legs of Marc-Andre ter Stergen to claim a draw.

The point gained could prove vital against group rival, Tottenham, who won 2-1 against PSV, when both meet later in the month to fight for the second qualifying spot in the group.

Liverpool, however, suffered the shock defeat of the night, going down 2-0 to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Facing a hostile crowd and with a raft of second string players handed starts, Red Star scored two quick first half goals through Milan Pavkov’s brace to stun the Anfield giants and held on for a famous victory.

Jurgen Klopp’s side would need four points from their last two group games to ensure qualification in a group that also has the inseparable pair of Napoli and PSG. Both clubs had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their encounter- a second consecutive draw- to keep their hopes alive.

Atlético Madrid avenged their defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Germany with a 2-0 win in Spain. Goals from Saul Niguez, and striker, Antoine Griezmann, brought the Spanish side level on points with the Germans, and both require just one point to advance.

There was, however, no respite for Thierry Henry and his Monaco side which lost 0-4 at home to Belgian side, Club Brugge to crash out of this season’s competition. The Belgian side scored three goals in 12 minutes early in the first half, and added the fourth five minutes from time.

Arsenal legend, Henry, has not won in five matches, while Monaco are on a 15-match winless run.

RESULTS

Monaco 0 – 4 Club Brugge

Red Star Belgrade 2 – 0 Liverpool

Atlético Madrid 2 – 0 Borussia Dortmund

Tottenham Hotspur. 2 – 1 PSV

Internazionale 1 – 1 Barcelona

Napoli 1 – 1 PSG

Porto 4 – 1 Lokomotiv Moskva

Schalke 04 2 – 0 Galatasaray