Liverpool FC and coach Jürgen Klopp have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League early. The Reds won 3-0 (1-0) in Group A at Dutch soccer champions Ajax Amsterdam and, with 12 points, are already in the knockout stages before the last matchday.
Amsterdam, on the other hand, will most likely continue in the Europa League. Goalscorer Mohamed Salah (42nd minute), Darwin Núñez (49th) and Harvey Elliott (52nd) scored for the Klopp team.
In addition to Liverpool, SSC Napoli was previously determined as a participant in the round of 16. The Italians had no trouble with Glasgow Rangers in the 3-0 (2-0) with two goals from Giovanni Simeone (11th/16th), son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone, and Leo Østigård (80th) and are behind the fifth success in the fifth match with 15 points at the top. After the 4:1 in the first leg against the Klopp team, even a narrow defeat is enough to win the group at the end of the preliminary round at Anfield Road.
In the Frankfurt group, Tottenham Hotspur missed the early leap into the round of the top 16. Coach Antonio Conte’s team parted ways with Sporting Lisbon 1-1 (0-1), but went into the last matchday with eight points as the group’s first ahead of the Portuguese and Eintracht Frankfurt (7 each). England’s Marcus Edwards put Sporting ahead after 22 minutes, while Rodrigo Bentancur equalized for Spurs ten minutes from time. In the fifth minute of injury time, Harry Kane struck what was supposed to make it 2-1 for Tottenham, but after a minute-long review by the video assistant, the goal was ruled out because the top scorer was offside.
Due to Inter Milan’s clear 4-0 (2-0) win over Viktoria Pilsen in Group C, FC Barcelona had no chance of qualifying for the round of 16 before the home game against FC Bayern. Former Wolfsburg Bundesliga professional Edin Dzeko (42nd minute/66th), ex-Dortmunder Henrich Mchitarjan (35th) and Belgium’s top striker Romelu Lukaku (87th) scored for the well-deserved victory.
FC Porto won 4-0 (1-0) at FC Bruges. Mehdi Taremi (33rd minute/70th), Evanilson (57th) and Stephen Eustáquio (60th) scored Porto’s goals against the Belgians who had already qualified for the round of 16. Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved back-to-back penalties in the second half – first saving Hans Vanaken’s shot, but the penalty was retaken. Noa Lang started and also failed at the goalkeeper.
