Yaya Toure’s cool finish put Manchester City 2-0 up

Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League despite a polished win over an under-strength Bayern Munich.

David Silva fired in from 20 yards before Yaya Toure surged through to double their lead after the break.

But Napoli’s win at Villarreal sent them through alongside group winners Bayern and ensured that Roberto Mancini’s men will have to compete in the Europa League.

They will be joined in the competition by rivals Manchester United.

United failed to progress after a shock 2-1 defeat to FC Basel and both Manchester clubs will now have to juggle a Premier League challenge with Thursday night European action.

Mancini’s side controlled the game at Etihad Stadium but had left themselves too much to do after earlier defeats in Munich and in Napoli last month.

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes took the opportunity to rotate his squad, naming just three players – Rafinha, Jerome Boateng and Luiz Gustavo – who started the victory over City in September.

And City immediately took control, Sergio Aguero heading over at the end of a flowing move before Silva opened the scoring in fine style.

Gareth Barry’s pass was flicked on by Edin Dzeko and after taking a touch on his chest, Silva thrashed a half-volley into the corner from the edge of the box.

Toure made it 2-0 in the second period after running onto Dzeko’s through-pass and City looked set for the last 16.

Chelsea had won only four of their previous 10 games in all competitions

Chelsea reached the Champions League knockout phase as Didier Drogba inspired them to the win they required against Valencia at Stamford Bridge.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas took the bold decision to drop the vastly experienced Frank Lampard for a game that could have shaped the Blues boss’s future – then saw another of Stamford Bridge’s old guard prove the catalyst to confirm a place in the last 16 as Group E winners.

Drogba, who has been linked with a move as he holds out for a two-year contract, was in irresistible mood and terrorised Valencia throughout, scoring a goal in each half as Chelsea ran out emphatic winners, putting the Spanish side out of the competition in the process.

The Ivorian also played his part in Chelsea’s second with a run of trademark power and purpose midway through the first half to set up Ramires, a goal which came just as Valencia threatened to work their way back into the game.

 

Media persecute Chelsea – Villas-Boas

Chelsea’s win and progress from the group stage was a rich reward for Villas-Boas’s bravery in leaving out Lampard, completing a satisfactory few days for the 34-year-old Portuguese after a vital Premier League win at Newcastle United on Saturday.

Villas-Boas has been under the spotlight following Chelsea’s recent struggles, but a measure of calm and stability can now be restored as they play for the familiar territory of the later stages of the Champions League.

Lampard remained an unused substitute but Chelsea’s win more than justified Villas-Boas’s decision to hand midfield responsibility to Ramires, Raul Meireles and impressive youngster Oriol Romeu.

For all the debate about Lampard, his absence was irrelevant in the opening exchanges as Drogba used all his physical presence to prey on Valencia’s weaknesses.

He took only three minutes to settle the nerves around a noisy Stamford Bridge, taking advantage of good work by Valencia old boy Juan Mata to roll a left-foot finish beyond Diego Alves.

Valencia’s response was robust and positive. Jordi Alba rattled the outside of an upright before David Albelda’s long-range effort was splendidly clawed away by the diving Petr Cech.

As Valencia threatened to force their way back into contention, Drogba was again the driving force as Chelsea increased their lead after 22 minutes. He surged through the heart of Valencia’s rearguard to play in Ramires, but it still took inept defending from Victor Ruiz to allow the Brazilian to steal in and poke his shot past Diego Alves.

Daniel Sturridge’s pace was causing problems on right flank and twice either side of the interval he created chances but saw his efforts blocked at the near post.

Valencia signalled that they still posed a danger as Cech again saved well from Sofiane Feghouli’s angled shot – which prompted Villas-Boas to make a change, sending on Jon Obi Mikel for Ramires.

It was not a decision that was universally acclaimed around Stamford Bridge, with Lampard receiving a warm ovation as he warmed up at the same time.

Drogba, inevitably, was the man who upped the tempo to ease any lingering concerns, first firing narrowly wide before running on to another astute Mata pass to score with 14 minutes left.

Injuries added to Arsenal’s night of frustration in Athens

Under-par Arsenal suffered defeat in Greece but still advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League after finishing Group F winners.

Goals by Rafik Djebbour, David Fuster and Francois Modesto earned Olympiakos victory – but they failed to go through after a dramatic Marseille win.

Yossi Benayoun netted Arsenal’s consolation from 15 yards.

But on a bad night for Arsene Wenger’s side, keeper Lukasz Fabianski and Andre Santos both went off injured.

It was not the performance Wenger wanted as the Frenchman marked his 200th European game in charge – 44 for Monaco and 156 for Arsenal.

His players were guilty of giving away possession far too easily while Olympiakos will be wondering how they did not win by a more handsome margin.

With his team having already secured top place in Group F, Wenger made nine changes to the one which crushed Wigan 4-0 on Saturday.

Yet his mixture of fringe players and youngsters endured a terrible first-half in which they conceded twice and lost Fabianski.

Arsenal were sloppy from the start and although Andrey Arshavin was denied by Olympiakos keeper Balazs Megyert following Marouane Chamakh’s powerful eighth-minute run, the hosts were ahead in the 17th minute.

Johan Djourou and Sebastian Squillaci were unable to cut out Fuster’s pass which allowed Djebbour to round the keeper to slot in from a tight angle.

It was just the start the reigning Greek champions wanted and it went from bad to worse for Arsenal when Fabianksi injured his knee and had to be carried off on a stretcher after 25 minutes following a melee inside the visitors penalty area.

Fabianski’s exit paved the way for Vito Mannone – whose last outing was on loan at Hull in April – to make a rare appearance.

But the 23-year-old Italian keeper was guilty of the blunder which allowed the Greeks to double their lead in the 36th minute.

Mannone was left embarrassed after racing out to the edge of his area to head clear under pressure from Kevin Mirallas – only then to make a complete hash of attempting to scissor-kick the ball clear when it was returned over him by Fuster.

Arsenal were fortunate to go in at the interval 2-0 down as Djourou gave the ball away to Giannis Maniatis in the penalty area, but his curling effort was held by Mannone.

Wenger was forced into another change when Santos had to be helped off with what looked like a leg injury, replaced by 19-year-old Spaniard Ignasi Miquel.

And Miquel made an immediate impact when the substitute’s floated cross was chested down by Chamakh and Benayoun drove the ball into the far corner in the 58th minute.

Mannone then almost hit the self-destruct button again as he failed to collect a loose ball when Thomas Vermaelen stood off – and somehow Modesto headed wide of an open goal from six yards.

But Arsenal’s misery was complete when Modesto tapped home after Olof Mellberg’s header came back off the post in the 89th minute.

However, it was still not enough to take Olympiakos through after the late drama in Germany where Marseille scored twice in the closing stages to defeat Borussia Dortmund.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “Fabianski felt a deep cut on the knee and Santos suffered a bad ankle injury. He looks like he will be out for a while.

“We have [Kieran] Gibbs coming back in two to three weeks. Hopefully Santos will not be too long but, for Saturday against Everton, he looks to be short. We have as well Vermaelen who can play in his position.

“We must give credit to Olympiakos because they played a very physical game and in the first half it was very difficult for us. I don’t think we had the right tactical approach.

“In the second half at 2-1 we looked like we might come back, but they were dangerous and probably deserved it. Many of the players did not have experience in the Champions League so were a bit surprised by pace of game.

“We didn’t help our goalkeepers. We exposed them with our lack of quality in the passes we gave them and they were quite brave.”

(BBC Football )

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