Browsing: UEFA Champions League

Victory for Barca ends a two-match winless run in European competition without scoring and also saw them strengthen their grip on top spot, which they were under no risk of relinquishing on the final matchday

The Group A leaders were all but guaranteed a place in the knockout stages before kickoff, although they could have still mathematically – if not realistically – missed out in a three-way playoff with Basel and CSKA

The match turned decisively in the English champions’ favour midway through the first half when Qarabag’s captain, Rashad Sadygov, was dismissed for pulling down Willian in the box, allowing Eden Hazard to convert coolly from the spot

The phrase “a game of two halves” certainly applied at the Ramon Sanchez Pizhuan stadium on Tuesday night as the Reds were rampant in the first half, storming to a 3-0 lead inside half an hour, but their Spanish opponents came out fighting in the second and pulled off a comeback

The Spanish giants found themselves three goals down on an incredible night at Wembley Stadium, before Cristiano Ronaldo pulled one back late on to blemish what was otherwise a perfect 90-minute performance from the hosts