By DPA,
Hamburg : A 1-0 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta ensured Greek club Panathinaikos a chance of finishing atop Group B in the Champions League.
In other Champions League matches Tuesday, Inter Milan could have finished top, but Jose’s Mourinho’s team went down 2-1 to Werder Bremen as a result of second-half goals from Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg, which earned the German side a UEFA Cup berth. Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted for the Serie A side.
Giorgos Karagounis was the hero for Henk ten Cate’s side as his second half strike gave the Dutchman a perfect 54th birthday present and secured Panathinaikos a place in the last 16 for the first time in seven years.
In other action, a neatly taken second-half goal from substitute Didier Drogba helped Chelsea book their place in the knockout stages with a 2-1 victory over Romanian side CFR Cluj.
Salomon Kalou put Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side in front at Stamford Bridge five minutes before the break with a close-range effort but Yssouf Kone levelled matters with a superb header at the back post.
However, Ivorian international Drogba made all the difference just seven minutes after coming on for last year’s beaten finalists, superbly controlling a Joe Cole pass before firing a low shot under Claro.
Despite the win, Chelsea still finished second in Group A behind Roma, who secured top spot with a 2-0 win over Bordeaux. Second-half goals from Matteo Brighi and captain Francesco Totti ensured Luciano Spalletti’s team the win over the French side, who qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Liverpool will also be a top seed in the last 16 after goals from Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David N’Gog helped Rafael Benitez’s side to a comfortable 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven. Atletico Madrid finish second in Group D following a scoreless draw with Marseille.
Barcelona, who were already assured of top spot in Group C, went down 3-2 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, who were already qualified for the UEFA Cup.
The Catalan giants fielded a young inexperienced side and went two goals down through Olexandr Gladkiy before Sylvinho pulled one back for Josep Guardiola’s side.
Fernandinho restored the Ukrainian side’s two-goal cushion while Sergio Busquets’ effort in making it 3-2 seven minutes from time proved too little too late.
Already qualified Sporting Lisbon rounded off their group campaign with a 1-0 win away to Swiss side Basel in the other match in Group C.