Manchester United and Chelsea clinched qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday but Rangers failed miserably in their quest to reach the last 16 after defeat to VfB Stuttgart.
Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan hit a late goal to beat Panathinaikos 1-0 in Athens and secure United’s passage, and Stuttgart took the other qualification spot from Group E when Timo Wenzel got the only goal of the game to end Rangers’ hopes in Germany.
United and Stuttgart will fight it out at Old Trafford for the valuable group winner’s spot in their final first-phase game next month.
Chelsea saw the first tangible reward for the tens of millions spent on new players when they booked their place among Europe’s top 16 clubs despite being held to a goalless draw by Sparta Prague at Stamford Bridge.
Claudio Ranieri, the Chelsea coach, said: ”Maybe we were a little anxious to score a goal. We found some good space to score, but that little bit of luck was not with us.
”When the players show that sort of attitude and the movement is good, everything is all right.”
Reigning champions AC Milan kept on track to defend their title when they qualified from Group H after a 1-0 victory over Ajax courtesy of an Andrei Shevchenko goal in the 52nd minute.
South African striker Benni McCarthy scored both FC Porto’s goals as the Portuguese side beat Partizan Belgrade 2-1 to book their ticket for the knockout phase alongside Real Madrid.
David Beckham curled in a brilliant free kick and Ronaldo finished off a neat move with Real’s 200th goal in the Champions League as they beat Marseille 2-1 at the Velodrome.
The French side’s only hope now is to avoid defeat in Belgrade and clinch the Uefa Cup spot awarded to teams finishing third in their group.
Zinedine Zidane, greeted as a hero on his return to his native Marseille, said it was a bittersweet night.
”Real have to be satisfied with our tournament so far. We produced the performance we needed and we deserved victory,” said Zidane.
”I would have been delighted if Marseille had qualified too and no one is more sorry than I am for them.”
In Athens, United had one eye on Sunday’s big Premiership clash against Chelsea and rested Roy Keane while Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Ruud van Nistelrooy started on the bench.
In front of just 6 890 spectators, Forlan, who had wasted a host of chances throughout the match, finally netted in the 85th minute when he latched on to a fine through ball from substitute David Bellion.
”We improved in the second half in terms of penetration and we could have scored more goals,” said United boss Alex Ferguson.
”But we won the game and have qualified and that’s the important thing.”
Rangers went to Stuttgart’s Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium knowing that only a win would keep them in the running.
Fernando Ricksen looked certain to put the Scots ahead midway through the first half but Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand somehow got his legs in the way.
Rangers were pinned back from then on and Stuttgart grabbed the winner on the stroke of half time.
Alexander Hlleb deftly chipped over the defensive wall, allowing Wenzel to steal in and poke the ball home past Rangers ‘keeper Stefan Klos.
”We did not have many chances but had the best one of the night when Fernando [Ricksen] forced a great save from Hildebrand,” said Rangers boss Alex McLeish.
”The way we were organised was not good enough for Rangers football club. We needed to do much better.” — Sapa-AFP