[calcutta]

GROUP E: E is for Eto'o - Sammy's sixth strike seals top spot for Catalans

BARCELONA.......1 Eto'o 15'
AJAX.................0

FC Barcelona booked their ticket for the quarter finals thanks to a early goal from Samuel Eto'o, who scored his sixth goal in five outings to shoot to the top of the goal scorers charts. The only goal of the game arrived in the 15th minute via an audacious chip from the edge of the area when Mark van Bommel played the African through, beating the offside trap. Bogdan Lobont was in two minds as the Camerounian's pinpoint chip cleared the keeper and bounced safely into the net. Wesley Sneijder came closest to equalising for the Dutch giants, hitting the crossbar with 21 yard screamer in the 28th minute. But Ajax were shut out for the second week running as their dismal away form continues, failing to get a point in any of their three games on the road.

The low scoreline was not an accurate indicator of the open-ended nature of the match which pitted two very attacking styles together. But despite a plethora of scoring chances, both teams were guilty of wasting guilt-edge chances due to a combination of poor finishing and stunning goalkeeping. The latter was exhibited in just the 7th minute when a Xavi lob pass found Eto'o in the box, only for his forceful six yard volley to astonishingly be turned aside by Lobont. Steven Pienaar continued the lively opening to the game four minutes later, squandering a great one-on-one opportunity by hitting the side netting. Ronaldinho was subdued for much of the match, but should have doubled Barca's lead in the 63rd minute with a similar chance. However, a rare lapse in concentration from the Brazilian saw him weakly mis-hit his shot straight at the Romaian goalie. Nevertheless, the solitary Eto'o strike was enough to seal top spot as the Catalans win their fourth straight, while Ajax languish in third on six points.

Shots: 14-13 Ajax
On Target: 7-5 Barcelona
Cards
- BAR Juliano Belletti
- AJX Vincent Kompany


PANATHINAIKOS...0
ARSENAL..............0

Arsenal wasted a great chance to stay close to Barcelona in the standings when they were held goalless by Panathinaikos on a muddy Apostolos Nikolaidis pitch. The miserable conditions made for a slow-paced and lacklustre 90 minutes of football between two normally vibrant attacking forces, as Arsenal's hopes of progressing suffered a huge setback. The closest either team came to scoring was in the 51st minute, when typical mastery from Thierry Henry saw him weave his way through the Pana defence only for his dipping 20 yarder to hit the crossbar, with goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis well beaten.

Earlier at the half hour mark, Emanuel Olisadebe also skimmed the bar of Jens Lehmann's goal with a ten yard header from an Angelos Basinas corner. The Polish international then almost stole the points for the home team in the 85th minute after a give-and-go with Markus Munch that split the defence of the Londoners. But Olisadebe first-timed the return pass from the edge of the area, sending it across goal inches wide of the far post. As it were, the match fittingly finished scoreless meaning the Gunners now have seven points in five games, five behind group winners Barcelona, whom they play in the final week at Highbury. Arsene Wenger's men must win to have any chance of making a quarter finals appearance.

Shots: 9-7 Arsenal
On Target: 3-3
Cards
- PAN Pantelis Konstantinidis, Loukas Vintra
- ARS none


GROUP F: Rangers shoot down Kyiv but stay out of the hunt

DYNAMO KYIV.....1 Verpakovskis 66'
RANGERS............2 Husin (own goal) 8', Prso 14'

Two early goals for Rangers led to a 2-1 win for the visitors, leaving both teams on five points which mathematically puts both clubs out of the competition. An embarrassing own goal from Dynamo captain Andriy Husin in just the 8th minute gave the Glaswegians a perfect start on way to their first win of the current campaign. Husin headed a left side cross from Peter Lovenkrands into his own net, despite no sign of nearby danger. Six minutes later Rangers were up 2-0 when Dado Prso scored his first UCL goal for the Scottish champions, again via aerial play. The burly Croat easily outjumped his marker nine yards from goal, connecting with a Hemad Namouchi center from the right. Midway through the second half, Maris Verpakovskis pegged a consolation goal back for the hosts on a Dynamo counter attack but the resiliant Rangers defence denied any chance of a comeback in the latter stages. The final round of play sees both teams playing for pride although the results may implications for Group F's final standings - Rangers host Bayern Munich, while Dynamo are away to group leaders Inter.

Shots: 7-7
On Target: 3-2 Rangers
Cards
- DYK none
- RAN none