5 Things To Expect From Champions League Last 16

The 'league v league' war will recommence, the top scorer award is up for grabs, while the ECA hold the keys to the future of the Champions League.

THE DEBATE ON 'LEAGUE V LEAGUE' WILL BE REIGNITED

When Napoli were paired with Chelsea and AC Milan with Arsenal, a Serie A v English Premier League thread was immediately sewn through the Champions League last 16 seam. The reality is that there is no longer scope for a league versus league debate. 

Elite clubs' finances are so far out of sync with the normal operating costs within their own domestic sectors that the debate of which league is stronger can no longer be answered through the Champions League. Ferrari and McLaren, in F1, are not the ultimate indication of how well Italy and England's motor industry is doing, and the standard of the top three or four clubs operating in a domestic league is no longer a useful yardstick to measure depth and quality all the way down the listings.

If Arsenal beat AC Milan it doesn't mean that the English Premier League is stronger than Italy's Serie A. It means that Arsenal are stronger than AC Milan and nothing more. Barcelona and Real Madrid's imperiousness in the Champions League should not mean that la Liga as a whole is regarded as stronger as a result of the Clasico rivals' performance levels. 

The definition of a 'good' or 'bad' league is entirely subjective and the true test of a division's strength can best be determined through internal competition - that is the relative strength of the league's participants in relation to one another. But Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Zenit St Petersburg and the rest of the ultra-rich teams in the Champions League did not choose in which domestic championship they compete. 

Clubs in that financial stratosphere operate like city states of old; it is a matter of irrelevance who the neighbours are. Teams at this stage of the competition are not immediately preoccupied with the addition of Uefa co-efficient points; that is an incidental factor which will be countenanced at the end of the season. 

But perhaps Uefa should stop cutting club allocation along national lines. Why not do it as a matter of wealth? The European Union, with the Schengen Area and the Euro, has already obfuscated national borders, perhaps Uefa should do the same. One thing is certain. There are no strong leagues, only strong teams. 

NEW STARS WILL BE FORMED

Switzerland's performance at the Uefa Under-21 Championships in Denmark last summer gave international observers a tantalising first glimpse of a new generation of players on show. FC Basel have made key men of four of the squad from that tournament, in which the Swiss reached the final, and the quartet has matured through the group stages of this season's Champions League. 

Yann Sommer, the goalkeeper Sir Alex Ferguson should have signed for Manchester United instead of David de Gea, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Frei helped lead their club to the last 16 and, in the process, have set themselves on the path to becoming household names around the continent. 

Despite Basel's success this season in continental competition, big moves will come for those four outstanding young talents. And that is one of the crowning glories of the Champions League. Fans in Portugal or Romania may not be well acquainted with Swiss football, but, having seen Basel play against Benfica and Otelul Galati, they are a little wiser as to some of the continent's supreme young talent. 

Seydou Doumbia, Nicolas Gaitan, Daniel Sturridge and Isaac Cuenca have also made significant personal progress this season as CSKA Moscow, Benfica, Chelsea and Barcelona moved through to the knockout stages. 

In an age of unparalleled scrutiny, opinion and knowledge it is refreshing that the most prestigious competition in Europe can make stars of previously unheralded talent. By the time the quarter-finals commence, the football community will be ready to usher in new stars. 

THE TOP SCORER RACE WILL HEAT UP

A hallmark of a good percentage of the teams which have made it to the last 16 stage of the competition has been a reliance on a designated 'goalscorer' to finish moves and make sure tallies are increased. Bayern Munich have Mario Gomez, Barcelona have Lionel Messi and Real Madrid count on Cristiano Ronaldo. With all due respect, all three teams will expect to partake in the quarter-finals. 

Further down the pecking order of the competing teams, Lyon's Bafetimbi Gomis, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan and Edinson Cavani of Napoli will all relish the opportunity of adding to their individual strike-rates. Also, it can't be long until Arsenal's Robin van Persie gets his eye in. 

This season is a golden moment for strikers around the continent; gunslingers whose currency is only goals. There has been a recent trend for strikers to act as a frontline reference point for the midfielders and support players behind them. Goalscoring is not always a forward's primary function in today's game, but it is good to see a return of the marksman. Long may it continue. 

THERE WILL BE AN UPSET

Manchester United had a kind draw in the group stages, but a porous backline and inconsistency in selection cost last season's beaten finalists a place in the knockout rounds. They were humbled by Basel, well-matched by Benfica. 

This season, as pointed out previously, the gulf between the seeded teams and lesser-ranked teams has closed. Average goal difference among knockout round participants is lower this season as is the gap, points-wise, between the first and third-ranked teams in the groups. A tie against a pot three or pot four team is no longer a gimme. 

In many of the last 16 ties, it is not easy to pick a favourite. Only Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid would be reasonably optimistic of edging out their opponents to take their places in the last eight. Chelsea, Arsenal, Benfica and Inter are all less certain of their fate. APOEL are the anomaly. Despite being 'seeded', they remain the underdogs. 

There is significant talent in the ranks of the group runners-up. The champions of Italy and Russia, AC Milan and Zenit, are there, as are the vanquishers of Manchester City, Napoli, as well as the redoubtable French duo of Lyon and Marseille. You could barely slip a cigarette paper between the sides in the draw. 

The distance between the favoured teams and the outsiders has never been more slender. It is inevitable that a leading contender will tumble. 

WE WILL KNOW WHETHER THE COMPETITION CONTINUES PAST 2014

Uefa faces an unprecedented challenge to the hegemony it enjoys in utilising Europe's elite clubs in Champions League and Europa League competition. 

The European Club Association, which comprises 201 members, currently has a memorandum of understanding with Uefa which facilitates the participation of its member clubs in Uefa competition. The current memorandum expires in 2014, and there are currently few signs that the ECA and Uefa will reach an agreement on a new deal. 

The ECA demands that Uefa and Fifa become more transparent, that the international match calendar is truncated, and that clubs receive fair compensation and insurance payments for players featuring and becoming injured on international duty. 

The president of the ECA, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, claims in World Soccer this month that he is "not especially optimistic" of reaching a new deal with Uefa as a deadline for an accord looms closer. He suggests that the failure of Uefa to cede to ECA demands would see its members initiate a rival competition. 

"If we don't settle a new memorandum with Fifa and Uefa by Christmas of 2011, I will have to ask our board and general assembly whether they are ready to go their own way, to organise our own competition," he says. 

"I feel Fifa and Uefa are underestimating the clubs. They need us more than we need them. Without the players - our employees - the governing bodies could do nothing. We could run the Champions League without them [Uefa]." 

The ECA threatens to destabilise the infrastructure of European football competition unless its demands are assuaged. Before the last 16 stage of the 2011-12 competition a timeline could well have been set for the demise of the Champions League. 

The year of the Occupy Movement ends with the ECA camped on Uefa territory. 

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Voller:Leverkusen needs luck against Barcelona

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller admits they face an uphill struggle when they clash with Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Bundesliga side were paired with the defending champions in Friday's round-of-16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland, and, according to the 51-year-old, will need luck on their side if they are to stand a chance of advancing to the quarter-finals.

"We're clear outsiders," Voller said. "But we have a spark of hope."

"We have to play dream football twice and Barcelona have to have bad days. But we won't hide, otherwise we might as well not turn up."

CEO Wolfgang Holzhauser echoed Voller's sentiments, and feels that even if his side lose, the tie will be enjoyable.

"Well the anticipation is bigger than the frustration. It will be nice, for sure," he said.

The first leg of the tie will be played on a to-be-determined date, either February 14 or 15, at Leverkusen's BayArena.

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Europa League Draw:Last 32 Teams

Manchester City and Manchester United have both been given tough draws in the last 32 of the Europa League.

remier League leaders City must tackle defending champions Porto, while crosstown rivals United have been paired with Ajax.

Should City progress, they will face either Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon in the last 16, while United will meet either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao if they see off Ajax.

Both Manchester clubs found themselves in the Europa League after being surprisingly eliminated in the pool stages of the Champions League.

City bowed out after finishing third in Group A, behind Bayern Munich and Napoli, while United were sensationally pipped to second place in Group C by Swiss minnows Basel.

Meanwhile, Stoke, the only other English side still in the Europa League, have been drawn against Valencia, who were denied a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League by Chelsea.

If Tony Pulis' side overcome their Spanish opponents, they will go on to face the winners of the tie between Trabzonspor and PSV Eindhoven.

Elsewhere, Italian outfit Lazio will take on Spain's Atletico Madrid in one of the ties of the last 32. Udinese, who finished second to Atletico in Group I, will square up to Greece's PAOK, who finished top of a pool which also featured Tottenham Hotspur.

Europa League Last 32

Porto v Manchester City
Ajax v Manchester United
Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao
Salzburg v Metalist
Stoke v Valencia
Rubin v Olympiacos
AZ v Anderlecht
Lazio v Atletico Madrid
Steaua v Twente
Viktoria Plzen v Schalke
Wisla v Standard Liege
Braga v Besiktas
Udinese v PAOK
Trabzonspor v PSV
Hannover v Club Brugge
Legia v Sporting Lisbon

First legs to be played on February 16, with second legs scheduled for February 23

Europa League Last 16

Salzburg/Metalistv v Rubin/Olympiacos
Legia/Sporting Lisbon v Porto/Manchester City
Steaua/Twente v Viktoria Plzen/Schalke
Wisla/Standard Liege v Hannover/Club Brugge
Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV
AZ/Anderlecht v Udinese/PAOK
Lazio/Atletico Madrid v Braga/Besiktas
Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao

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Champions League draw:English club has to face tough Challenge

England's two remaining sides in the Champions League will both face Italian opposition in the last 16 of the tournament.

Chelsea have been drawn against Napoli while Arsenal is set to face reigning Serie A champions AC Milan.

Chelsea progressed as winners of Group E but will not be relishing a clash with tournament debutants Napoli, who qualified for the knockout stages by pipping Manchester City to second spot in Group A.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's dubious reward for topping Group F is a tie against Milan, who came off second best to Barcelona in Group H.

Defending champions Barcelona have been paired with Bayer Leverkusen. Barca's great rivals Real Madrid, meanwhile, must make the arduous trip to Russia to face CSKA Moscow.

Elsewhere, Italy's other representative, Inter, must tackle Marseille, while the side the Nerazzurri defeated in the 2010 final, Bayern Munich, take on Basel, who sensationally knocked out Manchester United.

Another surprise package, APOEL Nicosia, have been paired with French side Lyon, while the remaining tie will see Zenit St Petersburg go head to head with Benfica.

The first legs will take place on February 14/15 and 21/22 with the return matches scheduled for March 6/7 and 13/14.

Champions League last 16:

Lyon v APOEL Nicosia


Napoli v Chelsea


AC Milan v Arsenal


Basel v Bayern Munich


Bayer Leverkusen v Barcelona


CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid


Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica


Marseille v Inter

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Celtic boss 'proud' of his side

Celtic boss Neil Lennon was 'proud' of his side despite bowing out of the Europa League on Thursday.

The Scottish Premier League giants could only manage a 1-1 draw at Udinese, a result which ended their hopes of making the knockout stages.

Celtic did grab an early lead thanks to Gary Hooper but Antonio Di Natale netted the leveller for the hosts.

"I was very proud of the team, everyone made a fantastic contribution and with a bit of luck we'd be through," Lennon told ESPN.

"I thought there was a clear handball, I thought it hit one of their centre-backs on the arm, we hit the post, we had one cleared off the line."

"In terms of chances it was almost as good as we've played. To come away from home, to Italy of all places, and play like that was good to see."

Udinese manager Francesco Guidolin admitted he felt sorry for Celtic after their exit, despite the Scots' dominance of the match.

"We played in a very, very tough group and tonight was like a final in which a single incident could’ve seen us either go out or win," Guidolin said.

"In the first half we struggled, but we were sumptuous after the break. It was a hard group phase that took a lot out of us. I genuinely felt sorry for Celtic, as they are a tough and fair team. They deserved to go through as well."

Udinese are now through to the last 32 of the competition and Guidolin is expecting another tough draw.

"Knowing our luck, you'll see we will definitely be paired with one of the Manchester clubs, whether it be United or City," he said.

"After picking Arsenal in the Champions League play-offs and this group, it seems inevitable."

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Europa League wrap: Spurs´ easy win in vain, Celtic exit

Tottenham beat Shamrock Rovers 4-0 but were still knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday while Celtic were also eliminated.

Spurs needed a big win, and for group leaders PAOK to defeat Rubin Kazan, and although they achieved a big result, the spoils were shared in Thessaloniki.

Steven Pienaar, Andros Townsend and Jermain Defoe all bagged first-half goals for Tottenham and they were never in doubt of picking up all three points in Dublin.

The Irish Premier League table-toppers put up a fight in the second half though and had a couple of chances of their own before substitute Harry Kane sealed the 4-0 win with his injury-time goal.

But a 10-man Rubin claimed the point they needed to finish second – and above Tottenham – in Group A after they drew 1-1 against the Greek side.

Things did not start well for the Russians with goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov sent off after just 13 minutes and Vieirinha's penalty shortly after saw them a goal behind.

Paraguay forward Nelson Valdez scored an equaliser in first-half injury time and it proved enough to send the Russians through to the knockout stages.

A 1-1 draw at Udinese was not enough for Celtic to progress from Group I, with Antonio di Natale cancelling out Gary Hooper's early strike.

Udinese qualified with Atletico Madrid, who topped the group and eased to a 3-1 home win over Stade Rennes.

In Group H, Sporting Braga and Club Brugge played out a 1-1 draw which meant that despite Birmingham City's 1-0 win over Maribor, the English club missed out by a point.

Chris Hughton's outfit won thanks to Adam Rooney's goal on 24 minutes but they needed either side to win in Brugge to progress on head-to-head standings.

But despite being down to 10 men, Braga – last season's finalists – managed to come from behind to claim a point.

In Group B, Standard Liege set a new Europa League record after they conceded just one goal in their six group matches.

The Belgians beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 in Denmark to finish on top of the group while Hannover 96 joined them in progressing after a 3-1 win over Vorskla of Ukraine.

PSV finished Group C undefeated after a 2-1 home success against Rapid Bucharest and despite a 2-0 loss at Hapoel Tel Aviv, Legia Warsaw also qualified.

And in Group G, Metalist Kharkiv held Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar to a 1-1 draw as both sides progressed, with Austria Vienna's 2-0 win over Malmo having no bearing on the standings.

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Rooney targets Europa League success

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has targeted Europa League success following the club's Champions League exit last week.

United will enter the knockout stages of Europe's secondary competition following their 2-1 defeat to Basel, with the draw for the round-of-32 to be made on Friday.

However the 26-year-old is hopeful of a strong run in the tournament, with both himself and Sir Alex Ferguson yet to win the trophy.

Asked if he wanted to win the Europa League, Rooney told the club's official website: "Definitely. It's a shame we're out of the Champions League. That's what we all want to play in."

"Unfortunately we went out and now we turn our attention to the Premier League and Europa League. I don't think the manager's won the Europa League, so I'm sure he'll want to win it."

"Every competition we enter we want to win. There are some good teams but we have to believe, keep working and hopefully we can go on and win it."

The England striker also admitted that the loss of captain Nemanja Vidic for the rest of the season through injury, coupled with the news that Darren Fletcher is taking an extended absence from football, had come as a major blow to the Red Devils.

Rooney said: "The two of them are both important players for us. With Nemanja being our captain it's a shame we've lost him for the season as he's a great defender. But the younger lads have been great."

"It's a shame for Darren, too - he's a great player and a great person. Hopefully he gets well soon and comes back strongly for us."

The former Everton man is also keen to remedy the 6-1 defeat to Manchester City in next month's FA Cup third round match against Roberto Mancini's men, but believes both sides would have preferred to have met later in the competition.

"Both teams would probably rather have met each other later on but it's a great team to play in and if you win it then you know you've knocked one of your main competitors out," he said.

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Europa League wrap: Fulham, PSG bow out

Fulham were stunningly knocked out of the Europa League on Wednesday, while PSG also exited the competition.

The English Premier League side began the matchday one point ahead of Polish side Wisla Krakow, meaning that a win would be enough to send them through to the knockout stages.

And they were well on their way to securing all three points at half-time after goals to Clint Dempsey and Kerim Frei.

But Odense – who were incapable of progressing past the group stage – kept battling, and a 64th minute free-kick from Hans Andreasen beat Fulham's third-string goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

Fulham, though, only needed a win to be safely through, but the Danes continued to push the hosts' defensive line, and they struck with what turned out to be the last touch of the game.

Senegalese forward Baye Djiby Fall headed in a terrific cross to bring Odense level, much to the contempt of the locals.

And with Wisla Krakow defeating the already qualified FC Twente 2-1, it was the Poles who went through to the knockout rounds from Group K.

Lukasz Gargula and Tzvetan Genkov scored for the winners but their match in Poland finished with Fulham still in front in London.

Odense's equaliser sparked belated celebrations in the Krakow crowd and amongst the players.

In Group F, PSG exited the competition despite defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-2.

The Parisian outfit – who spent over 65 million pounds in the off-season – headed into the game on the back of successive wins but they were quickly trailing after Jon Aurtenetxe's fourth-minute strike.

Javier Pastore and Mathieu Bodmer responded before half-time for PSG although their lead lasted just 10 minutes after the break with David Lopez levelling proceedings for the La Liga outfit.

An Inigo Perez own-goal and a Guillaume Hoarau penalty in the last five minutes handed PSG the win but it was in vain after Red Bull Salzburg – who were level on seven points with them prior to the matchday – won 3-2 at Slovan Bratislava.

Milos Lacny scored two in the first six minutes for the Slovakians but from there Salzburg mounted a terrific comeback, with Jakob Jantscher and Leonardo responding with goals of their own before the break.

An own goal from Marian Had just eight minutes into the second half sealed the result for the Austrians who qualified for the knockout stages ahead of PSG in Group F on goal difference only.

In Group D, Lazio got the win they needed to progress by toppling leaders Sporting Lisbon 2-0 in Rome, thanks to goals from Libor Kozak and Giuseppe Sculli in a result that meant FC Zurich's 2-0 home success against Vaslui amounted to nothing.

Besiktas defeated the already qualified Stoke City to top Group E, with the Turkish side scoring three second-half goals to beat the 10-man visitors 3-1. The other match saw nine-man Dynamo Kyiv claim a thrilling 3-3 draw against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Anderlecht finished Group L with six wins from as many matches after an entertaining 5-3 win over Lokomotiv Moscow and AEK Athens joined them on the winners list, with the Greek side earning their first points of the campaign with a 3-1 win at Sturm Graz.

Bundesliga side Schalke 04 toppled Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa 3-0 in Group J to finish on top of the group and joining them in the next stage were Steaua Bucharest who defeated AEK Larnaca 3-1.

From the 12 existing groups, the top two sides from each will join the eight third-placed sides in the UEFA Champions League in the round of 32.

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Europa League Preview: Spurs, PSG facing elimination

Tottenham will need a lot of luck to reach the Europa League knockout stages, while Paris Saint-Germain's fate also hangs in the balance.

Greek side PAOK are through from Group A after winning at White Hart Lane on November 30, leaving Rubin Kazan and Harry Redknapp's Tottenham fighting for second spot.

The Russians are three points clear and only need a draw in Thessaloniki on Thursday to reach the last 32, while Tottenham, who have only scored five goals in as many Europa League games, need to thrash Ireland's Shamrock Rovers in Dublin.

With the head-to-head record taken out of the equation after the teams exchanged 1-0 wins, Tottenham need to combine with PAOK to make up at least six goals on the Russian side.

Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor was on the scoresheet at Britannia Stadium in Spurs 2-1 loss to Stoke on Sunday, and Redknapp will need the Togolese striker to be clinical against Rovers, while Gareth Bale will also need to be at his best.

In Group F, Ligue 1 giants PSG are likely to need a win at home against group leaders Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

But Austria's Red Bull Salzburg only need to defeat struggling Slovan Bratislava, who are bottom of the group, to ensure they go through at the expense of PSG.

Elsewhere, Fulham can seal progress from Group K with a win against Denmark's Odense at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.

Eredivisie outfit Twente are already through and face third-placed Wisla Krakow, leaving Martin Jol's team, led by striker Andrew Johnson (five Europa League goals), with a strong chance of advancing.

The battle for second in Group I is just as intriguing, with Neil Lennon's Celtic facing a must-win clash against Serie A side Udinese at Stadio Friuli on Thursday.

Spaniards Atletico Madrid have booked their spot in the last 32 ahead of their encounter with Stade Rennes.

In Group H, mid-table Championship side Birmingham City must beat Slovenian league leaders Maribor and rely on Sporting Braga, who are already through, to defeat Club Brugge in Belgium on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lazio face an early exit from Group D ahead of their meeting at home with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday with even a win not enough for the Italians to get through if Romanian surprise packets Vaslui beat Zurich.

A draw against Ukrainians Metalist Kharkiv on Thursday should be enough for AZ Alkmaar to clinch second in Group G.

If AZ draw, Austria Vienna can only overhaul the Eredivisie leaders with a winning margin of at least six goals against last-placed Malmo.

Stoke City have sewn up Group E and will travel to Besiktas, who need only a draw on Wednesday to join them in the knockout stages.

Dynamo Kyiv host Maccabi Tel Aviv, and they need to combine with Stoke City to make up at least five goals on Besiktas to go through.

Maccabi Haifa are in the box seat to seal second in Group J ahead of their meeting with German outfit Schalke, who have advanced.

If the Israeli side fail to win on Wednesday, Steaua Bucharest or AEK Larnaca can go through with a win in their clash.

Groups B, C and L have already been settled heading into the last round of matches.

Standard Liege, who face Copenhagen, and Hannover, who host Vorskla Poltava on Thursday, have already advanced from Group B.

PSV Eindhoven and Legia Warsaw face Rapid Bucharest and Hapoel Tel Aviv respectively on Thursday, but their places in the next stage have already been secured.

And Lokomotiv Moscow can overtake Anderlecht for top spot in Group L with a win by two goals or more, while Sturm Graz and AEK Athens meet in a dead rubber on Wednesday.

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CSKA Moscow progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League

Russian outfit CSKA Moscow progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League with a last-gasp 2-1 win at Inter Milan on Wednesday.

With top spot in Group B already confirmed, Inter boss Claudio Ranieri took the opportunity to rest the likes of goalkeeper Julio Cesar and star forward Giampaolo Pazzini.

But the Italian still named a strong side against a CSKA outfit who started the final of matchday at the bottom of Group B with five points, one behind Lille and Trabzonspor and five behind Inter.

Leonid Slutsky's team knew that all they could do was win and hoped that things in France would go their way and end in a draw, and they made a bright start at the San Siro with Seydou Doumbia going close early.

Inter enjoyed the lion's share of possession but struggled to create chances and when they did, they were often fluffed.

The visitors should have taken the lead 11 minutes before the break when Vagner Love missed everything from six yards.

Love made up for it early in the second half though, playing a brilliantly weighted ball for Doumbia who produced a neat first-time finish to give the Russians the lead.

Inter responded within a minute though, as Esteban Cambiasso pounced on a loose ball after CSKA goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov could only parry Andrea Ranocchia's header from a corner.

Love and Doumbia combined brilliantly again shortly after, but once more Love's finishing let him down and Diego Milito nearly made them pay with four minutes left.

The Argentine had the goal at his mercy but could only direct his header against the bar and CSKA shot down the other end and grabbed a winner with Vassili Berezutski heading past Inter shot-stopper Luca Castelazzi.

That goal earned them victory and the celebrations started when they found out Lille had been held to a scoreless draw by Trabzonspor.

Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard was the star for the hosts and he went close to scoring twice in the first half, while Moussa Sow and Liverpool loanee Joe Cole also wasted chances.

Trabzonspor also came close to scoring in the first half with Burak Yilmaz skimming the top of the net with his ambitious strike.

There was less goalmouth action in the second half and without the knowledge of CSKA's late goal, Trabzonspor - who began the matc second in the group - started wasting time towards the end in farcical circumstances.

Little did they know that they needed a late goal and the final whistle was blown shortly after, signalling an end to both sides' Champions League campaign.

Trabzonspor will drop into the Europa League after finishing third in Group B while Lille bow out of European competition altogether.

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