By Arinze Ude
Efe Ambrose and Celtic couldn’t replicate the effort and performance that saw them dispatch Barcelona last time out as they lost 2-1 to Portuguese side, Benfica, in Lisbon. Celtic will need to win their last group game against Spartak Moscow at home and hope Barcelona defeats Benfica to reach the knockout stage.
Emmanuel Emmenike’s Spartak Moscow were annihilated by the imp himself, Lionel Messi who got a brace to set Barcelona to a 3-0 win, raising his goal tally to 80 goals this year, 5 short of Gerd Muller’s record of 85. Spartak Moscow is rooted to the bottom of Group G.
Schalke FC where Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke plays saw off their Greek opposition, Olympiakos 1-0 at home to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition. Elderson Echejile’s SC Braga surprisingly lost to the minors in the group, CFR Cluj Napoca and went to the bottom of the group; they have been eliminated from all European club competitions.
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) trounced Dynamo Kiev 3-0 in Kiev. The result made PSG qualify for the next stage while Dynamo Kiev and their Nigeria quartet settled for third position and a slot in Europa League.
Chelsea FC with John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses on its roster, lost unconvincingly to Italian champions, Juventus in Turin. The loss sees them on the verge of a knock out in the group stage. If it happens, Chelsea will become the first defending champion ever to be knocked out in the group stage.
In related news, Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich fired coach, Roberto Di Matteo after the game citing series of unacceptable results. Former Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan coach, Rafa Benitez has since been placed in temporal charge of the London club.
