Rangers 0-3 Lyon
Goals from Sidney Govou and a late second-half double from Karim Benzema gave Olympique Lyonnais a 3-0 victory against Rangers FC to ensure their passage to the UEFA Champions League last 16 at the Scottish side's expense.
Benzema double
Lyon had lost their opening two Group E matches, including a 3-0 defeat at home to Rangers on Matchday 2, but were soon on their way to completing their remarkable turnaround when Govou struck on 16 minutes. Substitute Jean-Claude Darcheville had Rangers' best chance but after he hit the crossbar from point-blank range Benzema made sure of Lyon's victory with goals on 85 and 88 minutes as Rangers were forced to settle for the UEFA Cup place.
Lyon press
The visitors knew only a win would suffice and set their stall out accordingly, creating the first opening when Juninho Pernambucano picked out Govou's run behind Alan Hutton. With the goal at his mercy the French international shot into the side-netting. Juninho had been identified as Lyon's main threat and the Brazilian playmaker demonstrated why twice within a minute, first with a free-kick which Allan McGregor smothered at his near post. From his ensuing corner the hosts were relieved to see Brahim Hemdani's back-post clearance bounce off Carlos Cuéllar and behind to safety.
Govou strikes
The early pressure paid off on 16 minutes. Hatem Ben Arfa picked out the run of Benzema down the right and when McGregor could only palm his cross back into traffic, Govou was the first to react, deftly lifting the loose ball into the net. Rangers responded with a long-range effort from Saša Papac which Rémy Vercoutre beat away to safety but Lyon, and in particular Juninho, continued to enjoy the bulk of possession. Indeed, Rangers' urgency to get back on level terms left them exposed and Benzema almost punished them on 36 minutes with a shot that flashed just over.
Fresh impetus
Walter Smith introduced Steven Naismith for Daniel Cousin at half-time with Lee McCulloch coming in from the left flank to assume the Frenchman's lone striker role. The change gave Rangers fresh impetus and within five minutes of the restart Sébastien Squillaci was forced to clear off his line after Vercoutre misjudged Hutton's cross-cum-shot. The home side's propensity for giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas was almost punished again just before the hour when Jérémy Toulalan's mazy run was brought to a premature end by Cuéllar outside the area. This was prime territory for Juninho and the Brazilian's curled effort crashed back off the crossbar with McGregor helpless.
Darcheville miss
With 20 minutes remaining a Naismith shot had Vercoutre scrambling across his goalline and sensing an equaliser, Smith threw caution to the wind, bringing on Darcheville. Benzema should have clinched it for Lyon when he rounded McGregor only for Steven Whittaker to block his shot. Within seconds Darcheville passed up an even better opportunity at the other end, somehow hitting the crossbar from point-blank range. It was the home's side last chance and in the closing minutes Benzema made sure of Lyon's place in the last 16, slotting in from close range before adding a spectacular long range effort just before the end. Rangers' evening was compounded by Darcheville's late dismissal for a lunge at Kim Källström.
Barcelona 3-1 Stuttgart
FC Barcelona overcame early adversity to register a 3-1 victory against VfB Stuttgart and round off their Group E campaign in fine style.
Recovery
Despite slipping behind to Antonio Da Silva's early goal the Catalan outfit rallied and replied with goals from Giovani Dos Santos, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho. It underlined Barcelona's position at the Group E summit though Stuttgart, who started the day with no chance of climbing off the foot of the section, played their admirable part in a competitive game. They will now focus on the Bundesliga, however, while Barça head towards next week's last-16 draw.
Deco loss
The early blows came thick and fast for the home team, who were dealt a hit even before kick off when Deco suffered a twinge and was ruled out of the match. It did not stop when the referee blew his whistle either, and, standing in for the suspended Frank Rijkaard, Johan Neeskens saw his side fall behind after just three minutes. Ewerthon made a habit of playing well at Camp Nou during his spell at Real Zaragoza and picked up where he left off this evening as he broke, drawing a foul from Rafael Márquez just outside the penalty area. Da Silva stepped up, and his left-footed strike rattled the woodwork before bouncing in off the unfortunate Albert Jorquera.
Eto'o chance
Deputising for Víctor Valdés, it was the worst of starts for the goalkeeper but any fears of more pressure were quickly vanquished as Barcelona, despite being a little off-form, began to dominate. Samuel Eto'o could have soon restored parity when he capitalised on a misplaced Alexander Farnerud pass but Raphael Schäfer denied the usually clinical Cameroon striker. Schäfer had to repeat his excellence twice in the eleventh minute, keeping out Deco's replacement Xavi Hernández and then Giovani as the chances multiplied.
Noisy fans
Matching their team's defiance the visiting German fans made a good job of dominating the atmosphere, but Barça's work rate was gaining them an advantage on the pitch. Eidur Gudjohnsen was pivotal, winning tackles, releasing shrewd passes and demanding effort. Ronaldinho responded and nine minutes before half-time he dispossessed Arthur Boka and delivered a raking cross that hit Giovani and went in.
Popular goal
The second half brought harsh justice for Stuttgart. Despite great industry and flowing passing, they slipped behind just before the hour. Ronaldinho's redeployment in midfield brought more space for the wide men and Xavi capitalised on 57 minutes, driving forward and threading the ball to Eto'o who gratefully fired in his first UEFA Champions League goal in 15 months. The home side began to cut loose and a lovely combination between Xavi, substitute Andrés Iniesta and Sylvinho ended with the wing-back crossing for Ronaldinho to guide in Barcelona's third in the 67th minute. The visitors continued to press, but a night of little return for their hard work was concluded when Ewerthon's fine shot from 20 metres rebounded back off the bar
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