UCL: Thrilling draws delay Liverpool, Chelsea’s last-16 qualifications

With one game left to play in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, Premier League sides, Liverpool and Chelsea are yet to know their fates.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, the other English clubs in the competition, already secured their places in the round of 16.

While Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Napoli on Wednesday night, Chelsea played a thrilling 2-2 draw at Valencia – results that proved insufficient to book their places in the knockout round.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are top of Group E with 10 points, a point above Napoli and three points above RB Salzburg, who defeated Genk 3-1 in the group’s other game on Wednesday.

A draw in their final group match next month against Salzburg will be enough to see them into the next round, while Napoli will fight to beat Genk, or hope that Salzburg do not win, for the other ticket.

Read Also: UCL night of comebacks as Mourinho’s Spurs beat Olympiakos, PSG hold Real Madrid

Chelsea are third in Group H with 8 points – level on points with Valencia, who are second, but two points behind leaders, Ajax, who defeated Lille of France 2-0 on Wednesday.

The Group is still widely open for all three sides as they go into the final group matches next month, while Lille already crashed out of the competition.

In Group G, Benfica squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at RB Leipzig, who seat comfortably at the top of the table with 10 points.

Zenit St Petersburg defeated Lyon 2-0 in the group’s other game earlier, and they all go into the final group matches with the hope of getting something out of it.

Spanish champions Barcelona sealed their qualification for the round of 16 after thrashing Dortmund 3-1 at the Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi scored on his 700th Barcelona appearance as they reached the knockout stages, leading the group F with 11 points.

Inter Milan defeated Slavia Prague 3-1 in the group’s other game to keep alive hopes of reaching the last 16.

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