Champions League - Barca and Sporting through

Eurosport - Wed, 05 Nov 12:16:00 2008

Barcelona were held 1-1 at home by Basel in Champions League Group C while Sporting beat Shakhtar 1-0, meaning both qualify for the knockout stage of the competition.

FOOTBALL Liga de Campeones 2008-2009 FC Barcelona-Basilea Rafa Márquez / Foto EFE - 0

The draw in the Camp Nou signalled the Swiss side's first point in this season's competition.

Substitute Lionel Messi had an immediate impact for Barca, scoring a clinical opener a minute and a half after coming on in the 60th minute.

However another substitute Eren Derdiyok struck a superb half-volley with eight minutes left to level and set the visiting fans celebrating.

Messi, introduced by Barca coach Pep Guardiola for teenager Bojan Krkic after a lacklustre opening hour, ran with the ball from midfield and played a one-two with Thierry Henry, who was leading the line with Samuel Eto'o also rested.

The Argentina star collected the return pass and held off a challenge before striking low into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.

Henry had done his best to spark Barca into life from his attacking berth on the left but was left frustrated as Alexander Hleb also struggled to get into the match. After only five minutes he bent one shot wide of the far post after opening up his body to strike.

Later in the half visiting goalkeeper and captain Franco Costanzo emerged quickly to narrow the angle and block as he latched on to an Andres Iniesta through-ball. The keeper then reacted brilliantly to palm away a lovely header that Henry directed at goal as he twisted in mid-air.

Derdiyok, who had replaced Marco Streller after 70 minutes, arrived in the box a minute after Barca defender Gerard Pique had headed a free-kick against the post at the other end.

He flung himself at Carlitos's whipped cross and smashed the ball into the near post top corner with Victor Valdes left stranded.

It was no less than Basel deserved after a dogged defensive performance - and having come close to opening the scoring in the first half through a Streller header that flashed across goal following a Marko Perovic corner kick.

However Barca qualified for the next stage after Shakhtar were beaten in Lisbon.

Sporting 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Sporting also earned a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with the nervy 1-0 win.

After a lacklustre first half with few chances for both teams, Sporting broke the deadlock through veteran Brazilian striker Derlei.

He controlled, spun and finished inside the far post following a cross from Marat Izmailov after 73 minutes. The Russian midfielder had done well to jink his way into space on the right before pulling the ball back.

With two rounds remaining, Sporting move to nine points in Group C behind leaders Barca.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 2 of 2

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. My friends describe me a idiot, loser and f**kwit with @#$% looking. I would like to meet a sportswomen who knows how to turn a man on. Feel free to contact me on the famous online hub " __K is SM illion aireS Co m__ " Money is very important

    From shivnesh, on Wed 5 Nov 7:54AM
  2. A lot of fixed games for betting last night having in mind the results....everything is money now, even in champs league...a lot of money

    From dveselin73, on Wed 5 Nov 7:21AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account