Barcelona secure top spot

Xavi
12 April 2012

Reigning champions Barcelona confirmed top spot in Champions League Group H with an exciting 3-2 victory over already-qualified AC Milan at the San Siro.

Mark van Bommel's early own goal was cancelled out by Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic before a Lionel Messi penalty put Barca up at the break. Kevin Prince Boateng equalised a second time before Xavi struck a 63rd-minute winner for the visitors.

In the other game in Group H, Viktoria Plzen claimed their first win of the group stages 1-0 over BATE Borisov in Minsk. Marek Bakos netted in the 42nd minute to put the Czech side in pole position to seal a Europa League slot.

APOEL Nicosia made history by becoming the first Cypriot side ever to get past the group stages with their gutsy goalless draw away to Zenit St Petersburg confirming their top-two place.

In a match which was held up due to smoke from flares set off by the home fans, APOEL staged a classic rearguard action to claim a point against a Zenit side unbeaten in their last 12 matches.

Porto's 2-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk lifted them to within a point of the Russians with a winner-takes-all tie in Portugal to come. A second-half opener from Hulk and an own goal from Razvan Rat gave Porto the points.

Bayer Leverkusen secured qualification as goals from Eren Derdiyok and Manuel Friedrich gave them a 2-1 win over Chelsea in Group E.

The win sent Leverkusen to the top of the group - and ensured their qualification - while Valencia moved level on points with Chelsea after crushing Belgian also-rans Genk 7-0 at the Mestalla.

Roberto Soldado was the Valencia star as he blasted a first-half hat-trick after Brazilian Jonas had given them a 10th-minute lead. Second-half goals from Pablo Hernandez, Aritz Aduriz and Tino Costa completed the rout.

The drama continued in Group F where Arsenal secured qualification as group winners with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, while Olympiacos stole a shock 1-0 win over Marseille in France.

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