Champions Manchester United and Barcelona qualify for quarter-finals

Group A           P W D L F-A Pts

Barcelona        5 4 1 0 15-4 13 Remaining fixtures:

Porto                5 2 1 2 7- 8 7   Tuesday, March 21

Sparta Prague    5 1 2 2 4-10 5 Hertha Berlin v Porto

Hertha Berlin     5 0 2 3 3-7 2 Sparta Prague v Barcelona

Group B                      P W D L F A Pts

Manchester United    5 4 0 1 10-4 12 Tuesday, March 21

Valencia                      5 3 0 2 9-5 9 Fiorentina v Girondins Bordeaux

Fiorentina                     5 2 1 2 4-5 7 Valencia v Manchester United

Girondins Bordeaux      5 0 1 4 2-11 1 qualify for quarter-finals

By Zaven Aharonian

European champions Manchester United qualified for the last eight of the Champions League when they over-ran Fiorentina 3-1 in a thrilling Group B match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. But former champions Porto -- who seemed all set to take their place in the knockout phase when they led Sparta Prague 2-0, blew their chance - at least for a week - after conceding two late goals to draw 2-2 with Sparta Prague. In other action on Wednesday night, Barcelona secured first place in Group A with a convincing 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin and Valencia increased their chances of progressing from Group B with a 4-1 away win at Girondins Bordeaux. United can only miss out on top spot in the unlikely event that they lose by four goals in Valencia next Tuesday. A draw would see both teams through whatever Fiorentina do against Bordeaux because of the Spaniards' superior head-to-head record against Fiorentina. With one round of matches still to be completed four teams are through to the quarter-finals: Barcelona, Manchester United, last season's beaten finalists Bayern Munich and Chelsea. United won a thrilling match at Old Trafford with goals from Andy Cole (20), Roy Keane (33) and Dwight Yorke (70). Cole's strike was special as he equalled the 30-year-old club scoring record of 14 European Cup goals set by Denis Law. Gabriel Batistuta had put Fiorentina ahead with a brilliant, blistering 30-metre shot after 16 minutes but their hopes took a nosedive when Fabio Rossitto was sent off 28 minutes from the end for a hack on Yorke as United led 2-1. Manager Alex Ferguson said afterwards:  "I think that is the best we have played this season. I am proud of the whole team. When we are faced with a big challenge it puts pressure on us and that seems to suit this team."

Fiorentina coach Giovanni Trapattoni said: "United played very well tonight and I hope they will play with the same spirit in Valencia and allow us one last chance to qualify."

With one match to play, United lead the table with 12 points, followed by Valencia on nine and Fiorentina on seven points. Bordeaux are last with one point. Despite the defeat Fiorentina could still reach the last eight if they beat Bordeaux next Tuesday and Valencia lose at home to United.

Valencia moved into second place after crushing Bordeaux 4-1 in France. Miroslav Djukjic (41), Gaizka Mendieta (48pen), Kily Gonzalez (71) and Juan Sanchez (90) scored for Valencia. They overwhelmed the home side whose only reply came from Sylvain Wiltord after 54 minutes. Bordeaux were reduced to 10 men for the second week running when Nisa Saveljic was sent off early in the second half -- giving away the penalty which allowed Mendieta to make it 2-0.

CHANCE BLOWN

Barcelona wrapped up first place in Group A with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin at the Nou Camp Stadium, but Porto blew their chance of making sure of a last eight slot when they allowed Sparta Prague to score twice in the closing stages and force a 2-2 draw at the Das Antas Stadium. Porto led 2-0 with 26 minutes to go thanks to goals from Jorge Costa (16) and Nuno Capucho (64). But Sparta kept their slim hopes of qualification alive with late goals from Vratislav Lokvenc (74) and Milan Fukal (90). The result left Barcelona guaranteed first place on 13 points followed by Porto on seven and Sparta Prague on five. Hertha Berlin, on two points, cannot qualify.

Next week's final Group A matches see Hertha host Porto and Sparta Prague at home to Barcelona. A point will be enough for Porto who will go through anyway

should Sparta fail to beat Barcelona. Alex Alves headed Hertha ahead after seven minutes at the Nou Camp before Xavi Hernandez (10), Gabri Garcia (49) and Patrick Kluivert (82) hit back for Barcelona. Even though they have secured first place in the group -- and a more favourable quarter-final draw -- coach Louis van Gaal said there would be no let-up in their quest for the crown.  "It's a question of image above all," he said, "We have to continue showing our best side in Europe. We have to continue to impress."

Chelsea make last eight. Bayern win again. Last tour will name the other two.

Group C              P W D L F-A Pts

Bayern Munich  5 4 1 0 13-6 13 Remaining fixtures:

Real Madrid      5 2 1 2 10-12 7 Wednsday, March 22

Dynamo Kiev       5 2 1 2 8- 8 7 Dynamo Kiev v Bayern

Rosenborg           5 0 1 4 5-10 1 Rosenborg v Real Madrid

Group D       P W D L F-A Pts

Chelsea        5 3 1 1 7-3 10

Lazio            5 2 2 1 8-3 8 Wednesday, March 22

Feyenoord     5 2 1 2 7-7 7 Olympique v Feyenoord

Olympique Marseille 5 1 0 4 2-11 3 Chelsea v Lazio

Chelsea became the third club to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday when they scored a decisive 3-1 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam. Chelsea, who are now guaranteed a top-two place in Group D,  joined Barcelona and last year's losing finalists Bayern Munich in the last eight of the competition. They both qualified for the quarter-finals last week. The win lifted Chelsea to 10 points while Lazio (8 points) leap-frogged into second place above Feyenoord (7) after their 5-1 win over Olympique Marseille (3) in Rome. Four of Lazio's five goals came from Simone Inzaghi and he also missed a penalty. The day before the game Inzaghi was not even sure if he will be on a starting line-up, meanwhile he admitted that he was ready for a big game. Alen Boksic (82) scored Lazio's fifth against one of his former clubs while Jerome Leroy (50) scored Marseille's consolation.

In Group C, Bayern Munich wrapped up first place with a 2-1 home win over Rosenborg Trondheim who will finish in last place. There was a lot at stake at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid where Real were held to a 2-2 draw by Dynamo Kiev. Raul (13pen) and Roberto Carlos (71) scored for Real while Alexander Khatskevich (42) and an own goal by Fernando Hierro (56) gave Dynamo a share of the points. Both sides also missed penalties during a hectic 12-minute first half spell in which French referee Alain Sars awarded three spot kicks. Raul scored his penalty for Real after 13 minutes with Serhiy Rebrov missing from the spot a minute later. Raul then shot straight at Dynamo goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovsky after 25 minutes. That result leaves qualification for both Real, champions seven times, and Dynamo in the balance. Bayern are clear on 13, followed by Real and Dynamo on seven and Rosenborg on one. Dynamo are at home to Bayern Munich in the final group match next Wednesday, while Real travel to Rosenborg. If Real win they will qualify for the quarter-finals no matter what Dynamo do because Real have a better head-to-head record against the Ukrainians. They won their away match in Kiev 2-1.

Chelsea's Italian coach Giancluca Vialli, a former European Cup winner with Juventus, said he was delighted his club had achieved their best showing in Europe's top competition.

"It is fantastic for the club, and especially for the players who have worked so hard for this. Sometimes they get unfairly criticised, but they deserved to win tonight.

"Even if we do not go any further in the competition, we can already be proud of what we have achieved this season."

Vialli revealed he had considered taking skipper Dennis Wise off after he made a poor start to the second half. But he changed his mind and Wise stayed on to head Chelsea 2-1 up after 64 minutes. He had a major influence on the match as Chelsea stretched their lead with a third from Tore Andre Flo five minutes later.

Gianfranco Zola (39) had put Chelsea ahead with an 18-metre volley that flew in off a post, while substitute Bonaventure Kalou squeezed the ball past former Feyenoord keeper Ed De Goey for his team's only goal after 59 minutes. Despite their defeat Feyenoord are not yet out of the competition as they can still finish second if they beat Marseille next week and Chelsea defeat Lazio. Mehmet Scholl (11) and Paulo Sergio (39pen) scored for Bayern while John Carew -- a target for a number of top clubs -- scored for Rosenborg after 64 minutes.

It was not one of Bayern's most memorable performances but coach Otto Hitzfeld was pleased enough.

"We were very focused in the first half and played really well, but then in the second half we lost our concentration and after it became 2-1 we were a bit nervous. We shouldn't have conceded that goal."

It was a miserable night for Rosenborg who had Bjorn Otto Bragstad sent off in the last minute.

Four more matches are scheduled for Wednesday with Porto meeting Sparta Prague and Barcelona playing Hertha Berlin in Group A, while in Group B Bordeaux face Valencia and European champions Manchester United play Fiorentina.