Liverpool out, Barca revived
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Reigning champions Barcelona cruised past Inter Milan 2-0 to go top of European Champions League Group F thanks to two goals in the first 26 minutes through Gerard Pique and Pedro Rodriguez on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola's side started the day under pressure lying third in the table and appeared to be weakened when Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were sidelined from the match.
First half goals were enough to give the Catalans all three points and they only need a point from their trip to Kiev in two weeks time to assure a place in the knockout stage.
Elsewhere, five-times winners Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages despite a 1-0 win at Debrecen in Group E action.
The same group saw Fiorentina go through to the knockout stage by beating already-qualified Olympique Lyon 1-0 with a penalty from Peru's Juan Vargas. The win by the Italians also ended Liverpool's chances in the group.
"I'm very disappointed because we had chances in all the games," said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez. "We have to be disappointed but at least we won. We did our job today."
David Ngog scored in the fourth minute, and Liverpool had several other chances, with Debrecen goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic making good saves from Ngog in the 38th and Steven Gerrard in the 59th.
Benitez said that goals suffered in earlier group games had ruined Liverpool's campaign.
"We were not worse than the other teams," he said, adding that Liverpool would now concentrate on Sunday's English Premier League match against Everton and later on the Europa League.
In Group H, Arsenal reached the last 16 thanks to a 2-0 home win over Standard Liege.
The Gunners took the lead through Frenchman Samir Nasri in the first half and added a second through a long-range drive by Denilson shortly before the half-time break.
Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was given a warm welcome on his return to the Nou Camp with new club Inter but had little else to enjoy.
Although the Catalans had won only three of their previous seven home Champions League games, they were unbeaten in six matches against Italian sides.
Even without injured Messi and Ibrahimovic, Barcelona were too good for Inter.
"Barcelona were the only team that played and they played very well," said Inter coach Jose Mourinho, who used to work as a translator for the late Sir Bobby Robson at the Catalan club.
"They were far superior and we can't have any complaints about the victory."
Debutants Unirea Urziceni boosted their chances in Group G by beating already-qualified Sevilla 1-0.
The Romanian champions are second with eight points, two ahead of Stuttgart, who beat Rangers 2-0.
