As four teams advanced to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds on Wednesday, 28 November, last season's runners-up Liverpool edged closer to an early exit.
A 2-1 loss at Paris Saint-Germain in the night's marquee match was Liverpool's fifth straight away defeat in the competition, and sparked wild celebrations in Parc des Princes.
Liverpool, whose only shot on target was James Milner's penalty to cut PSG's lead in first-half stoppage time, fell to third place in Group C that has proved the tightest this season.
The Reds are now left facing a must-win clash against group leaders Napoli – who were 3-1 winners at Red Star Belgrade – in two weeks’ time. Even a win may not necessarily be enough for Jurgen Klopp’s side, unless victory comes by a 1-0 or a two-goal margin.
Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund ensured they will advance from Group A, and Porto won Group D with a game to spare with Schalke advancing in second place.
Barcelona began the week as the only team to qualify after four rounds of games, and were lifted by Lionel Messi's sixth goal of the campaign to win 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven.
The five-time European champions clinched victory in Group B and will be seeded in the Round of 16 – guaranteed to be drawn against a group runner-up and with the second-leg game at home.
In a tense battle to join Barcelona in the December 17 draw, Tottenham Hotspur got an 80th-minute goal from substitute Christian Eriksen to beat Inter Milan 1-0 at Wembley Stadium, with it avoiding elimination and joining the Italians on seven points.
Here's a look at Wednesday's action:
Liverpool's Travel Sickness
The verve of Liverpool's wins on the road last season – at Manchester City and Porto in the knockout rounds – has been badly missing with three straight losses in this group.
PSG's 40-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had a relatively easy evening at Parc des Princes, while at the other end Liverpool's Alisson had to make saves to keep the scoreline close.
The runaway French league leaders unsettled Liverpool's defense from the start. The hosts took a two-goal lead through left-back Juan Bernat's shot in the 13th and Neymar finishing off a rapid attack fueled by Kylian Mbappe in the 37th.
An expected late surge by Liverpool never came, and Klopp's side must now earn a third straight win at Anfield on 11 December to advance.
Napoli have nine points, PSG eight and Liverpool six with no team yet to advance. Liverpool will go above Napoli on a head-to-head tiebreaker with a win by two clear goals over coach Carlo Ancelotti’s team. A Red Star win over PSG in Belgrade would also open the door for Liverpool.
Tottenham’s Lifeline
On a tricky night for English clubs, Tottenham were heading out until Denmark playmaker Eriksen's goal earned a reprieve.
Inter are perhaps still favoured to finish runners-up behind Barcelona and end a seven-year absence from the Champions League knockout rounds.
The Italians finish their program at home to PSV, who have won all 13 games in the Dutch Eredivisie this season but failed to win in five Champions League games.
Tottenham next go to Barcelona, who secured top spot in the group on Wednesday with goals from Messi and Gerard Pique midway through the second half in Eindhoven. PSV got one back through Luuk de Jong.
Atletico Cruise
An early kick off in Madrid saw Atletico take a second-minute lead over hapless Monaco, for whom Radamel Falcao missed a penalty. Koke's goal was added to by Antoine Griezmann in the 24th, leaving Monaco and coach Thierry Henry adrift with just one point in Group A.
Atletico – whose Metropolitano Stadium hosts the final – are two points clear of Borussia Dortmund, who drew 0-0 with Club Brugge. It was a second straight clean sheet in the Champions League for the Belgian side's American goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
Brugge will finish third in the group and transfer to the Europa League Round of 32 in February.
Porto, Schalke Advance
The qualifying places in Group D were decided by the early kickoff in Moscow, where Lokomotiv beat Galatasaray 2-0 to earn their first points.
In Portugal, Porto and Schalke knew before kickoff they would both advance to the Round of 16. Porto secured top spot with a game to spare after a 3-1 win.
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