Categories: Sports

UCL: Arsenal seal last 16 spot as Bodo stun Man City

Gabriel Jesus helped keep Arsenal perfect, Manchester City were on the wrong side of one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history on Tuesday, while holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) also stumbled.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City arrived in chilly Norway for their seventh and penultimate league-phase match against modest Bodo/Glimt as hot favourites.

But they came unstuck in the freezing conditions at the stadium 200km north of the Arctic Circle, losing 3-1.

Jesus pushed Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League with a double in 3-1 win at Inter Milan which made the Gunners mathematically sure of a top-eight finish.

Two close-range finishes in the first half gave Arsenal a deserved seventh straight league phase win at the San Siro and manager Mikel Arteta a selection conundrum with Manchester United visiting the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Inter levelled through a fabulous Petar Sucic strike in the 18th minute, while Viktor Gyokeres struck on the break to seal the deal and allow fans to look ahead to United.

Meanwhile, PSG have work to do to ensure direct qualification to the last 16 next week after being caught out late in Portugal.

Luis Suarez struck twice for Sporting Lisbon in the second half, sealing victory with a 90th-minute header after substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had equalised for PSG after 79 minutes.

Arsenal’s Nwaneri to join Marseille

PSG dropped to fifth with a home date against Newcastle in their last group stage fixture.

Tottenham eased pressure on coach Thomas Frank with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund to move into automatic qualification spots.

Copenhagen drew 1-1 with Napoli, Olympiacos beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, Ajax edged Villarreal 2-1, while Club Brugge thrashed bottom side Kairat Almaty 4-1.

While the top eight secure direct entry to the last 16, teams placed ninth to 24th must navigate an additional two-legged play-off to join them.

Next week the league phase comes to a dramatic denouement with all 18 matches kicking off at the same time.

On Wednesday, matchday seven concludes with Mohamed Salah back for Liverpool after finishing fourth with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Arne Slot’s side at Marseille.

Chelsea’s new boss Liam Rosenior’s first taste of Champions League football is a home game against Pafos, while runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich welcome Union St-Gilloise.

The Star

Segun Ojo

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