Staying alive

Sebastian Rudy and Zdravko Kuzmanovic each got a goal for Stuttgart, who were desperate to notch their first win of their group G campaign.

It was right winger Rudy who got on the scoresheet first, in the 16th minute, hitting from close range after striker Pavel Pogrebnyak had missed his own chance to score.

Rudy had a hand in the second goal as well, crossing to Kuzmanovic for a textbook headed goal just before the hour mark.

Still, the 19-year-old Rudy put on a demure front after the win - one that he had done so much to seal.

“It wasn't just down to me - it was a class effort from the whole team. Everybody fought for each other,” he said.

Rangers, for their part, created a number of chances for their striker Kris Boyd in the first half, but he couldn't put them away. And in the second half, the home side didn't conjure enough to get one back.

The victory sends the Scottish champions out, and sets up a very big match on December 9, the group stage finale in which Stuttgart hosts Romanian side Unirea Urziceni, who beat group leaders Sevilla 1-0 on Tuesday.

A win for Stuttgart would see them through to the knock-out stage, while a draw or loss would spell the end of the Swabians' Champions League season.

“We wanted a 'cup final', and now we've got it,” said Stuttgart manager Markus Babbel. “We're hoping the home crowd will tip it our way.”

Stuttgart are also hoping some good play in the Champions League will rub off on their league form, which has been awful of late. They are without a win in six matches, and sit third from bottom.

Barcelona's ship rights itself, Liverpool's crashes, Arsenal's full speed ahead

At the Nou Camp, Barcelona powered their way to a 2-0 win over Inter Milan, a win that saw them leapfrog two group rivals and move into first place in group F.

Gerard Pique and Fernando Rodriguez continued good recent form in scoring for the winners, while former Barca player Samuel Eto'o was bottled up by the home defense. Before the match, however, the 95,000-strong crowd gave the Cameroon striker a standing ovation, as tribute to his five years (and over 100 goals) worth of service to the club.

Had Barcelona lost, their chances of qualification would have been much diminished – or even dashed, had Russia's Rubin Kazan won at home to Dynamo Kyiv. In the event, they didn't, drawing 0-0, which means Barca are in the driver's seat in two weeks, hosting last-place Kyiv at home while Kazan and Inter duke it out for second place and a spot in the next round.

The shock of the night came as five-time European Champions Liverpool were eliminated from the competition, even as they won 1-0 in Budapest.

The Merseyside club heaped more misery on Hungarian side Debreceni VSC, who have yet to earn a point in group E, but the result of the other match didn't go their way.

Fiorentina, who had never beaten a French side in the Champions League, broke their streak at home to Lyon, walking off the field 1-0 winners. The Tuscan side, on 12 points, are out of Liverpool's reach and Lyon, on 10 points, have the head-to-head advantage over Liverpool (on 7 points) that makes them untouchable.

In Group H, meanwhile, Arsenal romped to another win, this time 2-0 over Standard Liege in London, and booked their tickets to the last 16.

Liege had a first-half penalty appeal turned down when the match was still 1-0, and will have to hope that Arsenal gives their all in two weeks time against Olympiakos, who drew 0-0 on the night against AZ Alkmaar and therefore could still be overhauled by the Belgian side.

Author: Matt Hermann
Editor: Nathan Witkop