Messi fires Barcelona into last 16, late equaliser sees Leipzig through

A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona booked ir place in Champions League kckout sts by crushing a desperate Borussia Dortmund 3-1, while RB Leipzig me last 16 for first time with an incredible stopp time comeback. Lucien Favre's position as Dortmund coach looks increasingly in peril following thumping at Camp u on Wednesday, orchestrated by a sensational Messi, that ensured Barca's progress to last 16 as Group F winners and leaves Germans in danger of t qualifying. Argentine scored one and set up or two for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann to inflict a punishing defeat on Dortmund and move up to 11 points, four ahe of Germans and Inter Milan, who won 3-1 at Slavia Prague.

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"He (Messi) was incredible," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. 

"It's all about what he does and when he does it. It was a performance to put us through." 

Messi got ball rolling with a neat pass which allowed Suarez to open scoring in 29th minute, before Uruguayan returned favour four minutes later to lay on Messi for his 613th Barca goal on his 700th appearance. Messi, who has scored 10 times in his last nine games, was also at heart of goal which extinguished Dortmund's hopes of a result in 67th minute, slipping a wonderful through ball for Griezmann that Frenchman could happily stroke first time past Roman Burki. Dortmund slip down to third behind Antonio Conte's Inter side, who roared to a fine win which keeps alive ir hopes of a place in next round.

Romelu Lukaku's first Champions League goal for Inter and a Lautaro Martinez double saw off a spirited Slavia side that h levelled in 37th minute through a VAR-awarded Tomas Soucek penalty after Lukaku thought he h doubled his side's le. Lukaku h ar strike ruled out for offside by VAR in dying moments, but it me difference to result and w a win over Barca at San Siro next month will guarantee m a place in last 16. "We've given meaning to match with Barca by winning tonight," said Conte. "We are expecting a tough, great match, but we kw that we can count on 80,000 people who will come to stium to push us on." 

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Leipzig back from de

Leipzig me kckout sts in dramatic style after Emil Forsberg fired m back from two goals down in final minute to draw 2-2 with Benfica. Germans needed a point to qualify but looked down and out as match dragged towards ded time, but Forsberg pulled a goal back from penalty spot in 90th minute before hitting leveller six minutes later, sparking wild celebrations. "Reaching kckout sts for first time in club's history means that we're doing right things and moving in right direction. I'm just so proud," said Forsberg.

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draw gave Lyon a big let-off after y failed to snatch a kckout spot when y fell to 2-0 defeat at Zenit Saint Petersburg. Rudi Garcia's team looked in peril of t qualifying at all from Group G after loss but Leipzig's last gasp efforts mean y will go through with a win over Bundesliga side on December 10. Liverpool and Napoli were me to wait for ir spots with a tense 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Dries Mertens opened scoring with a sweetly struck opener midway through first half, before Dejan Lovren's heer salvd a point to keep Reds top of Group E. However European champions still need to get at least a point away to Salzburg next month to secure ir pass into last 16, while Napoli need a draw with bottom side Genk to claim ir spot. Ajax also need a point to go through thanks to a 2-0 win at Lille that featured fastest goal of this year's competition to open a two-point le at top of Group H.

Hakim Ziyech netted after 94 seconds at eliminated Lille with Quincy Promes hitting his fourth of tournament on hour mark. Four-time European champions Ajax have 10 points from five games, two more than Valencia and Chelsea who fought out a hugely entertaining 2-2 draw in Spain earlier in day. Ajax host Valencia in ir concluding fixture next month, while Chelsea welcomes Lille to Stamford Bridge kwing a win would be eugh to ensure ir place in draw.

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