Internet Desk: Premier League champions Leicester City on Tuesday created history by cruising into the last 16 of UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 win over Belgium’s Club Brugge. Reigning champions Real Madrid also marched into the last 16 along with 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund. Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur failed to live up to the expectation as they crashed out of the premier club tournament of Europe.
Italian giants Juventus too joined Real Madrid in the pre-quarters along with Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco.They join last year’s runners-up Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
It was special for Claudio Ranieri’s side as the Foxes advanced to the pre-quarters as Group C toppers in their maiden Champions League season.
“We’re on another journey. I don’t know where, but we’re excited!” Ranieri said afterwards.
Referring to his side’s poor league form the Italian added: “Maybe we have been more concentrated in the Champions League. Now the group is won, (it is) important to come back in the Premier League.”
Shinji Okazaki netted after just five minutes and a Riyad Mahrez penalty made it 2-0 before Jose Izquierdo notched a second-half consolation for Brugge.
While Leicester celebrated their maiden success so far in the Champions League, Tottenham saw their hopes dashed after a 2-1 loss at Monaco, who won Group E in the process.
Spurs had a let off when their French keeper Hugo Lloris saved Radamel Falcao’s early spotkick.
But quickfire goals from Djibril Sidibe and Thomas Lemar just after the break, sandwiching a Harry Kane penalty, did for the Londoners.
In the same group Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow to take the Germans into the knockout stages following Spurs’ loss.
Holders Real Madrid joined 1997 champions Borussia Dortmund in qualifying from Group F. The Spanish giants got the better of Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club Sporting Lisbon by 2-1 margin.
French star Karim Benzema scored the winner for Madrid. Real took the lead through Rapahel Varane before Adrien Silva equalized from a spot kick.
Gareth Bale suffered an ankle injury and had to be taken off before the breather, thereby raising doubts about his availability in the all important La Liga clash coming up against Barcelona after 11 days.
Dortmund secured the group win with a game to play after swatting Poland’s Legia Warsaw 8-4 — a record goalfest for a Champions League encounter.
The Germans became one of an elite clique to notch five goals in a single Champions League half having led 5-2 at the interval.
Marco Reus scored a hat-trick and Japanese star Shinji Kagawa netted a brace as Dortmund ran riot.
Here are the results from Tuesday’s Champions League clashes:
