PARIS: Rafael Benitez should live to fight another day as holders Inter Milan secured their place in the last-16 of the Champions League with a nervy 1-0 home win over FC Twente.
Inter were joined in the next round by Manchester United, for whom Wayne Rooney marked his return to the starting line-up for the first time since October with a late penalty in a 1-0 win at Scottish champions Rangers.
Valencia’s 6-1 humbling of Bursaspor ensures they join United from Group C and consigns Rangers to the Europa League. Debutants Tottenham Hotspur’s dream campaign continued as they defeated hapless Werder Bremen 3-0 to leave them above Inter on head-to-head results.
Barcelona’s bid to regain the trophy they won in 2009 remains on track as they reached the next stage with a convincing 3-0 win away at Panathinaikos thanks to a double from Pedro Rodriguez and one from Lionel Messi.
Benitez relieved
Esteban Cambiasso lifted the tension surrounding holders Inter in the 55th minute at San Siro. A Wesley Sneijder free-kick took a double deflection and fell kindly to the unmarked Cambiasso to swivel and fire home inside the post.
“It’s always important to win, especially in the Champions League,” said Benitez. “If the coach is in difficulty it’s because the team is in difficulty but we wanted to win, we scored and in the end it was this character that made the difference.”
Meanwhile, Rooney showed admirable nerve in tucking away the 87th-minute penalty that guaranteed United’s place in the last-16. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised Rooney for his coolness. “It took courage for Rooney to take that penalty,” said Ferguson. “It wasn’t the easiest of nights for him as he missed a couple of chances. There’s still a bit of rustiness to his game.”
In other matches, Hapeol Tel-Aviv defeated Benfica 3-0, Rubin Kazan claimed a 1-0 win against FC Copenhagen while Schalke overpowered Lyon 3-0.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2010.
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