Arsenal cruise into last 16 with game to spare

Champions League round-up: Arsenal cruised into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Standard Liege after goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson.

Needing a point against the Belgians to win Group H with a match to spare, Nasri opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium while team-mate Andrey Arshavin was off the pitch getting treatment to his cut head.

Denilson, returning after two months out with a back problem and making his 100th appearance for the club, smashed in a curling effort that deceived goalkeeper Sinan Bolat and ensured Arsene Wenger reached the last 16 of the competition for the 10th season in a row.

The visitors had Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez dismissed for clashing with Cesc Fabregas at the death.

Olympiakos missed the chance to tie up the second qualification spot in Group H after they were held to a 0-0 draw by AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

The result left Olympiakos in second place with seven points, six behind Arsenal who will be their opponents in their final group match.

Holders Barcelona comfortably saw off Inter Milan 2-0 at the Nou Camp with early goals from Gerard Pique and Pedro to go top of Group F.

Pep Guardiola's side started the day under pressure lying third in the group and were weakened when Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were not in the starting XI.

But any worries were quickly dispelled when Pique volleyed in from a 10th-minute corner. Pedro then doubled the advantage after a flowing attacking move.

Dynamo Kiev held Rubin Kazan to a 0-0 draw in Russia , denting both teams' hopes of progressing from Group F.

Russian champions Rubin and their Ukrainian opponents had few clear chances in a game played in difficult conditions with snow falling on the city near the Volga River, 800 kms east of Moscow.

Both teams increased the tempo in the second half and the visitors had their best opportunity shortly after the re-start.

Dynamo midfielder Andriy Yarmolenko was sent clear on goal but shot straight at Rubin keeper Sergei Ryzhikov and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko then mishit the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Rangers crashed out of the Champions League without even the consolation of parachuting into the Europa League as their Group G campaign ended without a single point at home as they lost 2-0 to Stuttgart at Ibrox.

Goals from Sebastian Rudy and Zdravko Kuzmanovic earned the Germans victory and ended any hope the Scottish champions had of European football after Christmas.

Poor home form — Rangers have lost all three games in Glasgow and shipped 10 goals in the process — means their final match in Sevilla early next month will be about nothing more than restoring some pride and seeking a consolation win in the tournament.

Stuttgart need to beat Unirea Urziceni at home in their final game on December 9th to progress.

Unirea enjoyed a 1-0 victory over Sevilla in Romania thanks to Ivica Dragutinovic’s own goal at the end of the first half. The Spanish side are already through to the last 16.