UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:BARCELONA SHOWED they have plenty of exciting talent coming through the ranks when a team of youngsters lit up the Nou Camp in a 4-0 drubbing of basement side BATE Borisov in Group H.
The holders had comfortably reached the last 16 as group winners last month and coach Pep Guardiola blooded a slew of recent youth-school graduates in a starting line-up in which the 10 outfield players had an average age of 21.4.
Teenage midfielder Sergi Roberto opened the scoring against the Belarussian champions in the 35th minute when the 19-year-old stroked a loose ball low past goalkeeper Aleksandar Gutor from just outside the penalty area.
Full back Martin Montoya powered a shot high into the net for a 60th-minute second before Pedro scored the third three minutes later with an audacious flick and then converted a penalty two minutes from time.
Two late goals earned Czech side Viktoria Plzen a 2-2 draw at home with AC Milan, who had already wrapped up the runner-up spot in the group.
Pato opened the scoring for Milan in the 47th minute when he collected a cross from Robinho and beat Plzen goalkeeper Marek Cech. The Brazilian pair switched roles a minute later for Robhino to add the second.
Milan appeared to be heading for a comfortable win until the final minute when David Bystron scored. Four minutes later Michal Duris scored the equaliser as Plzen claimed a spot in the Europa League.
A man-of-the-match performance by Zenit St Petersburg goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev earned the Russian champions a 0-0 draw at Porto in Group G that put them through to the last 16 for the first time.
Malafeev made a series of astounding saves, denying clear-cut chances for Djalma, James Rodriguez, Kleber and Hulk on a great night for his side.
The draw means Zenit finish second on nine points, behind surprise Cypriot package APOEL Nicosia on their head-to-head record. Porto must settle for a Europa League spot, ending third on eight points.
APOEL were still celebrating despite suffering the first defeat of their campaign when they went down 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Liuz Adriano put Shakhtar ahead from close range after 62 minutes while substitute Yevhen Seleznyov got the second after 78, tucking in after a shot by Fernandinho that rebounded off goalkeeper Urko Pardo.
