City stun Barca, Ozil takes Arsenal into last-16

Paris, Manchester City got their revenge on Barcelona as Ilkay Gundogan scored twice in a 3-1 win in the Champions League, while Arsenal were one of four sides to secure progress to the last-16. Pep Guardiola’s side had lost 4-0 in Barcelona two weeks ago but they showed tremendous character to come from a goal down and beat the Spanish champions 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
The inevitable Lionel Messi put the visitors in front at the end of a stunning breakaway with his 90th Champions League goal. However, City pounced on a Sergi Roberto mistake as Raheem Sterling set up Gundogan to equalise six minutes before half-time. A Kevin De Bruyne free-kick gave City the lead six minutes into the second half and, although Andre Gomes rattled the bar for the visitors, the Premier League side were on top and they secured the victory thanks to Germany midfielder Gundogan’s second of the night. “Today is a good step. We play against a great team and we compete. Now they will realise, ‘Wow, we won against the best team,’” said Guardiola.
Barcelona remain top of Group C and need only a draw against Celtic in their next game to progress, while City now know a win at Borussia Moenchengladbach next time will take them through.
Ozil shines
Mesut Ozil scored a stunning winner as Arsenal fought back from two goals down to beat Ludogorets 3-2 in Sofia and secure their place in the last-16 for the 17th season in succession. Jonathan Cafu put the Bulgarian champions ahead and then set up Claudiu Keseru to make it 2-0 to Ludogorets inside quarter of an hour. However, Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud scored to haul the Gunners back before the break, and then Ozil’s fine solo effort won it two minutes from time.
PSG, Atletico, Bayern through
Arsene Wenger’s side is through with two games to spare, as are Paris Saint-Germain, who won 2-1 away to Basel in Switzerland with a dramatic late winner. Last season’s runners-up Atletico Madrid and German champions Bayern Munich also qualified for the last-16.