Schalke through

Schalke booked their place in the final 16 of the Champions League with an impressive 3-0 win over French side, Olympique Lyon.

Despite their poor Bundesliga form, Schalke reversed their fortunes to top their group and progress to the knock-out round with a game in hand. Lyon will also go through to the next round, just one point behind Schalke.

Schalke took control of the game from kick-off, racing to a 2-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Early pressure from Raul and Jefferson Farfan exposed the French defense, and Schalke threatened goal three times in the first five minutes.

The pressure paid off as Farfan scored 14 minutes in, converting a pass from Raul and firing home from 11 meters. Six minutes later, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar picked up the ball on the edge of the area and netted Schalke's second goal.

Huntelaar added his second goal of the game in an impressive solo effort in the last minutes. The Dutchman was fed a long ball and then held off two Lyon defenders before looping the ball over goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The performance was a far cry from their Bundesliga season, which sees them at 15th in the league, only having won three of their 13 games.

Speaking after the game, Schalke coach Felix Magath said it was "a nice feeling" to be through.

"For weeks we have been written off, but now we will play in the knockout stage," Magath said.

Bremen crushed by Spurs

Meanwhile the other German team in action on Wednesday night saw themselves on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat.

Werder Bremen were already at the bottom of their group table as they travelled away to White Hart Lane. Plagued by injury, Bremen were on the back foot after just six minutes as Younes Kaboul gave Spurs their first goal, volleying in a cross from Aaron Lennon at close range.

Luka Modric took the Londoners into half time 2-0 up, with a neat dodge around Bremen defender Sebastian Prodl before finding the back of the net.

Despite Spurs' Gareth Bale missing a second-half penalty, Peter Crouch added a third after 79 minutes. Play-maker Lennon set up the goal, getting past his marker to lay the ball back for Crouch to finish.

The result sees Tottenham through to the final 16, while Bremen were eliminated.

With one match in the group stage to go, 12 clubs are already through to the knock-out round. Spanish clubs Valencia, Barcelona and Real Madrid will join Premier League clubs Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs, Italian teams Inter Milan and AC Milan, Bundesliga sides Schalke and Bayern Munich and French clubs Marseille and Olympique Lyon.

Author: Catherine Bolsover (AP, Reuters, AFP)
Editor: Joanna Impey