Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League tonight after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of a second-string Juventus side at a near-empty Delle Alpi stadium. Juventus, already eliminated after last week's group D defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, were dominated by the north London club - whose fate was sealed by Leverkusen's 3-1 victory at Deportivo Coruna also tonight.
Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta headed Juve's winner in the 76th minute while Thierry Henry, who joined Arsenal in 1999 after an unhappy spell at Juventus, had a second-half penalty saved - a week after he missed from the spot in the 2-0 defeat to Deportivo.
Bayer Leverkusen ensured they qualified for the last eight of the Champions League as they eased to an impressive 3-1 victory over Deportivo Coruna. The win means the German side top group D ahead of the Spaniards, who had already booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Arsenal last week.
Elsewhere, Panathinaikos booked their place in the final eight with a 2-2 draw against a second string Real Madrid. Sparta Prague ended Porto's slim hopes of advancing as the Czech side posted a 2-0 win in their final group C match. Porto needed a win in Prague coupled with a defeat by Greek side Panathinaikos against Real Madrid on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
