VfB Stuttgart confirmed their spot in the Europa League last 16 despite a 1-0 home loss to Celtic on Thursday, with their 4-1 victory in Glasgow last week proving crucial, reported dpa.
Luke McCowan confidently scored in the first minute for the visitors but Stuttgart dominated from there on. The first-leg cushion in the play-off meant the Germans refrained from taking too many risks in the 4-2 aggregate victory.
The hosts had two goals ruled out for complicated offsides and striker Deniz Undav told RTL: "The most important thing is to go through, the rest doesn't matter.
"VAR should actually be there to help. It feels like it makes more wrong decisions than the referees themselves. It's getting funnier and funnier."
Stuttgart will play Porto or fellow Portuguese side Braga on March 12 and 19, with the exact pairings to be decided by a draw on Friday.
Their progression has heightened the chances of Germany joining England in having five Champions League teams next season instead of four, as per UEFA co-efficients.
Robbie Keane's Ferencváros turned around their first-leg deficit with a 2-0 home victory over Ludogorets setting up a 3-2 aggregate win.
Gabi Kanichowsky and Norwegian Kristoffer Zachariassen, continuing a memorable week from his nation in European football, netted in the first half for the Hungarian outfit.
The Bulgarians had no answer, just like in the league phase loss in Budapest in November.
Lille prevailed 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade after extra-time to go through 2-1 on aggregate. Olivier Giroud headed in early in normal time to make up for last week's surprise home defeat and substitute Nathan Ngoy clinched their last 16 place on 99 minutes.
Panathinaikos beat Viktoria Plzeň 4-3 on penalties to reach the last 16 despite having substitute Javi sent off in extra-time in the Czech Republic.
The game had ended 1-1 in normal time after Andreas Tetteh scored from the edge of the box for his third goal across both legs for the Greeks. Karel Spáčil equalized with a strong header before a goalless extra 30 minutes left the tie at 3-3 on aggregate.
- Stuttgart
- Europa League
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
