It’s all still to play for in Group B

AJAX’S hopes of progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League remains on hold after they were held to a 1-1 draw with Valencia last night.

The result coupled with Arsenal’s draw with 10-man Roma at Highbury, means that any of the four teams from Group B can still qualify for the last eight, though the Italians will require a number of permutations if they are to progress.

A draw for Arsenal in their next match at Valencia later this month will be enough for their first ever quarter final appearance, while Roma must win at home to Ajax by two clear goals if they are to remain in the competition.

Both Ajax and Valencia had plenty of chances in the clash at the Amsterdam Arena but the visitors took the lead when Kily Gonzalez converted from the penalty spot in the 28th minute after Francisco Rufete was fouled in the area.

Ajax hit back strongly and deservedly equalised after 58 minutes through Finn Petri Pasanen’s header.

Ajax are top on seven points, the same tally as Premiership champions Arsenal. Valencia, finalists twice in the past three years are third on six points with Italy’s AS Roma fourth on four points.

It was much simpler in Group A as Barcelona booked their place in the last eight and ensured that they qualified as group winners when they eased their way to a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Nou Camp.

A neatly-taken 17th-minute strike from Argentine forward Javier Saviola and a deflected header from Dutch

defender Frank de Boer made sure of a comfortable but unspectacular win for the home side.

Last year’s finalists Leverkusen, who were already eliminated after failing to earn a point in any of their second phase games, began sharply and subjected Barca to some intense early pressure.

But the Catalans hit back against the run of play after some fine work by live-wire winger Marc Overmars on 17 minutes.

The Dutchman scampered past his marker on the right flank, chipped a neat pass across the area to unmarked Argentine striker Javier Saviola who controlled and then drove his low shot inside the far post to put his side 1-0 up.

Once they had taken the lead Barcelona began to find their rhythm with ease and Xavi and Juan Roman Riquelme took control of the midfield while Overmars continued to threaten with his darting runs down the right wing.

Barca made certain of victory four minutes into the second half when De Boer rose high at the near post to send a deflected header off defender Thomas Kleine into the net.