Guardiola rests stars but Barca ease past Kazan

THEY may have rested their star names, but a largely second-string Barcelona consigned Rubin Kazan to a place in the Europa League after easing to a narrow victory at the Nou Camp.

Andreu Fontas’ deflected second-half effort and a late Victor Vazquez strike earned already-qualified Barca their fourth win in Group D and meant Rubin, who started the day a point behind second-placed FC Copenhagen, would have to settle for third place in the standings.

For their part, FC Copenhagen stormed into the last 16 as they pulled Panathinaikos apart at the Parken.

Martin Vingaard put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute and from then on they were dominant, with a 50th-minute penalty from Jesper Gronkjaer and Djibril Cisse’s own goal wrapping up the points, before Cedric Kante netted late on for Pana.

Inter Milan has to settle for second place behind Tottenham in Group A as they put in a feeble display in a comprehensive defeat at Werder Bremen.

A first-half header from Sebastien Prodl combined with a glorious volley from former Inter man Marko Arnautovic and a sharp strike from substitute Claudio Pizarro after the break earned Bremen their first win in the group.

It could have been even more emphatic for the Germans who hit the post and the bar as they carved open the defending champions in the second half.

Schalke secured top spot in Champions League Group B with an impressive 2-1 victory away to hapless Benfica.

Having already sealed their passage to the knockout stage thanks to a 3-0 win over Lyon a fortnight ago, Schalke might have been tempted to take their foot off the gas for the final group game.

However, goals by Jose Manuel Jurado and Benedikt Howedes, before Luisao’s consolation, gave them the win required to give them top spot ahead of Lyon.

Lyon were held 2-2 at home by Hapoel Tel Aviv.

After an entertaining but goalless first half Lisandro Lopez and Ben Sahar traded goals within a minute of each other around the hour mark before Eran Zahavi made it 2-1 to the visitors.

That would have been enough for third place and a parachute into the last 32 of the Europa League, but Alexandre Lacazette popped up late on for a Lyon side who finished second to Schalke.

In Manchester United’s Group C, Kenny Miller scored his 19th goal of the season but Rangers could only conclude their Champions League campaign with a draw against Bursaspor in the Bursa Ataturk stadium.

The Gers striker broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he lashed a left-footed shot from 12 yards past Yavuz Ozkan after good work from Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker down the left-hand side.

However, in the 79th minute Sercan Yildirim stabbed the ball past Allan McGregor to give the Turkish club their first Champions League point although they finished bottom of Group C.