Teenager Ansu Fati became the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history as Barcelona knocked Inter Milan out with a 2-1 win at the San Siro.
Lautaro Martinez had two goals ruled out for offside as Antonio Conte’s men – who needed to match Borussia Dortmund’s result against Slavia Prague – were condemned to third spot in the group and the Europa League.
Dortmund won 2-1, with Jadon Sancho again on the scoresheet. Inter threw everything at Barcelona, who had already qualified, after Romelu Lukaku cancelled out Carles Perez’s opener, but the winner came from 17-year-old substitute Fati in the 86th minute.
Lukaku was involved in a lively start by the Italians as he forced a sharp save from Neto before being denied by a last-gasp tackle from Clement Lenglet as he sought to manoeuvre himself into the best possible position to shoot.
The failure to take those early chances proved costly as Perez slid home the opener into the bottom left corner to score on his Champions League debut.
Lenglet should have made it 2-0 but the centre-back squandered a gilt-edged chance when he dragged a routine finish wide of the right post.
Lukaku ought to have done better with another chance before Danilo D’Ambrosio forced a good save from Neto as the visitors came under renewed pressure.
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With just over a minute of the first half remaining, Inter equalised when Martinez showed his strength to hold up the ball in the face of muscular defending and Lukaku drove home a deflected shot.
Samir Handanovic came to the hosts’ rescue with an excellent save from Antoine Griezmann’s low shot as Barcelona attacked with menace, Ivan Rakitic also contributing a driving run.
Griezmann was replaced by Luis Suarez but Inter pressed again with Lukaku the focal point, although he was wasteful once more when played in by the superb Martinez.
Antonio Conte’s side were knocked out (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Argentinian flashed wide of the left post having done all the hard work and the misfiring Lukaku steered an attempt straight into the arms of Neto.
Inter’s hopes rested with the brilliance of Martinez and he seemed to have secured the breakthrough only for the offside flag to go up.
And he endured the same fate when he pushed the ball into the net for a second time, but on this occasion it was Lukaku who was offside.
Time was running out and Fati delivered the killer blow by firing a stunning winner.
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