Goodbye...

Villarreal, Benfica, Bremen advance; Man United out
By Stephen Wade, The Associated Press

LONDON - The final 16 of the Champions League was completed Wednesday when Villarreal, Benfica and Werder Bremen became the final three teams to advance in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Thirteen teams had already qualified for the final 16 knockout stage: AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Lyon, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Arsenal, Ajax, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Rangers and Barcelona.

Manchester United was the shocker of the night.

United's loss at Benfica in Group D left the English power in last place in the group - and out of Europe. United finished with six points, the same as Lille. Lille claimed third place - and a place in the UEFA Cup - ahead of Man United because the French team beat United in one group game and drew the other.

The last time Manchester United was ousted from the Champions League group stage was 1994-95. In '95-'96, United failed to qualify for the competition. Since then, the club has reached the knockout stage nine straight times, and won the title in 1999.

United went ahead on Paul Scholes' goal in the sixth minute, but Benfica rallied with first-half goals from Geovanni and Beto.

Man United's defeat was humiliating, costly and puts manager Alex Ferguson's job under pressure.

Like many top clubs, United earns millions from the competition. The revenue shortfall could be critical to United, which was purchased earlier this year by American billionaire Malcolm Glazer in a takeover that relied heavily on borrowed money.