Champions League: Chelsea and Didier Drogba turned in a performance of old to top Group E with a 3-0 win over Valencia, courtesy of a brace from the Ivorian either side of a Ramires effort. Arsenal were beaten by Olympiacos but had already won their group, though the Greeks were denied qualification by a remarkable Marseilles comeback against Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea needed a win or a scoreless draw to guarantee a place in the second round but what was predicted, on form, to be another edgy night for the Blues proved to be nothing of the sort, as the Londoners beat Bayer Leverkusen to first after the German side were held 1-1 in Genk.
Villas-Boas claimed afterwards the result gave their detractors a “slap in the face”.
"In terms of the result I'm very happy," the Portuguese said on Sky Sports 2. "The players worked very hard for the win. Guess what? We finished top of the group against all odds.
“It was good to score straight away. Valencia started a bit uncomfortably and struggled a couple of times. Our strategy was always to keep our line of defence close to our goal.
“The Premiership games — in our last four games we have had three clean sheets so our defence isn’t that bad. I think the players have given everyone a slap in the face today.
“What matters is that Chelsea finished top of the group. We qualified in first and we eagerly await the draw to see how far we can go.”
Drogba took just three mintues to open the scoring when he controlled a cutback from Juan Mata, shifted it on to his left foot and hit the net from 10 yards.
Defensive hesitation by Victor Ruiz 15 minutes later allowed Ramires to poke in the second and Chelsea took control from then on, completing one of their best performances of the season with Drogba's second 14 minutes from time after another Mata assist.
Valencia, who hammered Genk 7-0 in their last match, would have qualified with a score draw but though they had plenty of possession they rarely threatened.
Having conceded a late winner at Bayer Leverkusen two weeks ago, a goal that secured the German side's progress, Chelsea went into Tuesday's match with work to do against their free-scoring visitors.
Arsenalended their group stage with a 3-1 defeat in Olympiacos— but the Greeks missed out on the knockout stages, finishing third in Group F.
In-form Algeria striker Rafik Djebbour slotted home on 16 minutes after a loose ball was not cut out at the edge of the area, before substitute keeper Vito Mannone — on for the injured Lukasz Fabianski — made a hash of his clearance as David Fuster made it 2-0 at the break.
Yossi Benayoun slotted home a consolation before Francois Modesto secured victory with a minute left.
However, Marseilleproducing a late rally to win 3-2 in Dortmund, having trailed 2-1 until the 85th minute.
Mathieu Valbuena's spectacular 87th minute winner came two minutes after Andre Ayew equalised with five minutes to go.
Jakub Blaszczykowski and a Mats Hummels penalty gave German champions Dortmund a 2-0 lead in just over half an hour.
Loic Remy headed one back in first-half stoppage time. Then came Ayew's contribution before their destiny was sealed when Valbuena scored with a curling right-foot drive from the edge of the penalty area
Apoel Nicosiasuffered their first defeat of the campaign when they went down 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, but they still ended up celebrating as the result of FC Portowho drew 0-0 at home with Zenit St Petersburg, in a result that sent the Russian team through.
Apoel, against all odds, had secured qualification with a round to spare but were outplayed by the Ukrainian visitors. Liuz Adriano Shakhtar ahead from close range after 62 minutes while substitute Yevhen Seleznyov got the second after 78, tucking in after a shot by Fernandinho that rebounded off goalkeeper Urko Pardo.
Apoel finished on nine points, level with Zenit St Petersburg after their 0-0 draw at Porto but the Cypriots top the group courtesy of their head-to-head record against Zenit.
Group H was already decided as group winners Barcelonasent their kids out to do a number on Bate Borisovat the Nou Camp.
Pep Guardiola blooded a slew of recent youth-school graduates in a starting lineup in which the 10 outfield players had an average age of 21.4.
Teenage midfielder Sergi Roberto opened the scoring against the Belarussian champions in the 35th minute when the 19-year-old stroked a loose ball low past goalkeeper Aleksandar Gutor from just outside the penalty area.
Fullback Martin Montoya powered a shot high into the net for a 60th-minute second before Pedro scored the third three minutes later with an audacious flick and then converted a penalty two minutes from time after Cuenca was brought down.
Unbeaten Barca finished with 16 points from their six matches, seven ahead of Serie A side AC Milan, who were already assured of second place and drew 2-2 at third-placed Viktoria Plzenwith the Czech side dropping into the Europa League.
Two late goals Plzen secured what had looked an improbable result.
Pato opened the scoring for Milan in the 47th minute when he collected a cross from Robinho and rounded goalkeeper Marek Cech. The Brazilian pair switched roles a minute later and this time Robhino was the scorer.
Milan appeared to be heading for a comfortable win until the final minute when David Bystron scored. Four minutes later Michal Duris scored the equaliser.
