Manchester "big two" crash out of champions league

 　　LONDON, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two football giants Manchester United and its city rival both failed to qualify for the last-16 berths² here on Wednesday as the group stage of UEFA Champions League concluded.

　　On a night of drama, Manchester City, the hottest club in Premier³ League this season with its unstoppable attacking football, though beating group leader Bayern Munich 2-0 and seemingly on course to progress, was shattered in mood by the second-placed Napoli in Group A.

　　The Italian upward side overcame a first half slump⁴, staging a strong comeback 2-0 victory over Villarreal to confirm its advantageous⁵ status in the group.

　　With one more point, Napoli grabbed the last ticket of the group from Man City, qualifying for the knockout rounds with Bayern, who had already booked the berth¹ before the final group rounds.

　　Also on a black night for Manchester United, the three-time European champions failed to hold the one-point superiority in Group C, tasting a bitter and shocking 2-1 away defeat against a low-profile Basel.

　　The last season's runner-up ended the Champions League journey in group stage for the first time since 2005/06.

　　Both the Manchester clubs had to move on to the low-level Europa League after Wednesday's early exit.

　　Elsewhere, two big games produced two uneasy qualifiers.

　　French strength Lyon created a miracle to progress in Group D by winning 7-1 at Dinamo Zagreb.

　　However, before the final whistle, it was not enough for them to go through as Lyon needed Ajax with three-point advantage to lose at home.

　　Fortunately, group leader Real Madrid breezed past the Dutch side with a 3-0 victory, finishing a perfect six-win record in group stage and also giving Lyon a lift.

　　In Group B, CSKA Moskva told another unlikely qualifying story. They won 2-1 at group winner Inter⁶ Milan and made it move fourth to second to progress, eliminating the third-placed Trabzonspor with a minor⁷ point.

　　So far, all the last-16 teams were produced. They are the group winners: Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Benfica, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal⁸, APOEL FC, Barcelona and the runners-ups: Napoli, CSKA Moskva, Basel, Lyon, Leverkusen, Marseille, Zenit St Petersburg and AC Milan.

1 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

2 berths   

n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位

参考例句：

• Berths on steamships can be booked a long while in advance. 轮船上的床位可以提前多日预订。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Have you got your berths on the ship yet? 你们在船上有舱位了吗？ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

5 advantageous   

adj.有利的；有帮助的

参考例句：

• Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。
• You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。

6 inter   

v.埋葬

参考例句：

• They interred their dear comrade in the arms.他们埋葬了他们亲爱的战友。
• The man who died in that accident has been interred.在那次事故中死的那个人已经被埋葬了。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。