Arsenal into Champions League last 16
Partizan had drawn level in the second-half but goals by substitute Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri ensured Arsene Wenger's side progressed second in the group behind Ukraine's 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk - they beat Sporting Braga 2-0.
Elsewhere, two of France's fallen stars Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery ensured they would get positive headlines for once.
Benzema - who was left out of the France World Cup finals squad after struggling to make an impact at Real Madrid - scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in a 4-0 romp over Auxerre.
Ribery - who has had a wretched year on and off the pitch - scored his first goals for his club since April in Bayern Munich's 3-0 victory over Swiss side Basel, ruining the losers hopes of taking the second spot in the group from AS Roma.
Roma rounded off their campaign with a 1-1 draw away at Romanian side Cluj.
There was also no victorious return for Ivory Coast football icon Didier Drogba to his former club Marseille, as the French champions beat the out of form English champions Chelsea 1-0 through a Brandao goal.
Ajax pulled off a great result given they lost coach Martin Jol on Monday as they beat AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro.
The four-time European champions scored both their goals in the second-half through Demy de Zeeuw and then Toby Alderwereild.
Spartak Moscow fans hardly gave a good account of what foreign visitors can expect at the 2018 World Cup as their boorish behaviour saw the match at Slovakian tailenders Zilina halted in the first-half when they threw flares onto the pitch.
Spartak ended up winning the match 2-1.
Barca 2nd-string end Kazan hopes
A SECOND string Barcelona side proved too strong for Rubin Kazan on Tuesday as the Russians fell 2-0 at the Nou Camp to miss out on a berth in the Champions League knockout phase.
But they put the record straight as they picked off their rivals with second-half goals from Andreu Fontas and Victor Vazquez to send Barcelona streaking on with 14 points while Danish side FC Copenhagen won 3-1 against Panathinaikos to claim second spot with ten.
Man Utd clinch top spot
United needed to avoid defeat to seal top spot in Group C but were left shocked when Pablo Hernandez fired the visitors from La Liga into a 32nd minute lead robbing the hosts of a record six successive Champions League clean sheets.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side were guilty of wasting a string of opportunities and it looked like the evening would finish in frustration before Anderson was well placed to level in the 62nd minute, only the Brazilian's second goal in three-and-a-half-years at United.
Tottenham net top spots in Champions League
Not satisfied with reaching the last 16 of the Champions League in their debut season, Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up top spot in Group A at the expense of holders Inter Milan on Wednesday with a 3-3 draw at Twente Enschede as the Italians slumped to defeat at Werder Bremen.
A Jermain Defoe double in a topsy-turvy game was the highlight and Spurs were further cheered by the news that Inter had been thumped 3-0 in Bremen to send the Londoners through with 11 points to the Italians' 10, ramping up the pressure on the holders' boss Rafa Benitez.
Spurs took an early lead thanks to a Peter Wisgerhof own goal as Twente's veteran debutant goalkeeper Sander Boschker kicked at fresh air following his teammate's backpass.
Defoe then bagged the limelight while Denny Landzaat, Roberto Rosales and Nacer Chadli netted for the Dutch.
Rangers - already qualified for the Europa League - drew 1-1 at Turkish tailenders Bursaspor, who ended with a grand total of just that one point.
Elsewhere, Schalke cast aside poor German league form to win Group B after a 2-1 win at Benfica while Lyon are also through despite a home draw with Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Bayern cruise, Roma progress
Three goals in 15 minutes have ensured Bayern Munich stayed top of Group E at the end of the Champions League group stage.
The Bavarian club's 3-0 triumph over Basel at the Allianz Arena saw them top the group by five points ahead of Italian club Roma.
Shakhtar Donetsk reach knockout round
Ukraine's 2009 UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time here on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Portuguese side Sporting Braga.
A dour match was brought to life late in the game when Romanian international defender Razvan Rat opened the scoring with the hosts nailing their place in the last 16 and top spot in Group H shortly afterwards through Luiz Adriano.
Ajax beat AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro here on Wednesday to ensure they take their place in the Europa League knockout stages.
With Milan already guaranteed second place in Group G and Real Madrid assured of top spot, Ajax and Auxerre were left to battle for third place and the European consolation prize.
And goals from Demy De Zeuuw and Toby Alderweireld ensured the Dutch side - who were rocked by the resignation of coach Martin Jol on Monday - continue their continental adventure this season.
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