Tottenham Hotspur closed in on a berth in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-oxlade-chamberlain-strike-gives-liverpool-win-over-genk-260251">Champions League</a> knockout stages after two goals from Son Heung-min and one each by Giovani Lo Celso and Christian Eriksen gave them a resounding 4-0 Group B win at Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday.

The result left Spurs second in the group on seven points from four games, five behind leaders <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-part-company-with-kovac-259760">Bayern Munich</a> who sealed a last-16 berth with two games to spare after a 2-0 home win over Olympiakos Piraeus.

Third-placed Red Star have three points and Olympiakos one.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with his team's performance in a raucous atmosphere and praised the home fans, whose die-hard end applauded Red Star players off the pitch despite a crushing defeat.

"It’s a difficult place to come to but we executed the game plan to dominate from the start superbly and I am so happy," the Argentine told a news conference.

"The approach was very good and our positional play in the opposition half was fantastic. We were a bit lucky in the first half because we scored and they didn’t take their chances.

"The atmosphere was great and the home fans were fantastic. Hopefully we will play here in the Champions League again."

Tottenham, who thrashed Red Star 5-0 in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, almost fell behind in the 23rd minute after Red Star striker Milan Pavkov powered his into the penalty area before keeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied him with a reflex save.

Lo Celso, who is on loan from Spanish side Real Betis, fired the visitors ahead in the 34th with his first goal for Spurs after a pinball-styled scramble in Red Star's six-yard box which left both sets of fans momentarily baffled.

Harry Kane hit the post while Son had one shot cleared off the line and saw another crash against the underside of the bar before Lo Celso turned the ball in from close range.

Red Star came closing to equalising on the stroke of halftime in almost identical fashion as Dutch forward Rajiv Van la Parra hit the post and the rebound cannoned off Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez on to the crossbar.

Son made it 2-0 in the 57th minute when he buried a left-footed shot from eight metres into the roof of the net from a flowing move as Spurs broke out of their own half, with Dele Alli feeding the Korean forward.

With Red Star reeling, Son added the third four minutes later after another lightning Spurs break, blasting in a first-time shot at the far post following an inch-perfect low cross by left back Danny Rose.

Late substitute Eriksen added the gloss when he tucked the ball past goalkeeper Milan Borjan after another fine assist by the lively Rose.

Many Red Star fans left the acoustic Rajko Mitic stadium in a hurry before the final whistle, with several hundred visiting Spurs supporters in full swing.

Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic conceded there was a gulf in class between the two teams.

"I can only congratulate Tottenham, they punished us after we squandered some first-half opportunities," he said.

"We tried to close them down but we got beaten by an outstanding team and though the defeat leaves a bitter taste, it is part of a learning curve."

Tottenham Hotspur closed in on a berth in the Champions League knockout stages after two goals from Son Heung-min and one each by Giovani Lo Celso and Christian Eriksen gave them a resounding 4-0 Group B win at Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday.

Tottenham Hotspur closed in on a berth in the Champions League knockout stages after two goals from Son Heung-min and one each by Giovani Lo Celso and Christian Eriksen gave them a resounding 4-0 Group B win at Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday. The result left Spurs second in the group on seven points from four games, five behind leaders Bayern Munich who sealed a last-16 berth with two games to spare after a 2-0 home win over Olympiakos Piraeus. Third-placed Red Star have three points and Olympiakos one. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with his team's performance in a raucous atmosphere and praised the home fans, whose die-hard end applauded Red Star players off the pitch despite a crushing defeat. "It’s a difficult place to come to but we executed the game plan to dominate from the start superbly and I am so happy," the Argentine told a news conference. "The approach was very good and our positional play in the opposition half was fantastic. We were a bit lucky in the first half because we scored and they didn’t take their chances. "The atmosphere was great and the home fans were fantastic. Hopefully we will play here in the Champions League again." Tottenham, who thrashed Red Star 5-0 in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago, almost fell behind in the 23rd minute after Red Star striker Milan Pavkov powered his into the penalty area before keeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied him with a reflex save. Lo Celso, who is on loan from Spanish side Real Betis, fired the visitors ahead in the 34th with his first goal for Spurs after a pinball-styled scramble in Red Star's six-yard box which left both sets of fans momentarily baffled. Harry Kane hit the post while Son had one shot cleared off the line and saw another crash against the underside of the bar before Lo Celso turned the ball in from close range. Red Star came closing to equalising on the stroke of halftime in almost identical fashion as Dutch forward Rajiv Van la Parra hit the post and the rebound cannoned off Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez on to the crossbar. Son made it 2-0 in the 57th minute when he buried a left-footed shot from eight metres into the roof of the net from a flowing move as Spurs broke out of their own half, with Dele Alli feeding the Korean forward. With Red Star reeling, Son added the third four minutes later after another lightning Spurs break, blasting in a first-time shot at the far post following an inch-perfect low cross by left back Danny Rose. Late substitute Eriksen added the gloss when he tucked the ball past goalkeeper Milan Borjan after another fine assist by the lively Rose. Many Red Star fans left the acoustic Rajko Mitic stadium in a hurry before the final whistle, with several hundred visiting Spurs supporters in full swing. Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic conceded there was a gulf in class between the two teams. "I can only congratulate Tottenham, they punished us after we squandered some first-half opportunities," he said. "We tried to close them down but we got beaten by an outstanding team and though the defeat leaves a bitter taste, it is part of a learning curve."

Champions League: Spurs close in on last-16 berth with 4-0 rout of Red Star

Mohamed Salah scored twice on a record-breaking night as Liverpool beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 in Champions League Group C at Anfield on Wednesday to get their last-16 hopes back on track.

After their defeat at Napoli in their previous game, Juergen Klopp's side bounced back with his attacking trio again all delivering as Salah made it 50 goals for the club while Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also both hit the target.

Egyptian Salah appeared to be rediscovering his deadly form of last season as he reached his half-century quicker than any Liverpool player in history, achieving the feat in 65 games -- 12 quicker than the previous record holder Albert Stubbins.

Red Star, beaten 6-1 by Paris St Germain in their last outing and without away support as the club served the second of a two-match ban on travelling fans, posed little threat in a subdued atmosphere.

Yet Liverpool were still able to produce enough quality to comfortably pick up the three points and, with PSG and Napoli drawing 2-2, they now top the group with six points, one more than Napoli and two ahead of the French champions.

"When the game calmed down we played&nbsp;football&nbsp;and created chances - it was a really good game and I enjoyed it a lot," said Klopp.

"It was a good&nbsp;football&nbsp;game and a deserved win."

Firmino set Liverpool, beaten at Napoli in their previous game, on their way in the 20th minute with an emphatic finish after a smart pull back from Andy Robertson found the Brazilian in space in the box.

Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, busy and creative throughout, fed Salah for Liverpool's second on the stroke of halftime, the Egyptian firing home from inside the box.

Red Star had threatened little and Liverpool put the game beyond them six minutes after the interval when Filip Stojkovic stuck out an arm to block Mane and Salah blasted home the penalty for his landmark goal.

There has been talk of Salah struggling for form this season and while he still looks a little short of full sharpness, six goals in 13 games in all competitions is no mean return.

Mane then missed another penalty, his shot pushed on to the bar by Red Star keeper Milan Borjan, before making amends with a close-range finish in the 80th minute.

Substitute Adam Lallana could have made it five when he burst through alone from the halfway line but Canada international Borjan denied him.

Mohamed Salah scored twice on a record-breaking night as Liverpool beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 in Champions League Group C at Anfield on Wednesday to get their last-16 hopes back on track.

Mohamed Salah scored twice on a record-breaking night as Liverpool beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 in Champions League Group C at Anfield on Wednesday to get their last-16 hopes back on track. After their defeat at Napoli in their previous game, Juergen Klopp's side bounced back with his attacking trio again all delivering as Salah made it 50 goals for the club while Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also both hit the target. Egyptian Salah appeared to be rediscovering his deadly form of last season as he reached his half-century quicker than any Liverpool player in history, achieving the feat in 65 games -- 12 quicker than the previous record holder Albert Stubbins. Red Star, beaten 6-1 by Paris St Germain in their last outing and without away support as the club served the second of a two-match ban on travelling fans, posed little threat in a subdued atmosphere. Yet Liverpool were still able to produce enough quality to comfortably pick up the three points and, with PSG and Napoli drawing 2-2, they now top the group with six points, one more than Napoli and two ahead of the French champions. "When the game calmed down we played football and created chances - it was a really good game and I enjoyed it a lot," said Klopp. "It was a good football game and a deserved win." Firmino set Liverpool, beaten at Napoli in their previous game, on their way in the 20th minute with an emphatic finish after a smart pull back from Andy Robertson found the Brazilian in space in the box. Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, busy and creative throughout, fed Salah for Liverpool's second on the stroke of halftime, the Egyptian firing home from inside the box. Red Star had threatened little and Liverpool put the game beyond them six minutes after the interval when Filip Stojkovic stuck out an arm to block Mane and Salah blasted home the penalty for his landmark goal. There has been talk of Salah struggling for form this season and while he still looks a little short of full sharpness, six goals in 13 games in all competitions is no mean return. Mane then missed another penalty, his shot pushed on to the bar by Red Star keeper Milan Borjan, before making amends with a close-range finish in the 80th minute. Substitute Adam Lallana could have made it five when he burst through alone from the halfway line but Canada international Borjan denied him.

Salah strikes twice to make it 50 as Liverpool beat Red Star

Bulgarian police detained 45 Red Star Belgrade fans in connection with violence before their Champions League&#39;s third qualifying match&#39;s first leg at Ludogorets today. 
 
Skirmishes broke out in the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach early today and two police officers sustained injuries, police department in the southeastern town of Burgas said in a statement.&nbsp;Five more citizens, trying to help police restore order, were also injured. Prosecutors in Burgas have opened pre-trial proceedings regarding the incidents. 
 
Ludogorets, who have won five successive Bulgarian league title, host the 1991 European Cup winners Red Star in Razgrad. The return leg will be played in Belgrade next week. 
 
The Eagles, as Ludogorets are known in the Balkan country, have already knocked out a Serbian opposition, Partizan Belgrade, in the Champions League&#39;s third qualifying round on two occasions in the past three years. 
 
(Reuters)

Skirmishes broke out in the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach early today and two police officers sustained injuries

Bulgarian police detained 45 Red Star Belgrade fans in connection with violence before their Champions League's third qualifying match's first leg at Ludogorets today. Skirmishes broke out in the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach early today and two police officers sustained injuries, police department in the southeastern town of Burgas said in a statement. Five more citizens, trying to help police restore order, were also injured. Prosecutors in Burgas have opened pre-trial proceedings regarding the incidents. Ludogorets, who have won five successive Bulgarian league title, host the 1991 European Cup winners Red Star in Razgrad. The return leg will be played in Belgrade next week. The Eagles, as Ludogorets are known in the Balkan country, have already knocked out a Serbian opposition, Partizan Belgrade, in the Champions League's third qualifying round on two occasions in the past three years. (Reuters)

Bulgarian police detain 45 Red Star fans over violence