Braga, Kharkiv and Atletico through to next round

Nov 30, 2011, 21:05 GMT

Berlin - Last season's beaten finalist Sporting Braga advanced to the knock-out stage of the Europa League on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory against Birmingham City.

Also through after the early matches on Wednesday where Atletico Madrid and Metalist Kharkiv.

Although Braga are behind Club Brugge in Group H, they can no longer be overtaken by the Premier League side, who are currently third on seven points.

Birmingham had the opportunity to go ahead in the 11th minute after being awarded a penalty for a foul on Wade Elliot, but Nikola Zigic saw his poor shot saved by Portuguese international goalkeeper Quim.

Braga, for whom Hugo Viana scored shortly after the break, and Brugge who came from three goals down to win 4-3 at NK Maribor, are both on 10 points. They face each other in their final group game in Belgium.

In Group I Arda Turan scored the goal that took Atletico through to the next round with a 1-0 victory at Celtic. Madrid are on 10 points, while Udinese, who played to a goalless draw in Rennes, are on eight.

Celtic, on five points, need to win their final game in Italy to go through.

In Group G Metalist Kharkiv made sure of topping the group with a convincing 4-1 win against Austrian visitors Austria Vienna. They are on 13 points. AZ Alkmaar, who played 0-0 in Malmo, are second on seven points, while Austria stay on five.

In an earlier match Russian club Rubin Kazan stayed on course for a place in the knock-out stage with a 4-1 victory against Shamrock Rovers in a Group A match.

Paraguay international Nelson Valdez gave the home side the ideal start in the 10th minute, but Ken Oman equalized for the Irish visitors just two minutes later.

Shortly before the break Bebras Natcho gave Kazan the lead again before Valdez found his second six minutes after the restart. Nigerian international Obafemi Martins scored a fourth for his side on the hour for a convincing victory.

The victory takes Kazan to the top of the group with 10 points. They could be overtaken by either Tottenham or PAOK, who clash later Wednesday. PAOK are on eight points, while Spurs are a point behind.