Title holders AC Milan have qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after an away draw with Portugese club Benfica while Lazio were shocked by Olympiacos in Rome.

Andrea Pirlo gave Milan a 15th-minute lead but only five minutes later Maxi Pereira levelled the match.

Both sides battled in search of a winner but neither side managed to find one although a draw was all that Carlo Ancelotti's side needed in the end to secure their place in the next phase as they hunt for an eighth success in the continent's premier club competition.

That was also partly due to a defeat for Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic, who are now favourites to secure the second ticket to the knockout stages from Group D.

Alberto Gilardino missed with an early effort for Milan and then Clarence Seedorf forced a save from Quim.

Maxi Pereira and Petit were wayward with efforts for the Portuguese club, but after a quarter of an hour it was Milan who took the lead.

Kaka played the ball through to Pirlo and the Italy international midfielder advanced before hitting a low shot with his right foot into the net.

Benfica immediately responded and Cristian Rodriguez forced a save from Dida. The next time the hosts attacked, they equalised.

Pereira cut inside and fired a fearsome shot that was too good for Dida.

Nuno Gomes then had a shot blocked while at the other end Kaka and Seedorf were similarly frustrated. Quim then made a save from Cristian Brocchi but then it was Benfica's turn to put together a purple patch of possession.

Leo and Pereira both had shots blocked and then Rui Costa, a former Milan player, was wayward with his finish.

Early in the second half, Rui Costa had another attempt on goal but Dida saved well and next it was the turn of Petit to force the Brazilian custodian into action.

Rui Costa was once more foiled by Dida who then made another stop, this time to thwart Nuno Gomes.

A foul from Petit gave Pirlo another sight on goal but this time his free-kick was wide of the mark.

Benfica substitute Di Maria fired goalwards as Benfica pushed forward in search of a winner at the Estadio da Luz but Dida was on hand to make another save.

And another chance went begging at the other end when Kaka blazed a shot wide while the Brazil midfielder spurned another chance after good work from Massimo Oddo.

Neither side was able to find the opening to win the match but Milan were soon savouring a result that keeps them on course for a place in the Moscow final.

Former Lazio striker Darko Kovacevic has come back to haunt his former club after his goal helped Olympiacos take a big step towards the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.

Lazio went in front just after the half-hour mark through Goran Pandev, but the lead lasted only a matter of minutes as Luciano Galletti equalised.

With little over an hour gone Kovacevic, who was on as a substitute, struck from close range to leave Olympiacos needing only a point from their final game at home to Werder Bremen to go through.

Both teams went into the game knowing a win would put them in the driving seat for a place in the second round and it was Olympiacos who started better.

First Predrag Djordevic had a shot blocked and minutes later Christos Patsatzoglou was found by Djordevic's free-kick but headed over the bar from 12 yards.

With so much at stake neither side were keen to commit many men forward, but Lazio began to slowly gain the momentum.

They made that momentum pay with their first meaningful attempt on the half-hour mark as Stefano Mauri found space down the left and played the ball into Pandev who made no mistake from close range.

Olympiacos immediately went in search of the equaliser and Galletti had a shot blocked before seeing his long-range effort saved by Marco Ballotta.

The Argentinian striker was causing the Lazio defence problems and with 34 minutes gone he gave Olympiacos a deserved equaliser, receiving the ball from Vassilis Torosidis on the edge of the area before firing a fine finish into the top-right corner.

Moments later Lazio were almost back in front when Pandev found space in the area, but his shot was saved by the feet of Antonis Nikopolidis.

Lazio continued to push forward at the start of the second half and Gaby Mudingayi's 25-yard effort was comfortably dealt with by Nikopolidis.

However, Olympiacos showed they were still dangerous going forward as Torosidis' cross found Ieroklis Stoltidis but he headed over.

The game was beginning to open up and the powerful Pandev came close again with a shot from close range that was blocked superbly by Nikopolidis.

With 63 minutes gone Serbian striker Kovacevic stunned his former employers when he got on the end of Djordevic's pass and finished from six yards.

Urged on by their passionate support in the Stadio Olimpico, Lazio pressed for a way back into the game and Guglielmo Stendardo sent a header over.

Djordevic and Stoltidis were also both off target late on as Olympiacos held on for the win.

PA Sport