Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli was this morning reflecting on the greatest achievement of his career after guiding the club into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.

A Juan Vargas penalty in the 28th minute last night was enough to sink Lyon and see La Viola successfully navigate their way through the group stages, joining the French team in the knockout phase and condemning Liverpool to the UEFA Europa League. Asked whether the feat was the biggest of his career, Prandelli told Sky: "At this moment I think so, even though we have ended the season in the top four. It is clear that you always work to improve.

"We wanted to make history. Perhaps we have started to make history, but I would like to start writing the story from today. There was anxiety and tension, but I tried to explain that it is always a football game - the things they do in the league they can do at this level."

A sell-out crowd of over 35,000 witnessed Fiorentina's historic achievement as they also became the first Italian representatives to qualify for the knockout round this year. Goalscorer Vargas added: "It is a well-deserved qualification and it is a great night. We are happy to have experienced it together with our fans. It is important for us to have played so well. We hope to continue.

"Compared to the previous Champions League campaigns, it is a different situation. We worked more serenely and we know we have reached an important milestone."