Manchester City snuck their way into the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds on Wednesday, avoiding elimination on a dramatic final day of the competition’s first-ever league phase.
Pep Guardiola’s side entered halftime with a 1-0 deficit to Club Brugge but three goals after halftime ensured they would clinch a spot in the top 24 and participate in the knockout round playoffs with a 3-1 win. Mateo Kovacic scored their opener, while an own goal from Joel Ordonez and a strike from Savinho sealed the deal.
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s perfect record in Champions League play came to an end after a 3-2 loss at PSV, though they still finished top of the table as Barcelona drew Atalanta 2-0. They earned direct passageway to the round of 16, as did Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa. Paris Saint-Germain also avoided elimination with a commanding 4-1 win at Stuttgart.
Standings
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Who can play who in the knockout playoffs?
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- Atalanta‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Sporting, Club Brugge
- Borussia Dortmund‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Sporting, Club Brugge
- Real Madrid‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Celtic, Manchester City
- Bayern Munich‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Celtic, Manchester City
- Milan‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Feyenoord, Juventus
- PSV‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Feyenoord, Juventus
- PSG‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Monaco, Brest
- Benfica‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Monaco, Brest
- Monaco‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: PSG, Benfica
- Brest‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: PSG, Benfica
- Feyenoord‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Milan, PSV
- Juventus‘ possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Milan, PSV
- Celtic‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
- Manchester City‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
- Sporting‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund
- Club Brugge‘s possible opponents in knockout playoffs: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund
Round of 16 bracket fixtures
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Who advanced to round of 16 with top-eight finish?
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter
- Atletico Madrid
- Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
Possible opponents for round of 16 teams
- Liverpool‘s possible opponents in round of 16: PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest
- Barcelona‘s possible opponents in round of 16: PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest
- Arsenal‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, Juventus2
- Inter‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, Juventus
- Atletico Madrid‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Manchester City
- Bayer Leverkusen‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Manchester City
- Lille‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Club Brugge
- Aston Villa‘s possible opponents in round of 16: Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, Club Brugge
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