FIVE English teams made it straight into the Champions League knockout rounds after a dramatic night of European action.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City all progressed without needing a play-off – but Newcastle will now face either Monaco or Qarabag for a place in the last 16.
That play-off draw, which takes place on Friday morning, will feature a number of heavy hitters with the likes of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Juventus and Inter all in the hat.
At certain times during a breathless evening, Chelsea and Man City were both facing a play-off.
Liam Rosenior‘s Blues were 2-1 down to Napoli but two brilliant Joao Pedro goals secured a 3-2 win and automatic qualification.
Chelsea could now face Newcastle in the last-16 – provided the Toon qualify – but PSG also await.
A BIG STEPH UP
Forgotten former Arsenal star lands job with Champions League team
PALM-ED OFF
Cole Palmer injury update as Chelsea star forced to miss Champions League clash
Eddie Howe’s men secured an admirable 1-1 draw against holders PSG in Paris and could yet be drawn against Barcelona.
As for Arsenal, they will take on one of Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos after a 3-2 win over minnows Kairat made it a perfect group phase for the Gunners.
Liverpool secured third with a 6-0 win against Qarabag and are set to face either Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.
The same opponents await Tottenham, who defied their domestic form to finish fourth with a 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankurt.
Most read in Champions League
Finally, Man City snuck in with the last automatic qualifying spot after beating Galatasary 2-0 – Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki on target for Pep Guardiola’s team.
City were made to face a nervy wait as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica scored a last-gasp goal to beat Real Madrid 4-2, sending the Spaniards into the play-offs while bagging the last available spot.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing header in the very last minute to send the Portuguese side through.
And City could now face Real in the knockouts, with Inter Milan, Bodo Glimt and Mourinho’s Benfica also possibilities.
Final Champions League table
The top eight teams in the table automatically qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League.
Arsenal topped the standings after a perfect league phase campaign and they are joined in the top eight by fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City.
Ninth to 24th will battle it out for a spot in the last-16 in the play-offs.
Newcastle are the only English side in play-offs and they are accompanied by European powerhouses PSG, Real Madrid, Inter and Juventus.
Clubs placed below 24th are eliminated from Europe entirely.
Who is through to last-16 of Champions League?
The following sides made it to the last-16 and could face the following opponents:
- Arsenal vs Atalanta / Leverkusen / Dortmund / Olympiacos
- Bayern Munich vs Atalanta / Leverkusen / Dortmund / Olympiacos
- Liverpool vs Juventus / Atletico Madrid / Club Brugge / Galatasaray
- Tottenham vs Juventus / Atletico Madrid / Club Brugge / Galatasaray
- Barcelona vs PSG / Newcastle / Monaco / Qarabag
- Chelsea vs PSG / Newcastle / Monaco / Qarabag
- Sporting vs Real Madrid / Inter / Bodo/Glimt / Benfica
- Man City vs Real Madrid / Inter/ Bodo/Glimt/ Benfica
Play-off fixtures
The first legs of the play-off fixtures are set for February 17 and 18. The second legs will be played on either February 24 or 25.
- Real Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt / Benfica
- Inter vs Bodo/Glimt / Benfica
- PSG vs Monaco / Qarabag
- Newcastle vs Monaco / Qarabag
- Juventus vs Club Brugge / Galatasaray
- Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge / Galatasaray
- Atalanta vs Dortmund / Olympiacos
- Leverkusen vs Dortmund / Olympiacos
- Dortmund vs Atalanta / Leverkusen
- Olympiacos vs Atalanta / Leverkusen
- Club Brugge vs Juventus / Atletico Madrid
- Galatasaray vs Juventus / Atletico Madrid
- Monaco vs PSG / Newcastle
- Qarabag vs PSG / Newcastle
- Bodo/Glimt vs Real Madrid / Inter Milan
- Benfica vs Real Madrid / Inter Milan
When is the Champions League play-off draw?
- The draw takes place on Friday, January 30 at 11am GMT.
- The draw will be aired on Uefa’s official website and TNT Sports YouTube channel.
- TNT Sports 1 will also provide coverage of the event and SunSport will live blog it as it happens.
Read the full article here
