The group stage of the UEFA Champions League has come to an exciting close, with the final spots in the knockout rounds now decided. Eight teams have earned automatic places in the Round of 16, while another 16 will compete in the playoff round for a chance to join them in the next stage of the tournament.
The final matchday saw plenty of drama, with crucial games determining which teams would move on to the knockout stages. With six spots still up for grabs before the final fixtures, tension ran high across Europe as teams pushed for the best possible finish in their groups.
Liverpool, already qualified, secured top spot in their group despite a 2-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven. Their progress was helped by Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta, which allowed the English side to stay ahead in the standings.
Arsenal also ensured their passage to the Round of 16 with a tight 2-1 win over Girona, while Aston Villa completed a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celtic, securing their automatic qualification.
Other teams to directly qualify for the knockout stage include Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Lille. These clubs will now prepare for the next phase, where they will compete against the other top finishers.
The teams securing automatic qualification for the Round of 16 are:
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Lille
- Aston Villa
Meanwhile, the remaining teams that finished in positions 9th through 24th in their respective groups will now enter a two-legged playoff round. These teams will compete for a spot in the coveted Round of 16, where they will face the group winners in a knockout format.
The clubs advancing to the playoff round include well-known European giants such as Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan, along with other strong contenders like Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica. Additionally, Celtic, who were defeated by Aston Villa, managed to secure their place in the playoff round, marking their first return to the Champions League knockout stage since the 2012/13 season.
The teams heading into the playoff round are:
- Atalanta
- Borussia Dortmund
- Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich
- AC Milan
- PSV Eindhoven
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Benfica
- AS Monaco
- Brest
- Feyenoord
- Juventus
- Celtic
- Manchester City
- Sporting Lisbon
- Club Brugge
The next round promises to deliver even more thrilling encounters as these teams battle for a spot in the prestigious Champions League Round of 16.
