Champions League Knockouts Set – Who’s In and What’s Next?
The Champions League group stage has wrapped up in dramatic fashion, and now we finally have a clear picture of who’s moving on to the knockout rounds. After a thrilling final round of fixtures, Manchester City managed to come from behind to beat Club Brugge and secure a spot in the play-offs, while Aston Villa and Arsenal joined Liverpool—who had already secured their place—in the last 16. Even Celtic, despite a tough 4-2 loss to Aston Villa, made it into the play-offs, ensuring all five British teams progressed.
Now, let’s break it down:
The teams that have sealed a spot in the last 16 include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, some of the biggest names in European football—like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Juventus, and Manchester City—find themselves in the knockout play-offs, fighting for a place in the next round. It’s going to be intense!
Also Read:The draw for the knockout phase play-offs takes place on Friday, January 31 at 11:00 GMT , with matches scheduled for February 11-12 and 18-19 . And here’s where it gets exciting—either Celtic or Manchester City will have to face European giants Real Madrid , while the other will take on Bayern Munich . That’s a massive challenge right out of the gate.
The last 16 draw, happening on February 21 , will determine who faces who in the next round, but we already know some possible matchups. Liverpool could meet Monaco, Brest, PSG, or Benfica , while Barcelona will be up against one of the same teams . Arsenal will face Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan, or PSV , and Aston Villa is set to battle Sporting, Club Brugge, Atalanta, or Borussia Dortmund . The stakes are high, and every team will be fighting to stay in the competition.
Looking ahead, there’s a chance we could see some all-British clashes in the quarter-finals, with Liverpool and Aston Villa potentially meeting and Arsenal facing Celtic or Manchester City . But of course, that all depends on how the last-16 draw unfolds.
With every game now carrying massive weight, this Champions League campaign is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory. Who will survive the knockout battles and make it to the final? We’ll find out soon enough!
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