The group stage at the UEFA Champions League officially came to a close on Wednesday and the standings are now final. Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal,
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.
Instead of going straight into the traditional round of 16, the competition will feature a knockout phase play-off. In this stage, the teams that finished ninth to 16th in the group phase will face off against those that placed 17th to 24th, with each tie played over two legs.
Manchester City nearly crashed out, but came from behind in the second half, and in the end, all European giants reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
The revamped Champions League's new league phase reached a thrilling climax on Wednesday night - and what an evening we had. Manchester City looked like they were heading out of the competition altogether at half-time in their match against Club Brugge.
With all 36 teams in action on Wednesday and sky-high stakes for some of Europe's leading clubs, the final first round matchday of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season didn't disappoint.
Celtic face a possible further Uefa sanction after a smoke bomb was thrown on to the pitch during Wednesday's Champions League tie against Aston Villa, European football's governing body having threatened a one-match ban on away fans if there was another incidence in the next two years following a similar incident in Dortmund. (The National)
For teams finishing in 9th to 16th place, they will enter the knockout round play-offs, where they are seeded and face unseeded teams from 17th to 24th in a two-legged encounter.
The revamped Uefa Champions League group phase reached its conclusion on Wednesday, with some of Europe's biggest clubs leaving it late to secure their place in the next round.Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge and squeeze into a place in the play-offs,