- Five English clubs secured automatic qualification for the last 16.
- Newcastle United must pass through the February play-offs.
- Arsenal finished top after winning all league phase matches.
- Big European names were pushed into the play-offs.
- The draw sets up possible Premier League clashes later in the tournament.
Premier League teams had a strong night in Europe after five of them sealed direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City all finished inside the top eight, earning a straight path into the knockout round. Newcastle United were the only English side left with extra work to do.
The last round of league matches delivered major twists across Europe.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain dropped into the play-offs, while Napoli’s campaign came to an end. In one of the wild moments of the night, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored deep into stoppage time to keep Jose Mourinho’s team alive.
Newcastle drew 1-1 away to PSG, a result that placed them in the play-offs scheduled for February.
Eddie Howe’s side will face either Monaco or Qarabag over two legs. If they progress, a tough last-16 meeting awaits against either Barcelona or Chelsea.
Arsenal finished top of the league phase after edging Kairat 3-2 at the Emirates.
The victory made them the first club to win all eight matches under the new Champions League format introduced last season. Their reward is a last-16 tie against one of Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, or Olympiacos.
Liverpool and Tottenham ended the league phase in third and fourth positions.
The Reds produced a dominant 6-0 win over Qarabag at Anfield, while Spurs secured a solid 2-0 victory away at Eintracht Frankfurt. Both sides will face Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, or Galatasaray in the next round.
Chelsea booked their spot with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Newcastle.
Joao Pedro struck twice after the break to turn the match around, placing the Blues among the top eight. Their possible last-16 opponents include PSG, Monaco, Qarabag, or Newcastle.
Manchester City claimed the final automatic qualification place by finishing eighth.
A 2-0 win over Galatasaray was enough to send Pep Guardiola’s men through. They will now face one of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bodo/Glimt, or Benfica in the knockout round.
The draw has already hinted at future clashes.
Arsenal and Manchester City sit on the same side of the bracket and could meet in the quarter-finals. Liverpool and Tottenham are on different paths but may face Chelsea or Newcastle later in the competition.
Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham earned the right to host the second leg of their last-16 and possible quarter-final matches by finishing inside the top four.
Arsenal also secured a home second leg in the semi-finals, should they reach that stage, after ending the league phase in the top two.
The remaining clubs that secured automatic qualification were Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting Lisbon.
Sporting sealed their place with a late winner away to Athletic Bilbao, a result that pushed Real Madrid into the play-offs.
Skipping the February play-offs gives teams valuable time to rest and prepare.
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said the break would help improve training sessions, while Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted his side faces a tough period but believes his squad is ready for the challenge.
Newcastle now face a packed February schedule.
Alongside their Champions League play-off ties, they also have four Premier League matches, a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City, and an FA Cup trip to Aston Villa.
One of the standout possible play-off ties could see Benfica face Real Madrid again.
Mourinho’s side recently beat the Spanish giants 4-2 in Lisbon, setting up the chance for another high-profile reunion in Europe.
