Liverpool and Barcelona have both booked their places in the Champions League knockouts and secured a crucial place in the top eight.
The Reds defeated Lille as the Catalan giants won a nine-goal thriller against Benfica, scoring their winner in the final minute to complete a late comeback. It means that both teams finish in the top eight, which means they go straight to the round of 16.
They will avoid the knockout stages of the play-offs. Any team finishing from ninth to 24th must participate in an extra round to secure a spot in the last 16.
Nine teams know they will play in the Champions League after the group stage, including two English teams in Arsenal and Aston Villa. The Gunners will take on Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday evening, but already know that they will continue to be in the hunt for European glory after January.
Despite the defeat to Monaco, who have impressed and are ready themselves, Villa will find themselves in the knockout stages in what is their first ever Champions League campaign.
France knows that at least three teams will advance, with PSG possibly absent. That would be a big exit and the Parisians face a titanic battle with Manchester City on Wednesday. The English team needs the points themselves to continue.
Brest, one of the minnows in this year's competition, were one of the shockers and, like Lille, will head into the knockout stages despite their loss at Anfield.
The two teams that participated in last year's Europa League final, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, have ensured their progression. Atalanta beat Leverkusen on that occasion and both have continued to thrive, with the Italian side edging past Sturm Graz five times on Tuesday, having lost just once in Europe so far this season.
Atletico Madrid look as ready as they have for years with Diego Simeone's spinning team. They are in the hunt for La Liga and have also shown their smarts in Europe. Julian Alvarez, their summer signing, emerged as an ace on Tuesday when he scored a last-minute winner against Leverkusen.
Inter Milan, the defeated 2023 finalists, also know they will be in the knockout stages and still harbor hopes of a top eight finish. They have already beaten Arsenal and lost only once.
Teams through to the round of 16: Liverpool, Barcelona.
Teams in the knockout stage play-offs: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Monaco, Lille, Brest, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid.
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