THE Champions League league phase has concluded after a frantic finale.Manchester City had to come from behind to keep their last-16 hopes alive as they beat Club Brugge 3-1.Pep Guardiola’s side will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in a blockbuster knockout play-off clash.Liverpool were already automatically through to the last-16 before kick-off but they did secure the top seed despite losing 3-2 at PSV on the night.Aston Villa confirmed their spot in the top eight after they edged a six-goal thriller with Celtic.Arsenal beat Girona 2-1 to finish third and secure automatic qualification to the last-16.TV channel: TNT Sports (various)Live stream: discovery+CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFollow our live blog below…Arsenal ‘have a good chance’ of winning first Champions League titleThe Gunners secured automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 away win at Girona.Arsenal Invincible Robert Pires believes there is a good chance his former side can go all the way in Europe’s elite competition.Speaking at the PlayStation Crossover Concept Event, he said: “Of course, I hope Arsenal will do well and I think that they do have a good chance because their type of football may suit the Champions League.”I always enjoy watching and talking about players with good technique, because for me, that is the most important thing. Now, people in France want to always focus on athleticism and physicality, but football is about how you play with your feet.”Copy linkCopiedHow the table finishedHere is how the league phase table finished after a frantic finale -Copy linkCopied’What the players deserve’Brendan Rodgers admits he’s proud of the effort his Celtic players have given to get where they are.He told TNT Sports: “The word that screams at me is pride. The game was right in the balance right through to extra-time. We had a really challenging start being two nil down. “We started the game well but then we conceded the two goals. Second goal was a brilliant goal. Game was right in the balance until the end. Pride is my initial feeling.”Spirit was absolutely key. There’s no good team that doesn’t possess a really strong spirit. We had a couple of moments in the second half where we could’ve relieved the pressure. It was a great effort.”On the prospect of meeting either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, he added: “It’s what the players deserve for what they’ve given over the course of the eight games. “For us to be in the position is great for them. Us and the supporters can enjoy what we’ve done.”Copy linkCopiedArne in perfect position for trophiesNobody predicted that Liverpool would be so dominant this campaign after losing manager Jurgen Klopp.Arne Slot has come in and just continued the great work the German had been doing and it is all going according to plan.We are at the stage now where sides look to regroup and begin their push for the business end of the season.The Reds sit top of the Premier League and matched that by finishing top of the pile in the new Champions League format also.Slot’s side can achieve big things season, the sky’s the limit for the Anfiield outfit.Copy linkCopied’Today is not the day’Unai Emery was quizzed on Jhon Duran’s seemingly imminent exit from the club, telling TNT Sports: “Tomorrow or Friday we can talk about the transfer, or maybe next week, until everything is done I don’t want to speak, because in football everything can happen. “The club is working and trying to compete in the transfer window because we need some players. Some can leave, but it is not time to speak about it.”Questions then followed on Ollie Watkins, who was the subject of a reported bid earlier today. Again, Emery batted the question away, adding: “I know you want to ask about it, but I told you, today is not the day.”Copy linkCopiedPlay-offs provide some big gamesWith the new format in the Champions League, we have seen a lot of Europe’s heavyweights have to settle for the play-offs.There are some massive fixtures lying ahead which should provide some classic European clashes.Both Man City and Celtic will be hoping they can perform at their highest levels to book their places in the last 16.Copy linkCopiedRound of 16 – how that looksAnd for the top eight, here’s who they could face when seeded sides in the round of 16.Some incredible ties there, including the possibility of Man City facing Atletico Madrid if overcoming Real or Bayern!Last 16Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestBarcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/BrestArsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusInter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/JuventusAtletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityBayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man CityLille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeAston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeCopy linkCopiedGunners keeping dream aliveThe one thing that always haunts Arsenal is that despite all their success as a club, they have never won a major European trophy.Arteta knew the goal was to finish in the top eight to avoid the potential banana skin of a play-off and it is mission accomplished.There will be a lot harder games ahead but as the old cliche says, you’ve got to in it to win it.Whether they have enough quality to go all the way remains to be seen but they have made it to the last 16.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedPlay off permutationsHere’s how the next stage looks for every team in the play off round.Hopefully it doesn’t leave you with a sore head like mine.Play-off roundAtalanta vs Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeBorussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon/Club BruggeReal Madrid vs Celtic/Man CityBayern Munich vs Celtic/Man CityAC Milan vs Feyenoord/JuventusPSV vs Feyenoord/JuventusPSG vs AS Monaco/BrestBenfica vs AS Monaco/BrestFeyenoord vs AC Milan/PSVJuventus vs AC Milan/PSVCeltic vs Bayern Munich/Real MadridManchester City vs Bayern Munich/Real MadridSporting Lisbon vs Atalanta/Borussia DortmundClub Brugge vs Atalanta/Borussia DortmundCopy linkCopiedScots with something to celebrateDespite going down to defeat at Villa Park this evening, we cannot overlook their making the play-offs.All too often the Scottish teams have found the Champions League too much of a step up and fallen at the first hurdle.Brendan Rodgers has given their fans something that has been lacking all too often as they finally progress.They will face a tricky play-off to try and get through to the last 16 but had you offered them that before a game was played, they would have snapped your arm off.Copy linkCopiedCeltic next opponentsLast week’s win over Young Boys secured a play off spot for Brendan Rodgers’ men.It allowed them a free hit at Aston Villa tonight and they went down with credit, given their best three players of a couple of weeks ago were all absent.And if you’d told them they’d end up beside Manchester City in the table after eight games, they’d have bitten your hand off for it.Unfortunately for them, City have flopped. That means Celtic will also either get REAL MADRID or BAYERN MUNICH in the play off round.Two outstanding ties for the club and their supporters.Madrid and Bayern will probably rather a Celtic Park trip than Etihad….Copy linkCopiedFT from Graeme Bryce at Villa ParkThis was a night Ollie Watkins will never forget as he took centre stage before kick off – and carried on being the main attraction for most of this extraordinary match.It’s hard to believe Watkins wouldn’t have got wind of the fact Arsenal had made a £60million bid for him in the run-up to the match – social media being what it is.If he did it certainly didn’t look as if it affected him as he finally put Celtic to the sword on the hour with his first Champions League goal.The fact he tapped the Villa crest on his chest will leave Villa fans hopeful their hero ius going nowhere.Even though Watkins fluffed a bizarre penalty minutes later as he skied over from the spot, this was to be his night …. along with hat-trick hero Morgan RogersWatkins rounded Kasper Schmeichel to hand Rogers his hat-trick goal on a plate as Villa stormed into the last 16 on an incredible night.Copy linkCopiedCity do it the hard wayPep Guardiola’s side really give him a rough ride at the moment.After falling behind to Club Brugge, the Spaniard was contemplating the prospect of heading out of Europe.Whatever he said at the interval seemed to work as his team ran out 3-1 winners at The Etihad.Guardiola may need a glass of wine or two to unwind after this one.Credit: PACopy linkCopiedAston Villa next opponentsA great night for Aston Villa as they sneak through to the automatic qualification spot – in the FINAL eighth spot.It looks like they won’t have Jhon Duran for that stage. Will they manage to keep Ollie Watkins?Lots to ponder over the next few days but they’ve at least guaranteed themselves two less games by finishing in that top eight.They will be seeded in the round of 16, meaning they’ll play the second leg at home to one of these four sides.AtalantaDortmundSportingClub BruggeCopy linkCopiedLiverpool next opponentsTop spot secured for Arne Slot’s Liverpool who have been sensational this last six months.It means they’ll avoid Barcelona until the final and there’s every chance these two will go all the way.Liverpool skip those play off fixtures and can sit back and watch. It’ll be one of these four sides in the round of 16, with the second leg at home.PSGBenficaMonacoBrestCopy linkCopiedSlot learns more about squadIt was not the perfect end to the league phase for Liverpool as they lost 3-2 to PSV on the road.Taking a much-changed side to Eindhoven, he may have learnt a lot more about his squad depth this evening.Despite the defeat, his team finish in top spot in the table and will automatically go through to the last 16.That said, being ever the competiitor, Slot will not have enjoyed suffering his third defeat as The Reds’ manager.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedArsenal next opponentsTonight’s results mean the Gunners are safely into the knockout stages and through in third spot.They finished only a couple of goals behind Barcelona in the end, having ended level on 19 points from their eight games.They’ll now need to wait for the play off round before they’ll see who they face. But they will be seeded and it WILL be one these four sides:MilanPSVFeyenoordJuventusCopy linkCopiedMan City next opponentsManchester City managed to secure a play off spot tonight, finishing in 22nd spot.As an unseeded team, they’ll play their play off round match first before an away leg to their seeded opponent.That opponent? Either REAL MADRID or BAYERN MUNICH. Extraordinary.That means an away leg just a few days before they host Liverpool in the Premier League.Copy linkCopiedRogers with night to rememberWhat a difference a year can make.Morgan Rogers was playing in the Championship last campaign, now he is scoring hat-tricks in the Champions League.The Aston Villa attacker will no doubt find a special place for that match ball in his home.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedSo, who plays who?We’ve got all the permutations and what that means.Club Brugge’s players are celebrating on the Etihad pitch, they’re absolutely thrilled to have got through in 24th. Skin of their teeth.City will be celebrating making the play off round too. But they won’t like what comes next….Copy linkCopiedFull times from a hectic Champions League nightAston Villa 4-2 CelticBarcelona 2-2 AtalantaBayern 3-1 Slovan BratislavaBrest 0-3 Real MadridDinamo Zagreb 2-1 MilanDortmund 3-1 ShakhtarGirona 1-2 ArsenalInter 3-0 MonacoJuventus 0-2 BenficaLeverkusen 2-0 Sparta PragueLille 6-1 FeyenoordMan City 3-1 Club BruggePSV 3-2 LiverpoolSalzburg 1-4 AtleticoSporting 1-1 BolognaSturm Graz 1-0 LeipzigStuttgart 1-4 PSGYoung Boys 0-1 Red StarCopy linkCopiedTrio save themselves extra matchesThe big news from this evening is that three English teams have finished in the top eight of the table.Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa will all go straight through to the last 16 in the competition.That will be massively important to their respective managers, the last thing they want is a congested fixture list.Copy linkCopiedFT: Girona 1-2 ArsenalMikel Arteta’s side finish the league phase with victory.After falling a goal behind, goals from Jorginho and Nwaneri seal the three points for The Gunners.A confidence boosting result before they take on Man City this weekend.Copy linkCopiedFT: Aston Villa 4-2 CelticIt is a comfortable victory for Unai Emery’s side.Celtic made them work for it tonight to their credit.Defensive errors really cost Brendan Rodgers’ side.Copy linkCopiedPSV 3-2 Liverpool90+2. Harsh introduction to Champions League life for one of Liverpool’s youngsters.Bakayoko looks to run through the middle but as Nallo tries to win it, he brings down the attacker, who was clean through.No other option for the referee but to give him his marching orders.Copy linkCopied More
