Eighteen synchronized matches and a continent waiting on the screens for the outcome of the first phase of the Champions League. A definitive day only for a few but distressing for almost everyone, because each result traced the path to the final on December 30. … May in Budapest.
The three classified Spanish teams already know their path, after Athletic joined Villarreal on the list of eliminated after losing in San Mamés against Sporting de Portugal. Valverde’s men finish in 29th position. Neither could Marcelino’s team say goodbye with dignity, which closed its European season without knowing victory after losing to Leverkusen. Very poor balance for the yellow team, penultimate in the table and tied with the Kazakh Kairat in the red lantern of the classification.
The other three – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético – did certify their pass, although only the Blaugranas met the minimum initial objective of finishing in the top eight and avoiding the round of 32. Flick’s team started losing, but came back against Copenhagen and finished in fifth position. Among the possible rivals that await him in that tie are PSG and Newcastle. Also Monaco and Qarabag. The round of 16 duels will be March 10 and 11, first legs, and March 17 and 18, the return games.
The defeats of Real Madrid and Atlético on the last day condemn both Madrid teams to the round of 32 playoff, which will be played on February 17 and 18, the first legs, and February 24 and 25, the second legs. The whites left the ‘top eight’ in the final moments, penalized by their own mistakes in Lisbon against Benfica and by Sporting’s final victory in Bilbao. The carom leads them to a previous crossing against Benfica itself or against the Norwegian Bodo/Glimt, executioner in the Metropolitan of an Atlético that finishes 14th after caressing for many minutes a place on the honor roll. The Nordic surprise in cold Madrid forces Simeone’s men to face Galatasaray or Bruges in the round of 32. “In the first half we played a good game where we could have scored some more goals. In the second half we got anxious…”, Simeone would later say.
The outlook hardens for both in a hypothetical round of 16 clash. Real Madrid would face Manchester City or Sporting de Portugal, while Atlético would face Liverpool or Tottenham. In terms of fictional football, Chelsea, Barça or PSG appear as probable rivals in the quarterfinals for the red and whites, while Arsenal, Bayern and Dortmund outline the most demanding path for the white team.
On the honor roll of the League Phase there is one name that stands out clearly. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal completes the eight-match series in immaculate fashion: eight wins, no upsets. Twenty-three goals for and only four against. The one that marks the most and the one that fits the least.
Five of the six English teams started the day within the now famous ‘top eight’ and five finished there, although with a slight exchange of stickers. Manchester City entered after beating Galatasaray and Newcastle left, unable to get past the draw against PSG.
This result also does not allow Luis Enrique’s men, current champions, to avoid the round of 32, where they will face Monaco or Qarabag, with Barça or Chelsea waiting in the round of 16.
Among those eliminated in flash, in addition to Villarreal and Athletic, are PSV, Naples, Ajax and Marseille, the latter being dropped in the last breath of the day by a goal in extremis by Trubin, the Benfica goalkeeper, against Real Madrid.
