The UEFA Champions League group stage concluded on Wednesday, determining the 16 teams that will advance to the knockout stage. The major football powerhouses from across the continent, with a few exceptions, have secured their spots in the next round.
England and Germany demonstrated their dominance, with all four representatives from each country progressing to the round of 16. In Spain, with the exception of Real Sociedad, the top clubs smoothly navigated the group stage, making them formidable opponents in the upcoming knockout phase. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) stands as the sole standard-bearer for French football, following the disappointing elimination of Olympique de Marseille.
Galatasaray from Turkey, Olympiakos from Greece, and Zenit Saint Petersburg from Russia are considered the underdogs among the qualified teams for the round of 16.
The draw for the round of 16 is scheduled to take place next Monday in Nyon, Switzerland.
Here is the list of the 16 qualified clubs:
- France: PSG
- England: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal
- Germany: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund
- Italy: AC Milan
- Spain: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona
- Turkey: Galatasaray
- Greece: Olympiakos
- Russia: Zenit Saint Petersburg
