The UEFA Champions League's first-ever league phase is over, and the knockout stage outlook is now much clearer. Manchester City avoided disaster, Liverpool topped the league-phase table, and we will get Manchester City against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoffs.

Manchester City nearly crashed out, but came from behind in the second half, and in the end, all European giants reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Real Madrid hope to avoid Manchester City in the next round, manager Carlo Ancelotti said after they beat Brest 3-0 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League playoff where they will be seeded. The holders will face either Celtic or Manchester City in the two-legged playoff on February,

Manchester City squeezed through to the Champions League play-off round with a 3-1 comeback win against Club Brugge.

Manchester City flirted with a disastrous exit from the Champions League before rallying to beat Club Brugge 3-1 in a must-win game.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the smell of smoke remained in the air for some time afterward as supporters waited to be let inside.

Manchester beat Club Brugge to advance to the playoffs of the Champions League 2024-25 while Liverpool and Barcelona were the only teams already guaranteed a place in the top eight and automatic progress to the round of 16 as they stayed first and second.

Rodrygo added to his scoring streak with Real Madrid on Wednesday but the Spanish powerhouse didn't get all the goals it needed to finish high enough in the league phase of the Champions League and avoid a possible encounter with Manchester City in the playoffs.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain each faces a shocking early exit from the Champions League for the first time in more than a decade.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said his team doesn't like to play Manchester City after it set up a potential Champions League date with the Premier League giant

Erling Haaland scored and set up Phil Foden for another as Manchester City came back to beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, sweeping the Londoners and moving into the top four.