Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon and Chelsea are automatically through to the round of 16 of the Champions League following the completion of the competition’s league phase on a dramatic Wednesday night.

Having already qualified with a game to spare ahead of the last match against Kairat Almaty, Arsenal defeated the Kazakhstan Premier League side 3-2 to ensure they finish top of the league phase. It was Viktor Gyokeres that opened the scoring for the Gunners barely 60 seconds into the game.

However, Jorginho drew level for the visitor five minutes later from the penalty spot before Kai Havertz restored Arsenal’s lead in the 16th minute when the Germany international fired home an assist from Ben White inside the 18-yard box.

Arsenal extended their advantage in the 38th minute through Gabriel Martinelli, who tipped a ball that was nudged by Gyokeres into the net. The Gunners thought they had their fourth in the 88th minute but the goal scored by Christian Noorgard was ruled out for an offside.

Surprisingly, it was Kairat Almaty that scored moments later after Ricardinho headed home a cross from Valeri Gromyko to reduce the deficit with the final kick of the match as Arsenal secured the maximum three points to reach the last 16.

Manchester City was another Premier League team that won on the night to secure a guaranteed round of 16 spot after Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium courtesy of first half goals from Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki.

In Spain, Barcelona thrashed Copenhagen 4-1 to skip the playoff round. It was the visitors that first drew the sword in the fourth minute when Viktor Dadason put the Danish side ahead as they headed into half-time with a lead at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona responded three minutes into the second half when Robert Lewandowski slotted a dropped pass by Lamine Yamal into the box before the youngster himself put the hosts ahead exactly on the hour mark, firing home an assist from Fermin Lopez.

Nine minutes later, Raphinha extended the lead from the penalty spot after Lewandowski was brought down inside the box. Former Manchester United forward sealed the victory for Barcelona with a late strike in the 85th minute after he struck home a direct free kick.

In a shocking outcome in Portugal, Real Madrid were stunned 4-2 as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica defeated the Spanish giants, dropping the 15-time Champions League winners out of the automatic round of 16 zone. 

Kylian Mbappe put Real Madrid ahead on the half-hour mark after he headed home Raul Asencio’s cross but Benfica responded six minutes later through Andreas Schjelderup’s header. Benfica grabbed the lead just before the break after Vangelis Pavlidis calmly slotted home a penalty.

In the 54th minute, Schjelderup got his brace of the night from an assist by Pavlidis before Arda Guler converted a pass from Mbappe to reduce the deficit. The game ended in a dramatic fashion in added time after Real Madrid were reduced to nine men with Asencio and Rodrygo receiving second yellow cards. 

Anatoliy Trubin sealed the victory for Benfica as the goalkeeper headed home a free kick by Fredrik Aursnes to secure the last playoff spot for his side.

Full results 

Ajax 1 vs 2 Olympiacos 

Arsenal 3 vs 2  Kairat Almaty

Athletic Club 2 vs 3 Sporting Lisbon 

Atletico Madrid 1 vs 2 Bodo/Glimt

Barcelona 4 vs 1 Copenhagen 

Bayer Leverkusen 3 vs 0 Villarreal 

Benfica 4 vs 2 Real Madrid 

Dortmund 0 vs 2 Inter 

Club Brugge 3 vs 0 Marseille 

Frankfurt 0 vs 2 Tottenham 

Liverpool 6 vs 0 Qarabag 

Manchester City 2 vs 0 Galatasaray 

Monaco 0 vs 0 Juventus 

Pafos FC 4 vs 1 Slavia Prague 

PSV Eindhoven 1 vs 2 Bayern Munich 

Napoli 2 vs 3 Chelsea 

Union St.Gilloise 1 vs 0 Atalanta