"Say what you will about the new Champions League format, but it's guaranteed to give you an absolutely ridiculous day. The final matchday of the 36-team league phase gave us 18 matches and 61 goals in basically two hours. Benfica didn't realize they needed another goal to advance until just about the last minute of stoppage time ... and then their goalkeeper scored on the final kick of the match."
"Olympiacos were out, in, out and then in again. PSV were in, then out, then in, then out. Bodo/Glimt needed to win at Atletico Madrid and did it after falling behind. Sporting CP scored in the 95th minute to both officially eliminate Athletic Club and knock Real Madrid out of the top eight (the LaLiga Double). Marseille would have been in if they had lost 2-0, but they lost 3-0."
The new 36-team Champions League league phase produced an extraordinary final matchday with 18 matches and 61 goals across roughly two hours. Benfica's goalkeeper scored on the final kick to send the team through after Benfica only realized they needed another goal in stoppage time. Olympiacos and PSV both experienced multiple qualification swings. Bodo/Glimt defeated Atlético Madrid after trailing. Sporting CP's 95th-minute goal eliminated Athletic Club and knocked Real Madrid out of the top eight. Marseille needed a 2-0 loss to advance but lost 3-0. The Best XI includes goalkeeper David Raya (18 saves on 20 shots, 90% save rate) with Nikita Haikin as backup, and right back Anan Khalaili, who made 133 defensive interventions, scored three goals, created 12 chances, won 44 ground duels, and ranked second on his team in progressive carries (39) and touches (415). Pairings for the next stage will be revealed on Friday.
Read at ESPN.com
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