Manchester City Secures UCL Playoff Spot, Liverpool Tops Standings

Manchester City secured their place in the Champions League knockout round playoffs with a comeback 3-1 victory over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium, despite being behind at halftime due to a goal from Raphael Onyedika. City quickly responded after the break with Mateo Kovacic equalizing, followed by an own goal from Joel Ordonez and a third from Savinho, ensuring they avoided an early exit. Liverpool topped the group despite losing 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven, while Barcelona held on to second place with a 2-2 draw against Atalanta. Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Lille also advanced with their respective victories. Notably, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa both secured strong wins to ensure their progression as well. The night was filled with drama, showcasing the competitiveness of the newly formatted league phase.