FIVE clubs from the English Premier League finished in the top eight of the UEFA Champions League’s 36-team table in a dramatic finale of the league phase tonight, as Benfica squeezed through to the play-offs with a stoppage time goal against Real Madrid by their goalkeeper.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City all progressed automatically to the round of 16 with victories tonight, the Gunners finishing on top of the pile after a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty.
Liverpool sealed third spot with a 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag, while Tottenham secured fourth place after a 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea came from behind to beat Napoli 3-2 in Italy to clinch sixth place, while Manchester City eased past Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray to hold on to the final automatic round of 16 slot.
Bayern Munich came second after a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven, with Barcelona claiming fifth place following a 4-1 home win over FC Copenhagen.
In the most dramatic moment of the night, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin headed home with the final touch of the match as Jose Mourinho’s side defeated nine-man Real Madrid 4-2. Real Madrid had two players sent off in stoppage time.
The goal was crucial as it ensured Benfica finished 24th — the final play-offs spot — ahead of Marseille on goal difference.
Super Eagles stars Ademola Lookman, Raphael Onyedika and Osimhen will be involved in the play-offs as their clubs Atalanta (15th), Club Brugge (19th) and Galatasaray (20th) finished in the top 24.
RESULTS:
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodø/Glimt
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
Monaco 0-0 Juventus
Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
Pafos 4-1 Slavia Praha
Paris 1-1 Newcastle
PSV 1-2 Bayern München
Union SG 1-0 Atalanta