The final group stage matches are underway as we have already witnessed super performances by some European giants.
Football Club Barcelona topped the Group B after playing a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspurs. Lionel Messi who has scored most numbers of goals against English Premier League teams (22) in Champions League fixtures, failed to score in the last group match against Tottenham.
Ousmane Dembele’s stunning opener for Barcelona was equalised by Spurs forward Lucas Moura with five minutes remaining in the match, helping Tottenham to avoid their relegations from the group stage.
Barcelona also equal Champions League record of Bayern Munich of 29 successive home games without defeat.
Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan both played a draw against Club Brugge and PSV respectively. While Atletico Madrid played a goalless draw against Club Brugge, still secured 2nd position in the Group A, sharing equal points with group topper Borrusia Dortmund whereas, Inter Milan played a 1-1 goal draw with PSV and failed to qualify for knockout stages as Barcelona and Tottenham secured top two spots in the Group B.
In Group C fixtures Paris Saint Germain scored 4 goals ending eight matches unbeaten run of Red Star Belgrade on home soil in Europe. Edison Cavani, Neymar Jr, Marquinhos and Kylian Mbappe scored for PSG and the only goal for the home team was netted by Marko Gobeljic. PSG reached at top of the Group C table after this match-up, while Liverpool also managed to qualify for the last 16 after winning the match from Napoli with 1-0.
FC Porto and FC Schalke 04 also qualify for last 16 round-up from Group D.
In further proceedings, last year’s Champions League winner and present Group G toppers Real Madrid will take on CSKA Moscow tonight at 11:25 pm.
On 13 December at 1:30 am, FC Bayern Munich, Group E toppers will be playing against Ajax who is second in the group and from Group H Juventus will take on BSC Young Boys and Manchester United will play against Valencia. However, Juve and Man United have already qualified for the round of 16.
Manchester City will be playing against Hoffenheim and Lyon will take on Shakhtar Donetsk on 13 December at 1:30 am, in Group F match-ups.
These will be the last Champions League matches of the year 2018.
