Champions League knockout a contest of Europe’s big five

For the first time in history only five countries will be represented in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Atalanta players celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League group C match against Shakhtar Donetsk. Picture: AFP

For the first time in history only five countries will be represented in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Atalanta and Atletico Madrid became the last two teams to qualify for the knockout stages on Thursday morning (AEDT), meaning all 16 teams in the knockout stages are from Europe’s “big five” of Italy, Spain, Germany, England and France.

Champions League newcomers Atalanta advanced with a 3-0 win at 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk, completing an improbable turnaround after losing their first three group matches.

“I can’t find the words to describe this unique feeling,” Atalanta captain Alejandro “Papu” Gomez said.

“This will remain in the history of the club and in the history of football.”

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Atletico Madrid grabbed the final spot by beating Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0. Atalanta finished second in Group C with seven points in their first season in the competition.

Group winners Manchester City beat Dinamo Zagreb 4-1, which meant Shakthar finished third in the group and will enter the Europa League knockout stages.

Gabriel Jesus scored a 20-minute hat trick as Manchester City rallied for a 4-1 win at Dinamo Zagreb to scupper the Croatian team’s chances of advancing to the knockout stages.

Teenage forward Joao Felix and defender Felipe scored a goal in each half to help Atletico clinch second place in Group D. Juventus advanced as the group winners.

Atletico would have advanced even with a loss as Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-0 to Juventus.

Juventus were already assured of topping Group D and seemed sluggish at times in Germany, before Ronaldo scored from close range off substitute Paulo Dybala’s cross in the 75th minute.

Bayern Munich finished the group stage as the only team to win all their matches after beating Tottenham 3-1 in a game between two already-qualified sides.

Two-and-a-half months after getting thrashed 7-2 by Bayern in London, Tottenham at least managed to keep the scoreline respectable as recently hired manager Jose Mourinho fielded a weakened line-up with his team guaranteed second place.

Neymar scored one goal and helped create three more as Paris Saint-Germain completed their group campaign with a 5-0 win over Galatasaray. PSG had already qualified before the game as group winners and topped Group A with 16 points, five ahead of second-place Real Madrid, who won 3-1 at Club Brugge.

AP