THE BIGGEST KNOCKOUT :Arsenal and Liverpool discover Champions League last 16 opponents after chaotic night…

The inaugural Champions League format features 36 teams, with Arsenal finishing in third place.

Arsenal and Liverpool learn their Champions League last 16 opponents following an eventful evening. Both clubs have successfully advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

After a hectic night where all 36 teams competed simultaneously, Arsenal and Liverpool now have a clearer understanding of their potential opponents in the last 16.

Both teams had already secured their spots in the knockout phase prior to Wednesday’s matches. Arsenal made several changes to their lineup but still managed to defeat Girona 2-1 in Spain, while Liverpool’s younger squad fell short, losing 3-2 to PSV Eindhoven.

Barcelona’s draw against Atalanta allowed Liverpool to finish at the top of the group with seven victories and one loss.

They will avoid a play-off and will face either the 15th, 16th, 17th, or 18th-placed team, depending on the outcomes of the play-offs.

As a result, Arne Slot’s team is set to encounter either Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, AS Monaco, or Brest.

Arsenal concluded the group stage in third place with six wins, one draw, and one loss. Their strong performance has also improved their chances of a favorable draw in the last 16.

Mikel Arteta’s squad will meet either the 13th, 14th, 19th, or 20th-placed team, positioning them to potentially face AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord, or Juventus.

The list of four possible opponents will be narrowed down to two during the knockout phase play-off draw on Friday. Following the play-offs, the draw for the last 16 will take place on February 21, with the two-legged knockout matches scheduled for March.

Liverpool will be particularly eager to avoid a challenging encounter with PSG, who recently defeated Manchester City 4-2. Meanwhile, Arsenal may wish to steer clear of a clash with the renowned Italian clubs Milan and Juventus.

Three out of four Premier League clubs achieved automatic qualification, with Aston Villa narrowly making it into the top eight following a 4-2 victory at home against Celtic.

Finishing in eighth place, they are set to face either Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting, or Club Brugge in the round of 16.

Manchester City was the sole English team that fell short. They entered their final match without a chance for automatic qualification, yet they managed a 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium, securing a place in the play-offs.

Pep Guardiola and his squad will be fully prepared for an exciting encounter against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

Should City advance, they will then meet either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.