Just like that, the end of the group stage matches in the Champions League has concluded. With the Knockout Stages approaching us, let’s recap what has happened throughout the Group Stage.
Group A:
Bayern 16 pts
Copenhagen 8 pts
Galatasaray 5 pts
Man United 4 pts
Biggest takeaway: Manchester United finish last in their group. This Man United squad has heavily disappointed fans, and is heading toward a bad season with placing last in their easily-passable group.
Group B:
Arsenal 13 pts
PSV 9 pts
Lens 8 pts
Sevilla 2 pts
Biggest takeaway: Sevilla placed last in their group. The Europa League champions were destined to continue their winning ways, but struggling in their league showed they can not compete with the best in Europe, placing last without a win.
Group C:
Real Madrid 18 pts
Napoli 10 pts
Braga 4 pts
Union Berlin 2 pts
Biggest takeaway: Real Madrid won all of their games. The 14-time Champions League winning side showed that they can still compete at the highest level, winning six out of their six matches.
Group D:
Real Sociedad 12 pts
Inter Milan 12 pts
Benfica 4 pts
RB Salzburg 4 pts
Biggest takeaway: Benfica placed third. Benfica will still participate in the Europa League, but the quarter-finalists from last year couldn’t get in form during this tournament, losing four out of their six.
Group E:
Atletico Madrid 14 pts
Lazio 10 pts
Feyenoord: 6 pts
Celtic 4 pts
Biggest takeaway: Atletico go undefeated. With four wins and two draws, Atletico showed that they can still make a name for themselves, trying to replicate their UCL final appearance ten years ago.
Group F:
Dortmund 11 pts
PSG 8 pts
Milan 8 pts
Newcastle 5 pts
Biggest takeaway: Dortmund finish first in the group. Being in the so-called “Group of Death,” and having underperforming results in their league, many fans had Dortmund finishing third or last, but the German side showed that they should not be slept on and finished first, while only having one loss.
Group G:
Man City 18 pts
RB Leipzig 12 pts
Young Boys 4 pts
Crvena Zvezda 1 pt
Biggest takeaway: Man City dominates. Scoring 18 goals while only allowing seven, and winning all of their games, the reigning champions of Europe show why they should be favorites again, with other teams in their group not standing a chance against them.
Group H:
FC Barcelona 12 pts
FC Porto 12 pts
Shakhtar Donetsk 9 pts
Antwerp 3 pts
Biggest takeaway: Barcelona finish first. The last two times they were in the group stages, they let down fans twice by finishing third both times, leaving fans angered because this Barcelona side is one of the favorites to win the tournament. However, Barcelona topped this group, finishing with 12 pts, and are on to the next round, but two losses to the two worst teams in the group needs to be monitored carefully.
This is the group stage recap, and we will see you when the Round of 16 results are finished!
