Top‑eight scramble dominates Champions League group climax

LONDON: After 126 matches, 426 goals, five hat-tricks and 28 red cards the Champions League group phase reaches its head-spinning climax on Wednesday with 30 of the 36 clubs still with all to play for on the final night of action across Europe. Arsenal, the only team with a 100 percent record, and Bayern Munich cannot finish outside the top eight and are therefore automatically through to the last 16. The bottom four — Kairat Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt — are all eliminated, while 13 clubs are assured of at least a playoff spot.

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