Atalanta or Villarreal will make up the list of clubs in the last 16 of UCL, the losing team will move to the Europa League
By Kehinde Okeowo
The final group games of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) were played on Tuesday and Wednesday, and fifteen clubs have qualified for the rounds of sixteen, leaving a spot vacant.
Group F clash between Serie A club, Atalanta and La Liga side, Villarreal, which was supposed to be played yesterday was postponed due to heavy snowfall in Bergamo.
The encounter has now been approved to be played by UEFA today, Thursday, December 9, along with other Europa League matches.
Teams that have qualified for the rounds of 16 include four English clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, and Manchester United who topped the group Atalanta and Villarreal played in.
Other teams are Paris St. Germain, Spanish champion, Atlético Madrid, Dutch champion, Ajax, Sporting CP, Real Madrid, the Italian champion, Inter Milan, German champion, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Benfica, Lille, and FC Salzburg.
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Today’s encounter will be at the Gewiss Stadium in Germany and will be officiated by English referee, Anthony Taylor. The winner will join the 15 teams that have qualified, while the loser will move to the Europa League.
A draw for the visiting Spanish team, Villarreal, who have 8 points will be enough to qualify, but it is a must-win encounter for their Italian host, Atalanta, who are on 7 points.
The match will also decide the last team to join teams from the Champions League groups, who will be downgraded into the Europa League competition.
Catalan giant, Barcelona were yesterday dumped into the Europa League places after Bayern Munich trashed them 3-0, they were joined by RB Leipzig, FC Porto, Borussia, Dortmund, and FC Sheriff, and Sevilla.
