The English Premier League was the league phase’s strongest division.
Three of the Premier League’s four teams – Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa – finished in the top eight and went straight into the last 16.
The other, Manchester City, sneaked into the play-off round with a final-day win over Club Brugge.
Spain’s La Liga was the only other league who had multiple teams advance straight to the last 16.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid finished in the top eight while record winners Real Madrid settled for a play-off spot.
Three out of the five Italian Serie A clubs made the play-offs, with Inter Milan into the last 16 and Bologna eliminated.
Lille were the only French side to finish in the top eight, as Paris St-Germain, Monaco and Brest made the play-offs.
And, of the Bundesliga teams, Stuttgart and RB Leipzig were eliminated. Bayer Leverkusen finished sixth while Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are ones to avoid in the play-offs.
