The first ever Matchday 8 in Champions League history saw all 36 teams in action, with crucial spots in the round of 16 and playoffs up for grabs. Liverpool's gamble paid off despite dropping points, PSV Eindhoven secured a confidence-boosting win, and Man City survived elimination with a late victory. Arsenal and Aston Villa also secured wins, making it three Premier League teams in the top eight.
How do we feel about the revamped UEFA Champions League format now? The first Matchday 8 in competition history was already unprecedented, with all 36 teams in action on Wednesday and plenty of spots — both in the round of 16 and in the two-leg playoffs that will decide which clubs will join those already qualified for that stage. The action in the 18 games across Europe, which were all contested simultaneously, was worthy of the stakes.
A dreadful run of form in both competitions over the last two months had City in the elimination places when the whistle blew against Club Brugge, though they knew a win at home over the Belgians would be enough to survive and advance. By slowly coming out of their funk in recent weeks, Pep Guardiola had to like the Sky Blues' chances of taking all three points over — let's be real — an inferior foe, even one as impressive as Brugge has been throughout the league phase.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVERPOOL PSV MAN CITY ARSENAL ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL
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