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The final round of the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League group stage is almost over. The matchup between Atalanta and Villarreal had to be postponed to Thursday due to heavy snowfall in northern Italy.
Manchester United have already qualified from that group. Both Atalanta and Villarreal will battle it out to determine who gets to join the Red Devils in the Round of 16. But after six exhilarating matchdays, we can safely say that the knockout rounds will feature some thrilling high-profile encounters.
Champions League matchday six replete with high-profile exits
While several teams have shattered the odds to make it past the group stage, some big clubs that were tipped to go through have been eliminated. A few of the biggest European clubs have been eliminated and they will now head straight for the Europa League.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the biggest Champions League teams that will be playing in the Europa League this season.
#5 FC Porto
FC Porto were sitting second in Group A ahead of Atletico Madrid and AC Milan heading into matchday 6. For Sergio Conceicao's men to make it to the knockout stages, a draw would have been enough. They had home advantage and were going up against an inconsistent Atletico Madrid.
However, Porto lost 3-1 in a tense contest where tempers flared from the start. Porto made plenty of chances but they were too wasteful. Griezmann put Atletico Madrid in front in the 56th minute. Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco and Porto's Wendell were shown red cards in the 67th and 71st minute respectively.
Diego Simeone's men added two goals in second-half stoppage time to seal the deal. Sergio Oliveira's 96th minute penalty proved to be just consolation for the Portuguese outfit as they crashed out of the Champions League.
#4 RB Leipzig
Despite beating Manchester City 2-1 in their final group stage game, RB Leipzig have failed to qualify for the knockout stages by some distance. They picked up only two wins in the group stage. They were drawn in a tough Champions League group which also featured Paris Saint-Germain in addition to Manchester City.
Leipzig shot themselves in the foot by conceding a 2-1 loss to Club Brugge early on. The Bundesliga outfit lost one and drew one against PSG. They were also beaten comprehensively by Manchester City at the Etihad. Their fate was sealed before they walked out for the final game and will now play in the Europa League.
#3 Sevilla
Sevilla are another side whose fate, as far as their progression to the Round of 16 was concerned, was pretty much in their hands heading into Matchday 6. The Andalusians faced off against RB Salzburg, who had seven points from five games. Sevilla had six points and a win would have buoyed them onto the knockout stages.
However, Julen Lopetegui's men fell to a 1-0 defeat. Noah Okafor scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute. Things went from bad to worse for Sevilla as central midfielder Joan Jordan was shown a red card for a foul on Karim Adeyemi in the 64th minute.
Sevilla are the most successful side in the history of the UEFA Europa League. It's a competition they love winning but we're not so sure they're chuffed about having made it in this fashion. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have made it to the last 16 for the first time in their history.
#2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund crashed out of the UEFA Champions League after losing 3-1 to Sporting Lisbon in November. Dortmund did beat Sporting 1-0 in the corresponding group stage fixture. However, the Portuguese side won by a bigger margin in the second one.
Heading into matchday six, Dortmund had six points while Sporting Lisbon had nine. But even if Sporting were to lose and Dortmund were to win, the former would go through because of a better head-to-head record.
So despite Borussia Dortmund putting five goals without reply past Besiktas and knocking them into the middle of next week, they failed to qualify. The Bundesliga side finished third in Group C and are now heading straight for the Europa League.
#1 Barcelona
Barcelona are the biggest club to crash out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage. This is the first time in 20 years that the Catalans have not made it to the knockout stages of the competition.
They got off to the worst possible start to their 2021-22 Champions League campaign under Ronald Koeman. Barcelona lost their first two matches to Bayern Munich and Benfica by a 3-0 scoreline. But back-to-back wins over Dynamo Kyiv while Benfica suffered heavy losses to Bayern Munich helped them get a look in.
Barcelona would have qualified for the knockout stages had they been able to get the better of Benfica on matchday five. However, they played out a goalless draw. They needed to win against Bayern Munich on matchday six but the Bavarians were operating at a different level altogether.
The Catalans were no match for them as they fell to another humiliating 3-0 loss. Barcelona will now play in the UEFA Europa League.
