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As the group stage of the Champions League concludes, the 16 teams who will participate in the knock out stages are clear. In the last week of the Champions League, various lessons were learned. Let us look at the five talking points of the week.
#1 Liverpool Simply not good enough
When Liverpool participated in the Champions League for the first time since 2009, hopes and expectations were high. However, the expectations of the great European nights at Anfield turned to disaster for the Merseyside outfit. After winning the opening match against Ludogorets, Liverpool endured a miserable run in the competition as they lost three consecutive matches to virtually end their chances of qualifying.
A team simply cannot qualify from a group by just winning one of the six matches.
Moreover, the second place team in their group did not fare well either as Basel managed only 7 points from the 6 games. If Liverpool had managed to get one more victory, then the Anfield club might be sitting in the next round draw on Monday. Despite the result, Liverpool will still be at the knockout stage draw ceremony but, only for the Europa League.
Club captain Steven Gerrard coming out and accepting the fact that the team did not deserve to go through, speaks volume about the clubs poor performance in the group stage. It is hard to imagine how Liverpool will recover from this setback. Also, with the Reds struggling in the league, they may not return to the competition any time soon.
#2 Basel\'s giant killing act continues
FC Basel's great form against English clubs continued this season in the Champions League.
After beating Chelsea in the group stage last year and knocking out Tottenham Hotspur from the Europa league quarterfinals the season before, they continued in the same trend against Liverpool this season.
After the Swiss club beat Liverpool in the second match of the group stage at Switzerland, they drew the corresponding fixture at Anfield to qualify for the knock out stages at the expense of the Merseyside outfit. They also took the matter to Instagram to mock the English clubs with a cartoon. However, the post was subsequently removed.
Also in 2011, Basel beat Manchester United in the last match of the group stage to knock the Red Devils out of the competition. Basel can go a lot further in the competition if they carry on with the same momentum.
#3 Will Real Madrid become the first team to defend the Champions League?
After winning all the six matches in group, Real Madrid created history by breaking Barcelona's record to win 19 consecutive victories in all competition.
When Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria left the club in the summer, Real struggled to get their feet on the ground. But, things got back to normal when the new signings Kroos and Rodriguez settled in.
Since then, Real have been flying high in both domestic and European games. The team looks a lot stronger than they were at this stage last season. Their play is good and the team is surprisingly defending well. With Cristiano Ronaldo (the favourite to win the Ballon d' Or) at their ranks, the giants of Madrid are on a roller coast ride.
Not once in the group stage Real Madrid looked like slipping away as they walked past their opponents comfortably. Notably the game at Anfield being the highlight of the group stage when they trashed Liverpool 3-0.
If Real continue in this rich vein of form, not many would want to be drawn against them in the round of 16. Can Real Madrid become the first team to defend their UCL crown?
#4 Messi, Suarez and Neymar The deadly front-line
Barcelona finally manged to beat Paris Saint Germain in the last game of the group to top the group F. It wasn't easy on the night for the Catalans when former Barcelona player Zlatan Ibrahamovic opened the scoring in the first half.
However, Barca hit back immediately when Linoel Messi scored from Luis Suarez cut back. Just before the break, a wonder strike from Neymar completed the comeback for the Catalans. Suarez scored the third goal in the second half to seal the deal.
The front-line of Barcelona looks more deadly then any other teams attack. If the three players can keep this form going, not long before the Catalan club will return to their former glory.
#5 Collapse against Anderlecht cost Arsenal the top spot
Despite winning four, drawing one and losing just the one in the group stage, Arsenal still failed to top the group. If the Gunners are to point the finger at someone, then they have to look at the mirror for the culprit. Arsenal caused their own downfall by collapsing from a three goal lead in the fourth match of the group stage against Anderlecht.
Goals from Arteta, Sanchez and Chamberlain put Arsenal 3-0 ahead with over 30 minutes left in the match. However, a quick reply from Anthony Vanden Borre reduced the deficit. Another from the same player on 73rd minute and Mitrovic's equaliser in the dying minutes completed an emphatic comeback for the Belgium club.
Victories against Borrussia Dortmund and Galatasaray in the next two matches did not help the London club top the group. With Arsenal yet again qualifying second in the group, the prospect of being drawn against a European heavy weight looks likely.
Unless Arsene Wenger addresses the team’s weaknesses in the January window by buying the necessary players, the gunners may be knocked out at the round of 16 for the fifth season in a row.
