Paris Saint-Germain and Porto became the last two teams to secure passageway to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after a chaotic finish to group stage place that saw 31 goals scored in eight games.
The French champions finished their group stage with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund, but were given quite a bit of help from AC Milan's 2-1 win at Newcastle United. It meant PSG finished second and Milan booked a spot in the Europa League knockout round playoffs, while Newcastle miss out on European action entirely in the new year.
Porto follow PSG into the last 16 with a 5-3 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, which sends the Ukrainian side to the Europa League. Dortmund, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid also booked first place finishes in their respective groups thanks to the day's results.
Here's a quick glance at Wednesday's scorelines.
PSG and Porto are through, Milan and Shakhtar are in the Europa League, and Newcastle drop out of Europe altogether. What a thrilling way to end the Champions League group stage.
PSG advance behind Dortmund thanks to a draw in Germany. Milan's 2-1 win at Newcastle takes them through in third. The Magpies are out which feels harsh on a night of such immense drama.
Guiu comes on and scores an equalizer for Barcelona in stoppage time but Ilenikhena follows up a minute later to make it 3-2 to Antwerp.
Porto score a fifth with Conceicao scoring a minute after coming on, but it's 5-3 after Eguinaldo scored for Shakhtar in the 86th minute.
Lagerbielke scores in stoppage time to give Celtic a 2-1 advantage over Feyenoord. It doesn't impact their standing but it's not a bad way to finish off the group stage.
Instant impact from substitute Chukwueze at St James' Park! A late Dortmund winner would now send Milan through at PSG's expense. Poor Newcastle suddenly staring down the barrel at exiting Europe completely. That Pulisic goal and Maignan save combination now looks mammoth for the Rossoneri.
Gimenez finds Minteh and he scores from close range in the 82nd minute, making things 1-1 between Feyenoord and Celtic.
The goals will not stop coming in Porto, this time with the hosts making it 4-2 over Shakhtar. The 40-year-old Pepe again becomes the oldest goalscorer in Champions League history, giving his side another cushion with roughly 10 minutes to play.
The Ukrainian side forces an own goal out of Eustaquio and with about 16 minutes to play, it's 3-2 to Porto. With a round of 16 spot on the line for both sides, this one could go down to the wire.
PSG thought they took the lead 2-1 away at Dortmund. Mbappe finished after being played in, but VAR ahas other idea and chalks it off marginally for offside. So, so tight! Leao has also hit the post for Milan -- how close is this going to get?
Still 1-1 between Dortmund and PSG. However, Mbappe just had a sight at goal in Germany and sent his effort wide after being teed up by Vitinha. We are into the final 20 minutes and anything could happen still. It is still 1-1 between Newcastle and Milan so that sends PSG through behind Dortmund as we stand. That Pulisic goal was huge, though, and could have mega consequences by full time as Maignan pulls off a heroic stop at St James' Park!
With a brace in the books, Galeno now takes on assisting duties for Porto's third, scored by Taremi in the 62nd minute. That gives them a nice 3-1 advantage over Shakhtar, and further bolsters their case to reach the round of 16.
A big, big goal in Newcastle as Milan level at 1-1 through Pulisic! Suddenly, PSG are going through. Captain America with the scrappy finish but the Italians do not care as they seek a second at St James' Park. The tables keep turning in this one -- wild scenes this Wednesday.
Janssen had a goal ruled offside minutes earlier, but this time he's actually on the board. Antwerp's great press leads to Yusuf crossing it to Janssen, who scores from close range. Antwerp are now up 2-1 on Barcelona 56 minutes in, and they hope they're on their way to their first ever Champions League points.
What an incredible past few minutes at Signal Iduna Park! Zaire-Emery levels for the French giants just moments after Adeyemi's opener. What a big goal from the teenage sensation who drills past Kobel from the edge of the box. This is what big Champions League nights are made of and Zaire-Emery is not at all out of place at center stage. However, Newcastle still lead Milan so the Magpies are still advancing as things stand.
After getting the assist to the first goal, Lino follows up with a goal of his own in the 51st minute. A back-and-forth in the box eventually ends with the ball landing at Lino's feet and him putting his side 2-0 up over Lazio with an impressive strike. Atleti are inching closer to a first place finish in Group E.
Adeyemi puts the hosts ahead with a scrappy finish. A defensive disaster for PSG's Hakimi and the French champions are now in big, big trouble in Germany! As things stand, Luis Enrique's men need to score twice to stand a chance of winning unless Newcastle are pegged back. Those missed first half chances look very costly indeed right now.
PSG, Milan, and Shakhtar have 45 minutes to save their Champions League campaigns, while Newcastle and Porto are 45 minutes away from securing passageway to the next round. Should be a thrilling finish to the group stage.
As things stand, Newcastle and Porto would be off to the round of 16 while PSG and Shakhtar drop down to the Europa League. Atleti, Dortmund, and Barcelona would be the first place teams in their respective groups.
It has been end to end so far in Germany. Both the hosts and visitors have had very good chances, but no goals so far at Signal Iduna Park. Barcola has hit the post, Donnarumma and Kobel have both made saves and both sides are throwing caution to the wind. As the French side is about to find out, they must score and win while Newcastle are ahead against Milan because of the Magpies' head to head record against PSG! Otherwise, the Ligue 1 giants will drop into the Europa League.
Galeno completes a brace just two minutes before halftime after stellar build-up play from Porto, with a slight deflection helping him along the way. His strike gives Porto a 2-1 lead over Shakhtar and if results hold, a spot in the round of 16.
After playing down a goal for roughly half an hour, Barcelona find their equalizer against Antwerp courtesy of a goal from Torres. Yamal played a nice pass through traffic for the assist, which means Barcelona return to top spot in Group H.
The Scottish champions earn a penalty and Palma converts in the 33rd minute, giving Celtic a 1-0 lead over Feyenoord.
Wow! Group F is well and truly alive now. Joelinton has put the hosts ahead! A stunning drive from the Brazilian for the Magpies who have dominated Milan so far. As things stand, Newcastle are into second place and PSG are dropping into the Europa League in third owing to Eddie Howe's men boasting a better head to head record. The current setup, of course, sees the Italians crashing out of Europe altogether.
Sikan notches an equalizer for Shakhtar in the 29th minute, but not without a little bit of controversy. The flag goes up despite the recommendation for referees to not do so while VAR is around before Sikan's strike. Pepe stops playing thinking he's out of danger but VAR says Sikan was not offside and the goal stands.
It's not enough to take Shakhtar over Porto for a round of 16 berth yet, but keeps them in the running.
What an opening 30 minutes or so with PSG being wasteful and Dortmund almost punishing them. Donnarumma denies Reus again, this time in spectacular fashion! BVB then had a penalty shout after a potential handball and Adeyemi could not keep down another spilled Donnarumma gather. Luis Enrique's side are on a white knuckle ride so far -- they could be 3-0 up as easily as they could be 1-0 down! Luckily for Les Parisiens, Newcastle are not in the lead at home to Milan despite bossing possession and chances at St James' Park.
This one is heating up nicely in Germany and PSG are raining in the chances on the home goal. Lee's was already a good opening, but Mbappe has now forced Sule to make a heroic sliding block to knock the ball over after Kobel was rounded. Seconds later there was a goal-bound effort from Skriniar blocked, then Barcola hit the post after some woeful Dortmund defending and Kolo Muani then ran through poked an effort narrowly wide. Elsewhere, it is Newcastle 0-0 Milan so as things stand it is PSG and going through with Dortmund.
Things are heating up! Still 0-0 in Germany, but both sides have now forced the two goalkeepers into saves. Donnarumma first palmed out from Reus before Kobel had to get behind Vitinha's crack from distance. However, the best openings so far fell to Lee just now and although he might have been offside, he was unable to direct his shot on goal. A hot atmosphere, as always, at Signal Iduna Park and a game set up for both sides to have chances... PSG and Dortmund have got in behind each other's back lines so far. Who will get the next opening?
Porto take advantage of Shakhtar's defensive looseness and Evanilson sends the ball towards Galeno, who scores from inside the box nine minutes in. A win for Porto would secure their spot in the round of 16 and send Shakhtar to the Europa League.
Atleti take a 1-0 lead six minutes into their game over Lazio, which would cement a first place finish for them if they keep this up. Lino connects with Griezmann, who scores his 14th goal of the season.
