La Liga giants Barcelona on Tuesday secured for themselves a piece of European football history.This came owing to the efforts of the Blaugrana in the club’s showdown with Portuguese heavyweights

Liverpool became the first team to guarantee a place in the last 16 of the new Champions League format by beating Lille 2-1 on Tuesday, while Barcelona fought back from two goals down to stun Benfica 5-4 in a thriller.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football has returned for the penultimate matchround of the league stage. And Liverpool are back in action tonight at home to Lille as they close in on confirming their automatic

Liverpool and Barcelona know they're in the Champions League last 16 with a host of other teams - including Arsenal and Aston Villa - ensuring they will play knockout football

Barcelona and Liverpool secured thrilling Champions League Round of 16 spots with dramatic victories, as Raphinha's late heroics sealed Barcelona's 5-4 win over Benfica, while Mohamed Salah's milestone goal led Liverpool to a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Lille.

Liverpool's victory over Lille last night was fundamentally good for them in that they are through to the last 16 and have secured a top-two seeding. However, that is also a positive for English clubs as a whole.

Liverpool and Barcelona have both advanced to the Champions League last-16 after their wins on Wednesday evening, and the pair will now almost certain to be top seeds in the knockouts

Liverpool is just one of two teams guaranteed a spot in the last-16 of the Champions League heading into the final week of the league phase, with the Reds' path to the final starting to become clearer.