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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Juve, Bayern, Liverpool and Ajax advance to Champions League Round of 16

With two rounds of games outstanding in the group stage, four clubs have secured a berth in the next stage of the 2021/22 Champions League.

Update:
03/11/21  PARTIDO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
 GRUPO B FASE DE GRUPOS ESTADIO ANFIELD
 LIVERPOOL FC - ATLETICO DE MADRID
 SEGUNDO GOL SADIO MANE 2-0 ALEGRIA
CHEMA DIAZDIARIO AS

After four rounds of games in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League, four sides have mathematically claimed their place in the next stage of the competition with two rounds of group stage games still outstanding.

Ajax advance despite criticism

Ajax Amsterdam have qualified for the next stage of the competition by extending their 100% record in the group phase but for coach Erik ten Hag it was an opportune time to pick over their mistakes.

A 3-1 away win over a 10-man Borussia Dortmund ensured Ajax booked a berth in the last-16 as they finally broke down a resolute German side who played down to 10 men for over an hour of the Group C clash.

But Ten Hag was quick to point out the errors that might have cost his team the game before they rallied to score three times in last 19 minutes and take all the points.

"If you want to go far as a team, you have to be critical," he told Dutch television.

Reds go marching on...

Liverpool marched into the knockout stages of the Champions League with two games to spare after a convincing 2-0 victory over 10-man Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday guaranteed them top spot in Group B.

With four wins out of four, Juergen Klopp's side can now take their foot off the gas for the final two games of the group stage and focus their resources on their Premier League title push.

Liverpool have yet to lose in 16 matches in all competitions this season and their unbeaten run stretches back 25 matches to their April 6 loss to Real Madrid in last season's Champions League campaign.

A draw would have been enough for Liverpool to be sure of their passage to the last 16 but from the outset Klopp's side looked like they had nothing but victory on their minds.

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp
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Liverpool's German manager Jurgen KloppOLI SCARFFAFP

Juve and Bayern advance on Tuesday

Juventus booked their spot in the Champions League last 16 with two group games to spare after a double from Argentine striker Paulo Dybala steered them to a 4-2 win over Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday.

Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala shoots and scores a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Juventus and Zenit on November 02, 2021 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)
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Juventus' Argentine forward Paulo Dybala shoots and scores a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Juventus and Zenit on November 02, 2021 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP)ISABELLA BONOTTOAFP

Knowing they only needed a point against Zenit to be assured of a knockout-stage spot in Group H, Juve raced into a deserved early lead through Dybala, who hammered the ball into the roof of the net in the 11th minute.

Bayern Munich progressed too on Tuesday with a comprehensive win over Benfica as Robert Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick as part of their 5-2 win in Municsh with Serge Gnabry and Sané also on target for the Bundesliga side.

Match-day 5 of the Champions League takes place on November 23-24 with the final match-day scheduled for December 7th and 8th.