Champions League team of the group stage: Two Liverpool stars and an Old Trafford legend

Barcelona are the biggest losers after getting knocked out

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  GK Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) - In the end Real Madrid finished comfortably at the top of their group, but at times they lived dangerously and immensely grateful for the key moments when their giant Belgian goalkeeper kept them from folding. He made 22 saves in his six games, a mark of how busy he was. EPA

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  RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - He only played in half the group matches, but Liverpool can look back on their impeccable ride through a tough Group B and appreciate the importance of their brilliant right-back. He set up a goal in the narrow win over AC Milan, and both goals in the 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. EPA

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  CB Lisandro Martinez (Ajax) - Ajax are the surprise 100-percenters of the first phase, their maximum points as much down to a fine defence as their dazzle in attack. Martinez, the young Argetinian international, has been a pillar, both in containing opponents and in his confident distribution. EPA

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  CB Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) - The old warrior won more tackles than anybody in a group phase where Benfica effectively eliminated Barcelona. Otamendi excelled in the 0-0 draw at Camp Nou that built on Benfica’s 3-0 win over Barca in Lisbon. Otamendi, 34 in February, will relish being in the knockouts. AP

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  LB Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) - According to his Portugal manager, Fernando Santos, Cancelo is the best left-back in the world. It may not even be his best position. But from there, with attacking forays wide and into the centre of midfield, he supplied three assists in the group phase, part of a slick, fluent City. Getty

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  CM Joao Palhinha (Sporting) - Sporting’s first appearance in the last-16 of Europe’s principal club competition meant recovering from early setbacks, and their grit was exemplified by midfielder Palhinha, combative in the challenge and canny in his use of the ball. Getty

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  CM Renato Sanches (Lille) - Still only 24, but with a lifetime of ups and downs behind him, the former prodigy, ex of Bayern Munich, is soaring. A late error cost Lille a goal in their last group game but they were already safe at the top of their table, the versatile Sanches key to steering them there. Getty

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  RW Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - The unstoppable Egyptian scored seven goals in Group B, including some very special finishes and spearheaded Liverpool’s capture of 18 points from a possible 18. The more intimidating the arena, the more he rises to the challenge. His electric form puts his club among the competition’s favourites. EPA

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  CF Sebastien Haller (Ajax) - Hard to believe Haller had never played in the Champions League before September. Harder still to recognise him as the centre-forward who so struggled for consistency at West Ham United. Ten goals and two assists are his fabulous yield from five and half games. AP

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  CF Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - He wore the face of someone who had missed an opportunity when he left the pitch without a goal on Wednesday, Bayern on the way to a victory that eliminated Barcelona. Still, he assisted one, and finished the group phase with a towering nine goals of his own. EPA

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  LW Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - He rescued three points at home to Villarreal; he finished off another United comeback with a late winner at home to Atalanta. He scored twice in the 2-2 draw at Atalanta; he broke the deadlock at Villarreal. Quite simply, Ronaldo was the difference between United finishing in first place or last. Getty

Barcelona’s 17-year run of reaching the Champions League knockout rounds ended this week after their heavy defeat at Bayern Munich.

Barca were thumped 3-0 by the German giants and the five-time European champions were relegated to a dismal — and deserved — third place in Group E.

Bayern’s perfect six straight wins started with a 3-0 win at Camp Nou in September, and the repeat result in Munich allowed Benfica to jump ahead of Barca and into the round-of-16 draw on Monday.

Only 15 of the 16-team lineup in the knockout stage were known on Wednesday night.

The Atalanta-Villarreal game to decide who will finish runner-up in Group F was postponed by heavy snow in the northern Italian city of Bergamo. The group was already won by Manchester United before they drew 1-1 with Young Boys at Old Trafford. Uefa have asked Atalanta and Villarreal to try again on Thursday evening.

A grim evening for Spanish sides saw Sevilla join Barcelona in being eliminated.

Lille, the team lowest-ranked in the group stage, grabbed top spot in their group by beating Wolfsburg 3-1 in Germany. Salzburg beat Sevilla 1-0 to advance to the round of 16 as runners-up.

Defending champion Chelsea and Juventus had already sealed their round-of-16 places from Group H.

Juventus will be in the pot of seeded teams with the other group winners in Monday’s draw, where the unseeded pot now includes Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

Ian Hawkey picks out his star performers from the Champions League group stage in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.