Barcelona and Lionel Messi mean business in Champions League as Real Madrid face last 16 exit

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico all advance in the uefa Champions League and will take their place in Monday’s draw for the second round of Europe’s premier club competition. Valencia, meanwhile, drop down to the Europa League.

On Tuesday, a Barca side featuring a number of second-string players drew 1-1 with Tottenham at Camp Nou and that same night, Atletico were frustrated in a goalless game away to Club Brugge in Belgium.

Wednesday’s action then brought a humiliating loss for Real Madrid as Santiago Solari’s side went down 3-0 at home to CSKA Moscow at the Bernabeu, while Valencia signed off their ultimately unsuccessful campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Manchester United.

Here, we take a look at how all the Spanish sides have fared in the Champions League this season as three of four set their sights on the final at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid at the beginning of June...

Barcelona | Group B winners

Barcelona not only negotiated a tough sector featuring Tottenham, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven, but they did so without losing a game in an impressive campaign that yielded four wins and two draws, with 14 goals scored and five conceded.

Ernesto Valverde’s side, led by an imperious Lionel Messi who had already spoken in August of his desire to bring back the trophy for the first time since 2015, kicked off with a 4-0 win at home to PSV, before sealing a superb 4-2 victory at Wembley.

Messi was sidelined for three weeks and missed the 2-0 victory at home to Inter and the 1-1 draw in Milan where Barca should have claimed all three points, but he was back to net in the 2-1 success at PSV and leads the scoring charts with six goals in the competition.

Tuesday’s draw with Tottenham at home was of little importance for Barca with top spot already secured, but Ousmane Dembele kept their momentum going. The Catalans will now face one of Liverpool, Manchester United, Ajax, Lyon, Schalke or Roma in the last 16 and while they will hope to avoid Jurgen Klopp’s side, their form so far in this competition makes them the team to beat in the knockout stages.

Real Madrid | Group G winners

Like Barcelona, Real Madrid progress as group winners, albeit in a weaker sector and in a less convincing fashion. Los Blancos, in three games under Julen Lopetegui and three with Santiago Solari in charge, won four and lost two, scoring 12 goals and conceding five.

The 3-0 win at home to Roma was the high point of Lopetegui’s short-lived spell as coach, while Solari led Los Blancos to an impressive 5-0 victory away to Viktoria Plzen and a somewhat fortunate 2-0 success in the Italian capital.

However, the 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow was disappointing and Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to the Russian side at home was a humiliation for the 13-time winners, even though top spot in the group had already been secured.

Without Cristiano Ronaldo to chip in with important goals in Europe, Madrid have struggled at times and also look vulnerable in defence. They have also yet to face a really strong side. Their possible rivals in the last 16 are Liverpool, United, Ajax, Lyon, Schalke or Spurs and on current form, several of those can cause them problems. Real do not look like champions this time, although they are a different animal in the latter stages of this competition.

Atletico Madrid | Second in Group A

Atletico and coach Diego Simeone are obsessed with the Champions League after losing out twice in the final to city rivals Real Madrid in 2013-14 and 2015-16, but the Rojiblancos missed a great chance to finish as Group A winners as they were held by Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Despite finishing the group stage with four wins, one draw and one defeat, there are concerns over Atletico this time. Simeone’s side were thrashed 4-0 away to Borussia Dortmund and have also lacked firepower on occasions, with the goalless game in Belgium one such example.

The final of the Champions League will be played at their stadium, but missing out on top spot in their sector means they will first face a tough draw in the second round, where they will meet one of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus or Porto.

Atleti fans will be hoping to face last of those in Monday’s draw, although Simeone’s side have shown in recent seasons that they can beat anyone in the Champions League. Apart from Real Madrid, that is. Nobody will want to play the Rojiblancos over two legs, but a tough pairing in the next round will provide a severe test to their credentials in this competition.

Valencia | Third in Group H

Valencia’s 2-1 win at home to Manchester United on Wednesday was a bittersweet ending to the club’s Champions League campaign. With Marcelino’s men already out and only playing for pride, it was a welcome result and may help to kick-start their flagging campaign, but they should have done better in Europe.

A lack of goals has been a problem for Valencia in La Liga this season and also in the Champions League. The 1-1 draw away to Young Boys was particularly disappointing and the Mestalla outfit have scored only six in as many games in Europe, with three of those coming at home to the Swiss side.

As it was, United were probably fortunate that Marcelino’s side did not find their feet faster because they could and should have challenging more closely for second place in this sector behind group winners Juventus.

If they can continue to improve, Valencia could be candidates in the Europa League, a competition they won under Rafa Benitez in 2004 (when it was still called the UEFA Cup). As in La Liga, however, they will need to start scoring more goals.