Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Real Sociedad all qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with two group games to spare on Wednesday.
They are teaming up to protect champions Manchester City and RB Leipzig, who secured their progress on Tuesday to clinch knockout spots.
Record 14-time winners Real Madrid swanned into the Champions League last 16 with a comfortable 3-0 win over Braga to maintain their 100 percent record.
Brahim Diaz, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes scored for the Spanish giants, who sealed their promotion to Group C even without resting top scorer Jude Bellingham.
Brazilian wingers Vinicius and Rodrygo have been criticised for their lack of goals this season and both responded with sublime finishes to qualify after Diaz opened the scoring.
Madrid has four wins from four games, leading the standings by 12 points ahead of Napoli, who are second on seven after a 1-1 draw with last-placed Union Berlin.
“I’m very happy, it was the best game, 3 goals and we didn’t concede any,” Rodrygo told Movistar.
“I’m very satisfied with my goal, my assist, the win and qualifying, which is the best. “
Los Blancos goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Andriy Lunin stepping in to replace him.
The Ukrainian was immediately called into action, diving to his right to palm away Alvaro Djalo’s penalty in the sixth minute.
Lucas Vázquez brought down Cristian Borja in the box, but the Portuguese were unable to take advantage of the penalty.
Harry Kane scored two goals in the final ten minutes to send Bayern Munich past Galatasaray 2-1, booking the home side a spot in the Champions League knockouts.
Bayern had won their last 16 consecutive Champions League games organizationally, but with the score tied at 0-0 with ten minutes left, the streak seemed about to end.
However, Kane had other ideas and headed in a free kick from Joshua Kimmich to give him the lead.
The goal survived two offside checks, but Kane struck back, scoring with four minutes remaining, to seal the win and take his tally to a remarkable 19 from 15 in all competitions since arriving from Tottenham in the summer.
Cedric Bakambu scored deep in stoppage time to give hope, but Bayern held on and cruised to a one-goal victory.
Galatasaray, who had fought valiantly at home, with Bayern’s 3-1 win far less dominant than the scoreline suggested, again left empty handed, but can still qualify in the group with two games remaining.
“We expected a tough game after the away leg, but I thought we played better,” Kane told DAZN after the game.
“In the second half they gave us more. . . Overall, we deserved to win and I’m pleased to qualify. “
Bayern lost Jamal Musiala late in the first half, and the German striker waved to the bench before limping off the pitch with a hamstring squeeze.
Kane said that “unfortunately Jamal was injured, it’s not too serious. “
Lautaro Martinez shot Inter Milan into the last 16 of the Champions League with the only goal in their 1-0 win at Salzburg, continuing his red-hot scoring form.
Argentina forward Martinez confidently fired home from the penalty spot with four minutes remaining at the Stadion Salzburg to secure passage to the knockout stage of Europe’s top club tournament.
Simone Inzaghi’s moment in Group D and he can’t get stuck at Salzburg, who are third on seven points with two games to play.
Inter are second in Group D with 10 points, along with leaders Real Sociedad, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 win over Benfica in the organization’s other fixture on Wednesday and also finished in the top two thanks to Inter’s win.
Inter will now do battle with Real Sociedad for the top spot and a theoretically easier draw in the next round.
“I’m very satisfied because we have a great organization, but we did what we had to do and moved on to the next round,” Martinez told Amazon Prime.
“There’s still a long way to go, we still have two games to see if we can finish first.
“I’m pleased with the way this team has developed, we have a much more mature team in those types of games. “
Martinez has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season and has once again been instrumental for Inter, who also lead Serie A and look like a smart bet to go far in the Champions League after squandering last season’s final.