Atletico Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League after a 1-1 draw at Chelsea that denied the English side top spot in Group C.
Chelsea finished second in UEFA Champions League Group C after rallying to draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday (Dec 5). The Blues, already through, needed a win to secure top spot but fell behind to Saul Niguez's header as Atletico sought the victory they needed to have any chance of progressing.
Eden Hazard's run forced Stefan Savic to turn the ball into his own net as Chelsea claimed a draw which saw them finish behind Roma on head to head records. Roma's 1-0 win over Qarabag means Atletico and Diego Costa will play Europa League football in 2018.
With the draw for the knockout stages of the competition on Monday, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will rue not clinching top spot in the group.
They could easily have done so with the number of opportunities they squandered; defender Andreas Christensen was particularly guilty, somehow directing his 67th-minute header wide of the open goal following Cesc Fabregas' drilled cross from the left.
