Colombia will have representation in the round of 16 of this Champions League. Although there are two dates left to complete the group stage, there are already teams that sealed their way to the next round. One of them, Éder Álvarez Balanta’s Brujas Club, which qualified for the first time in its history.
Carl Hoefkens’ team, which has yet to lose in the tournament, tied goalless against Atlético Madrid in Spain y with 10 points out of a possible 12, he secured his classification. It continues to surprise in a Group B that it shares, in addition to Atleti, with Porto and Bayer Leverkusen.
In this way, Balanta becomes the first Colombian in the round of 16 of the UCL 2022/23. The midfielder has added minutes in 3 of the 4 games Bruges have played in the tournament, all as a substitute at the end of each game.
Club Brugge make history at UCL
In his tenth participation under the Champions format, the Belgian team qualifies for the round of 16 for the first time in its history. Until this edition, they had always been eliminated in the group stage. In addition, it cuts a streak of seven years without clubs from that country among the 16 best in Europe, the last to achieve it was KAA Gent in the 2015/16 season.
Napoli, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City are the other teams that, after this date 4, They already have a guaranteed place in the next round, which will be played in 2023.
Morelos and Mosquera, eliminated
On the other hand, two teams with Colombians were left with no chance of advancing. Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers and Jhon Mosquera’s Viktoria Plzen are the first eliminated of this Champions.
The Scottish team lost 1-7 to Liverpool and still without adding points in Group A. Plzen, Despite an assist from Mosquera, they fell at home to Bayern Munich (2-4) and he also has no units in his zone.
