Qarabag wasn't able to help Atlético, and Roma not only joined Chelsea as the two teams to qualify in Group C of the UEFA Champions League, but also claimed the top spot of the group when most experts ruled them out when the draw took place.
The Italian side made it to the next stage in first place despite having a lower goal differential than Chelsea. Fortunately for them, the tiebreaker rules involved games between each teams, favoring the giallorossi.
With this result, Los Colchoneros have ended a seven-year streak of making it at least to the final sixteen teams of the world's most coveted club competition.
1 - The last time Atletico were knocked out of the #UCL group stage was in 2009/10 when they won the #UEL at the end of the season. Consolation. pic.twitter.com/BQpBCRUD6q
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 5, 2017
Fans and experts praised the Italian side for their display in the group stage, especially after losing four key players before the beginning of this season, including Francesco Totti.
Roma sold 3 of their best players in the summer: Mohamed Salah, Leandro Paredes and Antonio Rüdiger, yet they still finished top of a Champions League group containing Chelsea and Atlético Madrid. Phenomenal achievement pic.twitter.com/Jpug8zcDPP
— Premier League Panel (@PremLeaguePanel) December 5, 2017
And to make matters worse, some experts had the nerve to mock Los Colchoneros' fate in this competition.
So for the first time in four years it's not Real Madrid who knock Atletico Madrid out of the Champions League.
— Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro) December 5, 2017
