Ten things: Champions League

uefa.com presents our compressed, ten-point guide to this season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

1) Big guns keep firing
It was no surprise to see the likes of Real Madrid CF, Manchester United FC, AC Milan and Juventus FC booking their places in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League. Madrid cruised to the top of Group F while a 2-0 win at Old Trafford ensured United ousted VfB Stuttgart at the top of Group E. Juventus were also assured of their place ahead of their final clash with Olympiacos CFP while holders Milan coasted through Group H.

2) Thierry's gold
Thierry Henry's two-goal performance against Internazionale FC on Matchday 5 was one of the tournament's best. The Gunners needed to win to keep their second-round hopes alive and the Frenchman delivered in style with two assists in the game as Inter fell apart late on to lose 5-1. After a bad experience with Juventus, Henry loves making Serie A sides pay.

3) Italian wit
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti had a word or two for Johan Cruyff after his side's 1-0 win at AFC Ajax booked the holders' place in the last 16. The Dutch legend had criticised Italian football prompting Ancelotti to comment: "I don't care, we won. And when Cruyff wants to enjoy himself, he has to go to the cinema."

4) Madrid landmark
David Beckham may have celebrated his first Champions League strike for Madrid with a trademark free-kick. But Ronaldo's goal against Olympique de Marseille brought up 200 goals for the club in the Champions League, and 600 overall in European competition.

5) Fond farewell
In the last European game at FC Porto's Das Antas stadium, they saw off FK Partizan 2-1 after South African striker Benni McCarthy scored twice to book the Portuguese side's place in the last 16 at the venue that has been their home since 1952.

6) Tinkerman proves his mettle
Claudio Ranieri showed his tinkering can work after his Chelsea FC side finished top of Group G. A 2-0 win against Besiktas JK on Matchday 6 confirmed their place in the last 16 and proved that Ranieri's policy of rotation was a winner among his star-studded squad.

7) Greece lightning
English champions United could be forgiven for naming Greece as the 'one that they want' after making it five games unbeaten on Greek soil in the Champions League. Diego Forlán's late winner at Panathinaikos FC made it three wins and two draws from their trips to the country.

8) Ajax cleaned out
Ajax fielded the second-youngest team in Champions League history during the group stage when they played host to Milan. Their inexperience told on the night as Andriy Shevchenko struck the only goal of the game and Ajax were dumped out of Europe after losing 2-1 to Club Brugge KV on Matchday 6.

9) Bayern live on
Celtic FC won their first two Champions League fixtures at home, which looked ominous for FC Bayern München, the visitors on Matchday 5. The German champions could have bowed out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive year had the Scots maintained their record and Olympique Lyonnais won the same night. However, a typical performance from Bayern enabled them weather the first-half storm and emerge with a 0-0 draw.

10) England win battle of Britain
There was always going to be hype surrounding Scottish side Rangers FC's games with United in Group E. The two games were duly won by the English champions, Phil Neville getting the only goal at Ibrox before United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Old Trafford.