Record-breakers

Record-breakers
After watching Manchester United FC hit seven past AS Roma last season, Premier League rivals Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC got in on the act with a pair of record-breaking victories themselves. Arsenal went first, knocking seven past SK Slavia Praha on Matchday 3; Liverpool went one better a fortnight later, firing eight past Beşiktaş JK. Records have been falling thick and fast since Matchday 1 when S.S Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta became the oldest player to feature in the competition. Every time Raúl González scores, meanwhile, he sets a new mark for goals in the competition, which now stands at 59. Even Raúl, though, had to take a back seat for Filippo Inzaghi when he passed Gerd Müller as the all-time leading scorer in UEFA club competitions by scoring his 63rd goal on the continental stage against Celtic on Matchday 6.

The old ...
In an industry where the focus is on uncovering the next young superstar, Lazio goalkeeper Ballotta put in a case for the old guard on the opening night of the UEFA Champions League. When he took the field against Olympiacos CFP on Matchday 1 he became the oldest player to compete in the group stage, aged 43 years and 168 days. "I'm not the oldest, but the most experienced," joked Ballotta, who would play in all six of Lazio's group games.

... and the new
Olympique Lyonnais pair Karim Benzema, 19, and Hatem Ben Arfa, 20, have featured in the competition before but came of age this term. Benzema's superb late strike to complete Lyon's victory at Rangers FC on Matchday 6, which ensured their place in the knockout phase, was the latest example of why the future of French football looks so bright. Benzema turns 20 on 19 December, when he will graduate from the competition's exclusive teenagers' club which boasts the likes of Arsenal's Theo Walcott, 18, and Nicolas Bendtner, 19, as valued members. Like Bendtner, FC Barcelona's 18-year-old Giovani Dos Santos was among the goals on Matchday 6. Other teenagers to impress were Ivan Rakitić at FC Schalke 04, Manchester United FC's Anderson and Diego Capel at Sevilla FC, all of whom are 19. Most wide-eyed of all, though, was 17-year-old FC Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkić. "It's incredible," he said. "Three and a half months ago I was just another fan in the stands. I'm living a dream. I can't believe it yet."

Firsts
It has been a season of firsts for a number of sides in the UEFA Champions League. Sevilla FC and Slavia Praha both made their debuts in the group stage, reaching the knockout round and the UEFA Cup respectively. Fenerbahçe SK progressed beyond the group stage for the first time in five attempts and it was third time lucky for FC Schalke 04.

Through at last
At the ninth time of asking Olympiacos finally reached the knockout rounds again, banishing the demons of a nearly a decade of underachievement in the process. A first away win in 32 attempts at Werder Bremen on Matchday 2 hinted at things to come, but the real party was saved for the rematch against the German side on the final matchday when a 3-0 victory confirmed their progress. "The team have a changed attitude, they are now psychologically strong and it shows," coach Panagiotis Lemonis said. "For me, the most rewarding feeling is to know that right now our fans are on the streets of Piraeus celebrating our qualification."

Surprise, surprise
Though by and large the usual suspects will be taking their place in the last 16, the big guns have not had things all their own way. Rosenborg BK were unfortunate not to progress after drawing away to Chelsea FC and twice beating Valencia CF, while Mathieu Valbuena's winner at Anfield will live long in the memory of Olympique de Marseille supporters. There were also great wins for Rangers at Lyon, Fenerbahçe at home to FC Internazionale Milano and Celtic over holders AC Milan.

Most improved
Lyon and Liverpool both completed remarkable revivals to qualify after dire starts. Lyon lost both their opening games before stepping up a gear, while 2007 finalists Liverpool performed their own version of Jekyll and Hyde in Group A. After giving their rivals a head start in the section, Liverpool hit eight past Beşiktaş and four beyond both FC Porto and Marseille to advance. "I would say it was a perfect night," coach Rafael Benítez said after victory at the Vélodrome, before correcting himself: "... almost perfect, you always have things to improve."

All change
Benítez's future has been the subject of some speculation but he lives to fight another day, unlike many of his counterparts who lost their jobs during the course of the campaign. They say it is tough at the top but this was ridiculous as Chelsea, Marseille, Rosenborg, FC Steaua Bucureşti, FC Dynamo Kyiv, Valencia and PSV Eindhoven all changed coaches.

Fans' favourites
Every matchday uefa.com users have have been voting for their Man of the Match and so far the results have been very even with Ricardo Quaresma, Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Luis Fabiano having all been named three times. Ronaldo is also the competition's leading scorer so far, sharing top spot on five goals with Zlatan Ibrahimović.