Business as usual in Champions League? Maybe not this season

All four of England’s representatives have advanced for the second straight season

LONDON, Dec 13, (AP): The usual contenders topped their groups.

Nearly all of the top teams advanced.

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the leading scorers.

Is it a case of business as usual in this Champions League? Maybe not. While there seems to be an everwidening gap between the biggest, richest clubs and the rest, there also appears to be more potential winners than ever in a last-16 lineup that sets up what could be a thrilling knockout stage.

A look at some things that stood out in group play:

Madrid on the wane

The most dominant team in the 27-season Champions League era might be on the wane.

Real Madrid advanced as a group winner but lost home and away to CSKA Moscow and doesn’t have the same aura without Cristiano Ronaldo,

Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico (right), is fouled by Bayern’s Thomas Mueller during the Champions League Group E soccer match between Ajax and FC BayernMunich at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Dec 12. (AP)