Sporting CP joined Europe's heavyweights in the Champions League's last 16 after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win at Athletic Club.

The Portuguese side were reliant on results elsewhere going their way to have a realistic hope of a top-eight finish even with a victory on Wednesday.

But as Real Madrid were beaten and Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United drew with one another, Sporting were struggling to hold up their end of the bargain heading into stoppage time.

Sporting had trailed twice in the first half to goals from Oihan Sancet, cancelled out by Ousmane Diomande, and Gorka Guruzeta.

Trincao equalised a second time just past the hour mark, however, setting the stage for a stunning finale as Alisson Santos snatched a 94th-minute winner on the breakaway.

The result saw Athletic eliminated altogether and lifted Sporting to seventh, improbably knocking Madrid into the play-off round.

The Spanish giants are joined there by Atalanta, who also had an opportunity to climb into the top eight before Wednesday's action.

Ultimately, the Serie A side's inferior goal difference would have left them well short without a huge win at Union Saint-Gilloise, who instead claimed a 1-0 victory.

USG's own goal difference meant that their win was not enough to propel them into the top 24, while Atalanta must now prepare for either Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos, who maintained their interest in the competition by winning 2-1 at Ajax.

But Pafos, like USG, fell agonisingly short of continuing their maiden Champions League campaign due to Benfica's superior goal difference, even with the Cypriot side beating Slavia Prague 4-1 at home.

And goal difference was also, improbably, the undoing of Marseille, whose 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge combined with Benfica's dramatic 4-2 win against Madrid saw them miss out.

Despite a hugely disappointing result in Belgium, OM were still set for 24th place until Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin nodded in a last-gasp fourth for Jose Mourinho's men.

Data debrief: Sporting success in Spain at last

Sporting had never previously won away to a Spanish side in European competition in 17 attempts, with only Celtic (21) playing more matches against Spanish opposition without winning.

They were also winless in six away Champions League matches, too, seemingly setting the stage for Athletic to reach the knockout stage of the competition for the first time.

But a spirited Sporting fightback ended those barren runs and took them straight into the last 16, bettering last season's play-off round exit to Borussia Dortmund. This is the first time they have reached the knockouts in consecutive campaigns.