Ajax players celebrate at the end of the Champions League group C soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Ajax won 3:1. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Associated Press
GENEVA (AP) - Liverpool and Ajax extended their perfect winning records in the Champions League on Wednesday to advance into the round of 16 that's starting to take a 1970s throwback look.
Liverpool cruised past Atlético Madrid 2-0 at Anfield and Ajax hit 10-man Borussia Dortmund with late goals in a 3-1 come-from-behind win in Germany.
The four teams with four straight wins - after Bayern Munich and Juventus sealed their places Tuesday - have already given the knockout lineup a nostalgic feel. Ajax, Bayern and Liverpool combined to win all eight European Cup titles from 1971-78.
Liverpool had never opened a Champions League group stage with four wins, though it was rarely troubled against Atlético in Group B after Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané scored in the first 21 minutes. Atlético dropped to third in the group behind Porto, which was held to a 1-1 draw at last-place AC Milan.
Ajax is having a standout Champions League campaign after being ignored by the Super League founders from England, Italy and Spain when they lined up their ill-fated project several months ago.
The Netherlands champion made it back-to-back big wins over Dortmund, which had veteran defender Mats Hummels sent off in the first half.
Second-place Dortmund trails Ajax by six points in Group C with two rounds left. Dortmund is level on points with Sporting Lisbon, which routed BeÅŸiktaÅŸ 4-0 and hosts the German side next on Nov. 24.
Real Madrid and Inter Milan - two of the 12 Super League clubs - have taken control of Group D from upstart Sheriff after important wins Wednesday.
Karim Benzema's goals ensured Madrid beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 and lead the standings by two points from Inter. The Italian champion made it two straight wins over Sheriff, 3-1 away to the champion of Moldova.
Manchester City overpowered Club Brugge 4-1 and was rewarded with top spot in Group A after late drama at Leipzig where Paris Saint-Germain drew 2-2.
A PSG team missing the injured Lionel Messi rallied from an early Leipzig surge to lead at halftime through two goals by Georgino Wijnaldum.
PSG dropped points after a stoppage-time penalty by Leipzig substitute Dominik Szoboszlai.
City took a one-point lead over PSG before they meet in Manchester in three weeks' time.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Liverpool's Diogo Jota heads the ball to score his side's first goal during the Champions League group B soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp waves to supporters during the Champions League group B soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores the opening goal during a Group D Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Group D Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid Spain, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Associated Press
Ajax's Sebastien Haller, left, hscores his side's second goal against Dortmund's goalkeeper Gregor Kobel during the Champions League group C soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Associated Press
Atletico Madrid's Matheus Cunha, left, and Liverpool's Joel Matip react during the Champions League group B soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone gestures during the Champions League group B soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League Group A soccer match between Manchester City and Club Brugge at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, England, Wednesday Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press
AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic gestures during the Champions League group B soccer match between AC Milan and Porto at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
Porto's Evanilson, second left, heads the ball to hit the bar during the Champions League group B soccer match between AC Milan and Porto at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
Porto's Luis Diaz, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League group B soccer match between AC Milan and Porto at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Associated Press
Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group B soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
Brugge's head coach Philippe Clement, left, and Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gesture from the touchline during the Champions League Group A soccer match between Manchester City and Club Brugge at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, England, Wednesday Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
The Associated Press