The first two teams have been knocked out of this season’s Champions League. Villarreal and Kairat Almaty, currently at the bottom of the league standings, were eliminated after their defeats on Tuesday night.

Villarreal fell 2-1 to Ajax, while Kairat Almaty suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Club Brugge. Both teams now have only one point each after seven matches, making it impossible for them to qualify for the knockout stages.

Under the new Champions League format, 24 of the 36 participating clubs will advance to the knockout phase, while the top eight teams automatically move into the Round of 16. Villarreal and Kairat Almaty’s early exits highlight the intense competition in this year’s tournament.

Fans and analysts have noted that the defeats underscore the importance of consistency in the group stage, as even strong clubs face elimination if they fail to secure enough points in the first seven matches.