With just one Champions League game left, many clubs believe their fate will depend on next week’s final game.
The Champions League group stage ends next week (Image: Getty Images)
The Champions League came alive this week with the penultimate match of the opening stage. Only in its second season, the league’s stage has kept clubs and fans guessing all year long.
And that’s true even when all eyes are on next week’s final round match. All 36 teams that have qualified for the official competition will begin action next week when the league stage concludes.
In its previous incarnation there would have been quite a few dead rubbers, but that’s not the case this time around and there’s still plenty to play with.
Having said that, Mirror Football will consider all possible permutations of the competition, including Premier League teams.
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automatic certification
As things stand, only two teams have already qualified for the last 16. Premier League leaders Arsenal have had an excellent season so far and will join Bayern Munich in the knockout stages.
But the Gunners still have room to play. The top four teams in the standings will receive a second home leg in both the last 16 and quarter-finals, while the top two teams will also receive a second home leg in the semi-finals.
Arsenal need one point in their final match against Kairat Almaty to secure the top spot. For others, things get a little more complicated.
Of course, Bayern have already won, and if they win the final game they will also be joined by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Tottenham will be guaranteed a place in the last 16 if they win against Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, while the Reds are likely to qualify if they avoid defeat.
Chelsea and Newcastle occupy the final spots in the top eight, with wins over Napoli and PSG securing their place in the next round. A draw might be enough for all the teams in the top eight, but it depends on which teams are currently in the playoffs, and a loss would leave them vulnerable.
Arsenal could finish first (Image: Getty Images)
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play off
The good news for all the teams in the top eight is that they are at least guaranteed to make the playoffs. There are currently 16 teams participating in the playoffs, and 10 of them have a chance to advance to the last 16.
Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta are level on 13 points and will be expected to do well – a win or a draw is a possibility – although the latter will only be the case if Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle or PSG drop points.
Manchester City is also one of the clubs in that group, with a win or draw against Galatasaray automatically qualifying them, but only if there is a result. Teams from 16th place onwards are already guaranteed to advance to the playoffs.
Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Qarabag all realistically need to win their final league games to have a chance of automatically qualifying for the last 16, but even that may not be enough. However, a draw between Galatasaray and Qarabag may be enough to at least qualify for the playoffs.
As for teams nervously looking away, Marseille, Leverkusen and Monaco only have a one-point advantage over the chasing pack, while PSV, Athletic Bilbao and Olympiakos need wins to secure a spot. Otherwise, everyone will be vulnerable.
Man City still have work to do after shock defeat to Bodø/Glimt (Image: Getty Images)
exclusion
At present, four teams have already been eliminated from the tournament ahead of the final league match. They are Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat.
The quartet will be joined by eight more players by the end of the final group match. Let’s start with something simple.
Ajax, Union Saint Giroise, Paphos, Benfica and Bodo/Glimt all need wins to qualify for the play-offs. Otherwise, they will be eliminated.
As for the opposing team, a win is not important, but a win would certainly help. Club Brugge are in the play-offs with a one-point difference, while FC Copenhagen and Napoli are level on points with the other two play-off teams.
Napoli likely to be eliminated from the Champions League (Image: Getty Images)
Champions League remaining matches
Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting Lisbon
Liverpool vs Qarabag
Barcelona vs Copenhagen
Monaco vs Juventus
Ajax vs Olympiakos
PSG vs Newcastle
Dortmund vs Inter Milan
Napoli vs Chelsea
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham
Atlético Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt
Leverkusen vs Villarreal
Arsenal vs Kairat
Paphos vs Slavia Prague
Manchester City vs Galatasaray
Club Brugge vs Marseille
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Union Saint Giroise vs Atalanta
PSV vs Bayern Munich
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