New Delhi: The UEFA Champions League is a renovated edition of a tournament in the 2024/25 season with 36 teams playing the tournament increasing the number of games in the competition from 125 to 189 games without considering the qualifying round. With just two game weeks remaining, the top eight, who will qualify directly for the round of 16 still remain undecided in the tournament, with 21 teams still in the race for a spot.
While Liverpool with six out of six wins remains the team most assured of a spot in the top eight. On the other side of the spectrum lies PSG who are battling to get out of the elimination zone with Premier League champion Manchester City just sitting a point above the elimination zone as 33 teams’ fate in the competition still remains bleak.
Teams with best chance to qualify for UEFA Champions League knockout stage
🇪🇺 Champions League table. 2 games to go! pic.twitter.com/pZuNy2vrzN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 11, 2024
Liverpool had a wonderful season as they sit at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League. Arne Slot’s men will be the first team who will book their place in the final-16 even if they manage to draw against Lile on matchday seven at Anfield. Even if they lose both their remaining fixtures, Liverpool will still remain in the top eight. For Liverpool to fall in the knockout zone, their losses need to be combined with third to eighth-ranked teams to win both games while either Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich Atletico Madrid or Milan also need to do the same.
If Barcelona beat Benfica, Dortmund, Bayern, Atletico and Milan have to win their remaining two games while also having significant goals overturned for the Spanish team to fall out of the top eight. Their goal difference is 14, which is the best in the tournament, having scored 21 times and conceded only seven times, which will give them the confidence to finish in the top eight.
For teams between third and eighth, which includes Arsenal, Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Brest and Lille a win on matchday seven might not give them a win but will help their cause for a top-eight finish. Though it may be unlikely, a draw could push the teams as low as 21.
Teams that are in contention for climbing into top eight of Champions League
As the penultimate week gets underway, the league phase has given numerous outcomes possible still. Dortmund, Bayern, Atletico and Milan have the best shot at the final eight positions during matchday seven. They are level on 12 points, lying just one point behind the eighth-placed Lille, who are set to face Liverpool on Tuesday. If Lille fails to win, teams between ninth and 15th have a great chance of overtaking Lille or even Arsenal, Leverkusen, Villa, Inter and Brest who have all taken 13 points so far.
Teams placed from 26th and above still mathematically have a shot at making a final-eight finish, though chances are bleak for 25th-placed PSG and 26th-placed Stuttgart, with seven points so far. In fact, the chances of Bayern remain the best at a final-eight finish.
Defending champions Real Madrid have been struggling this season placed 20th in the table. They have taken nine points, equal to Celtic, who made their last knockout appearance in Europe’s top cup competition in 2012-13. Their upcoming fixtures happen to be against RB Salzburg and Brest and Los Blancos have a good chance of taking all six points for a late-season throttle into the top eight.
Manchester City, who were champions in 2023 have collected just eight points so far and are at the tip of elimination as they head towards their game against PSG on matchday seven before their home clash against Club Brugge.
Teams who are in contention of confirming their play-off round spot from UEFA Champions League
Juventus are placed 14th at the start of the gameweek and have the best chance to go into the play-off round with a win this week itself. Every team above the Italian side can confirm their knockout play-offs in the least with three points from matchday seven.
If PSG and Stuttgart are unable to win on matchday seven, a draw will be enough for Benfica, Monaco, Sporting, Feyenoord and Club Bruges who are lying between 15th and 19th. Even Madrid, Celtic, City, PSV and Dinamo Zagreb can progress with a win.
Teams who are staring at elimination from UEFA Champions League
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 20, 2025
RB Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys were the first teams in the competition to be eliminated on matchday six, with points taken yet and by the end of this gameweek, there will be some more teams who will be confirmed.
Bologna have taken just two points so far and for them to avoid elimination, they have to win both of their remaining games. Their penultimate game is against Dortmund at home which is why it is going to be a tough competition for the Serie A side.
Salzburg, Sturm Graz, Giron and Crvena Zvezda have all three belts under their belt and need to desperately win their next game in order to avoid elimination. Of these only Crvena Zvezda have an easier upcoming fixture, with both PSV and Young Boys not displaying their best effort this season, but the other four teams are in a spot of bother.
If City, PSV and Dinamo Zagreb manage to win, Sparta Prague and Shakhtar Donetsk who have both taken just four points will be eliminated no matter what the result of their matchday seven. In the same scenario, PSG and Stuttgart will need to draw their next match to stay in the competition.
As UEFA Champions League returns for the final two games of the league stage, here’s a look at how teams stand for place in the qualifications and elimination from the competition. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
