The revamped Champions League group stage is set for a thrilling final round on Wednesday, with 18 matches kicking off simultaneously across Europe. Top clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are fighting to avoid an early exit, while others hope to secure direct qualification to the next round.
Race for Top 8 Spots
Finishing in the top eight of the 36-team standings is crucial, as it guarantees a direct place in the Round of 16, skipping the play-off round. So far, only Liverpool and Barcelona have secured their spots.
Other teams currently in the top eight include Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen. However, with Stuttgart—currently in 24th place—just three points behind eighth-placed Leverkusen, everything could change on the final matchday.
Arsenal needs only a draw against Girona, while Inter Milan must avoid defeat against Monaco to stay in the top eight. With teams separated by narrow margins, goal difference could play a key role in deciding the standings.
Who Could Be Eliminated?
Big clubs like Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Juventus are already assured of at least a play-off spot, but Manchester City faces a real risk of elimination.
City, the 2023 champions, are currently in 25th place—just outside the qualification zone. Pep Guardiola’s side has picked up only one point from their last four games, including a 4-2 defeat to PSG last week. However, a win against Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium would secure their passage to the next phase.
PSG, meanwhile, boosted their chances with their victory over City but still need a positive result against Stuttgart to avoid elimination.
For teams that fail to finish in the top eight, the next challenge will be the play-off round. Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich admitted their struggles after a 3-0 loss to Feyenoord, saying, "The table doesn’t lie. At the moment, we aren’t a top team."
What Happens Next?
Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will enter a two-legged play-off round in February. The draw for these matches takes place on Friday, with higher-ranked teams getting a slight advantage in the pairings.
The play-offs could see high-profile clashes, with PSG possibly facing Lille, while Bayern or Real Madrid could meet Juventus or Celtic.
With so much at stake, Wednesday’s final group-stage matches promise to be action-packed.
(Vanguard)
