Champions League: These top teams have to worry about the knockout phase

The Champions League is entering the decisive phase. High tension is guaranteed, because top teams like Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG have to worry about progressing. An overview.

For many football fans, the new mode in the Champions League was initially a thorn in the side. But even the biggest critics have to realize one thing: the tension remains – until the end of the league phase. While in the past the decisions in the groups had often already been made after the 4th matchday, now on the 7th matchday a lot is still open. Almost all teams still have something at stake.

As a reminder: The eight best teams after the league phase qualify directly for the round of 16. The teams in places 9 to 24 will play in an intermediate round to advance. Ranks 25 to 36 are eliminated.

These teams have already qualified for the knockout rounds

No team has secured their ticket to the round of 16 two match days before the end of the league phase. Leader Liverpool can hardly take the place with 18 points from 6 games. Their pursuers Barcelona (playing against Zeki Amdounis Benfica on Tuesday) also have a very good chance of advancing directly with 15 points. Liverpool and Barça are actually the only two teams that have at least secured a place in the playoffs.

Things get exciting behind that. Because there are just 3 points between 3rd place and 19th place. While surprise teams like Stade Brest or Lille are currently ranked in the top 8, top teams like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City are currently in a playoff spot.

These teams have to worry about progressing

While Bayern can move up to 25th place with 12 points and 5 points ahead, things are looking anything but rosy for Real and ManCity (see table below). The defending champions from Madrid have already lost three times and can’t afford any more slip-ups in the last games against Salzburg and Brest. This also applies to Pep Guardiola’s star ensemble, which has a clearly difficult remaining program: City has to play away against PSG on Wednesday and will face Ardon Jashari’s FC Brugge at home on the last matchday.

Speaking of PSG: The Parisians are in 25th place with their backs against the wall and need, if possible, two wins in the last two games so that they can still progress. But against ManCity and away in Stuttgart it will be anything but easy.

These teams have already been eliminated

PSG and Stuttgart (each 1 point behind the playoff places) are the only teams from the bottom third of the table that still have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout phase. Three teams that still have no points have already been eliminated; for them it is only about bonuses and points for the UEFA club rankings. We’re talking about RB Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava and BSC Young Boys.