Reformatted and expanded Champions League 2024/25. it was greeted with understandable skepticism, but it undoubtedly produced an impressive spectacle.
The the new phase of the league with 36 teams is drawing to a close and there is still plenty to play for in the standings going into Round 8, with several sides confident of their fate as the shutters close.
Some of Europe’s giants are still unsure of their place in the knockout rounds, and the fight to finish in the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off will be hotly contested during the final clash.
Here are the teams guaranteed to be in the knockout stages and those that have been eliminated.
Rather surprisingly, only two sides have guaranteed their place in the last 16 of the new look Champions Leaguewith Barcelona and, in particular, Liverpool after being a shade above their competitors this year.
The Reds are the only side with a perfect record after seven league games and have beaten Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Milan and RB Leipzig with relatively little trouble. Arne Slot’s team will be looking forward to a well-deserved break, while others will be fighting in the playoff round.
Barcelona started with a loss against Monaco, but since then they have rallied and won six straight. A monumental 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the third round set them on their way, with their own bonkers and controversial 5-4 triumph against Benfica secured their place among the top eight. They could still unseat Liverpool for first place, depending on the results of the last round of fixtures.
Many are assured of a place in the knockout round, but fewer are sure whether they will be one of the eight teams that go directly to the round of 16 or have to prepare for a play-off battle.
Arsenal are almost guaranteed to reach the last 16 barring a dramatic implosion against high-scoring Girona in their last game, while a point will secure Between ranking among the top eight. Atletico Madrid and Milan are in strong positions, while last season’s Europa League finalists Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen they are currently among the top eight.
For the current European champions, things are less clear Real Madridwho are guaranteed a place in the play-offs but will need services from elsewhere to automatically reach the last 16. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are in similar positions.
Celtic reached the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2012/13. and they will be satisfied with the placement in the play-off, while Aston Villa they are currently just outside the top eight on their return to Europe’s main competition.
Brest were a story of good mood in this term’s competition and had a significantly better performance on their debut, while colleagues Ligue 1 sides Lille and Monaco they played better than French champions Paris Saint-Germain, who face a battle to finish the league stage in the top 24.
Manchester City they have been surprisingly worse this term and currently sit outside the knockout places. They face a nervy clash with Club Brugge in their last outing as they look to secure their place in the play-offs.
RB Leipzig they have been incredibly poor in Europe despite their impressive squad, although they have had the misfortune of facing Liverpool, Inter, Atletico, Juventus and Villa. Semi-finalists 2019/20. they are already out.
Bologna and Girona they were outplayed during their Champions League matches, failing to carry over their heroic form in 2023/24. to the highest European level. They can no longer go to the knockout stage together with the regular players of the competition Red Star Belgrade and Salzburg.
It was a miserable European campaign for both Swiss sides Young Boys and Slovak clothing Slovan Bratislava. Both failed to win a single point in the first seven games, although the former have a chance to change that on the last day against Crvena zvezda.
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