- Only two clubs have booked a direct ticket to the round of 16.
- The fate of several clubs including PSG and Manchester City hangs in balance.
- The 36-team league phase is expected to come to an end on Wednesday, January 29.
The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League 36-team league phase matches are set to come to an end on Wednesday, January 29.
Some clubs like Barcelona and Liverpool have already bagged a direct ticket to the round of 16 while others are guaranteed a spot in the knockout phase or round of 16.
However, there are a number of heavyweights such as Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain, whose fate will be decided this week.
At the same time, nine clubs have been eliminated from the high-profile tournament regardless of their outcomes in match week eight.
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SportPesa Blog takes a look at how the UEFA Champions League table standings looks ahead of Wednesday’s showdown where all the 18 fixtures will start at the same time.
How does the league format phase work?
According to the UEFA Champions League website, the top eight clubs by the end of match week eight will qualify directly to the round of 16.
“This is the first Champions League season under the new league phase format. The top eight overall advance directly to the round of 16; sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs, with the victors going through to the last 16,” the statement read in part.
On the other hand, the bottom 12 clubs will be eliminated from the competition completely. They will not have the opportunity to drop down to the Europa League like it was the case in recent years.
What clubs have booked a direct ticket to the round of 16?
Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC are the only clubs that have secured a direct ticket to the round of 16 in the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool, who are enjoying life under the guidance of Dutch manager Arne Slot, sit at the top of standings with 21 points.
The Reds have won all their seven matches at the league phase so far, beating the likes of Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in the process.
Meanwhile, Barcelona, who have collected 18 points, suffered only one defeat since the start of their campaign.
What clubs have been confirmed for the knockout phase play-offs?
No club had been confirmed in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs by the end of match week seven. Therefore, most of the clubs still have a chance of playing in the two-legged fixtures scheduled for February.
What clubs have been confirmed in the knockout phase play-offs or round of 16?
16 clubs have a chance to either qualify directly to the round of 16 or play in the play-offs. These clubs are Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, Brest, Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Monaco, Lille, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord, and Borussia Dortmund.
Some of them like Arsenal might even join FC Barcelona and Liverpool in the list of eight teams that will go directly to the last 16 after Wednesday’s fixtures while others will be forced to play in knockout phase.
What clubs have been confirmed for elimination in the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League?
Regardless of their outcomes on Wednesday, nine clubs including Young Boys, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Sturm Graz, Salzburg, Girona, Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Praha and Crvena Zvezda will be bundled out of the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League tournament.
Clubs whose fates hang in balance
Finally, nine clubs may play in the knockout phase play-offs or get eliminated from the tournament depending on the results they attain on Wednesday.
These clubs include PSV, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, PSG, VfB Stuttgart, Dinamo Zagreb, Club Brugge, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk.
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