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The reformatted and expanded 2024/25 Champions League was met with understandable skepticism, but it has undoubtedly produced an impressive spectacle.
This New 36-team league phase As it nears its conclusion and with plenty left to play for in the standings heading into Matchday 8, few sides are certain of their fate as the shutter closes.
Several of the European giants remain unsure of their place in the knockout rounds and it will be fiercely contested during the final fixture to finish in the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off.
Here’s a guaranteed look at the knockout and eliminated teams.
Rather surprisingly, only two sides have guaranteed their place in the last 16 of the new look. Champions Leaguewith Barcelona and, in particular, Liverpool lagging behind their competitors this year.
The Reds are the only team with a perfect record after seven league stage matches and have beaten Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Milan and RB Leipzig with relatively little fuss. Arne Slott’s side will look forward to a well-earned break while the others duke it out in the play-off rounds.
Barcelona started with a defeat in Monaco but have since won six in a row. A monumental 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich on matchday 3 set them on their way, with A bonkers and controversial 5-4 win against Benfica Secured their place in the top eight. They may yet overtake Liverpool at the top depending on the results of the final round of fixtures.
Their place in the knockout rounds is pretty much guaranteed but less certain is whether they will make it one of the eight teams going directly to the last 16 or whether they will have to brace themselves for a play-off battle.
Armory Barring a dramatic and high-scoring implosion against Girona in their penultimate match, they are almost guaranteed to reach the last 16, while a point would be safe. Inter A top eight finish. Atlético Madrid And Milan In a strong position, while last season’s Europa League finalists Atlanta And Bayer Leverkusen Currently ranked in the top eight.
Things are less clear for the reigning European champions Real MadridWho are guaranteed a play-off spot but will need a favor from elsewhere to reach the last 16 automatically. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund And Juventus are in the same position.
Celtic have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2012/13 and will be satisfied with a play-off berth, while Aston Villa Currently sits outside the top eight on a return to Europe’s premier competition.
breast This term’s competition has been a feel-good story and despite being allies they have largely over-performed in their debuts. League 1 sides green And Monaco French champions have fared better than Paris Saint-Germain, who face a fight to finish the league stage in the top 24.
Manchester City They have been surprising under-performers this term and currently sit outside the knockout spots. They face a nervous duel with Club Brugge in their final outing as they look to secure their play-off place.
RB Leipzig Despite their dominant squad they have been incredibly underwhelming in Europe, though they have faced Liverpool, Inter, Atlético, Juventus and Villa. The 2019/20 semi-finalists are already out.
Bologna And Girona They have impressed during their Champions League bow, failing to replicate their heroic 2023/24 form in Europe’s top tier. They can no longer enter the knockout stages with regular players of the competition Red Star Belgrade And Salzburg.
It has been a miserable European campaign for both Swiss sides young boys and Slovakian costume Slavic Bratislava. Both have failed to pick up a single point in their opening seven matches, although the former has a chance to change that on the final day against Red Star.
