We’re six video games into the UEFA Champions League motion with the league section prepared for 2 extra rounds of video games earlier than the knockout section. The sector remains to be comparatively open, though groups have now began to ebook their locations within the latter rounds — though no crew is totally 100% sure of a spherical of 16 spot forward of the midweek slate. Leaders Liverpool are most probably and have a knockout place already assured, however they haven’t but locked up greater than playoff entry regardless of having a major edge over everybody else. Barcelona are additionally in pursuit however proper now there are extra eradicated groups than there are certified ones.

We check out the state of play as Champions League motion returns for the ultimate two rounds this week and subsequent.

UCL high 8

Confirmed: None — but.

Liverpool are already assured a high 24 end which is a minimum of a playoff spot however Arne Slot’s Premier League and Champions League leaders ought to now change into the primary crew to verify their presence within the spherical of 16. The Reds can affirm that standing with only one extra level from video games towards Lille OSC and PSV Eindhoven and it’s troublesome to see the Merseysiders throwing issues away over these final two video games. If something, they’re extra prone to end the league section with eight wins from eight video games given their spectacular 100% profitable document to date which is on the road towards a aspect unbeaten in 5 this midweek vs. LOSC.

UCL playoffs (high 24)

Confirmed: Liverpool and Barcelona.

Barcelona are just under Liverpool with 5 wins from six having misplaced their opening sport and the Catalan giants are presently the most probably candidates to both edge the Reds to high spot or instantly comply with them into the spherical of 16. For now, each have a minimum of assured a knockout section look though Arne Slot’s aspect usually tend to go straight to the spherical of 16 given their three-point lead over Barca with two to play. Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Inter, Stade Brestois 29 and Lille additionally make up the highest eight with two video games to go though none of these sides are but to be ready to have formally reached the knockouts regardless of it wanting probably for many of them — if not all. It could take a giant outcomes swing to alter that, however Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Milan are shut by on 12 factors with Atalanta and Juventus on 11.

Outsiders

Neither superior nor eradicated, there are a handful of sides who’re as near the highest eight as they’re the elimination locations — Benfica, Monaco, Sporting, Feyenoord and Membership Brugge are all on 10 factors which implies that their subsequent win, or loss, may have huge ramifications. Actual Madrid and Celtic maybe sneak into that dialog on condition that they’re just one level additional again of that very same tally however the different large names under the Scottish giants have important work forward of them with two video games left.

At risk

Surprisingly, Manchester Metropolis and Paris Saint-Germain are each on this band together with PSV Eindhoven, Dinamo Zagreb and VfB Stuttgart who’re all hovering across the cut-off level with two video games left. In a tantalizing twist, the French giants face the Premier League champions in addition to the Bundesliga outfit of their two remaining video games which arguably holds the playing cards to this 12 months’s large identify probably stumbling early on. Each PSG and Metropolis may but keep away from it however each shall be determined to not have to attend for the ultimate day after they can probably guarantee themselves of their knockout place with a win within the penultimate spherical of video games after they meet at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Situations

• Spherical of 16: Liverpool safe a high eight end with a draw or higher vs. Lille whereas a win for Barca nearly secures them a spherical of 16 spot too.
• Knockout playoffs: Arsenal, Leverkusen, Villa, Inter, Brest and Lille are certain of a minimum of a high 24 end and there at minimal a knockout berth with a minimum of a degree this midweek. Nonetheless, to safe the highest 8 now requires an advanced internet of 10 outcomes — as illustrated by Brest’s scenario under.
• Brest can solely safe high 8 this week if: They beat Shakhtar, Liverpool beat Lille, Bologna beat Dortmund, Feyenoord beat Bayern, Leverkusen beat Atletico, Girona beat Milan, Atalanta keep away from defeat vs. Graz, Juventus draw with Brugge, Benfica don’t win vs. Barca, Monaco don’t win vs. Villa or Sparta beat Inter and Sporting don’t win vs. Leipzig.
• Eradicated: Bologna shall be eradicated in the event that they fail to win their two remaining video games and even six factors may not be sufficient if Metropolis, PSV and/or Dinamo declare one level or higher from their two remaining video games. Salzburg, Crimson Star, Girona and Graz can take issues to a remaining day with a win solely — a draw is not going to be sufficient because it leaves them a minimum of 4 factors adrift of the highest 24. Sparta and Shakhtar can nonetheless have a shot for his or her remaining video games in the event that they draw this week however will probably be the slimmest of hopes. PSG nor Stuttgart shall be formally eradicated till they play one another ought to they get a degree or higher this week however a person mixture of 9 outcomes elsewhere may doom Paris within the occasion that they lose to Metropolis at dwelling.
• PSG can solely exit if: They lose to Metropolis, Actual beat Salzburg, Celtic beat Younger Boys, Benfica keep away from defeat vs. Barca, Monaco keep away from defeat vs. Villa, Sporting keep away from defeat vs. Leipzig, PSG beat Crimson Star, Feyenoord keep away from defeat vs. Bayern, Brugge keep away from defeat vs. Bayern and Dinamo beat Arsenal.

Lengthy pictures

These groups who can, mathematically a minimum of, nonetheless make the knockouts however want a minimal of 4 factors from their two remaining video games embody Shakhtar Donetsk, Sparta Praha, Sturm Graz, Girona, Crimson Star Belgrade, Crimson Bull Salzburg and Bologna. Many of those sides are simply ready to lastly be confirmed as out of the operating regardless of some having made encouraging begins. Nonetheless, a minimum of for now, they don’t seem to be 100% assured to not see the knockout section and that’s additional proof of the worth that the adoption of this new league section has introduced with it.

Going dwelling

Confirmed: RB Leipzig, Younger Boys and Slovan Bratislava.

Crimson Bull’s flagship aspect Leipzig was the primary to fall this version which was a shock as Aston Villa confirmed that untimely exit with a house loss within the sixth spherical of video games. Salzburg are anticipated to comply with shortly though Younger Boys and Slovan Bratislava had been the following two after the Germans. All three of these eradicated sides are on zero factors with Bologna the following to probably drop out on condition that they’re on two factors which implies that they’ll solely tally eight by the top of league section play which remains to be two in need of the estimated 10-point barrier to succeed in the knockouts. Though it mathematically provides up proper now, it’s unlikely to stay the case for the Italians who you possibly can argue don’t have their destiny in their very own palms even when they had been to win each of their remaining video games.