Champions League Knockout Round Playoff Places: Who Will Qualify?

Nine teams are battling for the remaining six Champions League knockout round playoff spots, with big clubs like Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk under pressure to qualify.

The UEFA Champions League's inaugural league phase reaches its climax on Wednesday, with all 18 matches kicking off simultaneously at 21:00 CET. As the final round of fixtures gets underway, Mon Diaries breaks down the high stakes and everything that's on the line.

The conclusion of the league phase will determine the teams advancing to the knockout stage, with several clubs still vying for qualification. The final matchday promises to be an intense and thrilling ride, with numerous scenarios playing out across the various groups.

Round of 16 Spots Up for Grabs

Liverpool and Barcelona have already secured their places in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, but several other teams are still vying for the remaining spots. Liverpool, the only team to win all seven of their matches this term, will travel to Eindhoven to face PSV without any pressure, while Barcelona will host Atalanta, looking to finish first or second in their group.

The teams currently in third to 18th place are all still in contention for the remaining six spots in the top eight. Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Atalanta are among the teams that can secure their place in the last 16 with a win in their final group stage match. Arsenal, who travel to already-eliminated Girona, are almost assured a place in the top eight, while Inter host AS Monaco, who are one of six teams on 13 points.

The teams on 13 points, including Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Feyenoord, Monaco, Aston Villa, and Brest, still have a chance to make the top eight, but nothing is guaranteed. A win would increase their chances, but a draw or loss could see them drop out of contention. The teams on 12 points, including Celtic, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, have a very low likelihood of making the top eight.

The final matchday promises to be intense, with numerous scenarios playing out across the various groups. The minimum number of points needed to end up in the top eight is expected to be 16, and anything less than that would be a surprise. The teams that fail to make the top eight will participate in the knockout round playoffs.

Knockout Round Playoff Places: Big Clubs Under Pressure

Nine teams are vying for the remaining six spots in the knockout rounds, with six teams currently in the top 24: PSV, Club Brugge (11 points), Benfica, PSG, Sporting CP, and Stuttgart (10 points). The remaining three teams in contention - Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb (8 points), and Shakhtar Donetsk (7 points) - are on the outside looking in, adding to the pressure.

The matchup between Stuttgart and PSG is arguably the most crucial, as both teams will progress with a win, while a defeat could potentially end their Champions League campaign. Another critical match is Manchester City vs. Club Brugge, where the Belgian side has the opportunity to eliminate a major contender. Other key matches include Benfica at Juventus, Sporting vs. the eliminated Bologna, Dinamo hosting Milan, and Shakhtar facing Dortmund.

The minimum number of points required to advance is expected to be 11, which puts Shakhtar Donetsk's chances of progression extremely low. Goal difference will also play a crucial role, as Club Brugge and PSV, both on 11 points, are not entirely safe. A point would be beneficial for both clubs to secure their progression. In contrast, two matches - Young Boys vs. Crvena zvezda and Sturm Graz vs. RB Leipzig - are essentially dead rubbers, with no bearing on the knockout round playoff places.