Which teams have qualified for knockout rounds and who else can advance? – Firstpost

The penultimate round of the UEFA Champions League league phase ended on Wednesday with teams getting further clarity on what they need to do to advance to the knockout rounds.

Despite seven matches for every team, the competition is still wide open. Only two sides have been able to book their spots in the top eight while just four teams are totally out of contention of a berth in the knockouts. That means 30 out of the 36 teams will be fighting it out to get the best results for themselves to get into the next rounds.

The final matchday is on Wednesday, January 28 when all 36 teams will be against each other at the same time to finish off their league stage campaigns.

Here we take a look at which teams have qualified for the Round of 16 and what others need to do to book their slots for the next round. But before that, let us take a look at the format.

UEFA Champions League knockout rounds format

Starting last season, UEFA expanded the Champions League and introduced a league phase where all 36 teams play eight games each. The top eight teams then advance directly to the Round of 16 while the next 16 sides on the table play the knockout playoffs. Eight winning teams from the knockouts join the top eight sides in the Round of 16.

Which teams have booked place in top 8?

After matchday seven, only two teams were able to ensure that they will remain in the top-eight no matter the result in their final games.

Arsenal, with a perfect record in their seven games, are at the top and are assured of a top-eight finish. In fact, a draw in their final match against Kairat Almaty will help the Gunners book the top spot.

Bayern Munich are the only other side assured of a direct entry to the Round of 16. They also need only a draw in their last game against PSV Eindhoven to secure a top-two finish.

Who else can join Arsenal, Bayern in Round of 16?

Real Madrid, Liverpool (both 15 points) and Tottenham (14 points) need a win in their final match-ups to qualify directly to the Round of 16.

After that comes a cluster of eight times currently tied at 13 points. Defending champions PSG, Newcastle, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta are the clubs who all need to win but even then they are not sure about a direct place in the Round of 16. Things will depend on other results and goal difference.

Inter Milan (12), Juventus (12), Dortmund (11), Galatsaray (10), Qarabag FK (10) also have an outside chance to get to the top-eight with a win.

Which teams are in race for a play-off spot

From Real Madrid till Juventus, all the sides are assured of a play-off spot no matter how their final matches go. However, most of these teams would want a top-eight finish to book a direct berth in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, from the 19th spot on the table till the 32nd spot, all the teams are in contention to qualify for the knockouts even if their hopes of a top-eight finish have ended.

Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat are the only four out of the 36 sides that have been eliminated.

UEFA Champions League matchday 8 fixtures

• Ajax v Olympiacos

• Arsenal v Kairat

• Athletic Club v Sporting

• Atletico Madrid v Bodo/Glimt

• Barcelona v Copenhagen

• Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal

• Benfica v Real Madrid

• Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan

• Club Brugge v Marseille

• Eintracht Frankfurt v Tottenham

• Liverpool v Qarabag

• Manchester City v Galatasaray

• Monaco v Juventus

• Napoli v Chelsea

• PSV Eindhoven v Bayern Munich

• Pafos v Slavia Prague

• Paris St-Germain v Newcastle

All matches begin 12:30 am IST on Thursday, January 29