Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona are among the many clubs still with plenty to play for in the ultimate gameweek of the Champions League league phase.
Arsenal are the one unbeaten team left within the competition, with their 3-1 win over Inter on Tuesday securing a top-two finish within the league phase for Mikel Arteta’s side.
But an intriguing set of results on Wednesday means there can be plenty to play for in the ultimate round of league phase fixtures next week.
Moises Caicedo’s second-half header helped Chelsea squeak past Pafos with a 1-0 win, while fellow Premier League clubs Liverpool and Newcastle were also victorious against Marseille and PSV Eindhoven.
Elsewhere, Barcelona got here through a topsy-turvy first half away at Slavia Prague to record a 4-2 win and move themselves inside touching distance of a spot in the highest eight.
Ahead of the ultimate round of league phase fixtures, here is the state of play and permutations for the clubs trying to advance to the following stage of the competition.
How does the Champions League league phase format work?
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Starting last season, the normal 32-team group stage of the Champions League was replaced by a league phase featuring 36 clubs, which has been commonly known as a ‘Swiss model’.
Fairly than playing three teams twice, either side was drawn against eight different opponents – two from each of the 4 seeding pots. Every team will play 4 games at home and 4 away.
The outcomes will determine where all 36 teams finish in a single large league table. Those who finish in positions one to eight secure direct qualification to the last 16.
Clubs ranked nine to 24 enter right into a knockout play-off contest, where victory will secure a spot within the round of 16. Teams in positions 25 to 36 are eliminated from the competition.
What do Chelsea have to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages?
Chelsea were made to work from home to Pafos, but found a second-half winner to depart a top-eight finish of their hands ahead of the ultimate week.
The Blues currently sit in eight place, but with a superior goal difference to a bunch of clubs – including Barcelona, City, and Athletico Madrid – who sit slightly below them within the table but on the identical points.
Liam Rosenior’s side face a difficult trip to tackle Napoli of their final league phase fixture and have already secured their place within the knockout stages.
But should they win and higher the outcomes of the teams below them, Chelsea will hold on to their top-eight spot and move mechanically into the last-16.
What do Liverpool have to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages?
A formidable 3-0 away win at Marseille means Arne Slot’s side are in an advantageous position heading into the ultimate gameweek.
The Reds currently sit fourth, and on 15 points, meaning a win at home to Qarabag next week can be enough to secure a top-eight spot for a second successive season.
In all likelihood, a draw also needs to be enough to secure a position in the highest eight.
What do Man City have to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages?
A harmful 3-1 away defeat in Norway against Bodo/Glimt has hurt City’s possibilities of a top-eight finish.
Pep Guardiola’s side are already through to the knockout stages, but will need results to go their way on the ultimate gameweek in the event that they are to maneuver into the highest eight.
City, who host Galatasaray next Wednesday, are on the identical variety of points as Chelsea in eighth, but have an inferior goal difference to the Blues, in addition to Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, who sit in ninth and tenth respectively.
What do Barcelona have to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages?
A 4-2 win away against Slavia Prague ensured Barca’s spot within the knockout rounds, however the Catalan giants can be desirous to move into the highest eight.
Hansi Flick’s side currently sit ninth and host Copenhagen on the ultimate gameweeek, but might want to win and to receive a favour from the teams above them in the event that they to leap up into the highest eight and qualify straight for the last-16.
Who else could qualify?
Tottenham and Newcastle United are each currently in the highest eight positions, but face tricky away fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Paris Saint-German respectively
Win those they usually should secure a top eight spot, but a dropped points risked dragging themsleves right into a knockout play-off match in late February.
Sporting and Atletico Madrid could also jump into the highest eight, while a trio of Italian clubs – Atalanta, Inter and Juventus – could also spring a surprise.
Down towards the twenty fourth spot, Qarabag can be looking to succeed in the knockouts for the primary time, within the club’s history, while Napoli, who currently sit twenty fifth, will need a positive result against Chelsea to avoid a disappointing league phase exit.
When are the Champions League knockout rounds
Champions League knockout phase
Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026
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