As Barcelona and Spanish champions Atletico Madrid scrap for a place in the Champions League last 16 this week from their respective groups, the Premier League’s four participants can take it easy knowing their places in the knockout stages are already guaranteed.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all secured top spot in their groups with a game to spare, while defending champions Chelsea will join them with victory over Zenit Saint Petersburg. Bayern Munich, Paris-Saint Germain, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Sporting Lisbon and Juventus can also do the same.
But there’s still plenty to play for as the Champions League group stage enters its final round of matches on Tuesday.
Here is a look at all the group-wise scenarios ahead of the sixth round of matches.
Group A
Group A standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 12 |
| 2 | PSG | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 8 |
| 3 | RB Leipzig | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Club Brugge | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 16 | -11 | 4 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
RB Leipzig vs Manchester City
PSG vs Club Brugge
Scenario: In terms of the Round of 16 qualification, Manchester City and PSG have secured their knockout stage berths going into matchday six. Pep Guardiola’s men have also secured top spot in the group after their 2-1 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the last match.
There’s a small matter of the Europa League place that’s to be decided in Group A with both RB Leipzig and Club Brugge locked on four points each. But the Germans have a head-to-head advantage over the Belgian counterparts who need to better Leipzig’s result to make the Europa League.
Group B
Group B standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 15 |
| 2 | Porto | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 5 |
| 3 | Milan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Atlético Madrid | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
FC Porto vs Atletico Madrid
AC Milan vs Liverpool
Scenario: Group B is the most exciting prospect going into the final round of matches unless you are a Liverpool fan. The Reds have a perfect record in the group and qualification as well as top spot has been wrapped up.
However, it’s all to play for for the second qualification spot. FC Porto, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan (all household names in European football) are separated by just one point going into the last games. Porto hold a slender one-point advantage over their competitors and also have a head-to-head advantage over AC Milan.
Here are the possibilities:
FC Porto win: If Porto win, then they are through to the last 16 irrespective of what happens in the other match. Unless AC Milan lose against Liverpool by a bigger margin than Atletico, they will qualify for the Europa League.
FC Porto and Atletico Madrid draw: However, in case of a draw, it will open the door for AC Milan to reach the last 16 if they beat Liverpool. Any other result will see them eliminated. To reach the Europa League, Milan will have to get at least a point.
Atletico Madrid win: If Atletico Madrid beat FC Porto, the Portuguese side will be eliminated from the Champions League. However, a win will not guarantee Diego Simeone’s side a place in the last 16. They would then need AC Milan to not beat Liverpool and even if they do, to not beat them heavily enough to have a superior goal difference to them. A win though will secure at least a place in the Europa League for Atletico Madrid.
AC Milan win: A Milan win would guarantee them a place in the Europa League at the very least. They’ll reach the last 16 in UCL with a draw between Porto and Atletico or if Atletico wins but doesn’t have a higher goal difference than Milan.
AC Milan draw or lose: A draw or a defeat would end Milan’s Champions League campaign but a point against Liverpool will secure Europa League football for the Italians. A defeat would mean they’d be hoping for FC Porto to beat Atletico Madrid and do so by a margin that keeps Milan’s goal difference higher than the Spanish side.
Group C
Group C standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | +13 | 15 |
| 2 | Sporting CP | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 9 |
| 3 | Borussia Dortmund | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 6 |
| 4 | Beşiktaş | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 14 | -11 | 0 |
Matchday 6 fixtures
Ajax Amsterdam vs Sporting Lisbon
Borussia Dortmund vs Besiktas
Scenarios: There is nothing to play for in Group C. Ajax have won the group and Sporting have secured the last 16 berth as runners-up. Dortmund will head into the Europa League.
Group D
Group D table
| 1 | Real Madrid | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Internazionale | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 10 |
| 3 | Sheriff | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 6 |
| 4 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 1 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
Real Madrid vs Inter Milan
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sheriff Tiraspol
Scenarios: After that shock Real Madrid defeat against Sheriff, things have gone largely as expected in this group. Real Madrid and Inter Milan have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League while Sheriff have secured a Europa League place in their debut season.
However, top spot in Group D is still up for grabs. The scenario is pretty simple. Inter need to beat Real at the Bernabeu to snatch it from the Spaniards who will finish top with any other result.
Group E
Group E standings
| 1 | Bayern München | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | +16 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Barcelona | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 7 |
| 3 | Benfica | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 5 |
| 4 | Dynamo Kyiv | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 1 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona
Benfica vs Dynamo Kiev
Scenarios: Bayern Munich have secured top spot in Group E but the battle for the second spot will have attract the majority of the eyeballs as there is a potential of Barcelona missing out on the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 21 years.
Xavi’s men have their fate in their own hands going into the last match but that’s probably the problem as they face Bayern Munich in their own backyard. The Germans have been rampant in the competition. Barcelona need to match or better Benfica’s result on the final day who would be expected to beat Dynamo Kiev at home. However, any slip up from the Portuguese side at home will send Barcelona through to the last 16 irrespective of their result in Bavaria.
The team that misses out on the Champions League Round of 16 will enter the Europa League with Kiev guaranteed to finish fourth.
Group F
Group F table
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 |
| 2 | Villarreal | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 7 |
| 3 | Atalanta | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Young Boys | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 4 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
Manchester United vs Young Boys
Atalanta vs Villerreal
Scenarios: Manchester United have qualified for the Round of 16 as winners of Group E but there is plenty to play for elsewhere. Atalanta vs Villarreal is a virtual knockout match. The Spanish side will progress with a draw in Italy while Atalanta will go through if they beat Unai Emery’s side.
A defeat for Atalanta and a shock win for Young Boys at Old Trafford could see the Swiss side sneak into the Europa League at Atalanta’s expense. A draw will secure Europa League football for Atalanta.
Group G
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lille | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 8 |
| 2 | Salzburg | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 7 |
| 3 | Sevilla | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 |
| 4 | Wolfsburg | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 5 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
Wolfsburg vs Lille
RB Salzburg vs Sevilla
Scenarios: Every possibility is open in what has been the most closely contested groups in recent Champions League history. Here’s what each team needs to qualify.
Lille: The French side hold the edge going into the final matchday and they will qualify for the last 16 with a point or even a defeat by a margin on one goal. A defeat by a margin of more than one goal will see fourth-place Wolfsburg leapfrog them in the table and would leave them dangerously vulnerable to the other teams stealing a march on them. In case of a three-way tie on eight points at the top, Lille and Salzburg will qualify.
RB Salzburg: A draw will be enough to secure qualification for the last 16 for the Austrians and it may also be enough to secure top spot if Lille lose to Wolfsburg. A defeat would spell elimination for Salzburg but they could still make the Europa League if Lille don’t lose to Wolfsburg.
Sevilla: The Spanish side must beat Salzburg to have any chance of reaching the Champions League last 16. Any other result and they would be eliminated. Sevilla though can qualify for the Europa League with a draw and even with a defeat if Wolfsburg fail to beat Lille.
Wolfsburg: The German side need to win by more than one goal to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Any other result and they will be knocked out. However, a win would guarantee Europa League spot for the Germans. A draw or a loss would see them get eliminated from Europe.
Group H
Group H
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 12 |
| 2 | Juventus | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 12 |
| 3 | Zenit | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Malmö FF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 13 | -12 | 1 |
Matchday 6 fixtures:
Zenit Saint Petersburg vs Chelsea
Juventus vs Malmo
Scenarios: Chelsea and Juventus have secured qualification to the Champions League knockout stages while Zenit will drop into the Europa League. The top spot in Group H is yet to be decided.
Going into the last matchday, Chelsea have matters in their own hand and will secure top spot with a win in Russia. However, a draw or a loss would mean Juventus would win the group with a better result against Malmo at home.
Chelsea need to match or better Juventus’ result to top the group while the Italians need a better result than the Blues to win Group H.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!