Champions League: Which clubs can still make the top eight and qualify for the knockouts?

The group stage of the Champions League is coming to an end.

As the final round of matches approaches, the requirements for each team to advance have become clearer, or at least somewhat clearer.

While Arsenal has secured their place in the last 16, accompanied by Bayern Munich, the rest still has some effort to put in.

So, who has to achieve what to obtain a spot in the knockout stage?

Arsenal, at the top of the table, has triumphed in all seven of their games, and a draw at home against Kairat Almaty would suffice to secure first place ahead of Bayern Munich.

Regarding seedings for the last 16, it has no impact since the top two will be matched in the draw, facing either the victors of the play-off clash between the 15th and 18th or the 16th and 17th.

Bayern requires a point from their match against PSV Eindhoven to guarantee a top two finish.

The top two teams are also ensured of playing the second leg at home in every round leading up to the final.

This is where it starts to get exciting.

Let’s begin with the straightforward part. For Real Madrid and Liverpool, both on 15 points, as well as Tottenham, who are on 14 points, winning on matchday eight will guarantee a direct advancement to the last-16 draw.

While Spurs will take on an already eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, Arne Slot’s team will play at home against Qarabag, who can still make the top eight.

«It’s very crucial since it prevents missing the play-offs, and it aids in managing the rigorous schedule we have,» stated Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to UEFA.

«It’s all up to us again next week, at home. Let’s ensure we secure our place in the top eight. We’ve positioned ourselves well, but that’s for next week.»

Madrid will face Joe Mourinho’s Benfica away, who require a win to maintain any slim chance of sneaking into the playoffs.

Trailing Tottenham is a group of eight teams, with the reigning champions Paris St-Germain in sixth place and Atalanta in 13th, all tied on 13 points.

Newcastle, Chelsea, and Manchester City are among those teams needing a victory, all too aware that their prospects might be determined by goal difference.

Eddie Howe’s squad faces a tough away game at PSG, while Chelsea travels to Napoli and City hosts Galatasaray.

Every team down to Qarabag in 18th position still possesses a mathematical opportunity for automatic progression.

This is partially due to the fact that, astonishingly, despite 16 teams still competing for the six remaining top-eight slots, only two of the 18 matches scheduled for next Wednesday feature those teams battling against each other.

Newcastle’s journey to Paris is one of those encounters, alongside Borussia Dortmund’s home match versus Inter Milan.

The competition for the playoffs is extremely close, with everyone down to Ajax in 32nd still in contention.

Only the last four teams, Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat have been knocked out.

A mere three points separate Marseille in 19th and Ajax, while Dortmund in 16th, two points ahead of the French team and still harboring slim aspirations for a top-eight placement, have not yet definitively qualified for the playoffs.

Once again, the manner in which the fixtures are laid out means only two matches are direct confrontations between play-off hopefuls – Ajax versus Olympiacos and Marseille’s away game at Club Brugge.

Kick-offs are at 20:00 GMT on January 28.