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

The battle for the highest eight is the place issues get fascinating.

Let’s begin with the straightforward bit. For Actual Madrid and Liverpool, each on 15 factors, and Tottenham, on 14, a victory on matchday eight will safe direct entry into the final 16.

Spurs face eradicated Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, the place the north London outfit gained final 12 months on the way in which to a Europa League triumph that secured them Champions League soccer this season.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool facet are at dwelling to Qarabag, who can nonetheless make the highest eight.

“It is all right down to us once more subsequent week, at dwelling. Let’s ensure we’re within the high eight,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk instructed Uefa.

“It is crucial as you miss the play-offs, and it helps with the extraordinary programme that we’re having. We have put ourselves in an excellent place.”

Actual are away to former supervisor Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Mourinho reached three Champions League semi-finals in a row with Actual earlier than leaving in 2013, however Benfica – with solely two wins of their first seven video games – might want to beat Actual to have an opportunity of sneaking into the play-offs.

Behind Spurs come a gaggle of eight groups, beginning with holders Paris St-Germain in sixth right down to Atalanta in thirteenth, on 13 factors.

Newcastle, Chelsea and Metropolis are all in that group needing a win – and even then understanding their destiny might come right down to objective distinction.

Chelsea are additionally up in opposition to a former supervisor in Antonio Conte, who gained Serie A with Napoli final season however will welcome the Blues to Naples together with his facet sitting outdoors the play-off spots on objective distinction.

Metropolis host Galatasaray, whereas Eddie Howe’s Newcastle facet face the daunting job of travelling to PSG.

Everybody right down to Qarabag in 18th nonetheless has a mathematical likelihood of routinely advancing.

That’s partly as a result of, remarkably, regardless of 16 groups nonetheless being in rivalry for the six remaining top-eight spots, solely two of the 18 matches subsequent Wednesday have these sides dealing with one another.

Newcastle’s journey to Paris is one and Borussia Dortmund at dwelling to Inter Milan is the opposite.