LONDON — The first phase of the Champions League has concluded, revealing the current standings as teams vie for crucial positions in the knockout stages.
Eight teams have secured automatic qualification to the round of 16, showcasing their strength and consistency throughout the group stage. The teams advancing directly include Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa.
The playoff matches now set the stage for the remaining teams hoping to claim spots in the knockout round. The upcoming matchups are as follows:
– Monaco or Brest will face off against Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica, with the winner earning the chance to take on Liverpool or Barcelona.
– Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge will compete against Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund, with a potential matchup against Lille or Aston Villa on the line.
– The battle between Celtic or Manchester City and Real Madrid or Bayern Munich will determine who faces Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round.
– Meanwhile, Feyenoord or Juventus will clash with AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven for the opportunity to challenge Arsenal or Inter Milan.
Additional playoff encounters will see Brest or Monaco take on Benfica or Paris Saint-Germain, setting the stage for a match against either Barcelona or Liverpool. Furthermore, Club Brugge or Sporting Lisbon will meet Borussia Dortmund or Atalanta, targeting a chance at Aston Villa or Lille. Lastly, Manchester City or Celtic will face Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for a shot at Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid, with Juventus or Feyenoord squaring off against PSV Eindhoven or AC Milan for the rights to face Inter Milan or Arsenal.
However, the journey has come to an end for several teams this season, as they have been eliminated from the Champions League. The teams that will not be advancing include Young Boys, Slovan Bratislava, Salzburg, Girona, Leipzig, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Red Star Belgrade, Bologna, Shakhtar Donetsk, Stuttgart, and Dinamo Zagreb.
As the playoffs approach, all eyes will be on the remaining contests that will ultimately determine the final pool of teams advancing in this prestigious football tournament.