Champions League & Europa League: Who has qualified and who needs what

Champions League & Europa League: Who has qualified and who needs what

by Emily Smith
0 comment 5 views
A+A-
Reset

Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 3-0 at the Nou Camp in September. If Barca fail to win the rematch in Germany on Wednesday then they are likely to drop down to the Europa LeagueAll four English clubs are through to the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare, with the group phase ending this week.

After Tuesday’s games, 12 teams are through, with four spots in the last 16 still up for grabs.

In the Europa League, West Ham, Leicester, Celtic and Rangers have had mixed campaigns, while Tottenham’s chances of progressing in the Europa Conference League are hanging in the balance.

Here is the state of play.

Champions LeagueWho is through to the knockout stage?Group winners: Manchester City, Liverpool, Ajax, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United.

Already qualified: Juventus, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan.

Out: Besiktas, RB Leipzig, Malmo, Dynamo Kyiv, Young Boys, Zenit St Petersburg, Club Bruges, Borussia Dortmund, Sheriff Tiraspol, Shakhtar Donetsk, Porto, AC Milan,

Who else can still reach the knockout stage?Group E: Barcelona, Benfica

Group F: Villarreal, Atalanta

Group G: Red Bull Salzburg, Lille, Wolfsburg, Sevilla

What do sides need to do to qualify?Manchester City seal top spot

Despite losing 2-1 to RB Leipzig in their final group game, Manchester City win Group A and will be seeded in Monday’s draw, where they are joined by Paris St-Germain.

Six out of six for Liverpool

There will be plenty of clubs hoping to avoid Liverpool in the last-16 draw after they made it six wins out of six – and won Group B with an 11-point cushion. Atletico Madrid, who had started the final matchday bottom of the group, advance courtesy of a 3-1 win at Porto.

100% Ajax

Like Liverpool, Ajax also emerge from the group stage with a 100% winning record. Sporting Lisbon knew they were through before Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat by Ajax.

Real seeded in draw

Real Madrid needed to win their final game against Inter Milan to seal top spot in Group D. The record 13-times winners beat their opponents 2-0. Inter also progress as runners-up.

Barca face tense finale

Final games: Benfica v Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern Munich v Barcelona on 8 December (20:00 GMT)

Barcelona face a tense group stage finale away to runaway leaders Bayern Munich. Defeat or a draw for Barca – and a win for Benfica, who host bottom club Dynamo Kyiv – will send the five-time European champions down into the Europa League.

Man Utd win group

Final games: Atalanta v Villarreal and Manchester United v Young Boys on 8 December (20:00 GMT)

Manchester United not only qualified for the knockout stage with a win away to Villarreal – they also sealed top spot after Atalanta were held to a 3-3 draw by Young Boys.

The Italians will join United in the last 16 if they beat Villarreal in their final game.

A four-way battle

Final games: Red Bull Salzburg v Sevilla and Wolfsburg v Lille on 8 December (20:00 GMT)

There is still everything to play for as the tightest of groups reaches its finale. Lille start the final round of group games top but could yet miss out as just three points separate the four teams.

Will Chelsea seal top spot?

Final games: Juventus v Malmo and Zenit St Petersburg v Chelsea on 8 December (17:45 GMT)

Reigning champions Chelsea are through to the last 16, as are Juventus. If the Blues match or better Juve’s result in the last round of games, they will win the group.

Europa LeagueWho is advancing?Group winners: Lyon, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham.

Already qualified: Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiakos, Galatasaray, Lazio, Real Betis.

Cannot advance in Europa League: Brondby, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Fenerbahce, Antwerp, Marseille, Lokomotiv Moscow, Ludogorets, Celtic, Ferencvaros, Rapid Vienna

Who can still qualify?Group B: PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad,

Group C: Leicester City, Spartak Moscow, Napoli, Legia Warsaw

Group F: Red Star Belgrade, Braga, Midtjylland

Group H: Dinamo Zagreb, Genk

What do British sides need to do to qualify?Rangers through in second

Thursday, 9 December: Sparta Prague v Brondby, Lyon v Rangers (both 17:45 GMT)

Rangers cannot qualify directly to the last 16 but a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague ensures they finish second and qualify for the knockout round play-offs. The play-offs will be contested between the eight Europa League group runners-up and the eight third-ranked teams from the Champions League groups. Rangers’ final group game is away to Lyon on 9 December.

Foxes top but still have work to do

Thursday, 9 December – Legia Warsaw v Spartak Moscow, Napoli v Leicester (both 17:45 GMT)

Leicester moved from bottom of the group to the top thanks to a 3-1 win over Legia Warsaw, but Brendan Rodgers’ side need to get at least a draw in their final game at Napoli to advance. Only a win in Italy would be enough to guarantee top spot.

All four teams in the group can still advance.

Celtic dropping down to Conference League

Thursday, 9 December – Celtic v Real Betis, Ferencvaros v Bayer Leverkusen (both 20:00 GMT)

Celtic’s 3-2 loss to Bayer Leverkusen means the Scottish side will be dropping down to the Conference League, with Leverkusen guaranteed top spot and Real Betis finishing second.

Hammers win the group and avoid qualifying round play-off

Thursday, 9 December – Genk v Rapid Vienna, West Ham v Dinamo Zagreb (both 20:00 GMT)

West Ham’s 2-0 win away at Rapid Vienna means the Hammers top the group with a game to spare and jump straight into the last 16, avoiding the qualifying round play-off.

Europa Conference LeagueWho is advancing?Group winners: AZ Alkmaar, FC Copenhagen, Feyenoord, Gent, LASK, Rennes.

Already qualified: Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bodo Glimt, Roma, Basel, Qarabag.

Could still qualify: Partizan Belgrade, Flora, Anorthosis Famagusta, Randers, Jablonec, Slavia Prague, Union Berlin, Maccabi Haifa, Slovan Bratislava, PAOK Salonika, Tottenham, Vitesse Arnhem.

Out: HJK Helsinki, Alashkert, Zorya Luhansk, CSKA Sofia, Cluj, Lincoln Red Imps, Mura, Omonia, Kairat

A Spurs win might not be enough

Thursday, 9 December – Tottenham v Rennes, Vitesse v Mura (20:00 GMT)

Tottenham looked to be in a strong position to qualify, before they suffered a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 loss to Mura.

If they and Vitesse Arnhem finish level on points both teams have a similar record in the head-to-head of one win and one loss apiece and three goals both scored and conceded (away goals scored no longer counts).

Therefore, if the two teams end on the same points it will go down to overall goal difference. Spurs are currently two goals better off in that respect.

However, Tottenham could still be eliminated even if they beat Rennes. Vitesse would overtake them if they managed to beat Mura – and won by three goals more than Spurs.

Read More

You may also like

Leave a Comment