Champions League 2025-2026: Top eight battle dominates group climax

After 126 games, 426 goals, five hat-tricks and 28 red cards, the Champions League group stage reaches its dizzying climax on Wednesday, with 30 of the 36 clubs all still able to play on the final night of action across Europe.

Arsenal, the only team with a 100 percent record, and Bayern Munich cannot finish outside the top eight and therefore automatically progress to the last sixteen.

The bottom four – Kairat Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt – are all eliminated, while thirteen clubs are assured of at least a play-off spot.

But the scenarios are complex, as some teams try to avoid the danger of the play-offs by securing a place in the top eight, while others desperately try to earn a lifeline by avoiding finishing below the elimination hatch of 24th.

Here are the main talking points for Wednesday:

THE BATTLE FOR THE TOP EIGHT

There are still six automatic places available on the final night with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris St Germain, Newcastle United and Chelsea all with their fate in the top eight firmly in their own hands.

Wins for Real against Benfica, Liverpool at home against Qarabag and Spurs away against Eintracht Frankfurt would see them progress into the knockout stages.

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In the evening’s standout clash, sixth-placed Paris St Germain host seventh-placed Newcastle United, with both teams on 13 points and with identical goal differences.

Whoever wins will advance, while the loser will likely end up in the playoffs. A draw would leave both teams sweating.

Chelsea in eighth place (13 points) would likely go on to win against a Napoli team fighting for survival, although they could still slip on goal difference, while several clubs are also just below the line on 13 points.

With one or both of PSG and Newcastle definitely dropping points, Barcelona, ​​​​Sporting, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta, who all have thirteen points, go into the final evening with a top-eight finish in sight.

A good win for Barca at home to Copenhagen would probably be enough, but a narrow win could leave them vulnerable on goal difference, although Sporting end up with a tough test at Athletic Bilbao, who are on their way to a play-off spot.

City must beat visitors Galatasaray and hope for the best to avoid a play-off, where hopes ended last season, while a win for the Turkish side will guarantee a play-off place.

A City win could mean as many as six English teams finishing in the top eight.

Atletico could also get into the top eight with a big margin of victory at home against Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, while Atalanta would have to pile on the goals at Belgian team Union Saint Gilloise and hope mistakes creep in elsewhere.

THE SCRAP FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT

Although Inter Milan, which is in fourteenth place, and Juventus in fifteenth place (both with twelve points) are assured of play-off places, they want to guarantee a qualification by finishing between ninth and sixteenth place.

Last season’s finalists Inter finished in 16th place at Borussia Dortmund (11 points), while Juve travel to Monaco.

Several teams, including Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven, could still finish in the top 16 or be eliminated by Marseille’s must-win clash with Club Brugge to avoid elimination, which is likely to be one of many exciting clashes.

AVOID ELIMINATION

Former European champions Benfica and Ajax Amsterdam find themselves in the last chance saloon with elimination looming.

Jose Mourinho’s Benfica (29th) must beat Real Madrid and hope for favorable results elsewhere, while four-time winners Ajax (32nd) must beat 24th-placed Olympiacos and then pray for a miracle.

Published on January 27, 2026