The new Champions has provided fans more games, more goals and more show, but also more questions and doubts about the premiere of its innovative format. After seven days, this Wednesday closes the initial phase with 18 simultaneous meetings in which they will be at stake numerous classification combinations For most of the 36 participants.
In this first league the first eight are classified directly for the eighths. The following 16 of the table will play among them a round of playoffs in which the best classified will be matched with the worst position in the table. The last 12 of the classification after this eighth day will be eliminated.
Champions box: the numbers correspond to the positions in the classification.
In case of drawing to points after the last day, these are the first five tiebreaker criteria:
1. Goals difference.
2. The greater the number of goals in favor.
3. Greater number of goals in favor of home.
4. greater number of victories.
5. Greater number of victories away from home.
Barça, with options to finish leader
Victoria: Barça still has options to achieve the first position of the classification. To do this, I should defeat the Atalanta in Montjuïc and wait for a lifrus defeat.
ATTACK: If there is distribution of points before those of Bergamo, it is very likely that the Blaugrana remain in second position, since they have a better goal of goals (+15) than their immediate persecutors, the arsenal (+12) and the Inter ( +7), and they are also the top scorers of the competition (26 goals).
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Barça players celebrate Raphinha’s winning goal against Benfica in the last day.
Defeat: to lose to the Atalanta, those of Flick would fall to the fourth position if the Gunners and the Nerazzurri achieve the victory in their respective matches. Atlético and Milan would match Barça points if they win their meetings, but to overcome Barcelonaistas both rojiblancos (+5) and Rossoneri (+4) they should save a big goal difference.
Crossing of the eighth: If Barça ends first or second it will be measured with one of the winners of the double -game playoff qualifier that in front of the 15th and 16th against the 17th or 18th. In case of being third or fourth, you will be against one of the survivors of the 13th and 14th duels against the 19th or 20th. The Playoff matches raffle, where the Blaugrana rival will come out, will be held on Friday at 12 noon. Barça, in any case, will be standard head in eighths, so he will play the return at home.
Real Madrid, in search of the miracle to be in the round of 16
Victoria: The Ancelotti team, 16th with 12 points, has to earn the Brest at home and wait for an almost impossible carambola. White (+5) are tied to points with Celtic (+1), Juventus (+4), Bayern (+6) and Dortmund (+8). The cut of the first eight before the last day is at 13 points, the score already has the Bayer Leverkusen, the Aston Villa, the Monaco, the Feyenoord and the Brest. Ahead, the Atalanta (14 points), the Milan (15 points) and the Atlético (15 points) are still available to a Madrid that needs a miracle to avoid the playoff round.
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Vinícius celebrates with Mbappé his goal to Salzburg.
Therefore, Real Madrid need to beat the Brest and at least five other results, between draws and losses, to have options to get in the top eight.
Draw or defeat: to take only one point or go empty from your visit to Brest would select the whites of the top-8 in a mathematical way and depending on the rest of the results could fall to the last positions of the playoff. In any case, Madrid has assured its presence in the round of the eighths.
Atlético de Madrid, to ensure the pass to eighths
Victoria: The Cholo Simeone team, fifth classified with 15 points, is enough for a victory in Austria against Salzburg, which is the second most thrashed team and is already eliminated, to ensure its presence in the round of 16. To achieve the three points, the mattresses could aspire to the fourth or third place if the Inter loses and the arsenal falls in Girona. More utopian is to snatch the second position from Barça, who with three more points (18) should fall beaten before the Atalanta so that the rojiblancos (+5) have a minimal option to reduce the difference in goals with the Blaugrana (+15).
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Atlético players celebrate the triumph against Leverkusen with the fans.
Draw or defeat: everything that is not winning, that is, tie or lose, leaves Atlético at the mercy of the rest of the results to see if it achieves the direct ticket to the eighth. A point should be enough for the rojiblancos, thanks to the best goal difference with their rivals, but the Milan, the Atalanta, the Leverkusen, the Aston Villa, the Monaco, the Brest and the Lille or the Feyenoord, which play among them They could reach Madrid if they win their respective games and depending on the number of goals marked.
El Girona, a last European farewell party
Victoria: Without options to reach the playoff round, already eliminated, Girona (31st) wants to say goodbye to his historic participation in the Champions League with a lustrous victory in Montilivi against Arsenal, which would be his second win in the competition. To add the three points, those of Míchel could reach the 28th position provided that the Bologna and the Prague Sparta lose their matches.
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Girona players say goodbye to the Champions League after losing in Milan.
Draw or defeat: adding a point would still allow Girona aspiring to upload some position if his rivals in the low zone do not score. To fall against the gunners, depending on the number of goals embedded and the rest of the results, the Gerundenses are exposed to finish their participation in Europe two places below, in the 33rd place.
Manchester City, in need of a victory not to be eliminated
Manchester City, champion of the Champions League in 2023 and that started as one of the favorites in this edition, is against the ropes on the last day. Guardiola’s team has lost three games, the last one with forcefulness against the PSG (4-2), and has tied another two in seven days, but still has in his hand to get into the round before the eighths. To the English champion, currently outside the playoffs, in 25th position, it is enough to win the witches in the Etihad not to be eliminated. A defeat or a draw would be synonymous with European failure with capital letters for Cityzens.
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Pep Guardiola gives orders to his players during the match against the PSG.
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