What teams need to qualify from Champions League groups
The UEFA Champions League is past the halfway stage, with all eight groups starting to take shape.
This is the final season of the multigroup format, before it becomes a 36-team competition with all clubs in one league table.
We take a look at who can seal their places on matchday four and five, and how the qualification picture looks.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the round of 16, the third-placed clubs drop into the Europa League knockout playoff round, and those who finish bottom are eliminated.
Qualified for round of 16: Manchester City, RB Leipzig
Tiebreakers:
1) Points
2) Head-to-head points in games involving the tied teams
3) Goal difference in head-to-head matches involving the tied teams
4) Goals scored in head-to-head matches involving the tied teams
— If the above tiebreaker initially involves 3 or 4 teams, it is reapplied to resolve any remaining tiebreaker among fewer clubs
5) Goal difference in all group matches
6) Goals scored in all group matches
7) Away goals scored in all group matches
8) Wins in all group matches
9) Away wins in all group matches
10) Disciplinary points
11) UEFA club coefficient.
This page will be updated throughout the final rounds of the group stage.
Group permutations
Group A
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 8: Bayern Munich vs. Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen vs. Manchester United
Nov. 29: Galatasaray vs. Manchester United, Bayern Munich vs. FC Copenhagen
Dec. 12: Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray
Bayern have a 100% record after the first three group games and will qualify with a win or draw at home to Galatasaray on matchday four.
The other three teams in the group are separated by just three points. The results of the three games involving these teams will decide the final placings.
FC Copenhagen are bottom but are the only one of the three with two home games left to play. Man United’s only remaining home fixture is against Bayern.
Group B
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 8: Arsenal vs. Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven vs. Lens
Nov. 29: Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal vs. Lens
Dec. 12: PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal, Lens vs. Sevilla
A very tight group with Arsenal and Lens in the top two places, but with no club pulling away to dominate.
Arsenal have two home games to play, so they will be clear favourites to rubber-stamp their place in the round of 16.
Lens, however, have two away games up next, at PSV and Arsenal, with the final group game against Sevilla in France shaping up to be crucial.
Group C
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 8: Napoli vs. Union Berlin, Real Madrid vs. Braga
Nov. 29: Braga vs. Union Berlin, Real Madrid vs. Napoli
Dec. 12: Union Berlin vs. Real Madrid, Napoli vs. Braga
Real Madrid have one foot in the round of 16 after winning all three group games so far. They will secure their place on Matchday 4 with a win or draw at home to Braga.
Napoli are in second, and can take a huge step to the knockout rounds with a victory at home to Union Berlin. That, coupled with a defeat for Braga in Madrid, would leave Napoli requiring one point from their final two fixtures.
Braga’s hopes do look slim. If the Portuguese team lose at Real Madrid, and Napoli beat Union Berlin, they would need to win both their remaining games to have any chance of going through.
Union Berlin will be out if they draw or lose in Napoli.
Group D
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 8: Real Sociedad vs. Benfica, FC Salzburg vs. Internazionale
Nov. 29: Benfica vs. Internazionale, Real Sociedad vs. FC Salzburg
Dec. 12: Internazionale vs. Real Sociedad, FC Salzburg vs. Benfica
Real Sociedad and Inter Milan are in a strong position at the halfway stage on seven points. If both teams win on Matchday 4 they will be through to the round of 16.
Realistically, FC Salzburg must avoid defeat to Inter to stay in contention (indeed, they will be out if both Inter and Real Sociedad win.) They do have two home games still to play, and victory over the Serie A side in Austria would put them right back in contention.
Benfica are bottom of the table and while they will still be in contention mathematically with a draw if Inter lose on matchday four, realistically they must beat Real Sociedad to stand any chance. They will be eliminated with a defeat.
Groups E to H will be added after the third round of fixtures on Wednesday.
Group E
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 28: Lazio vs. Celtic, Feyenoord vs. Atletico Madrid
Dec. 13: Atletico Madrid vs. Lazio, Celtic vs. Feyenoord
Atletico Madrid are top of the group and will be through on Matchday 5 if they win away to Feyenoord.
Lazio will qualify with a win at home to Celtic if Feyenoord lose to Atletico.
Feyenoord cannot qualify on Matchday 5, but will be eliminated if they lose and Lazio win.
Celtic have been eliminated and must win both remaining fixtures for a slim chance of a place in the Europa League.
Group F
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 28: AC Milan vs. Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Newcastle United
Dec. 13: Newcastle United vs. AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint-Germain
A very tight group with just three points separating the four teams.
Borussia Dortmund are top and will be through with a win in Milan.
Paris Saint-Germain are one point behind in second, and will book their place with a win at home to Newcastle if Dortmund win/draw in Milan
In third it’s AC Milan, who cannot go through on Matchday 5 but will be out if they lose to Dortmund and PSG beat Newcastle.
Newcastle, bottom of the table, will be eliminated if they lose to PSG.
There is still a scenario that sees all four teams finish on eight points, and the places decided on group goal difference.
Group G
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 28: Young Boys vs. Red Star Belgrade, Manchester City vs. RB Leipzig
Dec. 13: RB Leipzig vs. Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade vs. Manchester City
Man City and RB Leipzig have both qualified with two games to spare. City will secure first place in the group if they win/draw at home to the Bundesliga club on Nov. 28.
Red Star and Young Boys are both stuck on one point and are left to battle it out for a place in the Europa League. The two teams meet in Switzerland next up, and if there’s a winner they will seal third place.
Group H
Remaining fixtures
Nov. 28: Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Antwerp, Barcelona vs. FC Porto
Dec. 13: Antwerp vs. Barcelona, FC Porto vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Barcelona, on nine points, missed the chance to book their place on Matchday 4 when losing to Shakhtar, but will secure it with a win at home to FC Porto next time out. A draw will also be enough if Shakhtar draw/lose against Antwerp.
FC Porto also have nine points and will be though on Nov. 28 with a win in Barcelona if Shakhtar draw/lose against Antwerp. A draw for FC Porto is also enough if Shakhtar lose.
Shakhtar still have hope with FC Porto to come on the final day, and they cannot be eliminated on Matchday 5 as the head to head against Barca is level. However, the likelihood is they will need to win both matches to finish in the top two.
Antwerp have been eliminated and must beat Shakhtar to have any chance of Europa League football.