Supporters witnessed rare January Champions League drama as Europe’s top teams battled for knockout round qualification in the revamped league phase. With the final round of fixtures taking place next week, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion.
While Liverpool and Barcelona have already secured their spots in the top eight, ensuring automatic qualification to the last 16, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain face immense pressure. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, and others are in strong positions heading into Matchday 8.
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Champions League League Phase: The Key Battles

Liverpool and Barcelona Lead the Way
Liverpool and Barcelona remain the only two clubs guaranteed a top-eight finish. Arsenal is likely to join them, with an 89.1% chance of finishing first. The Premier League leaders only need to avoid a major upset against Girona.
Inter Milan is also expected to secure a top-eight spot with a 97.7% probability, while Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and AC Milan are likely to progress directly to the last 16.
Aston Villa, currently predicted to finish eighth, could leapfrog Atalanta, while Lille, Feyenoord, and Borussia Dortmund remain in contention for the final top-eight positions.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid Struggle
Two European heavyweights, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, are guaranteed play-off spots but are unlikely to finish in the top eight. Bayern’s chances of breaking into the top tier stand at just 7.9%, while Real Madrid’s odds are even slimmer at 2.9%.
Manchester City on the Brink
After a dismal campaign, Manchester City faces the real possibility of missing out on the Champions League play-offs altogether. Currently sitting outside the top 24, Pep Guardiola’s side must defeat Club Brugge on Matchday 8 to keep their European hopes alive. Opta’s predictions, however, suggest City has a worrying 36.2% chance of elimination.
Predicted Final Champions League Standings After Matchday 8
- Liverpool
- Barcelona
- Arsenal
- Inter Milan
- Atletico Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen
- AC Milan
- Aston Villa
- Atalanta
- Lille
- Feyenoord
- Borussia Dortmund
- Bayern Munich
- Brest
- Monaco
- Real Madrid
- Juventus
- PSV Eindhoven
- Celtic
- Club Brugge
- Sporting CP
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Benfica
- Stuttgart
- Manchester City
- Dinamo Zagreb
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Bologna
- Red Star Belgrade
- RB Leipzig
- Sparta Prague
- Sturm Graz
- Girona
- Salzburg
- Young Boys
- Slovan Bratislava
Join the Conversation
Which teams do you think will make it to the Champions League knockout phase? Can Manchester City turn things around, or will they suffer an unprecedented early exit? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!













