Champions League Week 8

Tomorrow night the inaugural Champions League League Phase is completed, with all 18 games kicking off at the same time.
With just 2 teams assured of top 8 and 9 teams eliminated, most games have something on them.

For Liverpool top spot and a 100% record is up for grabs when they go to PSV. The Dutch side would need an extremely unlikely set of scores to go against them to be eliminated, but top 16 and seeding in the knockout draw is up for grabs with a win.

Barcelona vs Atalanta sees two top 8 sides meet. Barca can guarantee top 2 with a win (a draw may be enough), which will mean they cannot draw Liverpool until the final. For the Italian side, a win is a must if they want to avoid the knockout round.

A battle of Britain at Villa Park sees both teams with a chance of top 8, although 9th placed Aston Villa look nailed on with a win. Celtic would need to win well and hope other results go their way, but I am sure they will be content with progression.

Two giants are in danger of missing out altogether, and both have games with clubs in similar positions. Manchester City vs Club Brugge finds the English champions outside the top 24 and only a win will be enough. Brugge know a draw will be enough, but could go through even in defeat.
VFB Stuttgart vs PSG is between 24th and 22nd, and a loser seems extremely likely to be out. A draw will be enough for PSG, but could mean Stuttgart would be waiting on two Portuguese sides or a margin of defeat for Brugge. Sporting play already eliminated Bologna needing to at worst match Stuttgart, while Benfica go to Juventus. All 4 of PSG, Stuttgart, Sporting and Benfica are on 10 points and defeat will leave them at the mercy of other results - although a City defeat calms any doubt.


The "in-play table" will be one of the big talking points, as the draw is partially pre-ordained. In the knockout round teams in 9 and 10 will be drawn against 23 and 24. 11/12 vs 21/22, 13/14 vs 19/20 and 15/16 vs 17/18. Then the last 16 will be drawn between 1 and 2 versus winners of games involving 15/16. 3/4 vs 13/14, 5/6 vs 11/12 and 7/8 vs 9/10.
As it stands - and it is very likely to change massively tomorrow night - the reward for finishing top 2 would be Bayern, Real, Juventus or Celtic.
Bayern Munich should improve their position with a home tie against pointless Slovan Bratislava - and the German giants will be hoping they can do enough to break into the top 8. Real Madrid are away to French side Brest with the holders a point and 3 places behind their less illustrious opponent.

Inter vs Monaco finds the Italians needing just a point to ensure their place in the last 16, but almost certainly get it even in defeat. Monaco are 10th and a win gives them a great chance of breaking into the top 8 - a 2 goal win being enough to leapfrog their opponents.
Lille vs Feyenoord is 11th vs 12th, with both on 13 and a winner having a chance of that top 8.

Arsenal are away to eliminated Girona, with 2nd a possibility if Barca slip up. Atletico will ensure last 16 if they win in Salzburg, as will AC Milan if they beat Dinamo Zagreb. The Croatians need a win and a massive goal difference swing to get into the knockout round. Bayer Leverkusen are at most risk of dropping out of the top 8, on 13 points the same as 9th-13th. A goal better off than Villa, they have home advantage over eliminated Sparta Prague and will fancy their chances of a big win.



It should be a cracking couple of hours of football, with the league table likely to change many times.

The knockout round draw is on Friday, and there is no country protection and you can play teams you already have done. For City, if they get there, the possibility they will draw Bayern or Real is very real at this point.