All You Need to Know about UEFA Champions League Final League Round

Rana Atef

Clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League are preparing for a decisive final round in the league phase which will determine qualification for the knockout rounds.

Starting from last season, the Champions League format was changed, with the number of participating teams increased to thirty-six instead of thirty two.

Under the new system teams no longer play in traditional groups. Each club plays eight matches in the league phase, with four at home and four away.

The teams finishing in the top eight positions qualify directly for the Round of 16.

Clubs ranked from ninth to twenty fourth will enter a two leg playoff with eight teams advancing to the Round of 16.

The bottom eight teams are eliminated from the competition.

After seven rounds and ahead of the final matchday, the standings of the thirty-six clubs can be divided into four categories, including teams already qualified, teams with multiple qualification paths, teams limited to playoff qualification and teams already eliminated.

So far Arsenal and Bayern Munich have secured direct qualification to the Round of 16.

Real Madrid, Liverpool and Tottenham have at least guaranteed a place in the playoff round while also finishing among the top eight ranked playoff teams which gives them the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

In addition to Real Madrid, Liverpool and Tottenham, several clubs still have the opportunity to qualify either directly or through the playoff round. These teams include Paris Saint-Germain.

Newcastle United Chelsea Barcelona Sporting Lisbon Manchester City Atlético Madrid Atalanta Juventus Inter Milan Borussia Dortmund Galatasaray and Qarabag.

Meanwhile the qualification hopes of Olympique Marseille Bayer Leverkusen Monaco PSV Eindhoven Athletic Bilbao Olympiacos Napoli Copenhagen Club Brugge Bodø/Glimt Benfica, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise and Ajax are limited to reaching the Round of 16 through the playoff stage only as they can no longer qualify directly.

On the other hand, Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat have officially been eliminated from the competition.

Teams qualified directly

Arsenal

Bayern Munich

Teams that can qualify directly or via playoff

Real Madrid

Liverpool

Tottenham

Paris Saint Germain

Newcastle United

Chelsea

Barcelona