Last Champions League Round: Who Needs What?

2025-01-29 10:00 © ZUMAPRESS.com

On January 29, Wednesday, the final round of the "league phase" will take place in the new Champions League format, which will determine who goes directly into the tournament's Round of 16, who will need additional knockout series, and who will be eliminated altogether.

These teams are calm about their fate before the final round: "Young Boys”, "Slovan”, "RB Salzburg”, "Sturm”, "Crvena Zvezda”, "Girona”, "Leipzig”, "Sparta”, "Bologna”, "Liverpool”, and "Barcelona”. The last two teams know that they are headed for the Round of 16 without needing an additional knockout stage. All other teams will leave the Champions League and finish their European season.

Looking further at the situation at the top of the standings, these teams have almost secured their places in the Round of 16: "Arsenal” and "Inter”. A draw or a small loss on Wednesday would guarantee that spot. "Inter,” by the way, currently has a quite phenomenal goal ratio of 8:1.

Another team whose fate is almost sealed is Shakhtar Donetsk, which will need a solid win away against "Borussia” and favorable results in other stadiums to remain in Europe.

And now for the most interesting part – the scramble in the middle of the standings. The last round will feature matches between direct competitors for better positioning. The struggle will be for mere survival and for a spot in the Round of 16.

This format promised that favorites might not even reach the knockout stages. At this moment, it seems somewhat unreal, but let's not get ahead of ourselves; let Wednesday evening decide everything.

18 games in one night 🤯

Wednesday 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/OQjiMiwH2G

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 27, 2025

The most interesting situation is that of the two giants. "Manchester City” will host "Club Brugge.” The struggling Manchester team needs a victory against their direct competitor. If they do not win, and one of the clubs from "Dinamo” or "Shakhtar” wins their matches, the "citizens” would sensationally be left out of the knockout stages.

PSG will battle against "Stuttgart” away. This situation is even more intriguing. A draw would practically guarantee both teams a place in the knockout stage, and even the bookmakers see this scenario as the most likely.

Continuing to categorize teams, we must mention "Atletico,” "AC Milan,” "Atalanta,” and "Bayer.” These teams will desperately try to maintain their positions in the top eight, and for some of their rivals, favorable outcomes might aid in achieving this mission; however, not for all – "Atalanta” faces an away match in Barcelona, while "AC Milan” will fight in a tough game in Zagreb against a still-threatening "Dinamo” team.

"Aston Villa,” "AS Monaco,” "Feyenoord,” "Lille,” "Brest,” "Bayern,” "Borussia,” "Real” – these teams will aim to leap into the top eight. In this case, the direct clash between "Feyenoord” and "Lille” will be particularly interesting. A victory for either of these teams could pave a direct way to the Round of 16.

At 10 PM, 18 matches will commence. This is the Champions League, and this is the last round of the new format.