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What teams need to qualify from Champions League groups

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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 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, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich

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. 29: Galatasaray vs. Manchester United, Bayern Munich vs. FC Copenhagen
Dec. 12: Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray

Bayern Munich have qualified as group winners.

One point separates the other three teams in the group, and nothing can be decided for second place on Matchday 5.

Manchester United make the trip to Galatasaray knowing they will be eliminated with a defeat, or with a draw if FC Copenhagen beat Bayern Munich.

Group B

Remaining fixtures
Nov. 29: Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal vs. Lens
Dec. 12: PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal, Lens vs. Sevilla

Arsenal top the group and will be through with a win or draw at home to Lens. The Gunners can also go through with a loss if PSV Eindhoven are beaten. A victory will seal first place.

PSV Eindhoven will advance if they beat Sevilla and Lens lose to Arsenal, as the Eredivisie side hold the head to head between the two clubs.

Lens cannot qualify on Matchday 5, but would be eliminated with a loss at Arsenal if PSV Eindhoven win.

Sevilla will be out if they lose at home to PSV.

Group C

Remaining fixtures
Nov. 29: Braga vs. Union Berlin, Real Madrid vs. Napoli
Dec. 12: Union Berlin vs. Real Madrid, Napoli vs. Braga

Real Madrid have qualified for the round of 16 and will top the group with a win/draw at home to Napoli next time out.

Napoli will be through if they win at the Bernabeu, or if they draw and Braga draw or lose, of if they lose and Braga lose.

Braga will hope to take it to the final day, when they make the trip to Napoli. However, they will be out if they don’t better Napoli’s result on Matchday 5.

Union Berlin have been eliminated and need at least a draw away to Braga to stay in contention for the Europa League.

Group D

Remaining fixtures
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 have both qualified for the round of 16.

Top spot will be decided when the two teams meet in Italy on the final night.

FC Salzburg hold the Europa League place, and they will secure it if they better RB Leipzig’s result on Matchday 5.

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 must win both their remaining matches, hope Feyenoord fail to beat Atletico, and Lazio lose to Atletico, to have any chance.

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.

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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.

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