
Champions League Phase Concludes After an Exciting Matchday 8
The first-ever league phase of the revamped Champions League has officially concluded, with all 36 teams completing their eight games. The final standings are now set, determining which clubs have advanced directly to the last 16, which teams must battle through the knockout play-off round, and which sides have been eliminated from the competition altogether.
While some teams celebrated automatic qualification, others faced the disappointment of early elimination. Let’s take a deep dive into how the table shaped up after Matchday 8 and what it means for the remainder of the tournament.
How the Champions League Table Works
The top eight teams have automatically qualified for the round of 16, avoiding an extra two-legged knockout tie. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will have to compete in the knockout play-offs, where they will face off in a two-legged tie to determine who joins the top eight in the next stage. The bottom 12 teams have been eliminated and will not drop into the Europa League, marking the end of their European campaign for this season.
Champions League Standings After Matchday 8
Top 8 – Direct Qualification to Last 16
The following teams secured their place in the last 16 after impressive performances in the league phase:
Rank | Club | Points | Goal Difference |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Liverpool (Q) | 21 | +12 |
2. | Barcelona (Q) | 19 | +15 |
3. | Arsenal (Q) | 19 | +13 |
4. | Inter (Q) | 19 | +10 |
5. | Atletico Madrid (Q) | 18 | +8 |
6. | Bayer Leverkusen (Q) | 16 | +8 |
7. | Lille (Q) | 16 | +7 |
8. | Aston Villa (Q) | 16 | +7 |
Liverpool secured the top spot despite a shock defeat to PSV Eindhoven on the final matchday. Barcelona missed an opportunity to overtake them after only managing a draw against Benfica. Wins for Arsenal and Inter cemented their place in the top four, while Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa ensured their safe passage to the next round with crucial victories.
Knockout Play-Off Round: Teams Ranked 9th to 24th
The teams finishing between 9th and 24th place must now navigate a two-legged knockout play-off round to earn a spot in the last 16. Here are the clubs set to battle it out:
Rank | Club | Points | Goal Difference |
---|---|---|---|
9. | Atalanta (q) | 15 | +14 |
10. | Borussia Dortmund (q) | 15 | +10 |
11. | Real Madrid (q) | 15 | +8 |
12. | Bayern Munich (q) | 15 | +8 |
13. | AC Milan (q) | 15 | +3 |
14. | PSV Eindhoven (q) | 14 | +4 |
15. | Paris Saint-Germain (q) | 13 | +5 |
16. | Benfica (q) | 13 | +4 |
17. | Monaco (q) | 13 | 0 |
18. | Brest (q) | 13 | -1 |
19. | Feyenoord (q) | 13 | -3 |
20. | Juventus (q) | 12 | +2 |
21. | Celtic (q) | 12 | -1 |
22. | Manchester City (q) | 11 | +4 |
23. | Sporting CP (q) | 11 | +1 |
24. | Club Brugge (q) | 11 | -4 |
Two of the biggest names in European football, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, find themselves in the knockout play-offs despite winning on Matchday 8. Celtic have made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2012/13, while Manchester City avoided early elimination for the first time in over a decade.
Bottom 12 – Eliminated from the Champions League
The following teams failed to qualify and have been eliminated from the Champions League without dropping into the Europa League:
Rank | Team | Points | Goal Difference |
---|---|---|---|
25. | Dinamo Zagreb (E) | 11 | -7 |
26. | VfB Stuttgart (E) | 10 | -4 |
27. | Shakhtar Donetsk (E) | 7 | -8 |
28. | Bologna (E) | 6 | -5 |
29. | Crvena zvezda (E) | 6 | -9 |
30. | Sturm Graz (E) | 6 | -9 |
31. | Sparta Prague (E) | 4 | -14 |
32. | RB Leipzig (E) | 3 | -7 |
33. | Girona (E) | 3 | -8 |
34. | Red Bull Salzburg (E) | 3 | -22 |
35. | Slovan Bratislava (E) | 0 | -20 |
36. | Young Boys (E) | 0 | -21 |
For teams like RB Leipzig and Girona, their Champions League campaigns ended in disappointment. Meanwhile, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys ended the phase without a single point.
What’s Next?
- Knockout play-off matches will take place on 11/12 February (first leg) and 18/19 February (second leg).
- The draw for the round of 16 will be held on 21 February.
- The remaining teams will continue their journey toward the Champions League final.
The Champions League is now entering its most thrilling phase, with high-stakes knockout battles ahead. Who will advance to the last 16 and keep their Champions League dream alive? Stay tuned for all the latest updates!