The race to secure qualification in this season's newly-expanded 36-team Champions League is approaching its dramatic finale. With the league phase now nearing completion, 15 teams have already booked their spots in the Round of 16 and knockout stages, while others are set to fight for survival in the upcoming play-off round.
A major shift in format this year has changed the stakes significantly. Unlike previous seasons, teams finishing between 25th and 36th place in the league phase will be completely eliminated from European competition. This means no club will drop down into the Europa League, making the battle for qualification fiercer than ever. Below is an overview of the current standings:
Teams Qualified for the Round of 16
At this stage, only two teams have secured direct passage to the Round of 16:
Liverpool: The Reds have guaranteed themselves a top-two finish in the league phase, ensuring a top-seeded position in the knockout rounds.
Barcelona: The Catalan giants sealed a top-eight finish in spectacular fashion with a thrilling 5-4 comeback win against Benfica.
Knockout Play-Off Round
Scheduled for February, the knockout play-off round will feature the 16 teams that finish between 9th and 24th place in the league phase. These teams will battle for the remaining slots in the Round of 16.
Clubs already confirmed to participate in the play-off round include:
Atlético Madrid
Atalanta
Arsenal
Bayer Leverkusen
Internazionale
Aston Villa
Brest
AS Monaco
Lille
AC Milan
Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Elimination and Final Fixtures
So far, three teams have been eliminated from this season's competition, with nine more set to face the same fate in the coming week. The final fixtures of the league phase will determine which teams claim direct qualification to the Round of 16, which head to the knockout play-offs, and which will see their European campaigns end entirely.
This season's revamped Champions League format has provided fans with high-stakes excitement and plenty of drama. With the competition now entering its most decisive phase, the stage is set for even more thrilling encounters as clubs fight to keep their European dreams alive.
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