As the league campaign comes to an end throughout Europe, the Champions League approaches a pivotal moment later tonight, with several heavyweight teams facing potential elimination.
Benfica, Ajax, and Napoli all know they have limited margin for error going into the last round. With six points and little chance of surviving, Ajax is ranked 32nd out of 36 teams. To maintain their campaign, the Dutch team must defeat Olympiakos at home and rely on outcomes elsewhere.
There is pressure on Napoli as well. With eight points, the Italian team is in 25th place, just outside of qualifying. They take on Chelsea in what seems to be one of the most evenly matched games of the evening, with both teams needing to win.
Real Madrid is a formidable opponent for Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, who are currently in 29th place. The Portuguese team would only advance to the qualifying zone if they won.
The top eight teams go straight to the round of 16 under the competition format. While the bottom 12 teams are eliminated, clubs ranked ninth through twenty-fourth will compete in a two-leg play-off for the remaining knockout slots. Only Slavia Prague, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Kairat Almaty have been officially eliminated thus far.
The Premier League, where all six English representatives still have a path to the knockout stages, will also receive a lot of attention.
After a perfect run thus far, Arsenal is on the verge of taking the top spot. Mikel Arteta’s team needs only a draw to win top position as they host Kairat Almaty.
With 15 points, Liverpool is in fourth place when they host Qarabag at Anfield. With eight teams trailing on 13 points, a draw may be dangerous and force the Reds into the playoffs, but a victory would ensure a top-eight finish.
With 14 points, Tottenham is in fifth place and will visit Eintracht Frankfurt. If they win in Germany, they will advance to the round of 16, but if they draw, they might still be overtaken by a number of teams.
The 3-0 victory over PSV last week improved Newcastle’s chances. Holders Paris Saint-Germain will now play Eddie Howe’s team. A victory would validate their advancement, but with their strong goal differential, even a draw might be sufficient.
With 13 points, Chelsea holds the final automatic qualification slot, but they will take on Napoli on the road. Although even three points could not ensure safety, the Blues must win to bolster their aspirations. Chasing teams like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who also have advantageous home games, would have an opportunity if there was a draw.
Manchester City, on the other hand, has to improve. To have a realistic chance of placing in the top eight, Pep Guardiola’s team needs to defeat Galatasaray at home. With eight teams tied on points and five of them presently ahead of City on goal differential, a draw is unlikely to be enough.