Champions League permutations: What Arsenal, Man City, Celtic and Aston Villa need to reach knockout stages | OneFootball

Standard Sport reveals what each team needs to qualify for knockout rounds

The Champions League is braced for a thrilling final set of group games next Wednesday, as the inaugural edition of its new league phase draws to a close.

Those who finish 25th to 36th will be immediately knocked out of the competition, and there is no longer any opportunity for eliminated teams to drop down to the Europa League.

With two teams already guaranteed a last-16 spot, Standard Sport explains what each of the British teams and big-hitters across Europe need from their final match in order to qualify for the knockout rounds…

Liverpool - 21 pts, +13 goal diff.

Top of the table with seven wins from seven, Liverpool are already through to the last 16 where they will be seeded.

Liverpool have already qualified for the next round

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Barcelona - 18 pts, +15 goal diff.

After winning a ding-dong affair against Benfica 5-4 on Tuesday, Barca are also through and will be seeded.

Arsenal - 16 pts, +12 goal diff.

They face Girona away from home in their final match. With a much better goal difference than all the teams on 13 points, and on 16 points themselves, Arsenal are all-but into the round of 16 as one of the top eight teams.

Inter Milan - 16 pts, +7 goal diff.

Their goal difference is worse than Arsenal’s, who they are level on 16 points with, but is still better than every team on 13 points. Highly likely to make the last 16 when they host Monaco on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid - 15 pts, +5 goal diff.

A draw at Red Bull Salzburg should be enough for Atletico to make the top eight. Frankly, defeat is likely to get them there too. They’d have to be very unlucky indeed with regards results elsewhere.

AC Milan - 15 pts, +4 goal diff.

The Italian giants find themselves in the same situation as Atletico. Even a defeat at Dinamo Zagreb next Wednesday will see them through if enough of the teams on 13 and 12 points fail to win — which many will.

Bayer Leverkusen - 13 pts, +6 goal diff.

It’s all a little more precarious for Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy eighth spot by virtue of having the best goal difference (+6) among six teams all on 13 points. A play-off place at least is guaranteed.

A draw at home to Sparta Prague might see them through and a win probably would. Their way of guaranteeing a round of 16 spot would be to thrash the Czech side, maintaining that all-important goal difference advantage, should they need it.

Aston Villa - 13 pts, +5 goal diff.

Also have 13 points and a good goal difference — it being one goal worse than Leverkusen’s.

Victory at home to Celtic would give them a very good chance of finishing in the top eight and avoiding the play-offs, though they would need one of five teams above them to slip up on the final day. Guaranteed at least the play-offs.

Borussia Dortmund - 12 pts, +8 goal diff.

12 points leaves them unlikely to make the top eight and avoid the play-offs, but it is possible. Even a win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk will probably not be enough, with that still requiring a lot of teams above them to fail to win.

Bayern Munich - 12 pts, +6 goal diff.

A very similar situation to Dortmund. They’re expected to win handsomely against Slovan Bratislava at the Allianz Arena, but that will likely still not be enough. It could well be play-offs for Harry Kane and co. Cannot be eliminated.

Real Madrid - 12 pts, +5 goal diff.

Similar to Bayern, the reigning champions are extremely unlikely to finish in the top eight and so should prepare for life in the play-offs, which they are at least guaranteed of. Visit Brest on the final day.

Juventus - 12 pts, +4 goal diff.

Same again. Almost certainly the play-offs. Host Benfica next Wednesday in their final group game.

Celtic - 12 pts, +1 goal diff.

And again. Celtic are a single point behind Villa. While it is possible for them to finish in the top eight, that will only happen if they win at Villa Park on Wednesday and are the beneficiaries of plenty of other things above them going their way — things which, frankly, won’t.

They are guaranteed a place in the top 24. If they finish between ninth and 16th place in the table, they will be seeded for the play-offs and face a team ranked 17th to 24th.

Paris Saint-Germain - 10 pts, +2 goal diff.

A win away to Stuttgart would guarantee PSG a place in the play-off round, and a draw could still be enough. If they lose in Germany, they may be eliminated.

Man City’s task is simple - they need to beat Club Brugge next week

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Manchester City - 8 pts, +2 goal diff.

25th in the table and in the elimination zone by a single place, Manchester City’s fate is very simple.

If they beat Club Brugge at home next Wednesday, they will advance to the play-off round. If they lose that game or draw, they will be knocked out of the Champions League immediately.