We are just one more round of Champions League games away from knowing the final sixteen teams. With some so-called big clubs with work to do to secure their place, who needs to do what to book their place in the last sixteen? And who has already qualified or fallen by the wayside?
First of all, some dates for your calendar. Matchday 6 – the final set of games of the group stages - takes place on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th of December. The draw for the last sixteen takes place appropriately on the 16th December. First leg ties for the round of sixteen take place on the 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th of February, with the return legs being played on the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th of March. If a couple of those dates seem familiar, especially to horse racing fans, then yes, the second legs of the round coincide with racing's most prestigious meeting, the Cheltenham Festival, so many people will be looking to double up on their selections.
Who will definitely be in the draw?
Paris St Germain have been very impressive so far, winning Group A, going unbeaten and only conceding two goals in the process. Real Madrid in the same group have secured second spot. Things are equally decisive in Group B. Undefeated Bayern top the group, with Spurs, now with Mourinho at the helm of course, safe in second. Manchester City are definitely through from Group C as are similarly undefeated Juventus from Group D. Barcelona are guaranteed top spot in Group F despite hardly setting the group on fire.
Who could still qualify?
Any one of Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta can still grab second spot in Group C and are on six, five and four points respectively. Shakhtar are at home to Atalanta in the final game and are in the box seat.
A win for Atletico Madrid at home to bottom placed Lokomotiv Moscow will see them through, with Bayer still hanging on to an admittedly outside chance of progressing. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool face a nerve-wracking tie at Red Bull Salzburg but know that a draw will be enough to see them through. A loss, however, will almost certainly see the reigning champions having to settle for the Europa League. Napoli will be confident that they will take all three points in their home game against Genk which will see them in at least second spot.
Group F is tight, with Inter Milan and Dortmund both on seven points. On paper the German side have the easier task, courtesy of their home tie against Slavia Prague who are bottom with nothing to play for but pride. Inter can still ruin the party however, and if they can beat Barcelona – who are already guaranteed top place don't forget and will be without Dembele - then they will go through on the head to head rule.
Group G still has it all to play for, with Leipzig on ten points and Zenit and Lyon both on seven. There are several permutations, one of which sees those three sides all finish with ten points. If that does happen, then Zenit would not go through, so they need to pick up at least a point and more likely all three in their away tie in Benfica.
© Photo by Alexandru G. STAVRIC?
Group H is another one where three teams will all fancy their chances of still having an interest in the competition next year. Chelsea, Ajax and Valencia all hold their fate in their own hands, which will make for a fascinating final round of games. Chelsea and Ajax are in the most comfortable positions. The West London side have the easiest fixture on paper, with a home tie against bottom club Lille who have picked up just one point so far. A win will see Lampard's side through. Ajax play Valencia in Amsterdam knowing a draw will be enough to qualify for the last sixteen.
