UEFA Champions League: Clinching scenarios ahead of final matchday

The UEFA Champions League enters the final matchday with seven knockout round spots up for grabs. Here’s what to watch for ahead of matchday six.

The Champions League is once again living up to its reputation as the world’s most competitive club competition following this week’s string of wild results.

In fact, the tournament produced some crazy results across the continent over the past two days. As a result, only nine teams officially clinched spots to the round of 16, setting up what could be one of the most-exciting final matchdays in recent memory.

Barcelona (Group G), Bayern Munich (Group A), Chelsea (Group E), Borussia Dortmund (Group F), Juventus (Group G), Liverpool (Group D), Manchester City (Group C), Porto (Group C) and Sevilla (Group E).

That means that the final matchday results in Group C and G will not impact which teams advance to the round of 16. In Group C, current leaders Manchester City have a three-point edge over Porto and would need just a draw against the Portuguese champions on the road to finish first. Over in Group G, Barcelona are first, three points ahead of Juventus. The sides meet Tuesday in the Spanish city with the group on the line.

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The final matchday, scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, can produce a number of permutations. With an eye on the current group standings, here are the various scenarios that can play out.

Group A: One spot left after Bayern finishes tops

Defending champions Bayern are already through, meaning there is only a spot left in Group A. Red Bull Salzburg must beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to finish second, while Lokomotiv Moscow cannot qualify for the knockout stages but will qualify for the second-tier Europa League if they win away to Bayern and Salzburg does not beat Atletico. It should be noted that the eight third-place finishers advance to the Europa League.

Group B: All four teams can still advance

All attention will be on Group B come Wednesday as all four teams can still advance to the round of 16. Inter Milan must defeat Shakhtar Donetsk to have any chance of qualifying. A Real Madrid win, meanwhile, at home against Borussia Monchengladbach gets them through. A draw would be enough for Real to finish second, but only if Inter beat Shakhtar. A ‘Gladbach win gets them through.

Group D: Atalanta and Ajax battle for final spot  

Liverpool has already won the group, meaning Atalanta and Ajax will battle in the final 90 minutes of the group stage for a shot at the knockout round. Ajax must get a home win Wednesday against Atalanta. The Italians would advance with a draw.

Group F: Club Brugge and Lazio fight to advance

Dortmund are already through and can win the group with a win on Tuesday away to Zenit St Petersburg. In the fight for second, Club Brugge must beat Lazio in Rome to advance.

Group H: All four teams can still advance

Manchester United can advance Tuesday with at least a draw away to RB Leipzig. The Germans, meanwhile, must grab all three points. Never-say-die Paris Saint-Germain, playing at home and runners-up last season, can qualify for the knockout round with at least a draw at home against Istanbul Basaksehir. PSG currently lead RB Leipzig in second place on goal differential.