Champions League in suspense before the final ticket to the round of 16.

At 3 AM on January 29th (Vietnam time), 13 teams with 12-15 points will compete for these 6 spots: Real Madrid, Liverpool (15 points), Tottenham (14 points), Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Sporting, Barcelona, Man City, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta (13 points), Inter Milan and Juventus (12 points). This is the moment to determine the final direct qualification spots for the Round of 16, and also to identify the teams that will be forced into the risky play-off round.

After seven matches, only two teams have secured their place in the next round: Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Arsenal leads the group with a perfect 21 points, while Bayern Munich is second with 18 points. Conversely, four teams – Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat – have already been eliminated from the tournament.

Champions League tense before the final ticket deadline for the Round of 16 - image 1 — Arsenal have already secured their place in the Champions League round of 16.

Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Tottenham are currently the teams with the most advantages. Real Madrid and Liverpool both have 15 points, with the Spanish giants having a goal difference of +11.

Liverpool are in a strong position as they face Qarabağ at Anfield. A win would secure their qualification to the next round regardless of the results of the other matches. Tottenham are right behind them with 14 points and need to beat Eintracht Frankfurt.

The biggest highlight of the final matchday is the clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United. Both teams have 13 points and a goal difference of +10, and are neck and neck in the Top 8. A win at Parc des Princes would almost certainly guarantee qualification, while the loser risks dropping out of the Top 8 if their rivals behind them capitalize on opportunities. Even a draw could put both Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United at a disadvantage.

Chelsea also face a major challenge as they travel to Napoli's Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. The English team currently has 13 points but a worse goal difference than the teams above them, forcing them to win to keep their hopes of finishing in the Top 8 alive. If they only manage to get one point or lose, Chelsea will likely have to go into the play-off round.

The chasing pack includes Barcelona, Sporting, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Atalanta – all with 13 points. Of these, Barca, Man City, and Atletico will play at home, hosting Copenhagen, Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt respectively, giving them a chance to gain an advantage if the teams above them slip up. Conversely, Sporting and Atalanta will be playing away, facing considerable risks.

Manchester City's situation is particularly noteworthy. Pep Guardiola's team currently sits 11th and has no control over its own destiny, even if they secure all three points against Galatasaray at the Etihad. Man City must rely on results from other matches, given their depleted squad and the worrying form of Erling Haaland.

At the bottom of the table, Inter Milan and Juventus, both with 12 points, still have a glimmer of hope, though it's slim. Inter will be playing away at Dortmund, while Juventus will face Monaco, who also need points to secure a play-off spot. Neither Italian team can afford to slip up if they want to keep their chances of finishing in the Top 8 alive.

With the gap between the 6th and 14th placed teams being just one point, the Champions League qualifying round is more tense than ever. A single goal at any venue could completely overturn the rankings, making the final round of matches one of the most dramatic Champions League nights in recent years.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/champions-league-nghet-tho-truc-gio-chot-ve-vong-18-201001.html