Tonight marks a pivotal moment in the UEFA Champions League, as the final matches of the league-phase kicks off with all 18 matches beginning at 8pm UK time.
It’s the night where every result counts, as teams battle for a place in the knockout rounds or, if they are lucky, a shot at the coveted top-eight spot which bypasses two extra games. There's also the added financial bonus that comes with securing three points in UEFA's premier competition.
The Stakes Are High
While tonight's action will be intense for many, there are two teams that have already secured automatic qualification for the Champions League last eight; Liverpool and Barcelona.
These two clubs have already clinched their spots in the knockout rounds with a game to spare, leaving their all the other contenders to fight it out for the remaining places.
Even though some teams still have a chance of a top-eight finish, several have already secured a spot in the top-24, guaranteeing them a place in the play-offs of the competition.
The following teams have already sealed progression to the next stage (top-24 minimum): Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, AS Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Celtic.
These clubs have at least secured a spot in the play-offs, where they will continue their European journey, but for many, tonight's matches are critical for securing the best possible position for the knockout rounds.
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Depending on the finishing positions in the league-phase standings, different teams will have different advantages in the knockout stage.
Those who land in 9-16th place will play the first leg at home and the second leg away, while those in 17-24th will do the reverse.
Celtic’s opponents Aston Villa are one of these sides on the verge of automatic qualification but they must defeat the Hoops whilst scoring two more goals than Bayer Leverkusen.
Manchester City, who won the tournament in 2023, begin the evening sitting 25th, which would see their early exit from the competition. They do have the opportunity to change that when Club Brugge arrive at the Etihad Stadium.
Uncertain of progression: PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Already eliminated: Bologna, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and BSC Young Boys.
