With two rounds to go in the inaugural Champions League league phase, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are in genuine jeopardy.
Teams must finish in the top eight to achieve automatic qualification into the round of 16, while those in ninth to 24th enter a round of two-legged play-offs in February, with the winners taking the other eight spots.
Teams who finish anywhere from 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the competition – with no access to the Europa League.
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As the Champions League table takes shape, Sky Sports’ James Savundra breaks down which teams are at threat of elimination
As it stands, three heavyweights of European football are in danger.
Paris Saint-Germain are facing full elimination, and sit 25th despite a much-needed win at Red Bull Salzburg in their last Champions League game.
Manchester City have also been struggling. Pep Guardiola’s side are 22nd, far away from a coveted top-eight spot. Real Madrid are faring little better in 20th, and picked up a first win in three by edging past Atalanta last time out.
A big gun, it seems increasingly likely, will fall.
Champions League league phase table in full
Upcoming crucial Champions League fixtures
- January 22: PSG vs Man City, Real Madrid vs Red Bull Salzburg
- January 29: Brest vs Real Madrid, Man City vs Club Brugge, Stuttgart vs PSG
More frustration on the way for Man City?
Two big names continue to flounder in the lower levels of the table: Man City and PSG.
City, the 2022/23 champions, suffered an alarming drop-off in Europe towards the end of 2024, failing to win any of their last three Champions League matches after picking up seven points from their first three games.
However, their domestic form has improved in recent weeks as they head into two crucial European matches with their showdown with PSG on January 22 likely a must-win game.
Luis Enrique’s PSG side are finding life hard in Europe themselves, and their win in Salzburg was only their second from their six matches so far, having already lost to Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.
They are in a state of rebuilding after losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the summer, and named their youngest-ever starting XI in Ligue 1 earlier this season as they enact president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s wishes to turn to youth over big-money signings.
When are the 2024/25 Champions League knockout stages?
- Knockout round play-offs: February 11/12 and February 18/19, 2025
- Round of 16: March 4/5 and March 11/12, 2025
- Quarter-finals: April 8/9 and April 15/16, 2025
- Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025
- Final: May 31, 2025
When and where is the 2025 Champions League final?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will take place in Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025.