Champions league final round – who needs what?

The final round of league phase fixtures of the 2025/26 Champions League is here, with all 36 teams set to find out their final position tonight during 18 simultaneous matches. 

So, we’re having a look at who could be the big winners and losers ahead of tonight’s action. 

How does it all work? 

If you don’t know by now, it must have been a confusing league phase to date. 

Eight top teams automatically qualify for the round of 16, with the middle 16 facing each other in a knockout playoff to make the next stage. 

For those placed 25-36, their campaign is over – no more dropping into the Europa League, that’s it. 

With all 36 teams playing at the same time, there will be joy and despair as six automatic round of 16 places are decided, as well as the crucial standings that will decide who faces who in the playoffs. 

Who is already home and hosed? 

Arsenal and Bayern Munich have been the real stars of the opening phase of this year’s tournament. 

Arsenal have won 7/7 games and conceded just two goals as they top the league ahead of their game against Kairat tonight. 

Bayern have 18 points and are therefore through already, needing just a draw at PSV to make second spot theirs. 

Who is already out?

Four remaining teams are just playing for pride, with Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villareal, and the Kazakh champions Kairat already eliminated and unable to even make the playoffs. 

Eight other teams will be out after tonight is over. 

The top eight is set to be decided

Elsewhere in the top eight, there is a lot of Premier League interest, with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea all currently in the safe zone. 

They are joined by Real Madrid and current holders Paris Saint-Germain, although that order could be set to change as results develop later. 

It’s a squeeze in the middle

Just three points separate third and 15th, meaning that any of the teams in that bunch could realistically qualify automatically. 

In truth, anyone as far down as 17th and 18th could make it to the final 16 automatically, although it is statistically quite unlikely. 

While Real, Liverpool, and Spurs can confirm three of those places with victory given their goal difference, this seems set to be where the bulk of the chaos will unfold. 

Spurs face already finished Frankfurt, while Liverpool have Qarabag – more on them later – and Real travel to Portugal to face Madrid. 

Qarabag are among the surprise performers this season, and are among a list of hopefuls in the playoff places that could crash the top eight. 

Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Juventus, Atalanta, Galatasaray, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Borussia Dortmund could all still avoid a playoff. 

Hoping to climb up and – in theory – get an easier tie for the playoff are those between 19th and 24th place: Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, PSV, Athletic Club, and Olympiakos.

The table will look drastically different at 10:00pm UK time than it does now – that’s the only racing certainty. 

Playoff hopefuls

Sitting just above those already eliminated and with a relative hope if qualifying for the knockouts are some big hitters. 

For starters, Napoli are only goal difference outside the top 24, as are FC Copenhagen, Club Brugge, and Manchester City’s recent conquerors Bodø/Glimt. 

Benfica are lower down in 29th place, but just two points back and still in the hunt. 

Even lower are lowly Pafos – still in with a chance – and Union Saint-Gilloise, with Ajax, the lowest-placed club still in with a slim hope of qualification. 

It’s going to be hectic, brutal, and you’d have to be daft to try to predict the overall outcome. 

Is it time to admit that this format is way better than the old group stages yet?

Here’s the full list of final league phase fixtures:

Ajax vs Olympiacos

Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty

Athletic Club vs Sporting CP

Atlético Madrid vs Bodø/Glimt

Barcelona vs FC Copenhagen

Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund vs Inter Milan

Club Brugge vs Marseille

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool vs Qarabag FK

Manchester City vs Galatasaray

Monaco vs Juventus

Napoli vs Chelsea

Pafos vs Slavia Prague

Paris Saint‑Germain vs Newcastle United

PSV Eindhoven vs Bayern Munich