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Now five matches into the new UEFA Champions League format, the table has been flushed out to show where each side stands amongst their peers across the European continent.
Thanks to the new competition format, which features a full league-phase table, teams have a better understanding of how they fit amongst the rest of the field. Yet compared to the old group-stage format, where teams only had to finish above two other clubs in a four-team group, sorting out the qualifying scenarios is a much more daunting prospect in the new model.
Some big clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona have put themselves in a strong qualifying position to this point and are in line to advance with aplomb. Meanwhile, others like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain find themselves with a surprising amount of doubt as to their knockout-stage prospects.
Less heralded clubs like Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Monaco have thrown a wrench in the works with their own strong performances, which leave the top sides scratching their heads.
The Sporting News runs through what each prominent team in the competition must do to find themselves into the knockout round, whether it be with a coveted bye to the Round of 16 or a trepidatious playoff matchup to navigate.
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How many teams go through to Champions League knockouts in 2024/25?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season features a knockout qualification format that will be new to fans.
The European competition now utilizes a “Swiss Model” that boasts a league phase with a full 36-team table to replace the old group stage.
Qualification from that is simple: teams that finish in the top eight positions qualify directly to the Round of 16, bypassing the playoff round. Meanwhile, teams in position 11 through 16 will qualify for the knockout-stage playoffs — two-legged matches to determine the final eight sides in the Round of 16 — and are given seeding in that draw. Teams finishing 17-24 in the standings are also through to the playoff round but will be unseeded, and will therefore be drawn against a higher-ranking seeded team.
Finally, teams that finish 25-36 in the table are eliminated from European play outright, with no possibility of dropping down into lower competitions.
| League Phase finish | Qualify for |
| Pos. 1-8 | Round of 16 |
| Pos. 9-16 | Knockout Playoff (seeded) |
| Pos. 17-24 | Knockout Playoff (unseeded) |
| Pos. 25-36 | Eliminated |
Who has qualified for the Champions League knockout stage?
With three matches remaining in the league phase, table-toppers Liverpool are the only club to have mathematically confirmed their place in at least the knockout-round playoffs. Sitting first on a perfect 15 points, the Reds will definitely finish in the top 24 places in the table regardless of results from here on in.
Depending on results this week, it’s possible that Liverpool could finish Matchweek 6 with a Round of 16 bye mathematically in hand, should they beat Girona and get enough help elsewhere.
MORE: Up-to-date Champions League standings, table for league phase (use drop-down menu to select UCL)
Teams qualified for the Champions League knockout stage
| Club | Nation | Qualified for |
| Liverpool | England | Playoffs* |
*Guaranteed at least a playoff place but can still qualify automatically
Teams eliminated from the Champions League
No teams have yet been mathematically eliminated from a knockout-stage spot entirely, but four clubs — Bologna, RB Leipzig, Slovan Bratislava, and BSC Young Boys — have been eliminated from contention for a Round of 16 bye.
| Club | Nation | Qualified for |
UEFA Champions League Round of 16 permutations, scenarios
Liverpool
To secure a Round of 16 bye this week, Liverpool need to win against Girona, which would send them to 18 points through six games. From there, they need at least one team in the top eight to have less than 12 points, which would leave them mathematically clear of falling below that threshold.
It means they’ll be rooting for a draw between Arsenal and Monaco, an Atalanta defeat to Real Madrid, and a Bayer Leverkusen loss to Inter.
Barcelona
With 12 points through five games, Barcelona can confirm a place in at least the knockout playoffs by simply defeating Borussia Dortmund in Germany. It’s also possible to get into such a position with a draw and some help elsewhere, needing to find themselves seven points clear of the team in 24th at the end of the matchweek.
At this point, it’s not possible for them to ensure a Round of 16 bye, but they could put themselves in pole position with a win.
Arsenal
Arsenal sit seventh in the table heading into Matchweek 6, level with a long list of six other clubs on 10 points through five games. One of those teams are this week’s opponents Monaco, and thus a win at Emirates Stadium would be massive towards claiming a playoff spot, which they could do by securing three points and getting enough help down the bottom of the standings.
At this point, they cannot nail down a top-eight spot, with work still to do in that regard.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa have hit a rough patch but still maintain a strong position in the Champions League standings, sitting ninth on 10 points and a +5 goal differential heading into Matchweek 6. A road trip at RB Leipzig presents a difficult task, but like Arsenal, victory would put them in great shape to potentially confirm a place in at least the playoff round, although they need help to do so.
Bayern Munich
The German giants sit 13th thanks to their +5 goal differential putting them above the other three teams on nine points. They have work to do to confirm a place in the knockout stage, which they cannot do this match week, but sitting five points above the elimination cut line puts them in a strong position as well. Bayern have a soft remaining schedule with matches against Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord, and Slovan Bratislava left on the list, so confirmation of a knockout-stage place could be on the horizon.
Man City
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the midst of an historic slump, which has affected their Champions League position as well as their league standing, but they still remain on track to secure a playoff position. The problem is their remaining schedule: they have matches against Juventus and PSG left along with a finale against Club Brugge, with all three opponents also fighting for one of the final spots in the knockouts.
With eight points through five matches leaving Man City 17th, occupying the first unseeded playoff place, it will be a fight to the finish. Confirmation of a place in the knockout round or shock elimination will probably be left to the final matchday.
Real Madrid
While things are hairy for Man City, it’s a code red situation for Real Madrid who are in 24th place, occupying the final playoff spot heading into Matchweek 6. Los Blancos have been exceedingly poor in European play compared to the league, where they have been more able to work around injuries and bad form.
Unlike Man City, Madrid have a soft finish to the schedule, which gives them a good chance of qualifying for a knockout spot, even if they lose to a high-flying Atalanta this week. Matches against RB Salzburg at home and Brest on the road to close out the league phase leave Madrid fans nervy but hopeful. Still, with just six points thus far, it’s highly unlikely Madrid can even challenge for a Round of 16 bye, and they could even see themselves unseeded in a playoff matchup.
Paris Saint-Germain
Of all the big clubs in the Champions League, PSG face the most perilous situation heading into Matchweek 6. Through five games, their measly four points leave the French side in 25th position, the first elimination spot — a stark reminder that while the new Champions League format is meant to increase the room for error at a big club’s disposal, it does not leave the giants infallible.
PSG do have games against RB Salzburg and Stuttgart to go, but both those softer fixtures are on the road, while their lone remaining home match will come against an equally desperate Man City. This week, failure to win in Austria would leave PSG in a truly terrible position with Pep Guardiola coming to town — a daunting prospect indeed.