Champions League Group Stage Finale: Man City Survives! 8 Teams Secure Last-16 Berths, 12 Suffer Elimination

The final matchday of the Champions League group stage delivered an action-packed spectacle, with 18 simultaneous matches determining the fate of Europe’s biggest clubs. The new format, which keeps the suspense alive until the very last moment, did not disappoint.

Among the most dramatic storylines was Manchester City’s thrilling 3-1 comeback win over Club Brugge, securing them a playoff spot in the knockout round. Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered their first defeat but still topped the rankings, while Barcelona and Atalanta played out a thrilling 2-2 draw, and Real Madrid cruised past Brest 3-0 but fell short of automatic qualification for the Round of 16.

The Eight Teams Going Directly Into the Round of 16

The top eight teams in the standings punched their tickets directly to the Champions League Round of 16, avoiding the two-legged playoff round. These teams, ranked from 1st to 8th, have secured a valuable advantage:

1. Liverpool
2. Barcelona
3. Arsenal
4. Inter Milan
5. Atlético Madrid
6. Bayer Leverkusen
7. Lille
8. Aston Villa

For Liverpool, despite suffering their first loss of the campaign, their overall performances ensured they finished as the top-ranked team. Barcelona, meanwhile, failed to beat Atalanta but held onto their top-eight position, securing a direct passage to the knockout phase.

16 Teams Headed to the Playoff Round

With the new Champions League format, teams ranked 9th to 24th must battle in a two-legged playoff to determine which eight teams will join the top eight in the Round of 16. These playoff qualifiers are split into seeded (9th-16th) and non-seeded (17th-24th) teams:

Seeded Teams (9th-16th)

These teams earned home advantage for the second leg in the upcoming playoff ties:

9. Atalanta
10. Borussia Dortmund
11. Real Madrid
12. Bayern Munich
13. AC Milan
14. PSV Eindhoven
15. Paris Saint-Germain
16. Benfica

Non-Seeded Teams (17th-24th)

These teams must play the decisive second leg away from home, making their playoff challenge even tougher:

17. Monaco
18. Brest
19. Feyenoord
20. Juventus
21. Celtic
22. Manchester City
23. Sporting CP
24. Club Brugge

The most notable shock is that Real Madrid and Bayern Munich failed to secure automatic qualification, meaning they will now face a dangerous opponent in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Manchester City barely made the cut, finishing 22nd overall after their do-or-die victory over Club Brugge.

12 Teams Eliminated: Their European Journey Ends

Not everyone was so fortunate. The bottom 12 teams, ranked 25th to 36th, have been eliminated from the competition and will play no further role in Europe this season:

• Dinamo Zagreb
• Stuttgart
• Bologna
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Sturm Graz
• Red Star Belgrade
• Sparta Prague
• RB Leipzig
• Girona
• RB Salzburg
• Young Boys
• Slovan Bratislava

The biggest disappointment among these is RB Leipzig, a club that has been a consistent presence in recent Champions League knockout rounds. Their failure to qualify is a huge blow, while Stuttgart, Bologna, and Girona—three surprise entrants—also struggled in their campaigns.

Playoff Draw and Knockout Schedule: The Road Ahead

The Champions League Round of 16 Playoff Draw is set for January 31 at 7 PM, where the matchups will be officially determined. The draw follows a strict format:

• 17th or 18th vs. 15th or 16th
• 23rd or 24th vs. 9th or 10th
• 21st or 22nd vs. 11th or 12th
• 19th or 20th vs. 13th or 14th

This guarantees at least one blockbuster showdown, as Manchester City (22nd) will be drawn against either Real Madrid (11th) or Bayern Munich (12th). Regardless of the outcome, this will be a massive playoff clash, likely overshadowing some actual Round of 16 ties.

The Big Matchups We Could See

1. Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: The Ultimate Heavyweight Bout

A rematch of last year’s semifinal, this could be one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. Real Madrid, the kings of the Champions League, going up against the defending champions—this is football at its absolute peak.

• Erling Haaland vs. Kylian Mbappé (potential future Real Madrid signing)
• Pep Guardiola vs. Carlo Ancelotti—two of the greatest tacticians ever
• €2.5 billion in total squad value

2. Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich: Pep’s Return to the Allianz

Should City draw Bayern, Guardiola will return to his former club for a high-stakes European battle. This tie would also feature Haaland vs. Kane, two of the best strikers in the world.

3. PSG vs. Juventus: A Battle of Giants

Juventus has had an inconsistent campaign, but their European pedigree makes them a dangerous opponent. If they draw PSG, we could see Mbappé vs. Vlahović in an explosive clash.

Key Dates to Watch

• January 31 – Playoff Draw
• February 11-12 – First Leg of Playoffs
• February 18-19 – Second Leg of Playoffs
• February 21 – Round of 16 Draw
• March 4-5 – Round of 16 First Leg
• March 11-12 – Round of 16 Second Leg

The Verdict: Chaos, Drama, and High-Stakes Football

The Champions League’s new format has delivered unprecedented drama, with top-tier teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich being forced into a brutal playoff battle.

For City, the message is clear: there is no easy path to defending their title. Whether it’s Madrid or Bayern, they will have to fight through an elite opponent just to reach the Round of 16.

For the top eight, they now have the luxury of resting and preparing for the knockout stage. For the eliminated 12, their European journey is over.

And for the 16 playoff-bound teams, the biggest test of the season awaits. Only eight will survive.

The road to Wembley 2025 is only getting tougher. Buckle up—this Champions League season is just getting started.