Four rounds of matches have now been played, and the Champions League group stage is falling into shape. Here’s how all teams are positioned with two matches still to go.
GROUP A
Remaining games
Dec. 1: Atletico vs Bayern, Lokomotiv vs. FC Salzburg
Dec. 9: Bayern vs. Lokomotiv, FC Salzburg vs. Atletico
How is the group shaping up?
Bayern Munich are through as group winners with two matches in hand.
It’s very open for second place after Atletico Madrid failed to win at home to Lokomotiv Moscow. But Atleti could go through on matchday five if they win at home to Bayern and Lokomotiv do not beat Salzburg.
Even if Lokomotiv beat Salzburg, and Atleti cannot get three points against Bayern, Lokomotiv must still go to Germany for their final group game and may need something.
Salzburg will be out if they lose at Lokmotiv, and they must win both matches and hope Atleti fail to beat Bayern to have any slim hope.
GROUP B
Remaining games
Dec. 1: Gladbach vs. Inter, Shakhtar vs. Real Madrid
Dec. 9: Real Madrid vs. Gladbach, Inter vs. Shakhtar
How is the group shaping up?
Gladbach are top of the table, and will be through if they win at home to Inter on Dec. 1. They will also be into the round of 16 if Shakhtar fail to win at home to Real Madrid, and they pick up a point. Two draws will also do the job.
Real Madrid must win on matchday four to guarantee safe passage with a game to spare.
Shakhtar started the group in fine form with a win at the Bernabeu, but must at least draw at home to Zinedine Zidane’s men to stay alive in the group. A win would put qualification completely in their own hands going into the final game.
Sitting bottom on two points, Inter are almost out of the Champions League picture. They must win their remaining games — and hope Real Madrid lose both OR Gladbach lose to Madrid. In reality, it could be they now must catch Shakhtar to drop into the Europa League, and they meet on the final day.
GROUP C
Remaining games
Dec. 1: FC Porto v Man City, Marseille vs. Olympiakos
Dec. 9: Man City vs. Marseille, Olympiakos vs. FC Porto
How is the group shaping up?
Manchester City are through, and will top the group if they avoid defeat at FC Porto on the next matchday.
Porto are almost there too, and need one point from two games. They will also be through if Olympiakos fail to beat Marseille next time out.
Marseille and Olympiakos are battling for a place in the Europa League, which Olympiakos will at least secure if they avoid defeat in France.
GROUP D
Remaining games
Dec. 1: Atalanta vs. FC Midtjylland, Liverpool vs. Ajax
Dec. 9: FC Midtjylland vs. Liverpool, Ajax vs. Atalanta
How is the group shaping up?
There are many permutations still open in this group which will only become clear after matchday five.
Liverpool only need at least a point at home to Ajax next time out, though if they lose they have the safety net of knowing a win away to FC Midtjylland on matchday six would still see them through too.
Ajax sit in second, but even a win at Anfield would not secure their passage as they must then face Atalanta on the final day and could still go out with a draw in that match.
Atalanta know if that if they can beat Midtjylland, and Ajax lose to Liverpool, they would then just need to avoid defeat in the Netherlands on the final day.
Midtjylland are the first team to be completely eliminated, guaranteed to finish bottom.
GROUP E
Remaining games
Dec. 2: Krasnodar vs. Rennes, Sevilla vs. Chelsea
Dec. 8: Chelsea vs. Krasnodar, Rennes vs. Sevilla
How is the group shaping up?
Chelsea and Sevilla have run away with this group and both are already guaranteed of being in the round of 16. The key thing now is which team takes top spot, which should earn a more favourable draw against the runners-up from another group, and that will be decided if there is a winner in Spain on Dec. 2.
It’s a similar scenario for Krasnodar vs. Rennes, the only difference being that the place in the Europa League is at stake. A winner in that head-to-head on matchday 5 settles it.
Steve Nicol praises Thiago Silva’s impact on Chelsea’s defense, and calls out Timo Werner’s miss vs. Rennes.
GROUP F
Remaining games
Dec. 2: Dortmund vs. Lazio, Club Brugge vs. Zenit
Dec. 8: Lazio vs. Club Brugge, Zenit vs. Dortmund
How is the group shaping up?
Borussia Dortmund top the group and need a point to go through, and they can win it with a game to spare with victory at home to Lazio on Dec. 2.
Lazio are also in a strong position and would seal qualification by beating Dortmund, or if Club Brugge lose at home to Zenit. A point would also be enough for Lazio if Club Brugge draw.
It’s last chance saloon for Zenit Saint Petersburg, who are out of the running in the Champions League and must win in Belgium to keep alive their hopes of dropping into the Europa League.
Gab Marcotti and Craig Burley react to Erling Haaland’s latest star showing in Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Club Brugge.
GROUP G
Remaining games
Dec. 2: Ferencvaros vs. Barcelona, Juventus vs. Dynamo Kiev
Dec. 8: Barcelona vs. Juventus, Dynamo Kiev vs. Ferencvaros
How is the group shaping up?
Another group with very little to play for, with both Barcelona and Juventus having already booked safe passage to the round of 16. It is likely top spot will be decided when the two teams meet at the Camp Nou in the final match, when Juve will probably have to win to have a chance of finishing top.
Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvaros are out of it, both on one point. The two teams meet in Hungary on Dec. 8 which will decide who goes through to the Europa League.
Gab Marcotti says Sergino Dest could become Barcelona’s permanent right back if he keeps up his current form.
GROUP H
Remaining games
Dec. 2: Istanbul Basaksehir vs. RB Leipzig, Man United vs. PSG
Dec. 8: PSG vs. Istanbul Basaksehir, RB Leipzig vs. Man United
How is the group shaping up?
Manchester United are in control of the group and need one point to go through, while victory at home to Paris Saint-Germain would all but secure top spot. However, they have the two hardest opponents yet to come so cannot be complacent. Defeat to PSG, together with a win for RB Leipzig in Istanbul, would leave three teams on nine points going into the final matchday.
A win for PSG in Manchester would put the French champions in a strong position, with Istanbul Basaksehir to visit Paris on the final day.
For RB Leipzig, they know that victory in Istanbul is a must to put themselves in the strongest position, and any positive result for United over PSG would be a huge help. If Leipzig and PSG were to finish level on points, PSG would finish higher on head-to-head away goals.
Frank Leboeuf slams PSG’s individualistic mindset and says the referee gifted them a win vs. RB Leipzig.
Despite having only one win to their name, Istanbul Basaksehir remain alive in the group. But they must win against Leipzig otherwise they hopes will be over.
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