Surprisingly, this 2022/2023 Champions League has already delivered several lessons. If clubs like Club Brugge, Naples or Benfica have been able to surprise with a shimmering game and convincing results, big names like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid have held their rank. This is not the case of Juventus, FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid who have already been eliminated from the most prestigious of competitions. If some findings are final, there are still some issues during this last day of the group stage of the Champions League.
Group A
Napoli and Liverpool have already qualified and will fight for first place. Advantage to the Italians who won 4-1 in the first leg and who must not lose with 4 or more goals against the Reds to stay first. For third place, the scenario is identical between Ajax Amsterdam and Glasgow Rangers. The Dutch team, which won 4-0 in the first leg, will not have to lose 5 or more goals to go to the Europa League.
Group B
In Group B, we will have the right to a distance fight for first and third place. Respectively first and second, Club Brugge and FC Porto are separated by a point and have a similar particular difference (4-0 and 0-4) as well as a difference slightly favorable to the Portuguese (+3 against +4) . For Porto to double Bruges, the Portuguese must achieve a better result, either a victory against a draw or a Belgian defeat or a draw combined with a Belgian defeat. Brugge will challenge Bayer Leverkusen and Porto will cross swords with Atlético de Madrid. For third place, Atlético have a point more than the Germans, but the latter have a better particular difference (2-0 and 2-2). So it takes a victory for Bayer and at the same time a draw or a defeat for Atlético or a German draw and a defeat for Atlético for Leverkusen to overtake its predecessor.
Group C
No stake in this group C where the positions are already known. Bayern Munich will finish first ahead of Inter Milan who will be second. The match between the two teams can allow the Germans to complete the group stage with 18 out of 18 points while Inter Milan will want revenge for the first leg (2-0 defeat). Third, FC Barcelona will go to the Europa League and will want to finish on a high note against Viktoria Plzen. The Czechs will try to avoid zero points.
Group D
The group where anything can happen. Tottenham is first with 8 points, Sporting follows with 7 points like Eintracht Frankfurt despite a particular unfavorable difference (3-0 defeat) while Marseille is fourth with 6 points. Tottenham must win or draw against Marseille hoping for a draw between Sporting and Frankfurt to be first. Any other result than a defeat will qualify Tottenham who will find themselves at least third. Opponent of Spurs, Marseille must absolutely win to qualify for the Champions League. A victory and a draw in the other meeting and the Phocaeans will even be first. In the event of a draw combined with a defeat of Sporting against Frankfurt, OM will go to the Europa League. For Eintracht and Sporting, the scenario also offers multiple options. A victory for one of the two teams and they will qualify for the Champions League. A draw, on the other hand, would favor Sporting who will be sure to be second in this context.
Group E
Following their 2-1 victory against Salzburg, Chelsea secured their first place as the Blues are three points ahead of Milan with a particular better difference (3-0 and 2-0). They will challenge Zagreb who are last and can no longer overtake Milan who have a 3-point lead and a better particular difference (3-1 and 4-0). The only Croatian hope, to win while Salzburg loses to Milan in order to grab third place synonymous with the Europa League. A slim hope while Milan will receive Salzburg for a clash at the top. The Italians must not lose to qualify while the Austrians must win.
Group F
Real Madrid are already through when it comes time to face Celtic but a victory for Leipzig against Shakhtar could allow the Germans to overtake the Merengues. Carlo Ancelotti’s men nevertheless have a comfortable mattress since only a victory for Leipzig would force them to win at the same time to stay first. With a small hope of taking first place, Leipzig will have to hold against Shakhtar Donetsk and not lose. The Ukrainians, who are at least qualified in the Europa League, have no choice but to win to qualify. Fourth, Celtic is already eliminated.
Group G
This is the second group where there is no longer a stake. Leader, Manchester City can no longer be joined and will finish ahead of Borussia Dortmund which is second and certain to be qualified. Third, Sevilla will go to the Europa League following their 3-0 victory against Copenhagen on the last day and the Danes are eliminated from all European competition.
Group H
A distance battle will be held between PSG and Benfica for first place and between Juventus and Maccabi Haifa for third place. Juventus will receive the Ile-de-France residents while the Portuguese will travel to Israel. For the first place, Benfica must do a better result than Paris Saint-Germain (victory against draw or Parisian defeat or draw against Parisian defeat). If the two teams win, Benfica will have to win with a minimum 5-goal difference to hope to take first place from PSG. As for the fight for third place, Juventus have the advantage over Maccabi Haifa who will have to hope for a better result than the Old Lady (victory against draw or transalpine defeat or draw against transalpine defeat). If both teams lose, it will take a cataclysm for the Bianconeri not to be third since Juventus’ difference is -3 and Maccabi Haifa’s is -9.
