Benfica and Sporting reach the last round of the Champions League phase with different possibilities. If the Lions still aspire to qualify directly for the round of 16, the Eagles can only dream of progressing to the play-offs.
Rui Borges’ team occupies 10th place, with 13 points, the same as three teams that are in the top-8, which gives direct qualification to the «eighth». Benfica, in turn, is in the elimination zone, in 29th place, with six points, two behind 24th, which already guarantees the play-off.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE AND CLASSIFICATION
Sporting, to qualify directly, needs beat Athletic (23rd) in Bilbao this Tuesday and pay attention to what the teams that are above will do (except Arsenal and Bayern, who have already qualified) and those that are immediately below, but have the same points (Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Atalanta).
Benfica (29th, six points) also knows that it only has a chance – albeit a slim one – of reaching the play-offs if Real Madrid beats (3rd). Any other result against the Merengues will result in the elimination of José Mourinho’s team. After that, a combination of different scenarios will be necessary.
It is important to say that, in case of equality on points, the goal difference is the tiebreaker criterion. This is followed by goals scored, away goals, wins and away wins, etc.
SPORTING WILL GET TO THE Round of 16 IF:
- Winning in Bilbao and five of these clubs not winning their respective games: Tottenham, Chelsea, Barcelona, Man. City. At. Madrid, PSG, Newcastle and Atalanta (if Real Madrid and Liverpool lose, that also works);
- If the clubs mentioned above win (PSG and Newcastle play against each other and, at most, only one of them can win), Sporting also needs to win, but with a better goal difference than four of them (if Real Madrid and Liverpool draw, they also count);
- If Sporting loses, they are automatically out of the top eight and go to the play-offs.
BENFICA WILL GET TO THE ROUND OF 8TH IF:
If you win and at least eight of these scenarios occur:
- Marseille lose by four goals difference
- Bayer Leverkusen lose to Villarreal
- Monaco lose to Juventus
- PSV lose to Bayern
- Athletic Bilbao not beating Sporting
- Ajax win without scoring or drawing with Olympiakos (Ajax must cancel the difference of minus eight goals against Benfica)
- Naples not beating Chelsea
- Copenhagen not beating Barcelona
- Club Brugge not beating Marseille
- Bodø/Glimt not beating Atlético Madrid
- Paphos does not beat Slavia or wins by a difference of no more than two goals
- Union St. Gilloise not winning or winning by a difference of no more than four goals
Teams already qualified for the round of 16:
Arsenal, 21 points
Bayern Munich, 18 points
Teams that have already secured at least the play-offs:
Real Madrid,15
Liverpool, 15
Tottenham, 14
PSG, 14
Newcastle, 14
Chelsea, 14
Barcelona, 13
Sporting, 13
Manchester City, 13
Atlético Madrid, 13
Atalanta, 13
Inter Milan, 12
Juventus, 12
Teams that can only aspire to the play-offs:
Marseille, 9
Bayer Leverkusen, 9
Monaco, 9
PSV, 8
Ath Bilbao, 8
Olympiakos, 8
Naples, 8
Copenhagen, 8
Club Brugge, 7
Bodø/Glimt, 6
Benfica, 6
Pathos, 6
Union Saint-Gilloise, 6
Ajax, 6
Eliminated teams:
Eintracht Frankfurt, 4
Slavia Prague, 3
Villarreal, 1
Kairat, 1
