CNN Español
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Since the new format was released, the Champions League had not had as much parity as in the current season.
Since the tournament is held under the “league phase” format, which began in the 2024-2025 season, the eight best teams in the first phase get their automatic ticket to the round of 16. For their part, those who finish between 9th and 24th in the general table play a two-game playoff to try to qualify for the round of 16.
Until now, only two clubs have qualified directly for the round of 16: Arsenal, undefeated and clear dominators of the championship, and Bayern Munich, which after its victory this Wednesday reached 18 points and became unreachable for FC Barcelona, the team that marks the border of ninth place.
Real Madrid and Liverpool with 15 points, Tottenham with 14, Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain with 13 — but with a superlative goal differential (+10), although with the same points as six other clubs that dream of a direct place in the round of 16 — are practically within the round of the best eight.
From there on down, everything tightens. Chelsea, Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Atalanta Bergamo all have 13 points, with only goal differential separating them.
Chelsea will play on the last date in Napoli, which, for its part, is also in danger. They are in the entire border zone to qualify or not for the playoff, with 8 points, outside of it due to goal difference, so this duel will be vital for both.
The same will be the case for Athletic Club de Bilbao, also at the bottom of the playoff qualifying zone, but still in it, against the Portuguese Sporting, who will seek to enter directly into the round of 16.
Barcelona should have no problems against a Copenhagen that sees the match against the Catalans as its last option to save itself, while the duel between Inter Milan, with 12 points, and Borussia Dortmund, with 11, both with hopes of going to the second round directly if several clubs that are above both collapse.
Kairat Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt are out of the race at this point, while Ajax, Union Saint Gilloise, Pafos, Benfica, Bodo/Glimt and Bruges depend on winning their respective duels and their rivals falling to qualify for the lower qualifying zone for the playoff.
Matchday 8 will be memorable. Almost everyone has something at stake, and with 18 games going on at the same time, it will surely bring a lot of emotions for football fans.
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