OneFootball
Dan Burke·7 December 2021
OneFootball
Dan Burke·7 December 2021
We’re at the business end of the Champions League group stage and while some clubs have serenely secured their passage to the next round, others still have work to do.
Before matchday six, let’s check in on the state of play.
Group A
After RB Leipzig’s 5-0 win against Club Brugge on Wednesday night, the two sides are level on four points in Group A and both could still finish third and qualify for the Europa League.
Leipzig host Manchester City in the final group game, while Brugge face a trip to face PSG. If their results are matched in those games, Leipzig will go into the Europa League owing to their better head-to-head record against Brugge.
Group B
It’s a similar situation in Group B, where Milan’s 1-0 victory on Wednesday drew them level with Atlético Madrid on four points.
Porto are currently second in the group on five points, meaning all three clubs could still qualify for the Champions League last 16, drop into the Europa League, or go out altogether.
Group C
Sporting CP’s win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday means Marco Rose’s side will be playing in the Europa League next year whatever happens on matchday six.
Group D
It’s also cut-and-dried in Group D, where Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol will drop into the Europa League and cannot be caught by fourth-placed Shakhtar Donetsk.
Group E
But there could be some drama in Group E, where Barcelona face the daunting task of having to win away at Bayern Munich if they are to guarantee their place in the Champions League last 16.
If Barça lose or draw and Benfica beat Dynamo Kyiv, it’ll be the Europa League next year for Xavi’s men.
Group F
There’s plenty to play for in Group F too, where Villarreal (seven points) and Atalanta (six points) face a straight shoot-out for a place in the last 16 when they meet in Bergamo next month.
Young Boys are out of the Champions League but they could still qualify for the Europa League if they beat Manchester United and Atalanta lose to Villarreal.
Group G
If there’s a group to watch it’s this one, where Lille, Salzburg and Sevilla could all still go through or go out of the Champions League.
Group leaders Lille (eight points) travel face fourth-placed Wolfsburg (five points) in the final group game, with the Bundesliga side in the strange position of being unable to qualify for the Europa League but still having a slim chance of staying in the Champions League if they win and results go their way elsewhere.
The other game sees Sevilla (six points) travelling to Salzburg (seven points) for a game that will likely decide the outcome of the whole group.
Group H
But there’s nothing to play for in Group H, where Zenit Saint Petersburg are heading to the Europa League and Malmö are heading out of Europe whatever happens in the final group game.
That will take place at 12pm CET on Monday 13 December 2021.
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