The Danger Zone
With two matchdays remaining in the first phase of the Champions League, which big clubs could miss out on the knockout stage?
The new-look Champions League is six matchweeks deep, with the final two rounds of fixtures in the league phase to be played in January.
Yet while Liverpool are surging towards the last 16, and they look set to be joined by the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen, Inter and Borussia Dortmund, while Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Milan are well positioned, it has not been so easy for some of Europe’s other heavyweights.
And for all the criticism directed at the new format, some huge names have plenty on the line when they resume their campaigns in 2025.
So, who are the big teams most in danger?
REAL MADRID
The Galactico trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham netted in the same game for the first time as Real Madrid grabbed a much-needed 3-2 victory at Atalanta on Tuesday.
That win moved Madrid onto nine points from their six games, with the 15-time European champions now 20th, occupying one of the 16 play-off positions.
With RB Salzburg and Brest to come in the new year, Madrid — the holders — should have enough to guarantee their place in the playoffs, but a spot in the top eight might be a push.
MANCHESTER CITY
There’s being stuck in a rut, and then there’s being stuck in whatever Man City are in at the moment.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won just one of their last 10 games across all competitions, after going down 2-0 to Juventus on Wednesday.
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