There is only one competition day left in the inaugural competition phase of the renewed Champions League.
And as promised, the new format has provided a lot of entertainment and will continue to do this in the final round, while 25 of the 36 teams involved are still waiting to learn their fate.
Manchester City runs seriously the risk of being dumped from the competition after their 4-2 defeat against PSG on Wednesday and are currently in the elimination zone.
The Arsenal of Mikel Arteta is about to guarantee automatic qualification, whereby Liverpool has already secured their place in the last 16.
While Aston Villa and Celtic are going to fight the last game for a place for automatic qualification.
Here the current status-of-game in the Champions League is on the way to MatchDay eight plus what is needed from the British clubs involved to continue to the next phase of the competition.
How many teams qualify for the knockout phase?
Of the 36 teams involved in the competition phase of the Champions League, 24 teams will continue to the knockout phase.
Clubs that end in the top eight of the table will automatically continue to the last 16 of the tournament.
Teams placed between the ninth and 16th are sown and drawn against one of the clubs that ended 17th to 24th, where they will play a two-legged knockout play-off.
The winners of the eight play-off games will then continue to the round of 16 where they encountered those who finished in the top.
Those who end up 25th or lower will be eliminated from the tournament and, unlike in previous years, they will not go to play in the Europa League, but instead they will be beaten together from Europe.
Which teams have qualified
Top Eight Guaranteed (last-16): Liverpool, Barcelona
Top 24 Guaranteed (play-off): Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Celtic
Uncertainty about progression: PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar Donetsk
Elthe: Bologna, Sparta Prague, Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys
What should Arsenal do to be eligible?
The North London side goes in 3rd place to Girona to Girona.
The Gunners of Mikel Arteta could just as well have booked their place in the last 16 if they are three points above the play-off and have a substantial goal difference about their competitors, which means that even if they lose against the Spanish outfit, they completely are, but guaranteed a place in the last 16.
Only a wild series of results in MatchDay eight would deny Arsenal a place in the top eight and force them in the play-offs stage of the knockout.
What should Aston Villa do to qualify?
Aston Villa is currently ninth in the competition phase prior to their last match against Celtic in Villa Park.
A victory against the current Scottish Premiership leaders would give the men of Unai Emery a good chance to obtain automatic qualification.
However, they would need one of the five teams above them to slip and lose or draw their last game.
As it looks now, the villain is at least guaranteed a place in the knockout play-off round, because it is no longer possible to finish outside the top 24.
What should Celtic do to be eligible?
Celtic is in a similar situation if their matchday eight opponents.
The side of Brendan Rodger is only one point behind Aston Villa in the current classification, which means that a victory could possibly book a place in the last 16.
Although they need many other results to take advantage.
What should Man City do to be eligible?
It is all or nothing for Manchester City in their last competition phase.
The Manchester -Outfit currently lives in one place and two points outside the qualifying places and Hostclub Brugge in their eight and last match.
A victory against the Belgian side would only be enough for Pep Guardiola's side to continue to the next phase of the competition.
However, if they lose or draw on Etihad on Wednesday 29 January, they are all eliminated from the Champions League and European football.
Who plays who?
Where a team ends in the competition table after the conclusion of MatchDay eight determines which side they will be confronted in the knockout rounds and at what stage they will meet.
Liverpool is guaranteed, for example, a top-two finish in the table, which means that they skip the play-off stage and continue directly to the last 16.
Where they are confronted with a team that ended in the 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th in the competition table.
Knock-out play-offs bracket:
17th or 18th versus 15th or 16th
23rd or 24th versus 9th or 10th
21st or 22nd versus 11th or 12th
19th or 20th versus 13th or 14th
20th or 19th versus 14th or 13th
22nd or 21st versus 12th or 11th
24th or 23rd versus 10th or 9th
18th or 17th versus 16th or 15th
Tour of 16 bracket:
17th, 18, 15th or 16th versus 1st or 2nd
23rd, 24th, 9th or 10th versus 7th or 8th
21st, 22nd, 11th or 12th versus 5th or 6th
19th, 20th, 13th or 14th versus 3rd or 4th
20th, 19th, 14th or 13th versus 4th or 3rd
22nd, 21st, 12th or 11th versus 6th or 5th
24th, 23rd, 10th or 9th versus 8th or 7th
18th, 17th, 16th or 15th versus 2nd or 1st
With whom can the British teams involved be confronted?
This is with whom the teams would have to deal with the knockout round as it stands with the current table.
Liverpool (1st seed)
Arsenal (3rd seed)
Aston Villa (8th Seed)
Celtic (18th seed)
Manchester City (25th Seed)
As it suits, the men of Pep Gaurdiola are in the elimination zone, which is why they would be beaten out of the competition and the European club match this season.
UEFA Champions League classification
Remaining competitions of the competition
MatchDay six – Wednesday January 29
When are the knockout phases of the Champions League 2024/25?
Knock-out round play-offs:
Tour of 16:
Quarterfinals:
Semi -final:
Final: Saturday May 31
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