With only two matches remaining in the Champions League, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are in the midst of a crisis.
To automatically qualify for the Round of 16, teams must finish in the top eight, but teams placed 9-24 will advance to a two-legged playoff round in February, with the winners taking the remaining eight spots. obtain.
Teams that finish anywhere between 25th and 36th will be eliminated from the competition and will not qualify for the Europa League.
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As the Champions League table is solidified, Sky Sports’ James Sabundra analyzes the teams on the brink of elimination.
As things stand, three of the most important players in European football are in crisis.
Paris Saint-Germain are facing complete defeat, languishing in 25th place despite a much-needed victory over Red Bull Salzburg in their final Champions League match.
Manchester City are also struggling. Josep Guardiola’s side are in 22nd place, a far cry from the coveted top eight spot. Real Madrid are doing a little better as they are in 20th place, having defeated Atalanta last time out and achieved their first win in three games.
It seems increasingly likely that the big guns will fall.
What are the dates for the last two games of the league phase?
Round 7 – January 21-22, 2025 Round 8 – January 29, 2025
Full Champions League league phase table
Important upcoming Champions League matches
January 22: PSG vs. Man City, Real Madrid vs. Red Bull Salzburg January 29: Brest vs. Real Madrid, Man City vs. Club Brugge, Stuttgart vs. PSG
More frustration ahead of the Manchester City game?
Two big names, Man City and PSG, continue to struggle at the lower levels.
2022/23 champions City picked up seven points from their first three games, but suffered a surprising slump in Europe towards the end of 2024, failing to win each of their last three Champions League games. I couldn’t.
However, their domestic form has improved in recent weeks ahead of two important European games, and the showdown with PSG on January 22 is likely to be a must-win match.
Luis Enrique’s PSG side are finding life difficult in Europe, with the victory in Salzburg being only their second in six games so far, having already lost to Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.
The team is in a rebuilding phase after losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the summer, and was forced to move in early this season to fulfill president Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s desire to turn to young players for big-money signings. He became the youngest ever starting XI in Ligue 1. .
When is the Champions League knockout stage in 2024/25?
Knockout Round Playoffs: 11/12 February and 18/19 February 2025 Round of 16: 4/5 March and 11/12 March 2025 Quarter-Finals: 8/9 April 2025 and April 15/16 Semi-finals: April 29/30 and May 6/7, 2025 Final: May 31 day 2025
When and where will the 2025 Champions League final be held?
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League will be held on May 31, 2025 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
