The Champions League league phase is entering its most unforgiving stretch, and not for the first time under the new 36-team format, reputations are offering no protection.
Under the new system, there are only three outcomes. The top eight qualify directly for the Round of 16. Teams placed 9th to 24th must survive a two-legged play-off to reach the knockouts. Anyone finishing 25th or lower is eliminated from Europe entirely, with no Europa League safety net to soften the blow.
That reality is beginning to shape the mood across Europe.
| Position | Team | Pts |
| 1 | Arsenal | 18 |
| 2 | Bayern Munich | 15 |
| 3 | Paris Saint-Germain | 13 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 13 |
| 5 | Atalanta | 13 |
| 6 | Inter Milan | 12 |
| 7 | Real Madrid | 12 |
| 8 | Atletico Madrid | 12 |
| 9 | Liverpool | 12 |
| 10 | Borussia Dortmund | 11 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 11 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 10 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 10 |
| 14 | Sporting CP | 10 |
| 15 | Barcelona | 10 |
| 16 | Marseille | 9 |
| 17 | Juventus | 9 |
| 18 | Galatasaray | 9 |
| 19 | AS Monaco | 9 |
| 20 | Bayer Leverkusen | 9 |
| 21 | PSV Eindhoven | 8 |
| 22 | Qarabag | 7 |
| 23 | Napoli | 7 |
| 24 | Copenhagen | 7 |
| 25 | Benfica | 6 |
| 26 | Pafos | 6 |
| 27 | Union Saint-Gilloise | 6 |
| 28 | Athletic Bilbao | 5 |
| 29 | Olympiacos | 5 |
| 30 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 4 |
| 31 | Club Brugge | 4 |
| 32 | Bodo/Glimt | 3 |
| 33 | Slavia Prague | 3 |
| 34 | Ajax | 3 |
| 35 | Villarreal | 1 |
| 36 | Kairat Almaty | 1 |
The Race for the Top 8
At the summit, Arsenal have set the standard. Six wins from six have placed them clear at the top of the league phase and on the brink of history. Another victory would move them closer to becoming the first side to complete a perfect league phase under the new format, a feat Liverpool narrowly missed last season.
Bayern Munich remain well positioned, efficient rather than spectacular, while Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City continue to score freely without slipping into danger. Atalanta’s presence among Europe’s elite is no longer a surprise, but their margin for error is thinner than it appears.
Behind them, the picture becomes far more volatile. Inter, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid currently sit inside the automatic qualification places, but none are comfortable. One dropped result could push any of them into the play-off zone, where two extra knockout games await.
Goal difference has quietly re-entered the conversation. In a table this compressed, it could be decisive.
The Play-off Scramble (9th–24th)
Just outside the top eight, the tension is unmistakable.
Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham are winning games, but not breathing easily. Each knows that one poor night could undo weeks of progress. Newcastle and Chelsea hover nearby, watching results elsewhere, aware that qualification may hinge as much on other fixtures as their own.
Barcelona’s position has raised eyebrows. Still inside the play-off zone, but far from dominant, they are a reminder that this format does not flatter tradition. Juventus and Benfica find themselves in similar territory, competitive but exposed. There is no hiding place here.
This Champions League table rewards sharp execution and punishes hesitation.
Elimination Pressure (25th-36th)
Below the play-off line, the margins shrink dramatically.
Napoli, PSV and Galatasaray still have viable routes forward, but they require immediate results. For Ajax, Slavia Prague and Villarreal, calculators are already out. The numbers are unforgiving, and the room for error is gone.
For some, qualification now depends on winning both remaining matches and hoping for help elsewhere. For others, elimination could be confirmed before the final whistle next week.
This is where the league phase shows its edge. Every match carries weight. Every goal alters the picture.
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Why This Week Matters
Matchday 7 is where theory turns into urgency. Teams now know exactly what they need:
wins to secure a top-eight finish, points to avoid elimination, and often goal difference to separate them from direct rivals.
With 18 matches scheduled simultaneously to close the league phase next week, this round will decide who controls their destiny and who enters the final day under pressure.
The Champions League has always been about elite moments. This format ensures there are more of them, for more teams, for longer.
