Champions League final day
Six English clubs battle for top-eight finish on Champions League final day
A dramatic final day of the Champions League league phase on Wednesday will decide the fate of six English clubs as they fight for top-eight spots and a place in the last 16.
Arsenal, already through to the last 16, lead the standings and can secure top spot with a draw at home against Kairat Almaty. Bayern Munich will also aim for a top-two finish with a match at PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Manchester City are all still in contention. A win could ensure direct entry to the last 16, while failure may force them into play-offs. Manchester City currently sit in a play-off position but are level on points with Newcastle and Chelsea, with goal difference deciding the ranking.
The English clubs face notable challenges, including matches against former managers. Real Madrid will play Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, and Chelsea meet their former coach Antonio Conte’s Napoli. Liverpool host Qarabag, Spurs travel to Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City face Galatasaray, and Newcastle take on Paris St-Germain.
A total of 16 teams are competing for the six remaining top-eight spots, making the final fixtures crucial. All 18 matches kick off at 20:00 GMT, with the top-two finishers guaranteed to play the second leg at home through the knockout rounds leading up to the final in Budapest.
The Champions League table is tightly packed, with only Arsenal already certain of advancement. The remaining English sides will rely on matchday results and goal difference to avoid the play-offs and secure automatic qualification for the knockout stage.
With inputs from BBC
7 hours ago