Champs Lg Champions League 2024/25 (League Phase) - On Stan

[And_ROOS]

That last CL match day is going to be a neutrals dream. I hate the extra matches, but definitely prefer this format over the group stage format.
City, Zagreb and Shakhtar need wins and in some cases need other results to go their way to qualify.
PSV, Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting and Stuttgart need either draws or wins because a loss could see them drop out of the top 24.
And depending on results you have 14 teams that could potentially finish in 5th/6th/7th/8th.

As of right now only Pool and Barca are 100% going through to the Rd of 16 via top 8,
and only Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig and Young Boys vs Red Star Belgrade are dead rubber games.
Every other games result either affects who finishes top 8, who is seeded in the games between 9th-24th, and which 3 teams will be unlucky to miss out on progressing.

 

[Frank Bunn]

I think if City win their last game they are almost guaranteed a play off spot.

 

[jod23]

Irrelevant as PSG play stuttgart, so either one of them will miss out in that situation.

How so, if PSG beat Stuttgart, then Stuttgart finish on 10 points. City currently have 8 points so a draw to Brugge leaves them on 9 points and still outside the top 24.

 

[Mr Meow]

Really poor performance. And many of the problems we've seen over the past few months.

Once PSG got their first we just didn't seem capable of stopping the run.

Win against Brugge and we should get through to the knockout game.

8 points from 7 CL games is a disgraceful campaign so far. The new format means you can be absolutely terrible and still make it to the next round though, so that's good.

 

[Zidane98]

That last CL match day is going to be a neutrals dream. I hate the extra matches, but definitely prefer this format over the group stage format.
City, Zagreb and Shakhtar need wins and in some cases need other results to go their way to qualify.
PSV, Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting and Stuttgart need either draws or wins because a loss could see them drop out of the top 24.
And depending on results you have 14 teams that could potentially finish in 5th/6th/7th/8th.

As of right now only Pool and Barca are 100% going through to the Rd of 16 via top 8,
and only Sturm Graz vs RB Leipzig and Young Boys vs Red Star Belgrade are dead rubber games.
Every other games result either affects who finishes top 8, who is seeded in the games between 9th-24th, and which 3 teams will be unlucky to miss out on progressing.

9 teams are already eliminated with absolutely nothing to play for before the final matchday. In the old format there was a Europa place to chase for 3rd placed teams. More often than not 3rd place was up for grabs in most groups going into final group games IIRC.

 

[Hamingja]

Celtic made comically hard work of it. Can now accept our beating from Villa and still qualify for the next stage.

 

[bradfisher14]

Unreal performance from Paris. Felt like they were the better team for the whole game. I was particularly impressed with the way we played through and around the city press. Enrique once again getting the better of Pep. Looks like city need more legs in the midfield to get back to their best.

 

[SC_Power]

 

[And_ROOS]

I think if City win their last game they are almost guaranteed a play off spot.

City win puts them into the knock out phase at the expense of Brugge due to goal difference, and then Brugge would be needing one of Benfica/PSG/Sporting/Stuttgart to lose to keep their spot.
But a draw or a loss and City are out.

9 teams are already eliminated with absolutely nothing to play for before the final matchday. In the old format there was a Europa place to chase for 3rd placed teams. More often than not 3rd place was up for grabs in most groups going into final group games IIRC.

True but thats on UEFA for removing the drop to Europa League, which I am all for if I am honest. If City aren't good enough to be top 24 in this comp why should they be able to drop down and likely dominate the EL?

And there are 9 teams eliminated, but only 2 dead rubber games. I can't see teams who can't qualify like Girona at home to Arsenal putting out a weak team, they will want the win in front of their fans because they may not be in the CL next season.