Europe’s elite locked in fierce fight for Champions League last-16 spots

Holders Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the clubs battling for direct passage to the last 16 of the Champions League going into the final round of the league phase.

Fifteen teams have already sealed their progress to the knockout rounds but a further 17 sides will be competing for the remaining places with all 18 games kicking off at the same time Wednesday.

The top eight receive a bye into the last 16 while the next 16 teams enter Friday’s draw for the play-offs, although PSG demonstrated last season that is no obstacle to lifting the trophy.

Arsenal, with seven wins from seven, and Bayern Munich are the only two clubs already assured of a place in the last 16.

The Gunners could become the first team to win all eight games since the league phase was introduced last season. They host Kairat Almaty, who are bottom of the table with just a single point.

Bayern’s lone defeat in Europe came at Arsenal in November. Vincent Kompany’s side go to PSV Eindhoven in their final fixture.

Real Madrid, record 15-time winners of the competition, will wrap up a last-16 berth with victory away to Jose Mourinho’s Benfica. Liverpool will join them if they beat Qarabag at Anfield, while Tottenham know victory at Eintracht Frankfurt will allow them to also bypass the play-offs despite their domestic struggles.

Eight teams — those placed sixth to 13th — are locked on 13 points, with reigning champions PSG hosting Newcastle at the Parc des Princes. Chelsea currently occupy the final top-eight spot but face a tricky assignment at Napoli, coached by former Blues boss Antonio Conte.

Barcelona and Manchester City are ninth and 11th respectively. They are poised to sneak into the top eight if any of the teams above them slip up. At least PSG or Newcastle, if not both, will drop points.

Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta are also in the mix, while Inter — who have lost three matches in a row — and Juventus sit on 12 points. All of those clubs will progress from the league phase regardless of Wednesday’s results.

On course for knockouts: Borussia Dortmund are all but certain to advance alongside Galatasaray. Azerbaijan’s Qarabag are on track to reach the knockouts for the first time after a last-gasp win over Eintracht last week.

Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said Inter are a better side under Cristian Chivu than when they reached last season’s final.

Kovac said Chivu’s Inter, already five points clear in Serie A, had maintained the best elements of traditional Italian football while posing a modern threat.

Inter impressed in their run to the final last year under Simone Inzaghi but were dismantled by Paris Saint-Germain, losing 5-0 in Munich.

“In the past they’ve been dominant (in possession), but now they’ve adapted and added a very quick transition game. We need to be aware of this,” said Kovac.

Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, PSV, Athletic Bilbao and Olympiacos round out the top 24 as it stands, but there are seven clubs beneath them who could force their way back into contention.

Italian champions Napoli are the most notable team at risk of missing out on the knockout phase.

Napoli must beat Chelsea to scrape a place in next month’s play-offs.

That will be no easy task with the Blues, Antonio Conte’s former club, needing a win to stay in the top eight and bag direct qualification for the last 16.

And Napoli come into the game still stinging from a 3-0 defeat at Juventus which left the Italian champions nine points behind current Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Sunday’s loss in Turin was a big slap in the face for Napoli and Juve icon Conte, who was full of praise for his players who have had to dig deep in the face of a host injuries.

“For us it (injuries) is something that we have to accept, it’s a difficult situation which is not easy to manage. It’s difficult for the staff and the players to continue with that rhythm,” McTominay told reporters on Tuesday. They are 25th — behind Olympiacos by virtue of fewer goals scored.

Debutants Kairat and Villarreal have lost six of seven matches. Slavia Prague are also yet to win, while Eintracht sacked coach Dino Toppmoeller earlier this month after a poor run of results both in Germany and Europe.

Agence France-Presse