{"id":32825,"date":"2025-01-28T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=32825"},"modified":"2025-01-28T13:12:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T13:12:31","slug":"champions-league-permutations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/champions-league-permutations\/","title":{"rendered":"Champions League Permutations: What Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man City And Celtic Need To Reach The Knockout Phase"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Champions League is set for an exciting final day to the new league phase format of the competition, with 25 of the 36 teams still awaiting their fate and fans checking on the permutations to see what result their team needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n All 18 games will be played at the same time – at 8pm on Wednesday, 29 January, with 16 matches having something on the line.<\/p>\n Liverpool<\/a> are through but are fighting for bragging rights on the final day as they could finish top of the 36-team league.<\/p>\n Arsenal<\/a> have one foot over the line, Manchester City<\/a> are in danger of elimination while Aston Villa and Celtic have a play-off spot but could still finish in the top-eight which would secure them an automatic spot in the last-16.<\/p>\n Arne Slot’s side have already qualified for the last-16 – avoiding the rigmarole of a two-legged play-off.<\/p>\n Liverpool are the only side left with a 100% record winning seven straight games.\u00a0The only thing they have left to fight for is bragging rights as Barcelona<\/a> could knock them off top spot in Gameweek 8.<\/p>\n A draw for Liverpool away at PSV Eindhoven would be enough to secure them top spot. If Liverpool lose, they will still finish top if Barcelona fail to beat Atalanta on home soil.<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta’s side are 99.9% certain of finishing in the top-eight going into their game with Girona.<\/p>\n A win or draw would see them through and even with a defeat it would take an extraordinary set of results for them to drop into the play-offs.<\/p>\n That includes Inter Milan getting at least a point, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Atalanta all taking victories and then two of the teams on 13 points to both win and overcome Arsenal’s huge goal advantage difference.<\/p>\n The Gunners’ goal difference of +12 means they are unlikely to be overtaken by Bayer Leverkusen (+6), Aston Villa (+5), Monaco (+3) and three other teams who are on +2.<\/p>\n Aston Villa’s Champions League permutations show that they are guaranteed a play-off spot. However, Unai Emery’s side have eyes on finishing in the top-eight.<\/p>\nChampions League Permutations: What British Teams Need In Final League Phase Game<\/h2>\n
Liverpool (1st)<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nArsenal (3rd)<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nAston Villa (9th)<\/h3>\n