Manchester United face a battle to keep their Champions League campaign alive on Matchday Six, while Newcastle United’s fate also hangs in the balance.
United face a daunting home clash with unbeaten Group A winners Bayern Munich on December 12, knowing they have to win and hope for a draw in Copenhagen’s clash with Galatasaray.
Arsenal and Manchester City can both put their feet up as they are guaranteed to top their groups, along with Bayern and Real Madrid.
We run through the permutations and key details as the group stage nears its conclusion…
Who has qualified already?
The 12 teams to have qualified for the Champions League last 16 are:
- Bayern Munich
- Real Madrid
- Real Sociedad
- Inter Milan
- Manchester City
- RB Leipzig
- Atletico Madrid
- Lazio
- Borussia Dortmund
- FC Barcelona
- Arsenal
- PSV
How can Man Utd and Newcastle qualify for last 16?
Group A
December 12: Manchester United v Bayern Munich, Copenhagen v Galatasaray
Bayern have already secured top spot in the group but the battle to join them in the last 16 is extremely tight. Galatasaray and Copenhagen both have a one-point lead over Manchester United, who must win at Old Trafford against the German champions and hope that Copenhagen and Galatasaray play out a draw in Denmark.
Group B
December 12: Lens v Sevilla, PSV v Arsenal
Group C
December 12: Napoli v Braga, Union Berlin v Real Madrid
Real Madrid wrapped up top spot and continued their perfect start by beating Napoli 4-2 at the Bernabeu last time out. The Italians are almost there, but not quite; they must avoid defeat at home to Braga in order to progress, while the Portuguese side will need to win by two goals or more in Naples to swing the head-to-head in their favour.
Group D
December 12: Inter v Real Sociedad, Salzburg v Benfica
Inter and Sociedad booked their places in the last 16 with two games to spare and the group winners will be decided when they face off at San Siro in the final round. Benfica finally picked up their first point of the campaign against the Nerazzurri, but it felt like a defeat after they blew a 3-0 half-time lead to draw 3-3. The Portuguese giants need to win by three goals or more in Austria in order to usurp Salzburg in the Europa League spot.
Group E
December 13: Atletico Madrid v Lazio, Celtic v Feyenoord
In fact this group is pretty much sorted, both Atletico Madrid and Lazio are through and Feyenoord are locked into third. The only thing to settle is who will finish top when Atleti and Lazio meet in Madrid on the final matchday.
Group F
December 13: Borussia Dortmund v Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United v AC Milan
After three wins in a row Borussia Dortmund are through but not guaranteed top spot, they can secure that by avoiding defeat to PSG in their final group game.
For Newcastle only a win at home against Milan in their last game will give them a chance to make the last 16.
PSG are guaranteed at least third and the Europa League, and if they win in Dortmund they will go through to the Champions League knockouts and send Newcastle and Milan out.
If PSG lose they would need Newcastle and AC Milan to draw to go through.
If PSG draw in Dortmund and Milan win or draw then PSG will go through due to their superior head-to-head record.
However, if PSG draw and Newcastle win then the Geordies will go through as they have the better head-to-head record.
Group G
December 13: RB Leipzig v Young Boys, Crvena Zvezda v Manchester City
This is a delightfully easy group. Every single team is locked in to their positions and will not change no matter the results in the final round of games.
Group H
December 13: Porto v Shakhtar Donetsk, Antwerp v Barcelona
This group is very tight and tasty, unless you’re a fan of Royal Antwerp.
After their win over Porto on Matchday Five, Barcelona are through and are likely to top the group given that a) they have the head to head over Porto b) they have a superior goal difference to Shakhtar and c) they play Antwerp in their final group game and only need a point to secure top spot.
That leaves all eyes in Portugal as Porto and Shakhtar go head to head. Porto currently hold the edge having won the first meeting so they only need to draw, Shakhtar have to go for the win.
When is the Champions League last-16 draw?
The draw will take place on Monday, December 18 at 11am UK time. The last-16 matches will then take place in February and March.
Source: Euro Sports